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

226 SUTHERLAND ESTATE MANAGEMENT: CORRESPONDENCE
Apartment in the Castle at Dornoch we propose to let (perhaps for
an Inn) with the Garden.
4 oClock. A shower came on, it was too wet for Uppat etc. so
we went to Mr Sellars. He is busy making hay and to have it in
a large Hayrick in a fortnight. We see his farm in excellent order.
He has taken in 24 acres of the large green nobby field above his
House, the taking the large stones out cost -£8°. He does the other
half next year. He made ^500 profit last year of his Cattle. The Sheep
we are to hear more of as we had not time to go back to see the
wool. The black Houses are levelled, making manure. The plain is
really a very fine sight.
On coming home we observed a number of black Spots in the
sea. What are these? said Mrs Dixon - little whales? On looking
through the telescope we discovered 29 fishing boats apud Herring,
two large vessels at a distance, one and a Boat in the harbour. There
were little things running fast in the sand below the Pier with men
pushing them, evidently not dogs but something like them. They
also puzzled Mrs Dixon, but turn out to be Herring barrels for
Angus Ross rolling down to embark in his boat. We are monsus
hungry and dinner will not be ready this hour.
Messrs Young and Sellar dine here and in the evening we are to
digest d travail on the Rampart with some labourers to settle what
is to be done to ensure our safety by taking some of it away, and
to take Jottings on many other subjects of which Young has got a
Pocket book full tied round with a String.
There is a fine new county and government road made from
Tain to the Iron Bridge,1 to be opened in September next. Also, the
County of Ross are to build an Inn about a Mile from the Iron
Bridge and to endow it with a Farm. We saw part of the road near
Tain. The road from Alness to the Iron Bridge will not be made
for a year or two after the appointed time, owing to the Bank¬
ruptcy of the Contractor, Mackenzie the old mason.
The people begin to be ashamed of Embo. They say it looks so
unlike the rest of the Coast.
I should think with the new Rossshire Inn, a cottage to water
Horses merely will be sufficient at Spinningdale between the Iron
Bridge and Golspy, and that Gilchrist may endow.
1 Bonar Bridge.