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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
Verily； verily； I say unto you； if your barns be filled； and your girnell…kists
can hold no more； seek till ye shall find the tume basins of the poor； and
therein pour the corn； and the oil； and the wine of your abundance； so shall
ye be blessed of the Lord。〃 The which words I took for an admonition；
and directing the sacks to be brought into the dining…room and other
chambers of the manse； I sent off the heritors' servants； that had done me
this prejudice； with an unexpected thankfulness。 But this； as I afterwards
was informed； both them and their masters attributed to the greedy grasp
of avarice； with which they considered me as misled； and having said so；
nothing could exceed their mortification on Monday； when they heard （for
they were of those who had deserted the kirk） that I had given by the
precentor notice to every widow in the parish that was in need； to come to
the manse and she would receive her portion of the partitioning of the
augmentation。 Thus； without any offence on my part； saving the
strictness of justice； was a division made between me and the heritors； but
the people were with me； and my own conscience was with me； and
though the fronts of the lofts and the pews of the heritors were but thinly
filled； I trusted that a good time was coming； when the gentry would see
the error of their way。 So I bent the head of resignation to the Lord； and；
assisted by the wisdom of Mr Kibbock； adhered to the course I had
adopted； but at the close of the year my heart was sorrowful for the schism；
and my prayer on Hogmanay was one of great bitterness of soul； that such
an evil had come to pass。
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
CHAPTER XXIX YEAR 1788
It had been often remarked by ingenious men； that the Brawl burn；
which ran through the parish； though a small； was yet a rapid stream； and
had a wonderful capability for damming； and to turn mills。 From the
time that the Irville water deserted its channel this brook grew into repute；
and several mills and dams had been erected on its course。 In this year a
proposal came from Glasgow to build a cotton…mill on its banks； beneath
the Witch…linn； which being on a corner of the Wheatrig； the property of
Mr Cayenne； he not only consented thereto； but took a part in the profit or
loss therein； and； being a man of great activity； though we thought him； for
many a day； a serpent…plague sent upon the parish； he proved thereby one
of our greatest benefactors。 The cotton…mill was built； and a spacious
fabric it wasnothing like it had been seen before in our day and
generationand； for the people that were brought to work in it； a new town
was built in the vicinity； which Mr Cayenne； the same being founded on
his land； called Cayenneville； the name of the plantation in Virginia that
had been taken from him by the rebellious Americans。 From that day
Fortune was lavish of her favours upon him； his property swelled； and
grew in the most extraordinary manner； and the whole country side was
stirring with a new life。 For； when the mill was set a…going； he got
weavers of muslin established in Cayenneville； and shortly after； but that
did not take place till the year following； he brought women all the way
from the neighbourhood of Manchester； in England； to teach the lassie
bairns in our old clachan tambouring。
Some of the ancient families； in their turreted houses； were not pleased
with this innovation； especially when they saw the handsome dwellings
that were built for the weavers of the mills； and the unstinted hand that
supplied the wealth required for the carrying on of the business。 It sank
their pride into insignificance； and many of them would almost rather have
wanted the rise that took place in the value of their lands； than have seen
this incoming of what they called o'er…sea speculation。 But； saving the
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ANNALS OF THE PARISH
building of the cotton…mill； and the beginning of Cayenneville； nothing
more memorable happened in this year； still it was nevertheless a year of a
great activity。 The minds of men were excited to new enterprises； a new
genius； as it were； had descended upon the earth； and there was an erect
and outlooking spirit abroad that was not to be satisfied with the taciturn
regularity of ancient affairs。 Even Miss Sabrina Hooky； the
schoolmistress； though now waned from her meridian； was touched with
the enlivening rod； and set herself to learn and to teach tambouring； in
such a manner as to supersede by precept and example that old time…
honoured functionary； as she herself called it； the spinning…wheel； proving；
as she did one night to Mr Kibbock and me； that； if more money could be
made by a woman tambouring than by spinning； it was better for her to
tambour than to spin。
But； in the midst of all this commercing and manufacturing； I began to
discover signs of decay in the wonted simplicity of our country ways。
Among the cotton…spinners and muslin weavers of Cayenneville were
several unsatisfied and ambitious spirits； who clubbed together； and got a
London newspaper to the Cross…Keys； where they were nightly in the habit
of meeting and debating about the affairs of the French； which were then
gathering towards a head。 They were represented to me as lads by
common in capacity； but with unsettled notions of religion。 They were；
however； quiet and orderly； and some of them since； at Glasgow； Paisley；
and Manchester； even； I am told； in London； have grown into a topping
way。
It seems they did not like my manner of preaching； and on that account
absented themselves from public worship； which； when I heard； I sent for
some of them； to convince them of their error with regard to the truth of
divers points of doctrine； but they confounded me with their objections；
and used my arguments； which were the old and orthodox proven opinions
of the Divinity Hall； as if they had been the light sayings of a vain man。
So that I was troubled； fearing that some change would ensue to my
people； who had hitherto lived amidst the boughs and branches of the
gospel unmolested by the fowler's snare； and I set myself to watch
narrowly； and with a vigilant eye； what would come to pass。
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There was a visible increase among us of worldly prosperity in the
course of this year； insomuch that some of the farmers； who were in the
custom of taking their vendibles to the neighbouring towns on the
Tuesdays； the Wednesdays； and Fridays； were led to open a market on the
Saturdays in our own clachan； the which proved a great convenience。
But I cannot take it upon me to say； whether this can be said to have well
begun in the present Ann。 Dom。； although I know that in the summer of
the ensuing year it was grown into a settled custom； which I well recollect
by the Macadams coming with their bairns to see Mrs Malcolm； their
mother； suddenly on a Saturday afternoon； on which occasion me and Mrs
Balwhidder were invited to dine with them； and Mrs Malcolm bought in
the market for the dinner that day； both mutton and fowls； such as twenty
years before could not have been got for love or money on such a pinch。
Besides； she had two bottles of red and white wine from the Cross…Keys；
luxuries which； saving in the Breadland House in its best days； could not
have been had in the whole parish； but must have been brought from a
borough town； for Eaglesham Castle is not within the bounds of
Dalmailing； and my observe does not apply to the stock and store