The head agent, Mr. Loch, has been kind enough to put into my hands a general report of the condition of the estate, which he drew up for the inspection of the duke, May 12, 1853, and in which he goes minutely over the condition of every part of the estate.

One anecdote of the former Duke of Sutherland will show the spirit which has influenced the family in their management of the estate.  In 1817, when there was much suffering on account of bad seasons, the Duke of Sutherland sent down his chief agent to look into the condition of the people, who desired the ministers of the parishes to send in their lists of the poor.  To his surprise it was found that there were located on the estate a number of people who had settled there without leave.  They amounted to four hundred and eight families, or two thousand persons; and though they had no legal title to remain where they were, no hesitation was shown in supplying them with food in the same manner with those who were tenants, on the sole condition that on the first opportunity they should take cottages on the sea shore, and become industrious people.  It was the constant object of the duke to keep the rents of his poorer tenants at a nominal amount.

What led me more particularly to inquire into these facts was, that I received by mail, while in London, an account containing some of these stories, which had been industriously circulated in America.  There were dreadful accounts of cruelties practised in the process of inducing the tenants to change their places of residence.  The following is a specimen of these stories:—­

“I was present at the pulling down and burning of the house of William Chisholm, Badinloskin, in which was lying his wife’s mother, an old, bed-ridden woman of near one hundred years of age, none of the family being present.  I informed the persons about to set fire to the house of this circumstance, and prevailed on them to wait till Mr. Sellar came.  On his arrival I told him of the poor old woman being in a condition unfit for removal.  He replied, ’Damn her, the old witch, she has lived too long; let her burn.’  Fire was immediately set to the house, and the blankets in which she was carried were in flames before she could be got out.  She was placed in a little shed, and it was with great difficulty they were prevented from firing that also.  The old woman’s daughter arrived while the house was on fire, and assisted the neighbors in removing her mother out of the flames and smoke, presenting a picture of horror which I shall never forget, but cannot attempt to describe.  She died within five days.”

With regard to this story Mr. Loch, the agent, says, “I must notice the only thing like a fact stated in the newspaper extract which you sent to me, wherein Mr. Sellar is accused of acts of cruelty towards some of the people.  This Mr. Sellar tested, by bringing an action against the then sheriff substitute of the county.  He obtained a verdict for heavy damages.  The sheriff, by whom, the slander was propagated, left the county.  Both are since dead.”