CHAPTER XVIII.--THE HISTORIC IRONWORKS OF LOCH MAREE.

The present series of Scottish ironworks commenced on Loch Maree--The licence to Archibald Primrose for making iron ratified in 1612--Spread of the iron industry in the eighteenth century--Iron furnaces in Glengarry--Abernethy furnaces of the York Buildings Company--The Bonawe furnace--The Argyle Furnace Company--The Lorn Company--The Carron ironworks--The Wilsonton works--Furnace at Goatfield--Pennant's notice of the furnace near Poolewe--The Fife Adventurers and the Lews--The Rev. Farquhar Macrae, vicar of Gairloch--The Letterewe furnace established in 1607 by Sir George Hay--Previous history of Sir George--His residence at Letterewe--His ironworks--The timber consumed--The goods produced--The improvements he effected--Act prohibiting the making of iron with wood--Monopoly of iron manufacture granted to Sir George--Ratified by Parliament--Proclamation restraining the export of iron ore--Licence to Sir George to sell iron in royal burghs--Sir George's probable acquaintance with John Roy Mackenzie, laird of Gairloch--Sir George's friendship with the Rev. Farquhar Macrae--The minister's stone--Sir George leaves Letterewe--His distinguished after-career--Created first Earl of Kinnoull--Continuance of the ironworks--Tombstone of John Hay--His probable relationship to Sir George--Discontinuance of the ironworks--The artisans employed--Whence they came--The Kemps--The Cladh nan Sasunnach--Condition of the ironworkers in the then state of the Highlands--The Big Englishman 75