[1] While on foreign travel he made the acquaintance of Horace Walpole, who, in a letter to Henry Seymour Conway on 23 April 1740, wrote of him, "There are few young people have so good an understanding," but referred to his 'solemn Scotchery' as not a 'little formidable'.
In the parish of Deskford, he opened, in 1752, a large bleachfield, and in Cullen, Moray he established a manufacture for linen and damask.
He was also a trustee for the improvement of fisheries and manufactures, and for the management of the annexed estates in Scotland.
He introduced turnip husbandry, and granted long leases to his tenants on condition that within a certain period they should endorse their lands, and adopt certain improved methods of cropping.
To prevent damage to young plantations on his estate, he agreed to give certain of his tenants, on the termination of their leases, every third tree, or its value in money.