WCP2648

[1]¹

Fern Dell, Dorking

Jan^y. 18. 1884

My dear Sir

I omitted in my letter² of yesterday, to mention a fact, which if you are unaware of it may possibly be of interest to you. — This recalled to my mind, by the remarks in your Book,³ pages 128-129 — on the closing of large tracts of country, by selfish and tyrannical Highland proprietors, for the [2] purpose of creating solitudes for the cultivation and preservation of deer. The practice is clearly illegal — in contravention of an old, and unimpeded Scottish Law, entitled "Free foot in the Wilderness"[.]

Many years ago, when I was Editor of the Glasgow Angus, I fought the Duke of Athol in its columns, and appealed [3] to this law, not without success in the famous Glen Tilt case. I wrote some staging verses about his Grace on the occasion, entitled "Baron Braemar",⁴ which had a considerable spurt of popularity — which the Queen read, and of which she expressed her approval (and agreement) to her Physician Mr James Clark,⁵ an old friend of mine, who told me about it. — The [4] Glen was thrown open for a time, but I believe has been closed up again with as much vigour as ever.

Believe me | yrs truly | Chas. Mackay⁶ [signature]

A. Russel Wallace Esq.