Historical memoir of the family of Eglinton and Winton

68 THE FAMILY OV
such thing as a composition with the smugglers;
and if ever it is inquired into, it will be found that
Allison not only protested against all compositions,
but even seized the part which the compounders
intended for themselves, and brought it fairly into
the Custom House. As to Achairn, at the time
when it was alleged he was guilty of this composi-
tion, so far from that, he was almost beat to death
because he would not compound, and was carryed
off the field of battle for dead.
Achairn's estate is to be sold ; Borland nor
Allison have no votes ; so that I only speak from
humanity and justice. I shall pay my respects to
Mrs Mure soon, and ever am, dear Willy, yours
sincerely — Eglintoxtn.
On none of the descendants of the renowned
Graysteel did his mantle fall more effectively and
worthily than on this his great-great-grandson, and
namesake, the patriotic and universally lamented
tenth earl. Yet, with the exception perhaps of
legislation he seems not ever to have entertained any
desire of engaging in any department of the public
service, nor hardly at all to have been attracted by
illusory court favours. But obviously from the first
he appears to have directed his attention very ex-
clusively towards the great and important object
of agricultural improvement and general ameliora-
tion of rural affairs. Before his time, but little of a
systematic nature of this kind had been attempted
along the western division of the country, nor per-
haps even on the more favoured eastern section had