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EVIDENCE FOR SUTHERLAND.

Joseph Petrie, painter, knew Sutherland, who was always a quiet lad; knew his intention of going to Glasgow, long before he went there, to look for work as a painter; he intended to have gone there about the beginning of the year.

Robert Scrimgeour has seen Sutherland; he came to witness's house, on the last night of the year, with two others, and two girls (Durie and Murphy), and remained till half past 11, when he went out with them.

Mary Murphy knows Sutherland; was with him on the last night of the year; went with him to Scrimgeour's at 10 and remained till 12; three other boys came along with them, but went away; found Mary Moffat, when she came home.

Mary Moffat lives at Mrs Imrie's, along with Mary Murphy, who came home a little after 12. Imrie was at home all that night; knows Bell Durie, who came in with Murphy when she came home.

The Solicitor General charged the Jury on the part of the Crown; Mr Simpson was heard for Macdonald, Mr Jeffrey, for Hugh Sutherland and Neil M'Intosh. The Lord Justice Clerk then summed up the evidence in a speech of great candour and accuracy. The Jury were inclosed about 4 o'clock next morning, and appointed to give in their verdict at 2 o'clock, on the same day.

The Court again met at two

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The youth of the prisoners, M'Intosh and Sutherland, as well as that of their accomplices, who were brought forward to convict them, some of whom being no more than 15 years of age, occasioned a strong sensation in the Court. To these wit nesses the Lord Justice Clerk addressed a most humane admonition; pointed out to them their close connection with the prisoners at the bar, and the very trifling accident which prevented them from standing in their place, instead of being witnesses against them. He conjured them to profit by the sad and melancholy scene before hem, and trusted that they would henceforth refrain from that idle and dissipated life, which had brought their companions into their present awful predicament.

Account of James Small, and of his Improvements in the construction of Agricultural Implements. ·

By Sir John Sinclair. From "Account of the System of Husbandry, adopted in the more improved districts of Scotland," 8vo. 1812.

TEXT to the pleasure of pro-.

o'clock, when the verdict was read, moting the improvement of a NEXT to ont

which unanimously found the three pannels guilty of two several acts of robbery, and the pannel, M'Intosh, art and part guilty of the murder of Dugald. Campbell.

country, by personal exertions, is the satisfaction of doing justice to the merit of those, who have distinguished themselves, by their suc

cessful

cessful efforts in the accomplishment of that object. I am thence induced to give some account of a native of this country, James Small, to whom Scotland, and the agricultural world in general, are peculiarly indebted. That is the more necessary, as the services of this useful mechanic have not hitherto been sufficiently known or appreciated.

James Small was born at Upset lington, in the parish of Ladykirk, and county of Berwick, about the year 1740. His father's only profession was that of a farmer. Under his superintendance, his son, the late James Small, was instructed in all the various branches of agricultural labour; a knowledge, of which he afterwards experienced the advantages.

Young Small was first bound as an apprentice to a country carpen ter and ploughmaker, at Hutton, in Berwickshire. He remained in Scotland for some time after his apprenticeship was over; but about the year 1758, he went to England, where he worked with a Mr Robertson at Doncaster, in the making of waggons and other wheel carriages.

It was in the year 1763, that he settled at Blackadder Mount in Berwickshire, under the patronage of John Renton, Esq. of Blackadder. He there set up a manufactory of ploughs and other agricultural implements; and as he at the same time occupied a farm of considerable extent, he had an opportunity of trying many experiments, which he might not otherwise have been enabled to attempt. He there contrived a device for ascertaining the best shape of the mould board, by making it of soft wood; by means of which, it soon appeared, where the pressure was the most severe, and where there was the greatest friction.

When he first settled at Blackad der Mount, the old Scotch plough was almost solely in use through Berwickshire. It was drawn by a pair of horses, with the addition of four, and sometimes six oxen; the smallest number was a pair of horses, and a pair of oxen, attended by a driver.

He began with trying experiments on his own farm, with ploughs of smaller sizes, and of different forms, proving, by a steel-yard with a stronger spring than usual, which of them performed the best work with the least force of draught.

Some persons are impressed with an idea, that he had no other merit, but that of introducing into Scotland, the Rotherham plough, or reviving a plough that had been made by an itinerant ploughmaker, called Lomax, or Lummas, many years before, but which had fallen inte disuse; neither of which however is the fact. That he was well acquainted with the Rotherham plough, appears from his own treatise on ploughs and wheel carriages, (p. 172): and he probably would adopt any particulars in the construction of that plough, which might appear advantageous; but it is well known, that he improved his own plough gradually, and by means of repeated experiments; and there is positive evidence, that instead of the Rotherham, the old Scotch plough was the foundation on which he proceeded. Besides the testimony of Lord Kames, to be afterwards quoted, his bookkeeper, Hector Heatlie, in a letter to one of the late James Small's sons, states, "That when his father began business at Blackadder Mount in 1763, there was nothing used in Berwickshire but the old Scotch plough, a comparatively very awkward instrument, which went with two oxen and two horses, and indeed often with four oxen

and

and two horses. Your father, observing the faults about her, made and introduced a plough with the broad sock, she was a short little plough, with a wood mould board, and round in the breast. You know what I mean. The mould board was round on the top, and not straight, which consequently made her worse to draw. This plough was much esteemed, and she was far easier drawn, and made tolerable neat work, especially on ley ground; but your father did not stop there, but continued to make some additional improvements on her."

Indeed, any mechanic who will take the trouble of examining the beam, the sheath, the handles, the coulter, and the muzzel or bridle of Small's improved plough, with the old Scotch one, will find the parts similar; and Mr Gray, who is so thoroughly acquainted with the construction of ploughs, is of opinion, that the superiority of Small's plough, in a great measure consists in this, that its different parts are made neater and lighter, than in the old Seotch plough, and that these parts are so much better combined together, that the line of traction, and the centre of gravity of the plough, perfectly coincide, the line of draught passing through the centre of resistance.

Like other ingenious men, James Small was distinguished by simplicity of behaviour, and modesty in his pretensions; he did not, therefore, bring himself forward, nor do himself that justice to which he was entitled. In the introduction, however, to his treatise on ploughs and wheel-carriages, he states, "The chief merit I claim in the following sheets is this, that I have given directions by which any sensible workman may be enabled to make a plough on my principles," thus claiming to himself the merit of an improved construction. In

that assertion no person ventured to contradict him, whilst he was alive to defend his own pretensions to the credit of his improvements.

In regard to the merits of Mr Small's plough, they arise from this, that the sock and the mould board are formed according to strict mechanical principles; and that those parts which enter the earth, and cut up the furrow, have that equal tapering, or sharpened wedge-like form, which occasions the least resistance in raising the furrow slice. The mould board, in particular, has that regular curve or twist, which not only lessens friction, in elevating and turning over the furrow slice, but it also places and leaves that slice in the most proper position for the beneficial effects of the atmosphere, and the operations of the harrow. Small has also the sole merit of inventing and modelling the mould board, and other parts of the plough, in cast metal, which contributed so much to the speedy extension of that valuable instrument.

It is a striking proof of the excellence of his plough, that many ploughmen in Berwickshire, for their own ease and satisfaction, offered to be at the sole expence of the wood work, if their masters would supply them with Small's plough, and would defray the other charges of the implement.

The celebrated Henry Home, Lord Kames, who was a friend to merit, and an ardent promoter of agricultural improvements, warmly patronized Small's exertions. In his Gentleman Farmer, 4th edition, chap. I. p. 5, he says, "I boldly recommend a plough introduced into Scotland about twelve years ago, by James Small in Blackadder Mount, Berwickshire, which is now in great request, and with great reason, as it avoids all the defects of the Scotch

plough,"

plough,"-evidently declaring, that the object of Small was, not to bring into use a new plough, but to remedy the defects of the old-established implement of the country; and his sons positively affirm, that during all the period whilst their father was attempting to improve his plough, they never recollect to have heard him mention the Rotherham plough; and they are certain that there never was one of them, either in his manufactory, or

on his farm.

In consequence of the great improvements made by James Small on this implement, instead of two or more horses, together with two or more oxen, formerly used, and a driver; Lord Kames had the satisfaction of seeing himself, scarce a plough with more than two horses and the ploughman, in the lower part of Berwickshire, and he then prophesied what has since taken place, that the practice would become general. It may be now considered as universally established over all the improved districts of Scotland. The saving thereby made in the expence of cultivation can hardly be calculated.

It was by Lord Kames's encouragement, and at his particular request, that James Small was prevailed upon to draw up a treatise on ploughs and wheel carriages, which was printed after his Lordship's death in 1784. This is certainly one of the best and most useful, as well as one of the earliest publications, on this interesting subject. In that treatise he gives a distinct and scientific account of the principles on which ploughs and wheel carriages ought to be constructed.

When a Farming Society was established in Ireland, consisting of the most respectable characters in that spirited and improving country, they ordered this treatise to be

reprinted; in consequence of the circulation of which, numbers of Small's improved ploughs were sent to Ireland. The demand became so great, that the society resolved to send over a person to Scotland, (Mr Robert L'Estrange), to learn the art of making Small's ploughs, and other agricultural implements. With the utmost liberality and publie spirit, though attended with much detriment to their own personal interests, every information was most readily given by Alexander Small and Company, who continue their father's profession, that they could possibly furnish; and the society have since erected a manufactory for these implements, under Mr L'Estrange's superintendance, which has spread these ploughs over the greatest part of Ireland.

It was about the end of the year 1779, or the beginning of the year 1780, that James Small made a pattern in wood for the mouldboard, and also for the land-side plates of his plough, and he took them with him to Carron, where he got them cast. They were so well shaped, and answered the purpose so well, that they gave the highest satisfaction both to gentlemen and farmers. Some years afterwards, he made another important improvement, that of getting the sheath and head, which were formerly of wood, made of castiron, by which they were rendered much less liable to injury; and indeed, when the head formerly gave way, the plough was often rendered useless. The plan of making these parts of the plough of cast metal, was one of the most important improvements ever effected in agricultural machinery; and, without which, Small's plough could never have spread so rapidly as it did over all Scotland. But when ploughmakers were thus furnished with

the

the most difficult parts of the plough, according to the most approved models, ready for putting together, the rest of the implement,, more especially after Small had explained in his treatise the principles on which it was to be formed, was much more easily constructed. The difficulties James Small had to contend with, to introduce his plough, even in his own neighbourhood, were very great, of which the following instance is recorded: The late Mr Lumsdaine of Blanerne, was one of the first who ordered the new improved plough, but his servants did all they could to prejudice their master against it, pretending it did not go well, &c., Small was then obliged to appear in the field himself, and taking the plough into his own hand, he proved to Mr Lumsdaine and all his ploughmen, how well it could work. Had he not been a good ploughman, as well as an able mechanic, be could not have thus triumphed over those who opposed the introduction of his improvements.

Having established his plough in Berwickshire, Small wished to introduce it into Mid-Lothian, where, it had met with much opposition; but being confident of the superiority of his invention, he offered to make a comparative trial. In consequence of that challenge, a competition of ploughs took place in a field near Dalkeith, in presence of many gentlemen and farmers from Berwickshire, Mid-Lothian, EastLothian, &c. A number of ploughs, were brought forward, as the old Scotch plough, several English ploughs; a plough by Mr Hutchison, with an iron-wheel, &c.; but Small's was successful, the judges having decided, that it did the best work, and was considerably lighter in the draught, than any of the others. In consequence of the success of his plough at this public

trial, it spread rapidly over all the different counties in Scotland, and, has since been adopted in many parts of England, Wales and Ireland, and in many foreign countries.

Small's plough has likewise been, successful in many other, competi tions, in England, and in Ireland, as well as in Scotland, which it is. unnecessary here to detail.

It is proper, also, to remark, that he made several improvements in other agricultural implements, besides the plough, as in harrows, rollers, winnowing machines, and, wheel carriages.

It was a rule with James Small, that whatever piece of work he undertook, whether the making of a cart or plough, or any other implement, it should be made complete; and so anxious was he, that his implements should give perfect satisfaction, that rather than suffer any insufficient work to be sent from his manufactory, he would break it to pieces, whatever loss he might thereby sustain..

There was nothing, however, by which he was more distinguished, than by his zeal to promote useful improvements in the department of agriculture.

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One who knew him well, (Hector, Heatlie, formerly his book-keeper, and now resident in Dunse), af-, firms, "that to serve his country. in the line of his profession was his incessant object, and to which he had so great a propensity, that to it he sacrificed his ease, his health, his strength, and his substance." Had it not been for this turn of mind, James Small might have left behind him a competence for his family; but instead of thinking of his pecuniary concerns, he was constantly trying experiments, and. making improvements in machine-ry. When his ploughs were sent to any distance, he was often under

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