people and for death, accompanying each decision with the most acrimonious reflections. In his speeches to the Legislative Assembly, he at first mentioned the name of the Supreme Being with levity, but afterwards professed himself an avowed atheist, and carried his profaneness to such an excess, that he was called the personal enemy of Jesus Christ. He wrote a book proving the nothingness of religion, which he likewise presented to the convention on the 1st. Nov. 1793: but the reign of atheism was of short duration, for on the 30th Dec. following, Robespierre obtained a decree of the convention, by which Clootz was deprived of his seat, seals put on his papers and himself confined in the Luxembourgh. Here he seemed to harden in atheism: he even reproached Paine, who had just published his "Age of Reason," and was then his fellow-prisoner, for retaining too many political and religious prejudices. On the 31st of March, 1794, he was brought before the revolutionary tribunal, together with Herbert and his party. He appealed to the human race, of whom he was the orator, but none of his clients interfered, and he was condemned to death. The night, which preceded their execution, was passed by the rest of the condemned in complaints and mutual accusations, till Clootz finished the dispute, by repeating with a loud voice, a celebrated French apologue well known by the English translation: "I dreamt, that gathered to my fellow Clay, This quotation convincing the disputants, that all their differences would soon be compromised by one common lot, brought them to a more pacific disposition. He then exhorted them to die with resolution, and endeavoured to confirm their atheistical principles, and to stifle the reproaches of conscience. His efforts failed with most of his friends, who betrayed the most dreadful alarms: but Clootz himself died with the most undaunted firmness and resolution. He insisted on being the last prisoner executed that day, in order to have an opportunity of instilling principles in the mind of each, by a short harangue, which he pronounced, as the fatal guilotine was about to descend on his neck. COCKBURN, (JOHN) Esq. of Ormiston, the father of Scottish Husbandry, inherited, from his ancestors, a moderate estate, but a large portion of genuine patriotism, and true love of his country. In the various struggles, which Scotland had been making for near two centuries, to shake off the fetters of tyranny, the family of Ormiston acted a conspicuous part. They were steady friends to the protestant reformers, active supporters of the revolution, and warmly attached to the succession of the house of Hanover. In a word, they were uniformly favourers of constitutional liberty, and enemies to despotism in whatever form it appeared. Mr. Cockburn entered upon the political stage at an early period, and, during his father's life-time, was a member of the Scottish parliament, at the memorable æra of the union of the two kingdoms, in the year 1707. He was successively elected to represent East Lothian his native county, in the parliament of Great-Britain from 1707 to 1741, and, during that time filled several public stations. But it is not his political life we mean to detail: for however brilliant it might be, and however useful he might prove to his country in his public capacities, these qualities were ecclipsed by the numerous and successful attempts he made to introduce beneficial practices, and to promote the trade and agriculture of his native country. Mr. Cockburn succeeded to the estate of Ormiston, about the year 1714. At that time, the agricul ture of Scotland was reduced to the most languishing state, the tenantry were sunk into indigence, and so far from being able to make the smallest improvement, they were mostly incapable of stocking the very grounds they occupied. Fletcher of Salton, who published a treatise upon the state of affairs in Scotland, in 1698, describes their situation as abject and miserable; and Lord Kaimes, in still stronger language, declares, that, before the union, they were so benumbed with oppression, that the most able instructor in husbandry would have made nothing of them. This miserable situation was occasioned by a great revolution, which had taken place after the accession of James I. to the throne of England, in the capital employed in cultivating the ground. Owing to a considerable number of proprietors constantly residing in that kingdom, the rents were raised; and while the avarice of the landlord increased, the trade and commerce of the country declined. This, with a succession of bad seasons, at the conclusion of the seventeenth century, completely impoverished the tenantry, and consequently reduced the husbandry of Scotland to the lowest ebb. Mr. Cockburn viewed the situation of the country with concern, and resolved to endeavour not only to rouse up a spirit amongst the landed proprietors for promoting improvements, but, also by every means of encouragement to animate the tenantry to carry on their operations with energy and vigour. Perfectly sensible, that this could only be accomplished by giving the husbandman a security for reaping the fruits of his improvements, he determined to sacrifice private interest, and to give leases, that would tempt the most indolent to exercise superior management. His conduct was imitated by many other proprietors, although not to the same extent, and the consequences were soon evident. Open fields were inclosed, wet lands were drained, new methods of cropping were introduced, and a superior cultivation was prac tised. The effects of these improvements restored the capital formerly lost by the husbandman, and changed the face of the country from being barren and waste, to the most fruitful appearance. In the year 1716, Mr. Cockburn commenced his operations upon the infields of Ormiston, which he inclosed with ditches and hedges, interspersed with trees of the most useful kinds, and a variety of beautiful flowering shrubs, all in the English style, which remain to this day as a proof of his genius and taste, Having thus set an example to his tenants, he, in the year 1718, re-let a farm to one of the most ancient of them, and gave a lease renewable, every nineteen years, upon very moderate terms, under the express conditions, that the tenant should inclose the whole, at his own expence; which was immediately carried into execution, and the ridges levelled and straightened, in conformity to the different inclosures. Soon after, similar leases were granted to his other tenants, and the whole estate was, in a few years, completely inclosed. But the enterprising spirit of this truly great man did not rest here. In giving long leases, he enabled his tenants to make improvements; but still it was necessary to teach them how these improvements should be conducted. For this purpose, he brought down skilful people from England, who introduced the culture of turnips, rape and red clover; and, at the same time he sent up the sons of his tenants to study agriculture, in the best cultivated counties of that kingdom; experiments were, likewise made of the effects of enriching land, by flooding, it with water, a practice at present much extolled. Turnips were sown upon his estate, so early as the year 1725, and he brought the culture of this valuable root to such perfection, that in 1735, a turnip of his raising, weighing 34 3-4 lb. was carried to Edinburgh and exhibited as a show. A society for promoting improvements in agricul ture was also established at Ormiston, under the patronage of Mr. Cockburn, of which many patriotic noblemen and gentlemen were members; and not only the tenants of the estate, but aho those residing in the neighbourhood were invited to attend. This salutary institution was attended with the happiest effects, and young men, from all quarters, flocked to Ormiston, to learn new modes of cultivation. Nor were Mr. Cockburn's exertions confined to agriculture alone. His active mind embraced every object of industry, which promised to be of advantage to his country. When efforts were making to introduce the linen manufacture, he seized the opportunity of lending his aid, by establishing a colony of Irishmen upon his estate, for carrying on that manufacture; and erected a bleachfield, the second in Scotland, for whitening fine linens, which were formerly sent to Hærlem, in Holland. To these Irishmen, the country were indebted for the importation of that valuable root the potatoe, which was raised in the fields of Ormiston so early as 1734; and being agreeable to every taste, rapidly spread over all Scotland, and now forms so considerable a part of the subsistence of the people. The numerous attempts of this worthy man to increase the prosperity of his country, display a mind fired with real and genuine patriotism; all his cotempories agree, that no individual carried his exertions to a greater length, and the early superiority of the East Lothian husbandry, over the rest of Scotland, is attributed by our agricultural writers to the long leases he granted. We are not informed of the precise time of this worthy man's death; but when the whole of his exertions to promote improvements, and introduce a spirit of industry are considered, we are warranted to pronounce him" The father of Scottish husbandry, an ornament to his country, and an honour to the county of East Lothian, which gave him birth.”, |