Series 1 > Diary of the Reverend John Mill, minister of the parishes of Dunrossness Sandwick and Cunningsburgh in Shetland, 1740-1803. With selections from local records and original documents relating to the district

86
MILL’S DIARY
[1789
God, also, for the good crop etc., all which seems to make
little impression on the generality, who are as obstinately
bent on their evil courses as ever.
Beef is risen so high by sending vast quantities off the ,
countrey, and when a little before harvest I knew of no marts,1
a kind Providence furnisheed [me] with two of my own, and
sent a fat cow to the door, which cost 3 Libs Sterling. Soli
Deo Gloria.
1789 Jan. Every year produces remarkable changes—one race
of creatures swept off the stage by the rapid flux of time,
and others coming on. Lord teach us so to number days,
months, and years as to apply our hearts to Heavenly
Wisdom, and make ready for an unchangeable state. We
had an account of the King’s death, more regreted by all
ranks and professions than any King of G. Brittain before
him, though his royal progenitors were all noted for good
princes. But this report was false, and we had sure accounts
in March of his being restored by a gracious God to health
of body, and soundness of mind. Said month I was greatly
surprised when two Nottar Publicks came to the Manse and
shewed me an extract from the Sheriff court at Edinburgh
that Robt. Thompson, my Precentor, was imprisoned in the
Tolbooth there for forging a latter Will in favours of his wife
and children by one James Millar, who died at their house at
Sumburgh, after he had been two years there, and had acted
as a friend by paying Tack duty for them, and taking as good
care of their affairs as if done for himself, which made all the
Parish believe that his true name was Willm Sinclair, real
brother to Ann Sinclair his wife, and that he had changed his
name because of a harsh master of a ship he had been bound
as an apprentice to when a boy (as Robt Thompson assured
me) which made him run from him in America, and, finding
a ship bound for Glasgow, had gone there, where he continued
till he came in a fishing vessel which was wrecked in this countrey.
As none could imagine that they would continue such a
1 Marts : fattened cows or oxen for winter provision (killed and salted).