LATE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND.

161

his industry and labour-the Duke pursued his course with that calm equanimity which formed so distinguishing a feature in his character, and with that persevering resolution which never forsook him when he felt that he was right. And never, surely, was person so fully rewarded for his energy and perseverance, for never was success more complete. He had the great satisfaction of living to see every cotter on his estate holding immediately of himself, benefited by reduced rent, freed from vexatious services, and enjoying the entire fruits of his own labour. He had the inexpressible satisfaction also of knowing, that however disinclined many of them might have been to these alterations in the first instance, they all finally acknowledged,* and are now entirely sensible of, the great benefits which they have derived from the change." Such benefits are not of an equivocal or hidden nature, but exhibited in the wonderful improvement in their appearance and in their dress-in the style and character as well as in the cleanliness of their houses-in the establishment of schools-in the introduction of gardening-and in the cultivation of several thousand acres of land that had heretofore lain waste, and which they now enjoy without any increase of rent.

The manner in which these admirable changes were effected, was greatly accelerated by that perfect unanimity between the Duke and Duchess which was sure to forward every scheme for the public good, and every act of private beneficence. "The interest which the Duke took in these improvements was intense. Having, after his first illness, gone to one of the principal new settlements in the vicinity of Brora, he ascended a knoll, whence could be observed the whole scene of new cottages and improvements, comprising a vast district, which, from having been an arid waste not many years before, was now under flourishing crops, which the people were in the act of securing. After surveying the scene for some time with much evident satisfaction: It is,' he observed, it is indeed well worth all that it has cost!' meaning not only the outlay in capital, but the unjust accusations that were at one moment heaped upon his plans, and were so derogatory of his motives."

Having thus adverted to a few of the vast and rapid improvements effected by the diligence, skill, and liberality of this patriotic and enlightened noble

In proof of this we may add, that, on revisiting his estates in June, 1826, the satisfaction of the people was loud and universal; while their unequivocal attachment was displayed in the presentation of a piece of plate, of eight hundred guineas' value, subscribed for in small sums by more than one thousand of his tenants, IN TESTIMONY OF THE ATTACHMENT OF A PEOPLE ADVANCED TO INDEPENDENCE, INDUSTRY, AND COMFORT, AND SUPPORTED AMIDST THE CALAMITIES WHICH OPPRESSED AGRICULTURE, BY THE WISDOM, THE JUSTICE, AND THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR BELOVED LANDLORD, GEORGE GRANVILLE, DUKE OF SUTHERLAND," &c.--See the "Memoir" above quoted.

man, we come to that period which was to terminate a career ripe in every ennobling virtue, and rich beyond precedent in that series of events which were the commencement of a new era for the county, and a source of the purest satisfaction to himself.

In July, 1833, after he had been raised by the unsolicited favour of his sovereign to the highest title in the peerage, the Duke set out on his last visit to Sutherland, where the whole population were anxiously employed in making arrangements for his welcome-such as might best express their respect and gratitude, and the joy they felt at seeing the oldest title in the kingdom revived in the person of their munificent landlord. The warmth of congratulation, however, was speedily chilled by the most painful apprehensions. On his landing at Dunrobin, on the fifth of July, the Duke was still suffering from the debilitating effects of influenza. The symptoms, though twice partially subdued, gradually assumed a more serious character, till, on the nineteenth of the same month, he closed in tranquillity a life of unblemished honour and extensive beneficence.

In the words of the Lord Chief Commissioner Adam, "he devoted his splendid rank and fortune to promote the happiness of mankind in all its ranks. He successfully improved the condition of all under his extensive protection, by a most judicious and well-directed beneficence; and added most materially to the satisfaction of that class of society whose leisure and education render the improvement of the fine arts a principal part of their enjoyment: to which it may be added, that his perfect goodness rendered his own family, in all its branches, a scene of uncommon happiness.'

Restricted by the limited nature of the present work,† we must now close our brief sketch of Sutherland with a cursory notice of the two subjects chosen for illustration. The first of these, Dunrobin Castle, is said to be the oldest inhabited mansion now existing in Britain. It is situated on a high natural terrace, overlooking the sea, with a large sloping garden in front, enriched with verdant masses of fruit and forest trees, and a magnificent park in the background. But the noblest feature in the landscape is undoubtedly the sea, which harmonizes well with the Castle, whose antique towers soar with feudal pomp and sternness over the subject waves. On the platform near the gate, a few

• The respect and affection in which his memory was held are powerfully exhibited by the fact, that, immediately after his funeral was over, meetings were simultaneously held in Staffordshire, Shropshire, and in Sutherland. At each of these, it was determined to erect a monument to his memory. In Sutherland, the summit of Ben Bhraggie (as seen in the engraving) was the site chosen for this memorial, the contributors to which amounted to two thousand two hundred and ninety-nine."

The history of Sutherland, and other remarkable districts, will be resumed on another occasion.

*

DUNROBIN CASTLE.-CAPE WRATH.

163

pieces of ordnance, "like retired veterans," still do duty so far as appearances go, but moat and portcullis are gone. To the ancient building, erected in the thirteenth century, considerable additions have been lately made; and, happily for the picturesque, they are in strict keeping with the original. The interior of the Castle has been kept as much as possible in its primitive simplicity.

The country and grounds around Dunrobin, from their mixture of cultivation with mountain scenery, as well as their extent and variety, are highly picturesque. One of the most perfect Pictish towers that ever delighted an antiquary, stands on the east of the Castle; and, on digging at the spot lately, some bones and charcoal were found. Golspie-burnt flows through a deep wooded ravine, that occasionally may vie with the banks of the Findhorn in wildness and beauty, and is further enriched by a succession of picturesque waterfalls. The deer forests are extensive, well-stocked, and such as would have afforded ample scope to the most chase-loving of Scottish sovereigns.

The whole of the immense tract, called "Lord Reay's country," and from time immemorial the habitation of the clan Mackay, has now been added to the other estates of the Sutherland family. It abounds in wild, majestic scenery; its lakes, rivers, caves, spacious bays, headlands, and numberless curiosities, natural and artificial, would alone occupy a volume of description. We proceed, therefore, to offer a few words on the subject of the engraving.

Cape Wrath, the "Parph" of ancient geographers, is a remarkably bold headland, forming the marked and angular north-west extremity of Great Britain. It is, consequently, one of the extreme points of our island, and on that account, like John o' Groat's, or the Land's End, is much visited by strangers. Its stupendous granitic front-its extensive and splendid ocean scenery—and the peculiarly wild character of the country by which it is approached, invest Cape Wrath with an interest to which few, if any, other promontories on the British

• The THANES of Sutherland first received the title of earls from Malcolm Canmore, king of Scotland, A.D. 1031. The duchess-countess is the twenty-third representative of this family, and a lineal descendant of ROBERT BRUCE-the third William, earl of Sutherland, having been married to the princess Margaret, daughter of that monarch. On the visit of King George IV. to Edinburgh, in August 1822, it was determined by His Majesty that the right of carrying the Scottish sceptre lay with this noble family; and Lord Francis Leveson Gower was permitted to act as deputy for his mother, the duchess-countess, in that honourable office.-See our sketch of the ceremony in the first vol. of this work, art. “ King's Visit to Edinburgh."

A clergyman from Orkney had brought his son, a fine intelligent boy, with him on a visit to some friends in the south. They had travelled during the night; and when the scenery of Golspie, seen on a bright summer's morning, burst on the view, the boy, who had hitherto been a total stranger to woods and trees, and familiar only with the bare rocks and ocean of his native landscape, seemed perfectly entranced with astonishment and delight. He ran about, wondering at all he saw; eagerly exploring every leaf and flower, as if entering on possession of a new world of enjoyment.-Inverness Courier. Statist. Anderson.