In one of his publications, he endeavoured to show that about one-sixth of the population of Scotland was in a state of beggary--two hundred thousand vagabonds begging from door to door, or robbing and plundering people as poor as themselves.[1] Fletcher was accordingly as great a repealer as Daniel O'Connell in after times.
But he could not get the people to combine.

There were others who held a different opinion.

They thought that something might be done by the people themselves to extricate the country from its miserable condition.
It still possessed some important elements of prosperity.

The inhabitants of Scotland, though poor, were strong and able to work.
The land, though cold and sterile, was capable of cultivation.
Accordingly, about the middle of last century, some important steps were taken to improve the general condition of things.

A few public-spirited landowners led the way, and formed themselves into a society for carrying out improvements in agriculture.