RELATIONS WITH THE TENANTRY. 463 



which arose from the existence of a kindly feeling between their landlords and 

 themselves, and would ever give honour to whom honour was due. The 

 Chairman said he had fancied he knew the tenantry of Scotland ; but the 

 appearance which the last speaker had made had tended considerably to elevate 

 them in his eyes in point of ability and intelligence. After stating his high 

 admiration of the eloquent powers of Mr Aitchison, which in point of taste, 

 judgment, and expression, his Lordship was pleased to say he had never heard 

 surpassed in the Society, his Lordship kindly invited him to call upon him, 

 should he ever pass near his dwelling, as he should wish to cultivate the 

 acquaintance of one whom he considered an honour to the class to which he 

 belonged, his Lordship concluding by proposing Mr Aitchison, and may he 

 exercise the influence of his intelligence among the tenantry of Scotland. 



Mr Aitchison, after returning his thanks, alluded to the peasantry of 

 Scotland, and particularly to him who had wedded the music of his country to 

 immortal verse. He then, in glowing language, pointed out the beauties of 

 Burns, on which he made some comment in a highly poetic strain, and 

 concluded by proposing the ' Memory of the unapproached, and seemingly 

 unapproachable bard of Ayrshire,' not in dumb silence, for the days of mourn- 

 ing had gone past, but with all the honours. The toast was drunk accordingly 

 with much enthusiasm. 



At the banquet on the occasion of the show at Glasgow in 1838, Mr 

 Macdonald Lockhart, M.P. for Lanarkshire, said, in the course of a speech of 

 some length : When I contemplate the high position Scotland maintains among 

 the nations, in respect of her agriculture, I cannot but give much of the credit 

 to the exertions of the Highland and Agricultural Society ; and I trust that the 

 time is not far distant when we shall witness sister Societies springing up in 

 sister kingdoms. But while I admit that the prosperity of our Society has been 

 much indebted to the countenance and support of those in high station, I must 

 remind you of a large and influential class among us to which we also owe a 

 debt of gratitude. In this county alone— in Lanarkshire — there are in active 

 operation eight or ten Agricultural Societies, at some of which stock is exhi- 

 bited but little, if at all, inferior to that shown to-day. These Societies are 

 upheld chiefly by the tenantry ; and I am proud to think that there is not to 

 be found in Europe a class of men more intelligent, more respectable, more 

 enterprising 'than the agricultural tenantry of Scotland. Thinking, then, in 

 this manner, I would beg leave to propose as a toast ' The Tenantry of Scot- 

 land.' 



After some other toasts had been proposed, the croupier (Marquis of 

 Tweeddale) requested to observe that no reply had been given to the toast 

 proposed by the honourable representative for Lanarkshire, although there was 

 at least one gentleman present belonging to the tenantry who was able to 

 address the meeting. He would now take the liberty of calling on Mr Aitchi- 

 son of Menzion, Peeblesshire. 



Mr Aitchison rose from his seat in the front gallery. He said : I have 

 now the honour to address the largest assembly in the presence of which I have 

 ever before stood, and not only this, but the largest assembly, I believe, ever 

 brought together under the auspices of the Highland and Agricultural Society. 

 Political feelings are here in abeyance. We have among us gentlemen from all 

 parts of the country — from the remotest solitudes of the Highlands — from the 



