i8o4« Memoirs of Johfi Ct^thhurn Efq. I4I 



of it than the mutton alone. In fliort, you will fiml loots and 

 lierbs in your garden, of advantage in your family many ways, 

 I Ihall always be ready to nnfwer you any quelHon, or »/ive you 

 the bed advice I cnti : fo, write freely, as you tl-.ir.k the hearing 

 from nie can bo of icrvice. TottifihaTn^ \'6. Augujl 1725.* 



From the above it may be prefumed, that this celebrated im- 

 prover mtt with the like obltacles In his road", as liave been felt 

 by otjjcrs who (lepped out of the beaten path ; and that it re- 

 quired all his patience and perfcverance to furmount the preju- 

 dice and obltinacy even of his own tenantry. That thofe who 

 entered cheerfully into his views, and facilitated the fyiicm 

 which he had fo much at heart, experienced his favour and ap- 

 probation, will not excite furprife. The fupine ftate, into which 

 the Scctifh tenantry had then fallen, was not to be removed by 

 ordinary m.eans. In fa£l:, they were the prey of lloth, ignorance, 

 and oblUnacy, and rivetted in chariis not to be eafily broken. 



Highly pleafed, however, with the fuccefs of his firft attempts, 

 though made upon that part of his eflate word calculatedfor 

 introducing improved hufbandry, and anxious to extend the re- 

 formation to all, Mr Ccckburn proceeded to grant leafes to fuch 

 of his other tenants as he thought worthy of them ; and very 

 generous encouragement was held out, though not to the fame 

 extent as in the two firft leafts. The fize of the epclofures, in 

 particular, was contracted, which wafted much land, and increafed 

 tlie ex pence of making them •, (an error probably occailoned by 

 his recent acquaintance with the hufbandry of South Britain), 

 the fatal confequences of v^hich practice are now completely al- 

 certained. At this period, two farms, containing the heft land 

 about the village, were enclofed with hedge and ditch, rows of 

 trees being planted on the banks, and alfo on fuch parts of the 

 lands as were unfit for the plough. In a little time, tlir^fe fields, 

 after being thus improved, were taken by the villagers at the rent 

 of 22s. per acre, though formerly rented at los., and even that 

 badly paid. 



Mr Cockburn being anxious to have a malting, brewery, and 

 diftillery ere6led at Ormillon, thefe works commenced in the 

 year 1726, being undertaken by the above mentioned Alexander 

 Wight, who received the mod liberal encouragement from the 

 proprietor in the execution of thefe undertakings. Pale malt, 

 high-flavoured ale, and excellent whi(l-:y were manufactured ; all 

 which contributed much to the promoting cf agriculture in the 

 Keighbourhood. 



The improvement of agriculture being no^' in 3 progrefTive 

 ftate, Mr Cockburn next turned his attention to the intrpduc- 

 tipn of manufutf^ures, knowing v;eil that tiiey were mutual fup- 



poics 



