Jetliro Tall : his Life, Times, and Teaching. 
21 
correspondent of Lord Cathcart, and what Hope did in Scotland 
Lord Cathcart zealously seconded at the seat of government in 
London ; and hence the interest of the Cathcart Diary in con- 
nection with the life of Tull. It has been truly observed — and 
it is a fitting preface to the Diary — that from the illustrations 
that lie around a subject, and opposite and parallel to it, we must 
seek at once elucidation and embellishment. The dashing Grey 
Dragoon, bred to arms in the school of Marlborough — the Diarist, 
born in 1686, was twelve years younger than his friend Tull, and 
died the same year, namely, in 1740, whilst in command of the 
expedition to Carthagena.^ 
The Diarist first mentions farming on April 17, 1725 : " At 
five this morning I left en chaise to be with Lord Halifax at 
eight o'clock. He showed us his gardens at Bushy, of which 
park he was ranger, and at his other lodge, Abbs Court, his 
horses, his farm, his cows, and everything interesting that he 
had, and in a manner most interesting and obliging. We dined, 
and returned to London in the evening." In June 1726, the 
Diarist in Scotland was elected President of the Society of 
Scotch Improvers. He says, "I supped with them." Again, 
" I spent the evening with Hope of Rankielor and others of the 
Society at a tavern, conversing on many projects." In July : 
" I presented Hope to the Duke of Argyle," ^ who gave a half- 
promise to visit the Ayrshire scene of the Diarist's Scotch farming 
operations. Passing over meetings of council and a general 
assembly of the Society in February 1727, mention is made of 
the Englishman in the Diarist's Scotch farm employ. 
In April the Diarist had a visit from his friend, Hope of 
Rankielor, who greatly approved of his works, his system, his 
hedges, his trees, the manner of working the land, of the burnt 
earth, and the manner of draining by bavins of brushwood ; in 
fact, Hope approved of everything. In May, the Diarist was 
busy in working with his levelling instruments, and happy in 
showing his agricultural and landscape works to his lady 
visitors. " Peggie Bellenden,"^ a young lady celebrated in the 
' See the works of Tobias Smollett. " Expedition against Carthagena." 
- John, second Duke; born 1G78; commanded at the Battle of Sheriff- 
muir Dumblane, where the Diarist is credited with having, under the Duke, 
saved the day by leading a squadron of dragoons over a then frozen but 
usually impassable morass. (Lord Malion's Hhtory of Evyland, Sic, vol. i, 
chap. V. 2nd revised ed. Murray. 1839) The Duke is commemorated by 
Pope — 
" Argyle, the State's whole thunder born to wield. 
And shake alike the senate and the field." 
Tradition, or Sir Walter Scott — equivalent terms— says the Duke was 
ioterested in all details— a thorough practical farmer. 
' Margaret 0,nd Mary Bellenden, daughters of Johp, second JL/Ord B^Uenden, 
