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

1811-1816
159
William Young to Marchioness of Stafford
Rhives, 22 December 18 n
I had the honor to write your Ladyship hurriedly from Golspy
Inn on Thursday and have now the pleasure to inclose an account
of our treatys1 with the Assynt Gentlemen and others. I am satisfied
that while the utmost in my power has been done for Lord Staffords
interest the people have fair bargains and that with proper manage¬
ment they may live comfortably. I am really gratified in having
secured Mr McDonald, and without any pecuniary sacrifice as he is
a Man of such enterprize and will now combine the business of a
Shepherd with that of a Fisher, and be exemplary in both ways;
it is the more pleasing as I have reason to believe that he had pressing
offers from Lord McDonald to Sky. I coud make nothing (but
cautionary for others which was pretty well) of Lord Gowers
acquaintance the Laird of Leckmillem who is the most obstinate
Mule I ever saw and woud not on any conditions give us a stance
for an Inn at Inchdamff; he was the only old tenant I did not treat
with except Kirkaig and had he got his Lot I shoud have lost per¬
haps -£100 yearly. This Man has in the meantime been put into
Little Assynt and Altnachy for a year, which is perhaps equal to his
capital, and as a Land Surveyor may yet be wanted at Lochinver
your Ladyship will probably have the goodness to keep him in view.
I will easily accomodate every man in the Country, as in settling
with Mr McDonald I took his promise to give up the Inver Lot
which he says Colin McKenzie gave him a promise of along with
his Roustore grounds, and your Ladyship will by looking at the
Map see what a tract of Country is yet to dispose of. I will also
settle every Man in Lairg; and the Rogart people who have been
with me declare themselves satisfied with the arrangements made
for them, while I have laid off a beautifull Farm in that district for
which various offers of triple rent have been made.
You will see that I have got Major Gilchrist for a tenant to
Rhine, it was amusing to see Achany and him competing for this
Lot; by the bye Your Ladyship may be informed that Anderson at
Invershin who last year swindled the Lairg and Rogart people out
of money for their Cattle offered £281 for this place but I thought
1 These have not survived.