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

1807-1811 89
do twice as much work as twice the number here, and will make
the others exert themselves and render fewer necessary. Berry has
already put the Fences where the Cattle broke in above Melaig in
good order, and you would be surprized to see what a wood of
Forrest trees there is there; I have ordered them to be thinned.
I think Sir Hector Monro’s House should be taken away, it is now
a ruin inhabited by one of the Herds, who with his Family had
better be out of the Plantation somewhere lower near the Shore,
as they spoil what is near them.
I was quite happy this morning to receive Charlotte’s1 Letter
dated August 1st with Elizabeth’s1 inclosure, and to hear so good
an accotmt of Pyes,2 of Francis,1 and of many things I am anxious
about. I do not repent of my Journey here, as I think it will be of
great use, so many things are to be done and heard of on the Spot,
that would never be thought of and go to the Dogs otherwise;
I am convinced we shall effect essential improvements in a mercenary
view. We let a farm to the Fishers today, raising the rent from
-£20 to -£50, but then it is upon Lord Hermand’s wadset and he
reaps the benefit. This led me to enquire about wadsets, and 1 am
glad to find his is the only one on that footing, it having been
(I suppose in my minority) given him for life, so he reaps the
benefit of the increase, which is very provoking but there is no
help for it. I cannot conceive that we were Geese enough to give
him this wadset, Mackenzie says it was before his time. It is the only
one so circumstanced, the arrangments for the others being so made
as to give us the advantage of increase upon them.
We hoped to be alone today, and Gilchrist arrived, which was
a Bore, but we have sent him to Supper (10 Oclock) and from
thence to Bed. Lord Reay comes tomorrow, Macdonald sets off
to Orkney, a tolerable day. It is quite amusing to see George’s
dislike to have his birthday mentioned, quite like other People's
which Macdonald remarking, we settled a fine project of celebrating
the 9 th of January next year.3 We have gone on very well today,
no drinking of health’s or anything of that sort.
We think it would raise the value of Land in the neighbourhood
1 Her younger children.
2 Nursery-talk; the Marquis suffered from weak eyesight.
2 The reason for celebrating on this date is not clear.