642 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



talion of the 78th, which, when but 

 recruits, in fact, beat the chosen 

 troups of France on the plains of 

 Maida, but were aiterwards annihi- 

 lated with tlieir gallant young lead- 

 er, lieut.-col. M'Leod, in the last 

 Egyptian expedition. He was a 

 zealous, steady, cool soldier — a 

 mild and most friendly man. The 

 service loses in him a most excel- 

 lent officer — his friends, an estima- 

 ble and amiable man. The 78th 

 adored him, and will long lament 

 him. His estate, called Suddie, 

 devolves to an only sister, married 

 to a captain Potts, of the i'Znd 

 regiment, by whom she has a large 

 family. 



At his residence at Scarisbrick, 

 aged 58, Thomas Eccleston, esq. 

 The agricultural improvements 

 which have, during late years, ren- 

 dered the county of Lancaster as 

 conspicuous as any other district in 

 this kingdom, owe, in a very great 

 measure, their rise, and subsequent 

 success, to his active and enterpris- 

 ing spirit. He loved the theory as 

 well as the practice of the most in- 

 teresting science which can engage 

 the attention of the human intel- 

 lect. His pursuits were, therefore, 

 devoted to the execution of every 

 undertaking which combined a 

 hope of removing long-established 

 prejudices with the prospect of fu- 

 ture utility. Even in early life, and 

 long before most men exert them- 

 selves at all, he began to carry into 

 effect those magnificent designs, 

 which formed in more advanced life 

 his darling occupation, — Through- 

 out the anxious scene in which he 

 afterwards became so illustrious a 

 character, his efforts were eminent- 

 ly distinguished by the calm and pa- 

 tient consideration of every circum- 

 stance which could contribute to 



render them beneficial to the pre* 

 sent age, and to posterity. No sug- 

 gest on which arose from a quarter 

 which he had accustomed himself 

 to treat with respect, passed with- 

 out having its due reflection ; he 

 had the ability to distinguish be- 

 tween innovation and really useful 

 discovery. Whilstthosewho dread- 

 ed any changein the system, which, 

 unfortunately too near our own 

 times, had palsied the exertions of 

 genius, and restrained the benevo- 

 lence of patriotism, imagined that 

 ruin and mortification alone could 

 attend schemes apparently so extra- 

 vagant ; to a philosophic eye the 

 picture was reversed. If it was too 

 liighly varnished, if it partook too 

 much of that kind of recommenda- 

 tion which avoids the curiosity of 

 critical analysis ; on nearer review 

 it was found to owe its most impos- 

 ing qualities to the design of a 

 masterly pencil. This was precisely 

 the case with Mr. Eccleston's endea- 

 vours, to do honour to his native 

 country. What might seem the 

 effect of enthusiasm to an indolent 

 observer, had never been suffered 

 to engage his attention, until it had 

 been submitted to the closest and 

 most accurate investigation of his 

 superior understanding. A narra- 

 tive of his various undertakings 

 does not come within the intention 

 which produced this hasty and im- 

 perfect sketch. Itissufficientto our 

 purpose to observe, that his neigh- 

 bourhood bears ample testimony to 

 his spirited and liberal exertions. 

 He has rendered a country once 

 uninviting and barren, fertile and 

 abundant. His own domain has 

 risen like a new creation under his 

 hands, where, to use the expres- 

 sion of the poet, " Digna manet 

 divina gloria ruris." A tract of 



land 



