text:  Permission being granted to the surprise of the assembly he descanted with much asperity upon the gross oppression to which horses in Scotland were subject as their rough coats and ragged appearance plainly manifested; and stated in conclusion that no hope or expectation of bettering the condition of the Scotch horse could be entertained until their lawful food was restored to them and Scotchmen were compelled by act of Parliament to abstain from the use of oatmeal and live like the rest of the civilized world