What are the Causes of the Distressed State of the Highlands of Scotland?

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, New Age, History, Fiction & Literature
Cover of the book What are the Causes of the Distressed State of the Highlands of Scotland? by William Neilson Hancock, Library of Alexandria
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: William Neilson Hancock ISBN: 9781465614988
Publisher: Library of Alexandria Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint: Language: English
Author: William Neilson Hancock
ISBN: 9781465614988
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Publication: March 8, 2015
Imprint:
Language: English
For the purpose of the inquiry which I propose to make in this paper, it will not be necessary for me to occupy much of your time in adducing evidence of the nature and extent of the distressed state of the poorer classes in the Highlands of Scotland. I shall therefore quote only one authority. Doctor Alison, who has been long distinguished for the attention he has given to the subject of pauperism and poor laws in Scotland, in a pamphlet, published in 1850, says:—"Any one, whose duties have frequently brought him into contact with the mass of destitution, disease, and suffering continually flowing into all the great towns of this country, of late years, from Ireland, must be strongly impressed with the importance of means being taken to correct that evil at its source." He then adds this important passage:—"And any one who has attended to the state of the lower orders in the greater part of the Highlands, must be aware that it is hardly better than in Ireland, and that the evils which have been only averted there by the large fund raised by voluntary subscription, and now nearly expended, are again nearly as imminent as before." To account for this distress, many of the theories put forward with respect to Ireland have been urged with more or less favour in Scotland; such as, the Celtic race, the potato, absenteeism, overpopulation, and want of capital. As, however, the Highlanders are an agricultural population, before adopting any of these solutions of the question, it seems natural to inquire what is the state of agriculture in the districts where this distress prevails. This inquiry is the more important, as in other parts of Scotland prosperous agriculture is attended, as we might expect, by a total absence of general distress. In going from the well-cultivated districts of Scotland to the Highlands, the most striking difference, respecting the agriculture, is the inferiority of the farm buildings, There is a prevalence of weeds, and the crops have a slovenly and irregular appearance. On inquiring as to the mode of cultivation adopted, it turns out that rotation of crops is irregularly pursued, that economizing of manure is generally neglected, and that thorough drainage, until the recent crisis, was almost unknown.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
For the purpose of the inquiry which I propose to make in this paper, it will not be necessary for me to occupy much of your time in adducing evidence of the nature and extent of the distressed state of the poorer classes in the Highlands of Scotland. I shall therefore quote only one authority. Doctor Alison, who has been long distinguished for the attention he has given to the subject of pauperism and poor laws in Scotland, in a pamphlet, published in 1850, says:—"Any one, whose duties have frequently brought him into contact with the mass of destitution, disease, and suffering continually flowing into all the great towns of this country, of late years, from Ireland, must be strongly impressed with the importance of means being taken to correct that evil at its source." He then adds this important passage:—"And any one who has attended to the state of the lower orders in the greater part of the Highlands, must be aware that it is hardly better than in Ireland, and that the evils which have been only averted there by the large fund raised by voluntary subscription, and now nearly expended, are again nearly as imminent as before." To account for this distress, many of the theories put forward with respect to Ireland have been urged with more or less favour in Scotland; such as, the Celtic race, the potato, absenteeism, overpopulation, and want of capital. As, however, the Highlanders are an agricultural population, before adopting any of these solutions of the question, it seems natural to inquire what is the state of agriculture in the districts where this distress prevails. This inquiry is the more important, as in other parts of Scotland prosperous agriculture is attended, as we might expect, by a total absence of general distress. In going from the well-cultivated districts of Scotland to the Highlands, the most striking difference, respecting the agriculture, is the inferiority of the farm buildings, There is a prevalence of weeds, and the crops have a slovenly and irregular appearance. On inquiring as to the mode of cultivation adopted, it turns out that rotation of crops is irregularly pursued, that economizing of manure is generally neglected, and that thorough drainage, until the recent crisis, was almost unknown.

More books from Library of Alexandria

Cover of the book The Lands of the Saracen by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Amy in Acadia: A Story for Girls by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Basil and Annette: A Novel by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book With the King at Oxford: A Tale of the Great Rebellion by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Chiquita, an American Novel: The Romance of a Ute Chief's Daughter by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Iole by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Sá De Miranda: Com Uma Carta ácerca Da by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book With Americans of Past and Present Days by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Sharps and Flats: A Complete Revelation of the Secrets of Cheating at Games of Chance and Skill by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book The Philosophy of History by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Sermons on Evil-Speaking by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book The Bondwoman by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Eleven Years in The Rocky Mountains and Life on The Frontier, Also a History of The Sioux War, and a Life of Gen. George A. Custer With Full Account of His Last Battle by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book The Life and Times of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham: From Original and Authentic Sources (Complete) by William Neilson Hancock
Cover of the book Trial of The officers and Crew of The Privateer Savannah on The Charge of Piracy in The United States Circuit Court for The SouThern District of New York by William Neilson Hancock
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy