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273 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
another operation in three and a-half niinntes, sometimes in three
minutes. A still of -iO gallons could be drawn off in 2^ minutes,
until the amount of fuel consumed and consequent wear and tear,
left it a matter of doubt whether the distiller was a gainer (Afiis-
pratt.) To meet those sharp practices on the })art of distillers, the
duty was increased year after year until in 1814 it amounted to £1.
16s. 0;^d. per gallon of the still's content and Gs. 7id., two-thirds
additional on eveiy gallon made. This mode of charging duty
made it so nuich the interest of the distiller tj increase the quan-
tity of spirits by every means possible, that the quality was en-
tirely disregarded, the effect being a large increase of illicit dis-
tillation consequent upon the better flavour and quality of the
spirits produced by the illicit distiller. In sheer desperation the
Government in 1814 (54, G. TIL, cap. 1 73, sec. 7), prohibited the u.se
of stills of less capacity than 500 gallons, a restriction which increased
the evil of illicit distillation. Colonel Stewart of Garth
clearly shows how the Act operated.
" By Act of Parliament, the Highland district was marked
out by a definite line, extending along the southern base of the
Grampians, within which all distillation of spirits was prohibited
from stills of less than 500 gallons. It is evident that this law
was a complete interdict, as a still of this magnitude would consume
more than the disposable grain in the most extensive county
within this newly drawn boundary ; nor could fuel be obtained
for such an establishment without an expense which the commodity
could not possibly bear. The sale, too, of the spirits produced
was cii'cumscribed within the same line, and thus the market
which alone could have supported the manufacture was
entirely cut off. Although the quantity of grain raised in many
disti-icts, in consequence of recent agricultural improvements,
gi'eatly exceeds the consumption, the inferior quality of this
grain, and the great expense of carrying it to the Lowland dis-
tillers, who by a ready market, and the command of fuel,
can more easily accommotlate themselves to this law, renders
it impracticable foi- the farmers to dispose of their grain in
any manner adecpiate to pay rents equal to the real value
of their farms, subject as they are to the many drawbacks of uncertain
climate, uneven surface, distance from market, and scarcity
of fuel. Thus hardly any alternative remained but that of having
recourse to illicit distillation, or resignation of their farms and
breach of their eiigagtuneuts with their landlords. These are
difficulties of which the Highlanders complain heavily, asserting
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