Letters front the Highlands. Reprinted from the Times. (Black- wood
and Sons.)—These letters furnish materials for the question that is now coming into public notice, the condition of the High- land population. Some of the facts and figures are remarkably interesting. Here is one,—" A sheep farm in Ross-shire was let out, with another, at 21,100 per annum (they contained 30,000 acres). The sheep have now been cleared off and the sporting rents are already 21,930, with the near prospect of increase to 22,100. Here is -another, relating to Torridon. in 1767 it was sold for 21,727, i.e.,
about a shilling per acre. In 1838 Mr. MoBarnet bought it of Mackenzie of Seaforth for 212,150. In 1872 it was sold by Kr. McBarnet's son for £63,000, This, again, is an increase due to the change from sheep to deer. Then of a different kind are the facts about the Laws. The late Sir James Mattheson gave 2190,000 for the island in 1844 (there are 417,000 acres). He spent just about doable as mach in improvements. But the expenditure has not raised the general condition of the population, though it has doubtless con- tributed to a large increase in the numbers, which have risen about 33 per cent. in forty years. The rental at the time of the purchase was £9,800; it is now £13,300. Here, too, the sporting rent has increased enormously. One particular shooting that the writer happens to know was let thirty years ago for 2150 per annum. Part of it, and that not the greater part, now fetches more than twice as much. This side of the purchase has been the only profitable part. This is an in- teresting little volume, and we commend it to our readers.
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