The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-11-20 00:00:00

HIGHLAND ESTATES.

4 striking instance of the increased value of Highland
pastoral districts occurred last week in the sale o 1 the
,Cromartie lands in Rosi-Shire. The Fannish hit, which
rents at £lBO per annum, sold for £O5O, being about
thirty-seven year? purchase. The Lochbroom lot sold
for £9200, being a thirty-four year? purchase. The
sale took place on Wednesday, in Edinburgh, and was
pretty sharply contested. The upset price of the two
was -£13,150; 'it rose £2600 higher, when they were
knocked down, the two lots at £15,756, to Murdo Mac-
' kenzie' Esq., late of Ardross, now of Dundonell. The
principle cause of this high price (which a very few years
ago would have been considered ruinous in the High-
lands) is undoubtedly the spirit, and, intelligence with
which sheep-farming,is prosecuted in the north, and the
present prosperous state of the country, particularly of:
that branch of Our national trade. The improved means.
of communication—the excellent roads which • Lraveise.
the country, and the steam-boats which approach its
• remotest shores, have also, though not particularly ap-
.plicable to the case in question, contributed generally to
preduce those favourable results. Before 'the opening of
the Caledonian Canal, the Glengarry property did not
produce above £lOOO a-vear, and it now approaches to
:£BOOO. The property of Redcastle in Ross-shire, in 1790,
sold for £25,000; in 1834 it was re-sold for £135,000!
Instances of a similar kind might be multiplied in scores.
The present system of sheep farming was introduced—
roads were made,---and immediately a change was affect-
ed. Trade and Agriculture began to revive from their
languishing condition.; the plough was driven into many
a new soil ; lakes, streams, and bays, were well finished.for,the southern markeL, • and bel* f planting began to
W encircle the hill-sides. hat woad the " gentle Lochiel"
'or the Forty-five say, were lie to wake from his slumber,
and see steam-boats sailing thrice a-week through his
estate—flocks of fine Cheviot sheep reared 'on his hills,
and sold to the farmers and woolstaplers of England—
carts and carriages winding along level roacli-and corn-
fields, not trying to grow, but yielding plenty for the
people, and ship-loads for exportation. Even uncon-
querable barrenness is now turned to good account. At
the present moment, we believe, many Highland pro-
prietors derive .a greater revenue from their moors alone,
for grouse shooting, than their- whole rental amounted
to " sixty years since." The passion entertained by
English gentlemen for field sports, has been fostered by
the increased means of communication northwards, and
up and doWn the whOle enuntry, from the highest hill to
the deepest and most distant glen. The spOrtaman
throws himself into a steamer at London, and, in fOrtY-'
eight hours or leis, he is in Edinburgh or 'Aberdeen..
Another day, and he is in the heart of moor and moun-
tain, where he may shoot saunter, or angle to his heart's
content. Or should he choose the noble route of the
Caledonian Canal, he may, ere the sun set after his de-
parture from Glasgow, be enjoying himself among the
woods and wildernesses of the West Highlands, where
this ied de.er abound, and the eagle Still lingers by cliff
and fastness.