154 Estate Management in the Eighteenth Century. 



" Though many of the present possessors would have 

 engaged for a higher rent, yet there was little prospect of it being 

 paid unless some means could be fallen upon to induce, and even 

 force, them into a greater habit of industry than they have ever 

 been accustomed to. At last Simon Graham, a merchant, and 

 James Black, innkeeper, both in Graitney-Green, who are both 

 rich and had bestowed a good deal in building houses for them- 

 selves, being alarmed at the prospect of being removed if the 

 house and estate should be let together, made an offer for being 

 tacksmen of the whole, which, circumstances considered, was 

 thought the best shape the thing could be put into, as they could 

 manage and govern the inhabitants, who are in a great measure 

 already dependents upon them, much better than any stranger 

 could do, against whom they could probably have proven the 

 greatest enemies bv egging up and supporting the inhabitants 

 against them. They offered to take a lease for 21 years of the 

 mansion-house and whole estate at two hundred and sixty pounds 

 sterling, of yearly rent, and to pay the cess as formerly, but not 

 the stipend nor school salary, and be bound to build offices, and 

 to uphold the whole at their own expense. And therefore the 

 Curator agreed to accept of their offer. But James Black after- 

 wards re.siled, and therefore the Curator agreed with the said 

 Simon Graham for a tack of the mansion-house and whole estate 

 of Graitnev for 21 years from and after Candlemas, 1763, for 

 the yearly rent of two hundred and sixty pounds sterling, payable 

 at Martinmas yearly." 



The following is interesting because it shov.-s even in the 

 early times we are dealing with a desire to encourage home 

 industries : — 



" It having been represented to the Curator that it would be 

 a great advantage to the Marquis's estate, as well as to the 

 country in general, if woollen manufactures were established and 

 encouraged at Moffat and the neighbourhood, and particularly 

 the combing of wool and spinning, whereby the tenants of the 

 store farms would find a market for their wool in the countrv 

 without the trouble and risk of carrying it to distant markets, and 

 the poor would be enabled to support themselves by spinning, 

 v/ithout being a burden upon the heritors and tenants, and the 

 Curator being sensible that it would tend greatly to the improve- 

 ment of the Marquis's estate if the wool produced upon it could 



