Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

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And fuch of them as anfwer the favage
defcription given by Mr. P. fo foully illibe-
ral, if he means the better fort, are limited
to a very few of that clafs. It is true there
are feme thieves of cattle in thefe extenfive
countries; but not numerous, nor fo dan-
gerous, as in other places, either about large
cities in Scotland, and through m.any parts
of England ; but few pick-pockets to Ileal
a purfe, or take a life for it, refide there.
That lov7 pradlicc a highlander would fpurn
at the thought of: and Mr. P. might travel
over hills and dales in ,the highlands, and
deep in the defarts, or by the way fide
there, and he would after he awoke find
that his purfe was fafe, and his perfon un-
touched by the favages he calls plunderers ;
this is more than he can tell where he is;
nay, nor at Edinburgh, though he refided
there. And to brand a whole people for
the crimes of a few only is a. cruel piece of
iniquity in any author. Whoever reads
Lanne B.'s travels in the Hebrides, there
he will find the moft indnftrious commoners
in