390 Vieiu of the Situation of Farmers ^ bfc\ Nov. 



Sixty or feventy years ago, the young farmer's education was 

 little fuperior to what is at prefent beftowed upon the fons of the 

 better fort of ploughmen. But now, after a regular courfe of 

 the clafTics, and being well grounded in the principles of gram- 

 mar, he has his fchool education finiflied by a winter or two in 

 Edinburgh. His appearance, and manner, and converfation, are 

 thofe of a man of the world, and fuch as would not difgrace any 

 man's table. I have a real pleafure in relating the very agreeable 

 furprife exprelTvrd upon tliis fubjeci by David Scott of Duninald 

 Efq., late chairman of the India Company. On a vifit to Scot- 

 land, afrcr his return from India, he did me the honour to dine 

 at my houfe, where the converfation naturally turned upon the 

 general improvement of m.en and things during our abfence. Mr 

 Dempfter, who was of the party, invited Mr Scott for the fol- 

 lowin<T Sunday, and engaged to have fome of the mod intelligent 

 farmers to meet him to dinner. Mr Dempfter kept his word. 

 Mr Scott was delighted with their converfation ; and, at this day, 

 takes much pleafure in rel ning the anecdote to his friends. Com- 

 mifTioner Graham, of the Excife, who was prefent, knows I fpeak 

 the truth. 



It is pleafing to refle61-, that fuperftition, fo prevalent in my 

 younger days, is cither totally extinguithed, or very nearly (o. Idle 

 ilories of ghofts, elves, and fairies green and ivh'ite^ are never 

 heard of: there is hardly a Willie Mouley in the county ; and the 

 only remnant of fuperftition that is unqueftionably vouched for, 

 is in my worthy neighbour Mr f** at -j-^** ***♦*, who would 

 not think either his per Ton or his property fecure without the 

 protection of a white cock. 



While I rejoice at the decay of fuperftition, I wifli I could add 

 with truth, that piety or true religion is not likewife upon the 

 decline. We certainly have not lefs honour and moral honefty 

 among us : thofe complaints of fhort meafure, and mean pitiful 

 tricks, that dilgraced our forefathers, are now unknown : yet I 

 obferve with pain, that the grace after ?neat has totally difap- 

 pearexl, and that before meat has grown fhorter; while family 

 woriFip, the daily pra6Hce of better men, in better times, is fo 

 commonly laid afide, that it is probably beyond the power of any 

 perfon in the county, the beft acquainted with the private econo- 

 my of families, to nam.e half a dozen which ftill continue this 

 very commeiuiable practice. 



My late friend, the facetious Sir, Hew Dalrymple, uk'd to fay, 

 in his merry mood, that he hml watched its decay, and that, fol- 

 lowing the fate of the large black bonnet, it had fallen oiF, as 

 that had diminiftied in fize, ?.v.d changed colour from black to 

 fimple blue. , The coincidence may be accidental ; but certain it 



