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

1811-1816
149
Saturday next. Dudgeon1 has offered to give up Morvich for
^500 and written Mr Falconer to that effect a letter which I advised
him to forward to Your Ladyship. But he ought not to be indulged
in such an unreasonable demand, neither is the place an object on
any terms unless Mrs McLeod and her daughters were to leave it
entirely; such people shoud be in the Village of Pittentrail. I have
advised Colonel Clunes to send her sister at Kintraid there as her
Farm is now to be sett. Kenneth MacKays letter to your Ladyship
and one which he has written to me with Copy of my answer are
sent in a frank apart.
Patrick Sellar to Marchioness of Stafford
Dunrobin Castle, 25 June 1811
1 am Just returned from Strathnaver etc. where I have been
endeavouring to fmd some money to answer Mr Young’s demands
but with very little success, as the tennants have not yet Sold their
Cattle and it is to no purpose to distress them. Excepting Mr
Mcdonald Tanera, who 1 am told, pays in Edinburgh and who is
now in Ireland, Mr Mathieson of Shiness who compensates a very
heavy arrear by a Claim for damages, and Colonel Munro Pointz-
field who has indulgence from your Ladyship amount -£1,097,1
hope to get every tennant Settled with by the first September;
concerning these three I shall correspond with Mr McKenzie.
In the Course of my Journey out and home, which I varied as
much as possible I made some few remarks on the Country; what
relates to Mr Youngs department I communicated to him; on what
Concerns the woods and the Fishings etc. I am going to beg your
Ladyship’s instructions.
1. I find in every place the woods going rapidly to ruin. Excepting
at Towgarrom wood2 in Farr, and Kildonan wood near the Kirk,
there are no keepers. Mr Berry has not for many years Seen these
places, or any others at a distance; and as no person has taken any
Charge, every tennant Cutt and peeled what his wants required,
1 Archibald Dudgeon from East Lothian, farmer at Arboll, Tarbat par., Ross-shire,
acted for Mrs McLeod in the negotiations and subsequent lawsuit over the termination
of her tack (see above, i, p. 90); the tack was granted in 1809 for 19 years.
2 Torgarbh wood lay on the shores of Loch a’ Bhealaich, and Loch Coire.