to 



( 17 ) 



of as bribes and baits to induce the swarminor 

 multitudes not to swarm, and not to establish new 

 hives. Under the pressure of this panic, Parliament Parliament inter- 

 had been induced to interpose obstacles on emio-ration ^^^.^^ obstacles 



^ ^ o emigration. 



by artificial regulations and restraints. My grand- 

 father also was under pressure from difierent directions. 

 In order to constitute proper crofts it was absolutely 

 necessary to dispossess many families who had squatted 

 on minute subdivisions. He desired also to give land 

 to many fishermen. And last, perhaps not least, the 

 military instincts of the old Field-Marshal made him 

 desirous of accommodatinsj some discharejed soldiers of 

 the " Fencible Eegiments " which had been raised under 

 him. For all these three classes of men, therefore, he 

 desired to constitute crofts on the plan which he had 

 long contemplated — crofts, if possible, of not less than 

 **four mail lands." 



It seems to have been to meet this condition of 

 things that my grandfather John, the fifth Duke, 

 agreed to divide some farms, hitherto let to, single Farms divided into 

 tenants; and in 1803 Balemartine was let to thirty- consequence of ^'^ 

 eiorht crofters, whilst no less than fifty-six applicants increase in popu- 



. \ , r ^ ' -^ .^ , lation. 



are mentioned m one or his notes as anxious to be 

 provided for out of other farms in a similar manner. 

 These crofts, however, seem to have been of a tolerable 

 size, from eight to ten acres. 



It does not appear that my grandfather had present Danger of the 

 to his mind the danger of the course he w^as pursuing. 

 He had indeed some misgivings. But nobody at that 

 time could foresee the scientific discoveries, and the 

 changes in tariffs, &c., which within a few years were to 

 put an end to the large profits derived by the tenantry, 

 as well as by proprietors, from the manufacture of kelp ; 



course not fore- 



