[Fraser's
"Earls of Cromartie," vol. ii., p. 230.]
The reason stated in this letter may possibly be the true one;
but it is more likely that Sir Alexander had no sympathy whatever
with the cause which brought his kinsman into such an unfortunate
position, and that he would not, on that account, lend him any
assistance.
Some of his leases, preserved in the Gairloch charter chest, contain
some very curious clauses, many of which would now be described
as tyrannical and cruel, but the Laird and his tenants understood
each other, and they got on remarkably well. The tenants were
bound to sell him all their marketable cattle "at reasonable
rates," and to deliver to him at current prices all the cod and
ling caught by them; and, in some cases, were bound to keep one
or more boats, with a sufficient number of men as sub-tenants,
for the prosecution of the cod and ling fishings. He kept his own
curer, cured the fish, and sold it at 12s 6d per cwt. delivered in
June at Gairloch, with credit until the following Martinmas, to
Mr Dunbar, merchant, with whom he made a contract binding himself,
for several years, to deliver, at the price named, all the cod
caught in Gairloch.
Pages:
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693