1886-87.] and Other Antiquities. 33 



of Salton ; and in the same antiquated little village the first 

 barley-mill in Scotland was erected, by William Adam, the 

 architect, who carried the plan in his memory from Holland.) 

 But it is as an enterprising agriculturist and landlord that 

 John Cockburn's chief renown rests. The system of long leases 

 which he introduced is said to have ruined himself, the leases 

 being on too easy terms, and to have compelled Capt. George 

 Cockburn, on his father's death, to sell the estates to the Earl 

 of Hopetoun, as already mentioned. Whether this be so or 

 not, these long leases certainly did much for the ultimate im- 

 provement of the agriculture of Scotland. Formerly lands 

 were usually held on a five years' lease ; but John Cockburn 

 fixed a thirty-eight years' lease, as an inducement to tenants to 

 improve their farms, with a renewal every nineteen years, " for 

 all time coming," on payment of a grassum, or stipulated extra 

 sum, as rent, at the expiry of each period of nineteen years — 

 a system which has now, in its turn, given place to still better 

 and fairer methods. He was, in truth, far ahead of his time 

 as an agriculturist, and the various improvements he began 

 were taken up and continued by the noble family who came 

 next into possession. In an interesting newspaper article 

 which appeared lately, entitled " Reductions of Eent in East 

 Lothian,"^ it is stated that "in 1743 the estate of Ormiston 

 was regarded as a model for imitation by landlords and ten- 

 ants." And to show that its prestige still continues, the writer 

 proceeds : " Ormiston has bravely sustained its early reputation. 

 The reduction of rents indicated by the Valuation Eoll for the 

 period from 1872-73 to 1883-84" (the latest then available) "is 

 only £59 on a previous rent of £7154 ; " and this although, as 

 we are informed, " from 1872 rents have been reduced in some 

 cases more than 40 per cent" — the adjoining parish of Pencait- 

 land being cited as one in which there has been a large deduc- 

 tion during that period. 



Our subject, however, is more particularly Ormiston Hall, 

 and not the parish of Ormiston, though the two are closely re- 

 lated. And here behind us is one link of connection with the 

 old Hall : let us turn round and look on the bronze medallion, 

 by Mr D. W. Stevenson, of the veteran missionary — pro- 

 nounced by his son to be " one of the best portraits that I 



> 'Scotsman,' Jan. 12, 1887. 

 VOL. II. C 



