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

2X2 SUTHERLAND ESTATE MANAGEMENT: CORRESPONDENCE
unless a rock is a very extensive thing it is of no consequence as a
matter of profit to such an estate and a vast thing to preserve the germs
of improvement which this is, because it is only from the Kiln the
bodies can get little pickles to suit their pendicles and means. It is a
large farm alone that can venture upon importing a cargo. Pray turn
this in your mind, for the want of Lime in the country as a manure
and for building always appeared to me the great obstacle in the way
of the Settlers improving their land and building their Cottages with
Lime which they never could import not only because the quantity
is too large but because they never could get the necessary credit.
Let me know how William Walklate1 goes on. I am much inter¬
ested in his success. There never was a man set out with a more ardent
ambition to Brew good Ale and make good bread than he did but I
doubt whether your people have taste enough to like either.
* William Young to James Loch
Rhives, 24 May 1814
Your favor of 14th Instant has only reached me this morning having
only gone from London on the 18th. I have written Mr Archibald
Dunbar to remit you -£10 and when you tell me what I owe for news¬
papers it will be immediately sent. Edinburgh and Inverness is quite
sufficient now a days, and will convey the Moneteur in plain English.
My Clerk has promised to make out a similar account as the one
you Balanced with us last year, which of course you will surely under¬
stand, and will I think find that the money wanted by me to carry
on with, will exactly stand as stated on the foot of the one lately sent,
but 1 shall continue to borrow on untill you either say hold, or order
some of the works to be Stoped unless the Banker as I suspect decline
to advance more money.
The Security of a Scotch Bank is very good and as they allow 4 per
Cent interest perhaps the Marquis might find it no great loss to invest
a pretty large Sum of money in Edinburgh at this rate, but as to the
propriety of this measure you are better Judges in London; but to
me one thing is quite evident that without Funds improvement must
cease. The Sums wanted are immense to carry on with. My own little
1 A Staffordshire inn-keeper, brought north by the Marchioness to set up an inn at
Brora.