Edinburgh Bookshelf

Kay's Originals Vol. 2

Search

66 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, disposal, as President of the Board, he set about accompiishing the great objects he had in view. Among his first proposals was a statistical account of England similar to the one then in progress for Scotland ; but this he was compelled to abandon, from a fear on the part of the Church, that such an exposure of the tithe system as it would necessarily involve, might prove injurious to her interests. All remonstrance was vain-the heads of the Establishment were inexorable, Thus discouraged, he had recourse to county reports-and in this way accomplished partially the object in view. Shortly after the institution of the Board, the following lines-too curious to be omitted-went the round of the newspapers :- “THE FARMER’S CREED. BY SIRJ OHNS INCLAIRB,A RT., President of the Board of Ap‘dture. Let this be held the farmer’s creed : For stock seek out the choicest breed ; In peace and plenty let them feed ; Your land sow with the best of seed ; Let it not dung nor dressing need ; Enclose and drain it with all speed, And you will soon be rich indeed.” Sir John continued President of the Board for a period in all of thirteen years, during which the most active and useful measures were pursued, and much benefit conferred on the country. On the earnest recommendation of the Board, Sir Humphrey Davy was induced to undertake his well-known lectures on Agriculture, in relation to chemistry, by which the light of science was for the first time thrown upon the art of cultivating the soil, Among the numerous individuals patronised and brought forward by the president, were the celebrated road improver, Macadam-and Meikle, the inventor of threshingmachines.’ Deprived of Sir John’s superintendence, the Board gradually declined, and was finally abolished. Although he had not entirely coincided with the foreign policy of the Administration, the call to arms in 1794 was responded to with alacrity by the patriotic Baronet. In an incredibly short space of time he appeared in the field at the head of the “ Rothesay and Caithness Fencibles,” so called in compliment to the Scottish title of the Prince of Wales. The uniform of this body consisted of bonnet, plaid, and trews, from a belief that the latter was The threshing-machine was considerably improved by the late Mr. John Paton, an unassuming but ingenious millwright at Stewarton, in the county of Ayr; and we believe it is to him the country owes the invention of sheet-iron sieves for sifting meal in corn-mills, in place of the handsieve, whereby 80 much manual labour is saved. These, after three years’ experiment, he brought to great perfection, and they are now in general use. Mr. Paton was cut off suddenly in the prime of life, in January 1829, much regretted in the district where his abilities and private worth were well known. His character a8 a pious, exemplary member of society was fully and feelingly adverted to in a sermon preached on the occasion, from these words-“For me to live is Christ, but to die is great gain,” by the clergyman of the parish, the Rev. Charles B, Steven, A.N.
Volume 9 Page 88
  Shrink Shrink   Print Print