XVI. COUNTRY MATTERS. BEFORE the general introduction of coal into Moray, so necessary was a supply of peat, that it almost invariably formed an item in the rent of farms. 66 "11th July, 1732. Wee, John Watson, William Gilzean, and John Laing, all tennents in Ardgy, do hereby certify and declare that sixty loads of peats or therby (when filled by our own servants, and lede by our own horses), was usually applyed for makeing up a leet of peats, fourteen foots square, carried up seven foots high, and rooffed in to fourteen foot from top to bottom; and, accordingly, wee the declarants, and the other tennents of Ardgy, were in use to cast, winn, lead, and stack, for behoof of the heretors of the lands and barronie of Duffus, upon their and our proper charges and expences, certain leets of peats, conform to our respectif possessions at the dimentions above-writen, and that yearly; and failzieing of the saids peats, we paid ten pounds Scots money for each leet. "I. W. WILLIAM GILZEAN. From Sir Harie Innes, Convener of the County :: "TO ARCHIBALD DUNBAR, Esq., "of Newton, at Duffus. "ELGIN, Febry. 21st, 1747. "SIR,--Provost Duff wrote me this morning complaining of the distress the inhabitants of this town, and military, are reduced to for want of peats being brought to town: that the soldiers must be supplied some how or other is without doubt, and to do without ground of complaint there is a necessity of a meeting of the Justices of Peace. I wrote Sir Robert Gordon to this purpose, and if Monday will suit both your conveniences, you will be expected that day to concert what is proper to be done. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, HARIE INNES." Many estates, and even royal burghs, were, to a recent date, "thirled" to particular mills, that is, the tenants and inhabitants were obliged to send their grain to the established mill of the barony or burgh, to be ground, and to pay a proportion of it as "multure." The town of Elgin was "thirled" to Oldmilns," which had formerly belonged to the Prior of Pluscardine. Greyfriars was the seat of Mr. King of Newmiln; it is now within the Parliamentary bounds of Elgin. 66 "ARCHBALD DUNBAR, Esquire, 66 "of Newtoun, Duffus. "GRAYFFRIARS, near ELGIN, 30 Decer. 1736. SIR, I had your's this day, inquireing me anent what multure I payed att Oldmilns. ffor answer, know that I am not thirled to that miln, or doe I live, or have I any land within the thirlage; but being informed that they ground wheat better att the Oldmilns than att my own miln, I sent my servant, the last year, with two boles of wheat to the Oldmilns, and after he returned I asked him what multure they had taken from him. He told me a peck out of each bole, and that they would take noe less, although he scrupled the giveing it. And when John Naughtie, one of the millers, came asking me ten shileing Scots for each bole of the wheat I had ground att the Oldmilns, as the millers wages, which I payed him, and quarrelled him for taking so much multure, and so much money from me that was out sucken, and noe wayes bound to them, he told me they made noe distinction, but tooke the same multure from evrie one that came to them whither out or insucken; upon which I told him that I should take care of ever grinding afterwards att their miln-which is all I know of their multures, and am yours W. KING." Just as poultry now belongs to the lady's department in the management of a country house, so in former days did the breeding and rearing of young horses. Honi soit qui mal y pense. DEAR SIR,-You may think I have been ungrate, as I have not thanked you before this time, for the use of your fine stalion to one of my chaise mares last year, and that you was at so great trouble as to keep the mare and servant for some days. That mare has this year a pretty stood fole from your horse. I cannot at present tell how I can return so great a favour, but when it falls in my husband's power or mine, our inclination is great, and the imploying us will be a compliment. I would gladly have a pair of horses from your fine horse, therefore I have ventured to send my other mare to be served by him, if you will be so good as to grant me this second favour. My husband is pretty much recovered. I am heartily sorry I did not see the young gentlemen as they went to Edinburgh. My husband and I present you, Lady Newtown, and all the young family with our deutie, and intreats you will allow me the honour to be, dear Sir, your most affectionate cousin and obedient humble servant, "JEAN GRANTT." "P.S.-We was made happy by Mr. Coban's in formation that your lady designs to see us at Arndilly this summer. Tam intends you a visite, in a week or two, that she may deliver the Cairngorm stone she promised." The wages of servants, as given in a document dated 1760. "Regulations of Fees for Servants in the county of Bamff: That the best man servant who drags the ware, and is capable to big and sow corns, shall have That the second man servant who fills the side of the ware horse, threshes the side of the barn, lays on loads, and is a good hook in harvest, shall have That the third man who likewise fills the ware horse, is capable to thresh the side of the barn, and can shear in harvest, shall have That the first best man servant where there are no waring, who can big the corns, and hold the plough, shall have. That the second man servant who works the horse, and holds the horse plough, shall have. That the third man servant who drives the plough, shears in hervest, and threshes in the barn, shall have That the best woman servant who can beke, brew, and miln, shall have That the second woman servant who is capable to shear in hervest, but otherwise not so capable, shall have 13 6 8 12 0 0 10 0 0 G |