( 34' ) 



now a large village built to the weft ward oi 

 the fort called Maryfburgh, now Gordonf- 

 burgh, without any liberty from that noble 

 family. I am informed, that there are about 

 three hundred families, who built houfes and 

 l^ifpofed of them to one another without any 

 difpofition from the proprietor. 



The prefent Duke of Gordon was fo gene- 

 rous as to take no advantage of this. His 

 Grace, within thefe few years has given all 

 of them feus upon very eafy terms. By the 

 feus being low, the village is increafing every 

 year, and will continue fo to do for many 

 years ; fo that there is no faying how much 

 it will turn to. 



From the examples of the two noble patri- 

 ots above-mentioned, who merit much praife, 

 we may learn what are the moft effe&ual 

 means for railing villages very rapidly; which 

 is to give every feuer or tackfman a houfe 

 and large garden feven years free of rent, and 

 at the expiration of that time, the rents to be 

 moderate, either a perpetual feu, or a long 

 tack for a hundred years ; and at the expira- 

 tion of every hundredth year, the tack to be 

 renewed for another hundred, upon the te- 

 nant's paying two rents advance; and fo to 



continue 



