An Account of Simprin, Berwickshire, by Jas. Hardy. 303 



Simprin, -when Mr Thomas Boston became minister, 21st Sept., 

 1699. Boston doubted that the laird would not be capable or 

 mindful to provide the ordination dinner, but was agreeably dis- 

 appointed, to find "a decent entertainment" ordered.* Boston's 

 parishioners were Langton's servants ; proving that he farmed 

 the land himself. The capacious barns at Simprin were perhaps 

 his contrivance. Girnels as repositories for grain were one of the 

 features of the farming of that age. Sir Archibald died in 1705, 

 and was succeeded by his son, Sir Archibald Cockburn, who had 

 enjoyed the title in his father's lifetime, having got a charter 

 from James VII., in 1686.f By becoming caution for his father, 

 and on his own private account, he was obliged to apply for per- 

 sonal protection from creditors, which parliament conceded in 

 1696. % In 1698 he was a reputed bankrupt, although he neither 

 retired to "the Abbey," nor was under diligence. § He was an 

 advocate by profession. On his decease, without issue, the title 

 devolved on his brother, Sir Alexander. He too had his share of 

 the family embarrassments; Parliament, May 2d, 1703, having 

 granted a warrant of protection from his creditors, to Capt. Alex- 

 ander Cockburn. He was a gallant soldier, and fell at the battle 

 of Eontenoy, May 12th, 1745. He was followed by his grand- 

 son, Sir Alexander, on whose decease the title devolved upon his 

 cousin, Sir James Cockburn, who was M.P. for Peebles, in 1762. || 

 The Cockburns being unable to retrieve their affairs, the estate 

 of Simprin was sequestrated, and purchased by Patrick, 5th Lord 

 Elibank, for £18,000.^] This witty, learned, and accomplished 

 nobleman had studied law, had served in the army, having ac- 

 companied the expedition to Carthagena in 1741, and was pos- 

 sessed of great conversational powers. He and Dr Samuel John- 

 son mutually held each other in respect, and Johnson had a very 

 high opinion of him. Johnson paid him the high compliment ; 

 "I never was in Lord Elibank's company without learning some- 

 thing." Lord Elibank was the early patron of Dr Eobertson, the 

 historian, and Mr Home, the author of " Douglas,"** The best 

 retort on Johnson's definition of oats being the food of men in 

 Scotland and of horses in England, is that of Lord Elibank ; 



* Boston's Memoirs, p. 76. + Acts Pari. Scot, vii., pp. 481, 632, 633. 



X Ibid, xi., p. 14. § Ibid, p. 43. || Burke's Peerage, &c. 



IT Sinclair's Stat. Ace. vi., p. 329. 



** Boswell's Johnson, and Tour in the Hebrides. 



