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

I8i 1-1816
207
Judged more proper for Sheep than Cattle, then there is nothing in
that Quarter for which Mr Gunn is fitt. If on the other hand the
necessities of the Loth villagers etc. require that a piece of hill Grass
be laid off for them there, then, Achnachow and Corrish might be
offered him at its value, and his mouth be shutt; but, of this, Mr Y oung
is best Judge. Gunn is a Complete blunderbuss and will never be a
farmer.
I take the liberty to inclose a letter I have from Mr Young from
Aberdeen. Your Ladyship will be Glad to See that we Get on apace
with our measures for the formation of the Mound. I trust we shall
surprise Earl Gower with a Considerable profit on the Job when his
Lordship returns from Holland, and, if we do, then, as we are not
Engineers by profession and must of Course labour under disadvan¬
tages, it must be pretty plain that this Job, was meant for a friend and
not for us. It certainly had a curious appearance that Mr Telford
attempted to add some hundred pounds of more work to us than
was comprehended in the Estimate submitted for competition. Time
certainly will Shew, if we keep our health.
Patrick Sellar to Marchioness of Stafford
Culmaily, 2 February 1814
Mr McKid has, at length, struck his colours. I understand that by this
days past he sends your Ladyship a penitential letter; and he confesses
the act of poaching to be as detailed by our informant. Thinking that
this Confession so far changes the circumstances of the Case a little,
I defer the prosecution untill I can again hear from your Ladyship.
If your Ladyship think a prosecution necessary it Shall be promptly
followed; or if you think it more proper to procure a State of the
Case from Nash to lay, with McKid’s letter, before Mr Cranstoun
this shall be sent forward without any delay. The idea which occurrs
to me, and which I venture to submitt to Lord Stafford and your
Ladyship, with every deference, is briefly this. McKid is a Clever man
without Sense or principle; if the Country were Clear of him and a
moderate honest man in his Shoes it would be well. But unfortunately
Mr Cranstoun (and I think Mr McKenzie) dont See him as we do;
and altho he has evidently not only trespassed against the Law, but,
by poaching, acted in a manner unbecoming a Judge or a Gentleman,