LIFE OF Slit JOHN SINCLAIR.

Sin Joutst SINCLAIR was unquestionably a remarkable man, and a benefactor to his country. his industry and perseverance were indefatigable, his acquirements extensive, and his abilities consi- derable in degree, though in kind of an every-day order. His powers of persuasion must also have been eminent ; or, which is equally effective, he was so persevering, and insensible to re- fusal, that people assented to his views to get rid or his importu- nities. If he brought to Isis tasks rather more of the industry of a drudge than the comprehension of a philosopher or the ani- mated elegance of a polite scholar, it must be conceded that his History of the Public Revenue and his Statistical Account of Scotland were not only valuable in themselves, but gave an im- pulse to financial and staliatical science. By his ceaseless exer- tions to advanee agriculture, in In-lilt, in Parliament, and amongst his innumerable acquaintance. he materially contributed to its temporary improvemeut, and laid the fitundation of that co- operation which has done something (though much remains to do) towards raisiog the farmers to the level of the urban classes in point of intelligence and aptness in profiting by the experience of others and in communicating their own. As a politician, he was a trimmer without meaning it ; representing nail her rirr, nor Fox, nor PORTLAND, (the people in those days were not

thought of,) but himself, and voting with all by turns without

securing the thanks of any. Still, however, be is entitled to the high praise of being honest in a time of gross corruption, inde- pendent in an age of party, and a Reformer when Pirr had aban-

doned Reform and the Whigs were endeavouring to soeer it down. As a local improver, he stands at the head of his class. Ile found Caithness " barren all," he left it "a goodly county and a rich."

As a busy, influential, and useful man, as a various and volumi- nous writer, his name will be preserved to posterity ; but his works were for an age, not for all time. He discovered nothing new ; he put nothing old into a novel and enduring form. He was neither a guide nor a teacher, but a propeller. He found the age moving in a certain direction, and he assisted to give it a shove in the way it was going.

The incidents in the life of Sir JOHN SINCLAIR are not of so peculiar a nature as to require any seriatim notice. Instead of

tracing his career step by step, we will gather together a few of its results, so as to indicate at least the nature of his cha- racter. Of his industry some notion may be formed from an enumeration of his printed works, so far as they can be ascer-

tained. Of books' written by himself, the titles are ten in num- ber, forming eighteen volumes; the books planned, arranged.

edited, and partly written by him, consist of one hundred and six volumes; the pamphlets and other tracts, not rising to the dignity of a volume, are three hundred and sixty-seven ; the papers

left behind hitn are loosely estimated at forty or fifty thousand. The variety of subjects he handled may be guessed by selecting the titles of a few of his tracts—the number showing the as- sumed order of publication.

too. Hints regarding the use of Coffee as a beverage, and on the art of mak- ing it, addressed to the members of the Alfred. 116. A General View of the Priuciples of the Christian Faith, as explained in Miss Hannah Sinclair's Treatise on that subject.

119. Evidence to prove that the celebrated air, called " Gratnmachree Molly," was composed in Seotlaud. 138. Hints as to the most advantageous Mode of Managing the Merino breed of Sheep in Caithness. 140. On the Uses of Camomile Tea.

151. Devotional Paper on the Distrewes of the country.

153. Letter on Mountain Dew.

159. On the impropriety of indulging Grief for the Loss of near Relations or particular Friends. 160. Proofs of the numerous Advantages derived from the Bank Restric- tion, awl of the Mischievous Consequeuce; which have resulted from the re- sutnption of Cash Payments. 179. On the Cure and Prevention of Fever, Cholera, and other Diseases, by means of Cold Bathing. 200. Gretua Green Marriages. On the means of preventing Clandestine Marriages by Natives of Eugland or Ireland, in Scotland, with the Sketch of a Bill drawn up for that purpose. 205. Account of a Singular Mole of Preventing Coughs and Sore Throats, by diminishing the Length of the Uvula. 308. I'lan of a Meeting for constituting a Society to Supply the City of London with Milk and other Articles, the Produce of the Dairy.

316. Information respecting the Castle of Duusiunan, or Dunainane, mad on tae prohoelity that Shakepeare h A collected on the spot the Traditions of the u Country respecting Macbeth, and founded thereon his celebrated i Drama. 317. Hints regarding Cattle, drawn up with the view of being inserted n the Ana!vide of the Statistical Account of Scotland. 322. On Drilling Culmnifelous or Coro Crops, with observations on the Row Culture f r Crops of Grain.

304. On the Sleans of Saving the Nation from Impending Calamities : Plan for issuing Twenty Millions of One Pound Notes by the Commissioners fur paying off the National Debt, foureleel on National Security. 326. On Ventilation, awl the Means of Iwproving it ; with 4 Diagram.

327. I lints on the Importance of Wealth. 338. Plan for procuring the Sum neceesary to Complete the Thames Tunnel. 864. Information regarding the Carlisle end Keswick Codlin Apples.

But it is not as a mere author that the industry of Sir JOHN SINCLAIR must be measured. His correspondence extended to the four quarters of the globe ; he was a Parliamentary and public speaker; whilom a soldier; connected with many societies ; and see what " activity," as his sou truly calls it, he displayed as a senator, taking " An active part, nearly at the same period (1800, in no leis than eleven Parliamentary proceedings,—nainely. the Committee on Highways and Broad Wheels. the Cat water of Plymouth Committee, the Scotch Canal and Road Bill, the Scotch Forfeited E•tatee Bill, the Sconili Exchequer Committee Bill, the Draining Tile Bill, the Seotch Dietillery Bill, the NI/1101) of Arcot s Bill, the Stage Coach Bill, the Caithness Road Bill, and the Bell Rock Lighthouse Bill."

Again-

" At one period Sir John held the following public situations: Commanding Officer of the Camp at Aberdeen, President of a General Own- martial sitting there, Colonel of two regiment. of Fencible., a Director of the Bank of Scot- land, Chairman of the British Wool Society. Lord Pi overt of the Royal Burgh of Wick, a Director of the B, itisi. Fishing Society, C lllll missioner for the issue of Exchequer Bills, Member of Parliament for Caithness, and President of the Board of Agriculture."

It requires no very great reflection to determine, that a man who meddled with so many things and of so great a variety could not have thoroughly mastered any. Sir Jon N's early training prevented him, however, from beiog the mere superficial busy- body that a jack-of-all-trades generally is. At the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow he was indefatigable in the severer and graver studies ; and at Glasgow he is said to have acquired a good deal of commercial knowledge. He subsequently studied for the Scottish bar, and with such effect, that on passing his examination one of the examiners exclaimed, "I belie\ e you know more of the subject than any of us." He afterwards en- tered at Lincoln's Inn to be called to the English bar, and the next year matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge, as the last educational step in preparing himself for public life. Having been left very early with the management of a large estate but a comparatively small rental, his interests made him practically acquainted with agriculture ; his early tours on the Continent, turning as he did every observation to account, enriched his mind with knowledge of various life; and his early intimacy with ADAM SMITH and other eminent men must have sobered whilst it sharpened his intellect. His industry, however, was the great means which carried him creditably through his manifold un- dertakings; and those who would imitate him in his multifarious pursuits must copy his early arrangement of time.

Sleep 7 hr urs.

Dressing I oi —

Meals and relaxation 21 — Exercise Study 24 Considered as a biography, the merits of this work are not first- rate; either because Sir Jonsis life was so devoted to public affairs that he left himself no time for living, or because a son is not the best fitted to bring forth the peculiarities of manner and conduct in a father, if he even knows them. It is, however, a solid, able, painstaking, and fair production ; giving a brief and clear précis of the hero's principal works, and the manner in which he amassed his materials; and furnishing a very pleasant account of the different Continental tours which he performed. It also con- tains some reports of Sir JOHN'S crack speeches; a flattering narrative of his public conduct during times of great commercial difficulty, when the author of the History of Finance was looked up to as an oracle; au interesting account of his agricultural exertions and their practical results; with many anecdotes of

contemporaries. A glimpse, moreover, is got behind the scenes of the political drama, during the early part of the Revolutionary war; and a very dirty view it is. PITT especially comes out bad,—domineering, techy, consequential, Utile, the exact personation of SinaintN's bitter retort of "the angry boy, in The Alchemist." Not only did he deem independence a political sin, but, unlike Tory policy in general, he considered it a reason for personal discourtesy ; and according to the votes of Sir JOHN and the wants of the Minister do his letters vary from " dear sir" to " sir," and then up to "my dear sir."

As is the work 80 shall be our specimens—of a miscellaneous kind.

First Fruits or Country Improrements.—During a short residence at Stoke Newington, near London, he became attached to Sarah, dau liter of Alexander Maitland, Esq., a gentleman of Snitch extraction. As ilk young lady was heiress to a considerable fortune, and had been carefully educated, the eandi dates for her hand were numerous ; and the young laird of Ulhster, notwith- standing a handsome person and accomplished manners, had less prospect of success from the lemoteness of his paternal domains, situated as they were in those recesses of the North which English prejudice once placed beyond the pale of comfort, refinement, and civilization. A curiouseiremnstance determined the contest in his favour. one of his rivals had taken an excursion to the Highlands, and, after proceeding as far as Inverness, was recalled unexpectedly 2 —.

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to England. On his return, he explained to the ladies at Stoke Newington his disappointment at having been unable to complete hi tour. He had heard be sun, of a young gentleman in Caithness, named Sinclair, who appeared to' be an extraordinary character, and was carrying on improvements in that ccuntry with an energy never before heard of. Twelve hundred men had been assembled in one day, to make a road over a hill which had been looked upon as impassable; and plans for introducing commerce and manufactures, and for advancing agriculture. were in daily progress under the Ehispices of this hyper- borean improver. This encoinium proved unfortunate for the good-natured eulogist. His competitor rose, at his expense, in the young lady's eetiniation. Mr. S.inclair's proposal was accepted, the marriage-contract drawn up, and no. thing more required than to name the slay.

A Regal Judgment on his Second Wedding.—On their presentation at Court, his Majesty made the complimentary remark, " that, although he bad seen handsomer men and handeomer women than Sir John and Lady Sinclair, they were the handsomest link who had ever been presented to him."

Hints to Patrons.—His ancestors, as I have already mentioned, had tie- qttired a right of superiority over the burgh of Wick, the county town ; and in

tue of that right he possessed a veto on the election of the Provost and Consideling the niinority of their superior a favourable opportunity for an invasion of his rights, certain malecontents in the burgh and neighbour- hood hail recourse to intimidation, offering various insults to himself and his adherents. These outbreakings of local violence were met by proper firmness on the part of the young proprietor. Ile resolved that no concession should be wrung from him by threats; he sent a special summons to his own tenantry and those of his surrounding friends; and, aseembling an array of twelve hun- dred persons, overawed the disaffected burghers no completely, that they aban- doned their design of interrupting the election. From this affair Mr. Sinclair received a lesson which he never afterwards forgot. " One of the leaders in these disturbances," lie says, in his private memoranda, " informed me that he was ex imperated to oppose me by my neglect in not answering a letter. I was thence induced never to fall again into the same error."

A .Nnble Pigeon lancier.—Dining with Count Orloff, the Scottish Stranger was shown a reinarkalde species of pigeons, valued in Russia as much is falcons formerly were in England. They are taught to ascend out of sight, and to return again in circles with 'such precision as to alight our the finger kern which they took their flight. The Orloff family were supposed to have expended 20,000/. on this amusement. A merchant having a dwellinglionse and pigeon-house to dispeee of, demanded 20,000 rubles for the two. " Including the pigeons," said a nobleman, who knew the value of the breed, " I will give you 14,000 rubles (2,3301. ) for your property, but without them not 2,000 rubles" (3301.); thus valuing the pigeons at 2,000/. sterling.

Imperial Anecdotes.—The Emperor (Joseph) appeared to suspect that he was not regarded with much favour in England. Speaking one day to Culonel Gordon, an English officer, whom he had placed next to him at table, " Your King," he said, " does not like Germany, at least Upper Gourley. Had been well used by England, she might have depended on my friendship, and would never have lost America," Nothing, indeed, could have been more im- politic and disgraceful than the negligence of the English Government towards the Court of Vienna. Sir Robert Murray Keith assured toy father, that for weeks his despatches to Downing Street remained unanswered. " I wish," said lie, " that they would only send me large packets iif old newspapers, the receipt of which would give me some little consequence in the eyes of the Aus- trian Government." The Emperor was much annoyed by a foolish speech of Sir Nathaniel Wraxall in our House of Commons. He considered it beneath the Imperial dignity to speak publicly upon the subject himself ; but persons in Iris confidence expressed on his part their indignation at the idea that the " Emperor's sword, like a lawyer's tongue, was to be hail for hire." [We did not think Sir NATI' A NIEL had SO much sarcasm in him.]

Hume Sainted.—The facetious Lord Bannatyne assured me, that one of the streets leading out of St. Andrew's Square was, by a strange misnomer, called St. David Street, in compliment to the historian. During the discussion of the subject by the civic authorities, the simple name of David Street was con- sidered vulgar, and the prefix of Saint was added to give it consequence. When the resolution was adopted, one of the Bailies, happening to meet Hume, asked him to guest what honour had been conferred upon him. Hume confessed his inability to conjecture. " You will be surprised," continued the Bailie, " to hear that we have made a sena (saint) of you." " That," answered David, "is the very last honour I ever expected to receive." Hume did not always admit his principles to be so bad as they were suspected to be. A letter was one day brought to him, addressed " To Hume the Atheist." " Take that letter to Lord Karnes," was his answer to the bearer. henry Home, Lord Karnes, was author of the Sketches of Man.

A Humorist—Mr. Bosville scarcely ever quitted the Metropolis : he used to say that London was the best residence in winter, and that he knew no place like it in summer. One year, when in Yorkshire, he made a point of not visit- ing his own estates, lest he should be irrvolved in the cares and troubles of a landed pi oinietor. liut though he seldom really travelled, he sometimes made imaginary journies. Ile used to mention as a grave fact, that once he visited the Scilly Isles, nnil attended a ball at St. Mary's, where he found a young lady giving hire& great airs, because her education had received a " finish " at the " Land's End." Another of his stories was, that having been at Rome during the last illness of Clement the Fourteenth, he went daily to the Vatican to ascer- tain what chance he had of enjoying the spectacle of an installation. The bulle- tin., according to my grand -uncle's playful imagination, were variously ex pre!sed, but each more alarming than its predecessor. First, "his Holiness Is very 111;" next, "Iris Excellency is worse ; " then, " his Eminence is in a very low stater and at last, the day before the Pope explicit, came forth the startling announce- ment, " his Infallibility is delirious." This pleasant original occasionally coined anecdotes at the expense his own guests, and related them to their lace, for the amusement of the compnny. Parson Este was once editor of a paper called The Wor/d; and Beeville alleged of him bekre a large party, that one day gentleman in deep mourning mune to him at the office, requesting the insertion of it ready made panegylic on his brother, who had died a few days befoie. " No," answered the reverend editor, your brother did not choose to die in oiltiiirn.T:wspaper ; and, that being the case, 1 can find no room for eulogies upon

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Among Mr. Busville's Liberal friends, was the noted author of the Political Register. While Cobbett was in Nelegate, my grand.uncle went in state, with four horses to his carriage, to vieit the prisoner ; and afterwards presented him with a thousand pounds in token of sympathy, as he tettried it, with the persecuted sufferer. The party it, Weltseck.Strect, as may be supposed, never stood very high in favour of the Government. The butler one day whispered to Mr. Bosville, after dinner, that some gentlemen insisted upon seeing him in the antechamber. Going out to their, he found Townshend, the police-officer, and his myrmidons, in quest of two noted democrats, then actually seated at the dinner-table. Beeville receive! " the gentlemen" with great civility, and offered them refreshments if they would not interrupt the socialities of the dining- room, pledging himself to be security for the objects of their search. These functionaries appear to have been almost as accommodating as the bailiffs who so obligingly augmented the retinue of Sir Richard Steele, ut his memo-

table entertainment. Having made this arrangement, Bosville returned to table witl t the slightest symatom of discomposure, and prolonged the enter- tainment till the usual hour. While the company were withdrawing, the badf.. were allowed to execute thew office, and carried off the aatontahed guests to prison.

The concluding days of Bosville are a melancholy evidence of the force of habit. Ile wished his dinner • parties to be euntimed to the very last. His health declined, and his convivial powers deserted him ; but the elate hung as usual in the hall, and he felt more anxiety than ever that the lists of guests

p it should not fail of its appointed number. Habitually inclined to seepti- iron •

sism, he was not prepared, amidst increasing infirmities, to seek far comfort in religion. Even during his last hours, when he was confined to his chamber, the hospitable board was regularly spread below. Ile insisted upon reports • from time to time of the jocularities cahhi ig forth the laughter which still as- sailed his etc ; and on the vet y too, aiog of his death gave orders for an enter- tainment punctually at the usual hour, which be did not live to see. It would be writ Mr those who think that teligious consolations are easily attainable on a

death bed, and w itl t habitual preparation, to take solemn warning from the last liniments of llosville.

The Happiness if a Ttading Politician. —On a court day in December, the same year ( I795), my father happened to meet air. Secretary pandas at St. James's, who pressed him to name a day far visiting him at Wimbledon. The day fixed upon chanced to be the last of the year. The patty was nume- rous, and included a!r. Pitt. Sir John remained all night; and next morning, seem:dim; to Scottish custom, resolved to pay his host an early visit in his own apartment. He found the secretary in the library, reading a lung paper on the hurl tauce of conquering the Cape, as an additional security to our Indian pos- sessions. His guest shook him by the baud, adding the usual congratulation, 4' I come, my friend, to wish you a good new year, and many happy returns of the season." The secretary, after a short pause. replied, with some emotion,

I hope this year will be happier than the last ; for I scarcely recollect having spent one happy day in the whole of it." 'f his confession, coining from an in-

dividual whose whole life hitherto had been a series of tr phs, and who ap- peared to stand secure upon the summit of political ambition, was often dwelt upon by my father as exemplifying the vanity of human wishes.

Bishop Watson on Government Promotion.—You may be praised, but you will not be promoted to any beneficial situatiun, for Government is jealous of abilities united with a spirit of independence.

A Hint to Whips in Qtlice.—Sir John, when President of the Board of Agriculture, observedhavariably a rule to receive with:eivilty all visiters, whether they came to ask or to give intelligence. He knew how frequently the conductors of a public department consider themselves insulted by individuals resuming to advise them, as if advice implied aspersion on their sagacity or knowledge. For his own part, he made no pretensions to this official plenitude of wisdom. Even vhen the propositions made to him were maidestly absurd, he listened to his adviser with attention, and dismissed him with urbanity, A gentleman, who pi °posed to drain Ow kinyhma with the broken china of the East India flimsy, was so pleased with his polite reception, as to offer, in return, his vute at the next election, either for Kent or Middlesex.

A hint to Radical Outs.—As the result of much experience, my father was led to the conclusion, that associations composed of independent men have no adequate principles of cohesion, and are of little practical utility. All the mem- bers are eager to guide, and none willing to follmv. Each is inordinately at- tached to his own, opinions ; and, when these are not adopted, he takes thence, and withdraws himself. Sir John saw the abselute necessity of regularly. formed parties unit complicated government like ours ; and frequently declared, that if the House of Commons consisted solely, or even principally, of men acknowledging no leader—meu proceediug on uo fixed principles of union, the liminess of the nation must soon be at a stand. Lord Melville used to express this sentiment very pointedly in his favourite toast, "a strung Administration and a firm Opposition."

Finis.—After a few days he (Sir John Sinclair) seemed much revived, and

we began to hope that all immediate danger was over. How far the patient participated in these hopes cannot be known, as he must have felt it necessary, in the decay of his physical energy, to avoid a scene so deeply touching in an attached family as a last farewell. My last conversation with hint was on the morning of the 21st, when, after topics of a more serious nature, I accidentally mentioned that I was going to attend a meeting on the religious education of the Highlanders. This led him to express his warm attachment to the people of the Highlands, and his deep regret that their moral and religious welfare had been hitherto so impel fectly provided Mr. These were the last words I beard hint utter. In the afternoon of that day, a week from the commencement of his illness, symptoms of immediate dissolution suddenly alarmed us. Medical

advice was resorted to, hut without effect. As he felt his end approaching, he ordered every one to withdraw. "All is now over," said he, " retire, that I may pray." lie closed the curtains, and his voice was heard in audible suppli- cation to Almighty God. Soon after he had ceased, it was ascertained that be had fainted. From this state he did not recover ; and such was the serenity of his departure, that though several of its were watching anxiously around him, it was impossible to tell at what moment he expired.