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 CHAPTER XIX.--THE IRON ORES USED IN GAIRLOCH. References to local iron ore--Local bog iron used at ancient bloomeries--Ferruginous rocks and shales--Traditional quarries--Richness of bog iron--Places where it is still found in Gairloch--Bog iron originally used by Sir George Hay--He afterwards imported red hematite and clayband ironstone--Mr Marr's description of these ores--They were landed at Poolewe--Remains of them there--Mr Macadam's analyses--Mixture with local ore--Classification of the ores 86 CHAPTER XX.--REMAINS OF IRONWORKS IN THE PARISH OF GAIRLOCH. Mr Macadam's description of two classes of slag--List of six localities of ironworks--Glen Dochartie--Fasagh--Analyses--Lochan Cul na Cathrach--Furnace, Letterewe--Talladale--Garavaig, on Slatadale farm--Red Smiddy, near Poolewe--Iron articles found--The borings at Cuil an Scardain--Chronological order of the ironworks--Other supposed furnaces--Notices of ironworks or mines in old Dutch map, and in "Present State of Great Britain and Ireland"--Conclusion 90 CHAPTER XXI.--ANTIQUITIES.