Series 4 > Papers on Sutherland Estate Management 1802-1816 > Volume 9

86 SUTHERLAND ESTATE MANAGEMENT: CORRESPONDENCE
probably come for a day, he is really very kind and friendly to us.
As for Cadboll he comes for a night from the County meeting
the 18th. He affiches a great attachment for you, and says you
conferred an incredible favor by the last militia Lieutenancy you
gave to a friend of his. The Gordon boy set out with the Cattle
and his Father who is a decent man, a ground officer here, expresses
great satisfaction in having his Sons about us in England. I saw an
old Soldier this morning who was wounded at Minden. We mean
to give him what he asks for his life, which is to continue in some
place from which we never meant to remove him - an Irish favor.
Pray make Charlotte write me a minute account of Room and
all that is said and done at Trentham in return for the minute
information I give of all our doings here. We are repairing the
Balls on the Top of the old garden door. The Ducket1 wants a
little repair, but we mean to employ the Golspy Mason for that
not to run into expense, and part of the Peat yard must be employed
for a drying ground when we can get Posts, to avoid having the
entrance covered with old Petticoats, stockings and worse. Mr
Bethune came today from Dornoch, looking just the same. He
says Soper Dempster is much disliked, and makes no secret of his
dislike to the country and every thing and Person in it. He affects
great state and formality, and does not associate with anybody . . .
[travel arrangements and family news].
Marchioness of Stafford to Marquis of Stafford
Dunrobin Castle, 7 August 1808
. . . [family news and travel arrangements]. We got rid of all
our company this morning, and were alone today, tomorrow we
vote ourselves too old to make a fuss about our Birthday,2 and
therefore we have asked nobody, indeed there is nobody to come,
so I reserve myself for Cadboll and any body that may be going
about, for the 18th after the County meeting at Dornoch, when
they will come here. I shall then have also a good deal of business
to do with Falconer who will not have his business ready to report
till after that time. Till then I shall go about and dissipere in loco
1 This doocot still stands in Dunrobin Castle gardens.
2 Earl Gower was born on 8 August 1786.