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

218 SUTHERLAND ESTATE MANAGEMENT : CORRESPONDENCE
Marchioness of Stafford to Marquis of Stafford
Dunrobin Castle, 7 July 1814: windy but rather fine
After Church I expected Sellar with his accounts, but he puts me
off till tomorrow, so I have been labouring all morning at Young’s
accounts which are much detailed but appear very correct. I wish
you may find my abstract easy to understand but it was the best I
could do and in the articles is correct. I could not detail further, and
wish to know if you would have me bring the account to you, or
take it first with the Vouchers to be audited by Mackenzie. The
Ballance stated as at present due to Young is £9,053. He will require
before the Year concludes £2,000 more for completions and then
instead of paying more you will receive the regular rents. I mean to
make out an exact state with him before I go of every little as well
as great expence required, and to have all in black and white that can
be proposed, and his future march regularly laid down, so that there
can be no expence unforseen or not known of. Hughes is arrived
and gone with Young to Rives, and then I shall hear what is pro¬
posed. I shall send you the exact documents and statements on all
sides respecting the Coal and then you will have time to decide what
is best to be done in the future proceedings with regard to it. The
whole estate is now arranged the particulars of which I am to get
from Sellar. The Strathnaver People are well satisfied with their
double rent, the others are quiet and going on well. The thing that
remains to be done is to get them all into a regular habit of paying,
and to keep them to Industry which will exercise Young some time
longer. I am very glad we came here as we shall get them into regular
order and prevent flying on with schemes without knowing exactly
how they are to turn out. The agricultural ones by what I hear will
answer well, and though the People here are sanguine about the
Coal and confirmed in that opinion by Bald, yet 1 think from
Miller’s conversation that it would be infinitely preferable for you
to let the concern, as Young cannot be constantly there and is no
Collier himself after all, and now it is set agoing it will be done more
to the advantage of all Parties by a man who will afford to pay a
reasonable rent and who can be the better able to do so by attending
to it as his own concern. This I beleive is also your opinion so I need
not bother any farther by enlarging upon it. But I shall have