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270 Gaelic Society of Inuerness.
which they elected two persons for each parish, to su])ply the
pai'ochial consumption from spirits distilled from corn grown
in the vicinity, liut prior to these dates the general farming of
the duties had ceased, the Commissioners took the management
in their own hands, and, as the duty was gradually increased, it
was levied and collected by their own officers, much to the inconvenience
and discontent of the people. A graphic picture of the
state of matters caused by the high dutit^s and stringent regulations
is given by Burns, in his " Earnest Cry and Prayer," written in
1785, a year after " Forbes' chartered boast was taen awa"
" Tell them wha hae the chief direction,
Scotland an' me's in great affliction,
E'pr sin' they laid that curst restriction
On Aqua-vita?,
An' rouse them up to strong conviction,
An' move their pity.
" Paint Scotland greeting owre her thissle ;
Her mutchkin stoup as toora's a whistle,
An' Excisemen in a Imssle,
Seizin' a still.
Triumphant crushin't like a mussle
Or lampit shell.
" Then on the tither hand })resent her,
A blackguard Siimggler* right behint her,
An' cheek-for-chow, a chuffie Vintner,
Colleagung join,
Picking her pouch as bare as winter
Of a' kind coin.
" Tell yon guid bluid o' auld Boconnock's,
I'll be his debt twa mashlum bannocks.
An' drink his health in auld Nause Tinnock's
Nine times a week.
If he some scheme like tea and winnocks,
Wad kindly seek."
No doubt the poet's strong appeal helped the agitation, and
before the end of the year the duty was reduced to 2s. 7^d., at
which it remained for two years. Matters, however, were still
• " Smuggler " is here used in its proper sense—one who clandestinely
introduces prolnl)itcd goods, or wlio illicitly introduces goods which have
evaded the lenal duties. Althoiuh lopularly used, the term "Smuggler
it not correctly applicable to an illicit distiller.
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