The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-07
DEATH OF THE wEALTHIEsr COMMoHRR IN
SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND.
Colonel John Gordon of Cluny died at Liza
residence in Edinburgh on Friday last. aged
eighty-four The Ban6Shire Journal, in a
Heightened memoir of him, says he bad achiev-
ed the distinction of being the richest CON-
moner in Scotland, and it is computed that he
dies possessed of land and funds worth between
t2,OOOOOO and 100000. The accumula-
ting propensities of the family were derived
from the grandfather of the deceased. This
person was, it is said, attached to the third and
fourth Dukes of Gordon. His habits were of
the most penurious description. he saved
every penny of his income, and every acuuisi-
ton was carefully boarded. A gentleman &C.
quainted with his history and character speak
means by which he added to his income was
by being tacksman of the salmon f3hings on
the Spey, belonging to the Gordon estates, nov
worth at least t20O year. He paid the ken
ners or fishermen no wages, but allowed them
to remunerate themselves by stealing the
salmon. He knew that they stole the fish, and
winked at it-nay, actually bought the stolen
fish from them but 30 long as he was saved
from the apparent actual disbursement of
wages, he was content. Moreover, the system
worked not 80 badly, as the men we're stimula.
ted to make greater exertions-for the larger
the exercise of their peculiar mode of reiu-
bursting themselves He also embarked ex-
tensively in the purchase of property, which, in
the then disturbed state of the kingdom was TO
be had at low rates. His first acquisitions
were made by advancing money on bonds over
properties which the borrower was unable to
relieve. He left three SONS, the eldest of whom
succeeded to the property OF Braid, near Z lin
burgh, small estate on the northweat side Of
the Hill of Blackford, known to most readers
of Scott as the point from which the poet makes
Marnion look down upon Duu-Edin. Being
unmarried, on his death the property passed to
the second son, Charles, who had all the
penuriousness, if not the ability for manage.
ment, of his father. As he advanced in years.
the passion for savir became perfect disease
He declined to move about, for fear of incur
ring expense, and latterly he refused even to
get out of bed, on the ground that he could
not afford il. 1t is told that the Duke Of Cor
don went to Cluny to bring bin across TO Cor
don Castle, as he was injuring his health By
confinement. The old man declined the offer,
alleging that he had no servants or any one to
take him across. "Oh," said the Duke, "Tli
take you over, and it won't cost you a penny"
But we believe his Graco's well meant Efforts
were unsuccessful. At his death, Charles left
two sons, John and Alexander.
John, the elder son, is the gentleman who is
Just deceased, and who has held the estates for
the last fifty years. He had all the economy
of his father, and not little of the ability Il
his grandfather; and greatly added to the
wealth which descended to him. 1t ia even
said that he quadrupled it. His father, though
niggardly, gave him and his brother a good
education, and John travelled through Europe,
Palestine, and Egypt. He returned in 1905,
coming home in the same vessel which brought
to England the remains of the immortal Nell
son.
For time John served in the Aberdeen
shire militia, entering as Major, and rising to
Colonel-a title, the latter, Of which he was
fond. He had system of not giving leases to-
his tenantry. For a considerable time after
coming into possession Of his property, he in
vested the most of his sccumulstions in bank
and other stocks. Dissatisfied, however, at the
returns obtained In the way of interest and
dividends, he began to buy property. He first
purchased the estate of Shiels, adjoining Cluny.
Then he secured the islands of Benbecula and
South Uist, in the Hebrides, which cost him
about fl60,O00. Next he bought Midmar,
alse lying adjacent to Cluny, at between
100000 and 100000. All these purchases he
made within comparatively short period.
The habits Of the deceased were most labo-
rious, as he took personal supervision of the
entire properties-nearly every receipt for rent
being signed by his own hand. The only pas
sion which he grati6ed, regardless of expense
was his desire to have good horses, of which be
had an excellent stud. He had an invsterate
hatred of toll bars, and would often travel sever
al miles round, and expose his carriage (which
he generally drove himself, four in handy tc
danger and destruction, over miserable roads
in order TO escape the exsc.ion of the toll.keep
or. In going to Buckle, from the east, he FIRE
qsently went down q side road by way of The
village Of Rsthven, going over the Links tt
Buckle. The road is a very bad one, and th'
} villagers have more than once had to turn on
and dig the coach out Of the sand, iHto which
y the wheels had sunk. He boasted that b.
} could travel from Cluny to Slams, distance o
thirty miles, without paying q single toll. Th'
. Colonel took fancy to be in Parliament H'
, got in Init only sat one YEAR The thing dis