IMPROVED STATE OF SUTHERLAND. 159 



own subsistence, we certainly perform a more lasting service to himself and to 

 the state, than if, from time to time, we only ministered in charity to his neces- 

 sities. The hand that gives liberally, too often paralyzes that which receives, and 

 which should gain its own livelihood. The first duty of all to whom Providence 

 has confided the welfare of subjects or servants, is to place within their reach 

 the stimulus to exertion the means of acquiring a comfortable livelihood as the 

 premium of industry. No bread is so sweet as that which the labourer himself 

 has sown, reaped, and gathered in ; for, along with the enjoyment, he feels the 

 consciousness of having deserved it ; and thus, by the labour of his hands, realizes 

 that cheerful independence to which he had aspired. No man better under- 

 stood and appreciated these advantages, and the means by which they were to 

 be attained, than the late Duke of Sutherland ; and no landlord ever accom- 

 plished in one lifetime so much for the lasting benefit of the country, and the 

 permanent good of his numerous tenantry. Independently, too, of the imme- 

 diate benefit canferred on the population of this extensive province by his 

 own unremitting exertions, his example was adopted, his patriotism and 

 philanthropy, from being admired, were imitated by others, who, in their respec- 

 tive districts, led the way to the same happy results. 



In order to exemplify a few of those unprecedented improvements effected 

 by the late duke, while marquess of Stafford, we may state, on the autho- 

 rity of Mr. Loch,* that even at the late period of 1812, there was no post 

 road through the whole county of Sutherland, and only one bridge at Brora. 

 In the course of ten or twelve years, however, he had constructed four hundred 

 and fifty miles of road, well and sufficiently made, with one hundred and thirty- 

 four bridges exceeding ten feet span, several consisting of three arches of large 

 dimensions, many of two, while the cast-iron arch at Bonar of one hundred and 

 fifty feet span, manufactured near Shrewsbury and transported to this remote 

 portion of the kingdom, attests the enterprise of the promoters of the measure,f 

 and the skill of those who executed it. Up to the period in question, however, 

 Sutherland had undergone but little change from that state which formerly 

 characterised the rest of the Highlands of Scotland. For while the purposes 

 of clanship and war had ceased to exist and to afford their occupation to the 

 people, the increase of population received no check, and other sources of 



* Memoir of GEORGE GRANVILLE, late DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, K.G. By JAMES LOCH, Esq., M.P. 

 1831, (not published). See also New Statist. Ace. 1836. 



f At tlie period when these improvements were undertaken, parliament had agreed to advance a moiety 

 of the expense for constructing roads, on condition that the proprietors of the land should advance the 

 remainder. Of this the marquess of Stafford was the first to avail himself. While supported by the 

 counties, he paid the whole contribution for Sutherland, amounting to 2000/. Memoir. 



