LATE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND. 161 



his industry and labour the Duke pursued his course with that calm equanimity 

 which formed so distinguishing a feature in his character, and with that perse- 

 vering resolution which never forsook him when he felt that he was right. And 

 never, surely, was person so fully rewarded for his energy and perseverance, for 

 never was success more complete. He had the great satisfaction of living to 

 see every cotter on his estate holding immediately of himself, benefited by 

 reduced rent, freed from vexatious services, and enjoying the entire fruits of his 

 own labour. He had the inexpressible satisfaction also of knowing, that 

 however disinclined many of them might have been to these alterations in the 

 first instance, they all finally acknowledged,* and are now entirely sensible of, 

 the great benefits which they have derived from the change." Such benefits are 

 not of an equivocal or hidden nature, but exhibited in the wonderful improve- 

 ment in their appearance and in their dress in the style and character as well 

 as in the cleanliness of their houses in the establishment of schools in the 

 introduction of gardening and in the cultivation of several thousand acres 

 of land that had heretofore lain waste, and which they now enjoy without any 

 increase of rent. 



The manner in which these admirable changes were effected, was greatly 

 accelerated by that perfect unanimity between the Duke and Duchess which 

 was sure to forward every scheme for the public good, and every act of private 

 beneficence. " The interest which the Duke took in these improvements 

 was intense. Having, after his first illness, gone to one of the principal 

 new settlements in the vicinity of Brora, he ascended a knoll, whence could be 

 observed the whole scene of new cottages and improvements, comprising a vast 

 district, which, from having been an arid waste not many years before, was now 

 under flourishing crops, which the people were in the act of securing. After 

 surveying the scene for some time with much evident satisfaction : ' It is,' he 

 observed, ' it is indeed well worth all that it has cost !' meaning not only the 

 outlay in capital, but the unjust accusations that were at one moment heaped 

 upon his plans, and were so derogatory of his motives." 



Having thus adverted to a few of the vast and rapid improvements effected 

 by the diligence, skill, and liberality of this patriotic and enlightened noble- 



* In proof of this we may add, that, on revisiting his estates in June, 1826, the satisfaction of the people 

 was loud and universal ; while their unequivocal attachment was displayed in the presentation of a piece 

 of plate, of eight hundred guineas' value, subscribed for in small sums by more than one tlmusmui of his 

 tenants, " IN TESTIMONY op THE ATTACHMENT OF A PEOPLE ADVANCED TO INDEPI.NMF.XCT., INDUSTRY, 



ANDCOMFOKT, AND SUPPORTED AMIDST THE CALAMITIES WHICH OPPRESSID AC-RICH I Tl'nE, BY TIIF, 

 WISDOM, THE JUSTICE, AND THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR BELOVED LANDLORD, GEORGL CiRA.NVILLE, 



DIKE OF SUTHERLAND, " See. See the " Memoir" above quoted. 

 VOL II. T T 



