Estate Management in the Eighteenth Century. H^ 



parish were made, in which the whole farms were entered, show- 

 ing all the variations of rent that had happened upon them since 

 the year 1718, with notes of their contents as estimate by the 

 surveyors of their holding and number of sheep and cattle that 

 they keep, the quantity of arable ground or proportion of rent 

 that is made by corn or by pasture. The character they bear in 

 the country as to being cheap or dear, the quantity of wool grow- 

 ing upon them, and a guess of the value, with every other useful 

 observation relating to each farm that could be gathered from 

 the factors and others, and the most intelligent people in the 

 country, upon whom he could best rely." 



" There is also entered in these books the rent and entries 

 at which it was judged each farm might be let after viewing the 

 estate and considering with the factors, and likewise notes of the 

 bargains made with the tenants, which, however, often vary con- 

 siderably from what had been previously concerted, according 

 as things cast up in the community; and as offers were made, 

 and though in some instances the farms are let under what was 

 intended yet in many they are considerably above it." 



To make an official visit to the Estate was the next step the 

 I'utor took, when the plans and information collected was 

 brought into use. 



" 1758 (no date). — The next step the Tutor took was to ride 

 through the whole estate and view every part of it, having hardly 

 missed one single farm, and had along with him some of good 

 judgment in those matters, and though this could not be done 

 very minutely, especially in the higher muirland parts, yet by 

 means of this survey with the help of the eye-draughts, and the 

 notes and previous enquiry and information, he acquired a much 

 clearer and better notion and idea not only of the position, 

 nature, and quality of each farm, but also its value, than he 

 could possibly have otherwise done." 



Here is another entry in the Minute Book which shows us 

 one result of the visit : — 



" 1758 (Sept.). — The Tutor, at his first coming, intended 

 no more this vear than to inform himself of all circumstances as 

 before narrated in order to be the better enabled to let tacks the 

 next season, but, having succeeded beyond his expectations in 

 acquiring the necessary information and knowledge for that pur- 

 pose, and finding that as the season and markets had been extra- 



