224 improvements at, Letham. Dec: 12. 
own astonifhment. My dead advance L. 47; and a rent of 
L. 5: 13: 4 in the year 1761, converted into L. 100 ster~ 
ling in the year 1793.” % 
In the Bee, vol. iv. p. 255, was given some account of 
the beginning of this village. The first lot of it was feued 
off in December 1790, and it is now completed. This isa 
convincing proof of the avidity with which the people in 
Scotland fly to places of refuge, when they are offered to 
them on reasonable terms. Mr Dempster’s improvement 
by this plan is very great, and his profits, as above stated, 
very considerable. But.the rent he thus immediately 
’ draws is but a very small part indeed of his real profits. 
When the people have got a firm establifhment, and be- 
come wealthy, they will require many articles of accom- 
modation which can only be obtained from the adjoining 
lands, The soil around must thus be improved, and the 
rents keep pace With the growing wealth of the people. 
In this way, a. gentleman of my acquaintance has benefit 
ted his estate to the amount of nearly L. 1000 a-year, in the 
course of something lefs than a century past, without any 
gutlay of money, merely by establifhing a village on it, 
the whole feu duties arising from which, do not come to an 
hundred pounds. 
Mr Dempster’s improvements at Skibo i in Suslesedeads [see 
Bee, vol. iv. p. 255.]are going on with amazing rapidity. 
“ The exertions of the new settlers, (says he,) astonifh me. 
I doubt not but ten or twelve years of this system would 
leave little cultivable ground uncultivated. The drynefs 
and warmth of that northern climate exceeds my expecta- 
tion very far.” It isa pleasing thing for a benevolent 
mind to see its exertions crowned with succefs. Of the pro- 
grefs of the manufactures there, and Mr Dempster’s im- 
provements by planting, &’c. farther accounts = be given | 
in some fyture number of this work. 
