TO HIS GARDENER 63 



I will have no distinctions, every poor man's horse to have the 

 same fare with the greatest, in every respect. The Conditions 

 in the Advertisements ^ are plain and neither want explanations 

 nor additions. They that dont understand them or that want 

 particular promises from my Serv*^ may walk off with their 

 horses and go where they can have them and do better. I'*ll 

 Court no Customer either by asking his Horses or giving any 

 promises whatever, further than what I have published in print, 

 and whoever takes upon him to Explain or amend shan't be 

 countenanced or able to make good, and so they may get upon 

 the fingers who add of their own. 



I am not surprised with the setting fire to the whins ^ you 

 mention. Whatever can do me hurt gives pleasure to some 

 folks of Orm. I can see more than I talk of, and some who 

 think themselves very cunning are known. It is Impossible 

 but it may be found out who did this, and he who can discover 

 it, or can help to discover it and does not, is glad of it, and 

 would have done the mischief himself could he have done it 

 without being discovered. I well know the dispositions at 

 heart of many to me who have been under the greatest 

 obligations. 



I hope as soon as the sneding of the Wood was done, the 

 fence of the Stone Park was gone about, as that is immediately 

 wanted. I fear the . . . Hedges if too close upon the Elm or 

 young Hedges lately planted will stop air and so spoil shoots 

 from the bottom. We had a fine forenoon upon Saturday but 

 afternoon it became cloudy and began to spit rain a little and 

 with it the Wind changed from S. W. to N.E. and from calm the 



voted in the election of Scottish representative peers. His title was, however, 

 challenged, and in 1735 the House of Lords committee of privileges decided 

 that he had not substantiated his claim to the peerage. After this decision he 

 did not use the title, but evidently his neighbours continued it from courtesy, as 

 the date of this letter is nearly six years subsequent to the decision of the House 

 of Lords. He died in 1755.' [For this interesting note I have to thank 

 Mr. W. B. Blaikie.] 



^ This seems quite modern, as well as the taking in of stirks and horses for 

 grazing. Horses were not corn-fed till long after this date. 



2 Introduced into Scotland from the Low Countries in the sixteenth century. 

 They do not grow far above the level of the sea. In the absence of any winter 

 food besides hay, whins played a useful part. 



