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

1811-1816
147
very true that the County assessments being now considerable they
did not feel warranted to vote away money for such a purpose
especially as the proposal was unaccompanied with any estimate of
the probable outlay.
Mr Telfords plan of the Little Ferry Piers although odds of
.£1,300 was approved of. At same time I got powers to cause Mr
Hughes give us an estimate of what a Mound from Craigtown to
Torbol, or from the Storehouse1 to Skelbo woud cost. If the differ¬
ence of expence is not very considerable I think the County woud
go into it and then I shall not despair to see all the grounds (except
a Channel for the Fleet) from Craigtown to Morvich under the
plough, but this we must take no notice of at present.
I saw the Lairg Ambassador and know his place although I was
not over the ground, he is comfortably set down and with a
reasonable allowance for a house to be paid at the expiry of his
Lease requires nothing more in my opinion.
Without delivering Your Ladyships letter I told Mr Falconer its
contents. He is to leave Rhives and now talks of Midgarty for which
he says an offer has been sent to your Ladyship. I told him that in
all probability a 30 years Lease woud not be consented to as the
deed of Entail did not warrant such and that I Supposed he woud
hear from Cleveland house before the day of set as without
instructions I coud only deal with the highest offerer if an unexcep¬
tionable person.
With respect to myself I beg Your Ladyship will not for a
moment think what is to become of me. I shall in the meantime
take Rhives without a Lease as any thing larger will not correspond
with the bussiness of the Estate if my duty is properly attended to
and which no personal consideration shall induce me to neglect.
In place of wishing for more land I am resolved to close every
Farming concern at Inverugie as the Ground is got improved, and
I will endeavour to get rid of my Lime work at the close of this
Season. I have again offered Culmailly to Mr Sellar who untill
now has been anxious for Farming concerns and has plenty of time
to attend to them; if from any plans which I am a stranger to he
declines it, and still insists on Morvich, I will with your Ladyships
approbation offer it to sett for 19 years, and if the surplus rent
1 At Little Ferry (the house now called ‘The Gimels’).