Thanks for posting that Jim! It brought me to mind of an extract from "A Tour|In The Highlands" by James Hogg the Ettrick Shepherd. This was written in 1803 which is contemporary with the British Govt passing Acts trying to halt or slow down the emigration (more than likely only because they wanted to preserve available cannon fodder) but shows a change of attitude in at least one of the Highland laird's being Mackenzie of Dundonnel who is starting to think of finances (ie many were in debt in trying to keep up with Lowland and English aristocracy) over the welfare of the clansmen.

Hogg explains how the glens are crammed full of stout able-bodied men whilst the mountains are all waste though there are small parcels of diminutive sheep herded near the dwellings. It then quotes

"Dundonnel asked me what i thought it would bring annually if let off in sheep walks. I said I only had a superficial view of it, but that, exclusive of a reasonable extent nearer the house, to be occupied by himself, it would bring not below £2000. He said his people would never pay half of that. He was loath to chase them all away to America, but at present they did not pay him above £700. He hath however the pleasure of absolute sway. He is even more so in his domains than Bonaparte in France. I saw him call two men from their labour a full mile to carry us through the water. I told him he must not expect to be served thus by the shepherds if once he had given them possession"