TRIAL OF PATRICK SELLAR. 187- 



acres in the low country, in the parish of Golspie, mentioned to his 

 constituents, that it would be of much importance to him to possess a 

 pasturage farm to be wrought in connection with it. That Lord and 

 Lady Stafford directed the declarant to offer at the set for any farm he 

 chose a few pounds beyond the highest offerer ; and they directed Mr. 

 Young, on his so offering, to prefer him. That the declarant 

 accordingly made offer for the farms of Rhiloisk and Rossal, near the 

 sources of the rivers Naver and the Helmsdale, in the parishes of 

 Kildonan and Farr. That this farm was offered for by the declarant 

 over the previous biddings of Mr. John Paterson in Sandside, and was 

 taken out by the declarant on the arrangement fixed by his constituents. 

 That it comprehended the places of Rhiloisk, Rossal, Rhiphail, Ravi- 

 gjll, Rhimsdale, Garvault, and Truderskaig. That Mr. Young asked 

 the declarant, after the farm had been set to him, if he would allow any 

 of the people to remain for a season upon the grounds. That the 

 declarant readily answered he would, and he informed the people who 

 were present at the inn, that he would allow as many of them remain 

 on the farm for one year as he possibly could. That it was not in his 

 power then to specify who were to remain, and who were to be 

 removed into allotments, but he would meet them at the counting, and 

 be able to explain fully to them upon that occasion. That the counting 

 happened on the I5th of January, 1814, at the house of John Turnbull, 

 shepherd in Suisgill, in the parish of Kildonan ; and the declarant, in 

 consequence of a previous notice to the inhabitants to meet him and pay 

 the rents, met, among others, the people on his own farm, and he 

 selected those who should remain, made a bargain with them, as he 

 believes, rather under a fair proportion of his average rent on the 

 duration of his lease ; and he explained, that to the remainder of the 

 ground, he must have access at the Whitsunday following, as his flocks 

 and shepherds would then be in preparation. That at the counting, 

 the declarant expressed a wish that the tenantry would allow him to 

 burn part of the heath in the ensuing spring : lie has always understood, 

 that after the month of March comes in, the old heath is of very little 

 use until burnt. That the Alpine herbage, mixed among the heath, 

 comes up in a few days after burning ; and in the latter end of March, 

 April, and May, is, after burning, a most valuable pasturage. That 

 the declarant, therefore, conceived, and he believes the people were 

 of the same opinion, that the allowance of burning part of the heath 

 was no great favour, and they readily consented to it. That the 

 declarant believes that John Dryden, his principal shepherd, was 

 present upon this occasion; and he understands that Dryden, in the 



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