“Do not let me be supposed to say that there are not cases requiring attention:  it must be so in a large population; but there can be no means taken by a landlord, or by those under him, that are not bestowed upon that tenantry.

“It has been said that the contribution by the heritor (the duke) to one kirk session for the poor was but six pounds.  Now, in the eight parishes which are called Sutherland proper, the amount of the contribution of the Duke of Sutherland to the kirk session is forty-two pounds a year.  That is a very small sum but that sum merely is so given because the landlord thinks that he can distribute his charity in a more beneficial manner to the people; and the amount of charity which he gives—­and which, I may say, is settled on them, for it is given regularly—­is above four hundred and fifty pounds a year.

“Therefore the statements that have been made, so far from being correct, are in every way an exaggeration of what is the fact.  No portion of the kingdom has advanced in prosperity so much; and if the honorable member (Mr. S. Crawford) will go down there, I will give him every facility for seeing the state of the people, and he shall judge with his own eyes whether my representation be not correct.  I could go through a great many other particulars, but I will not trouble the house now with them.  The statements I have made are accurate, and I am quite ready to prove them in any way that is necessary.”

This same Mr. Loch has published a pamphlet, in which he has traced out the effects of the system pursued on the Sutherland estate, in many very important particulars.  It appears from this that previously to 1811 the people were generally sub-tenants to middle men, who exacted high rents, and also various perquisites, such as the delivery of poultry and eggs, giving so many days’ labor in harvest time, cutting and carrying peat and stones for building.

Since 1811 the people have become immediate tenants, at a greatly diminished rate of rent, and released from all these exactions.  For instance, in two parishes, in 1812, the rents were one thousand five hundred and ninety-three pounds, and in 1823 they were only nine hundred and seventy-two pounds.  In another parish the reduction of rents has amounted, on an average, to thirty-six per cent.  Previous to 1811 the houses were turf huts of the poorest description, in many instances the cattle being kept under the same roof with the family.  Since 1811 a large proportion, of their houses have been rebuilt in a superior manner—­the landlord having paid them for their old timber where it could not be moved, and having also contributed the new timber, with lime.

Before 1811 all the rents of the estates were used for the personal profit of the landlord; but since that time, both by the present duke and his father, all the rents have been expended on improvements in the county, besides sixty thousand pounds more which have been remitted from.  England for the purpose.  This money has been spent on churches, school houses, harbors, public inns, roads, and bridges.