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

236 SUTHERLAND ESTATE MANAGEMENT: CORRESPONDENCE
much. In Mr Adams case I have lately, upon being consulted where
he has an excellent and extensive lime rock, given similar advice.
I hope your Ladyship will not attribute nor that his Lordship will
attribute what I have said, to any wish that the money should be
expended in England rather than in Scotland, that would be on my
part a piece of impertinence, which I am sure your Ladyship will
not think me capable of, but in roads, small piers, assisting the
fishermen perhaps with small premiums in their first adventures all
appear to me worthy of much consideration. His Lordships terri¬
tories are a kingdom and ought to be considered in this light by
those he employs, by submitting from time to time for his and
your Ladyships consideration what occurs to them, so that nothing
wrong may be adopted nor any thing beneficial passed over.
Patrick Sellar to Earl Gower (later 2nd Duke of Sutherland)
Culmaily, 16 February 1815
I have this day the honour to receive your Lordship’s letter of
the 8th Instant mentioning that a new complaint is given in against
me by the tenants who were removed from my farm in Strathnaver,
and that it is the wish of the noble Family that the matter be can¬
vassed before the Sheriff depute of the County. Your Lordship
referring to the Complaint in the hands of Mr Young I waited on
him and have got a copy of it; by which I see that there are three
new Charges preferred against me, the first that I caused the death
of a woman whose house was burned, the second that I caused the
miscarriage of another woman, and the third that my sheep have
eaten the people’s com. That no one woman of the removed tenants
has died or miscarried betwixt Whitsunday and Martinmas 1814
I will not pretend to affirm or to know. But I am sure that no
cruelty of mine occasioned any such event; and, if my sheep tres¬
passed on the people’s corn thro’ any negligence of my shepherds,
had they complained to me I should have remedied and redressed
the Evil without any delay. 1 have not the least objection to meet
their accusation before Mr Cranstoun, who I am fully satisfied will
do Justice to all parties.
But, as it is, a most vexing thing to me, that the noble Family
should have this new trouble concerning me, 1 hope your Lordship