the native sheep, yet it differs widely from the true Spanish. We have a particular breed of rams got at Crimea, whose skins are chiefly made use of by the nobility for their wintercaps, trimmings and linings of their pellices, &c. Amongst the Kalmucks, in their hordes about Orenburgh, there is a kind of very large ram; they are chiefly of dark greyish colour; their wool is very long and rough, but their meat is delicate. On the hind part of their body, that is, about the rump, they have from twenty to forty pounds of fat; and this fat is different from that found in the common ram; it resembles more the meat of the cow's udder. This is all I know of sheep, which I beg you will communicate to Sir John; only he must forgive me my silence, for I do love and esteem him; and, if he should wish to have any or all the above-mentioned sorts of rams sent him, I shall undertake the commission with pleasure. I am, with perfect regard, and very sincere good wishes, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, COUNT ALEXIS ORLOW CHESMENSKOY. Mosqua, January 11-22. 1795. The hints as to the management of horses, contained in this letter, are extremely valuable. 5. THE COMTE WORONZOW. The Woronzow family is one of the most distinguished in Russia. The eldest had resided in England as ambassador, and, on his return to Russia, was placed at the head of the commercial department, where his opinions were held in high estimation, for he was a laborious and plodding man, and was much admired at a court, where very few of the nobility can undergo the labour of application to business. He was succeeded in the English embassy by a younger brother, who was justly considered to be one of the most re spectable characters in the diplomatic line of any at the Court of London. On resolving to visit Russia, I was particularly anxious to form an acquaintance with him, and was highly gratified with the very flattering terms in which he expressed himself on that occasion. Le Comte Woronzow * presente ses complimens, et se parfait reconnaissance, à Monsieur le Chevalier Sinclair, pour l'excellent ouvrage dont il a bien voulu lui faire cadeau. Plus il connait le merite de ces ouvrages, plus il s'estime heureux d'avoir eu l'honneur.de faire la connaissance de leur estimable auteur. Il y a longtemps qu'il desirait de la faire, et ses vœux sout exaussées. I afterwards found Comte Woronzow most anxious to promote the measures I was pursuing for the general improvement of agriculture and statistics in all countries, as appears from the following communication: MONSIEUR LE CHEVALIER †, Je m'empresse de vous remercier des ouvrages intéressans que vous m'avez fait, Monsieur, l'honneur de m'envoyer. Je * Translation. Count Woronzow presents his compliments, and his best thanks to Sir John Sinclair, for the excellent work which he has presented him with. The more he discovers the merit of these works, the more he appreciates the honour of having made an acquaintance with their esteemed author. It is long since he entertained a wish to do so, and his desire is now accomplished. I hasten to return you my best thanks for the interesting works which you have done me the honour to send to me. I shall not fail to dispose of them in the manner you desire, and I have no doubt that your researches will be universally seconded, and your labours accompanied by those acknowledgments due to objects of such general utility. With sentiments of the most distinguished esteem, I have the honour to be, &c. Harley Street, 19th May 1792. VOL. II. S S. C. WORONZOW. ne manquerai pas d'en disposer de la manière que vous le désirez; et je ne doute pas que vos recherches soient universellement secondés, et vos travaux accompagnés de la reconnaissance due à des objets d'une utilité aussi générale. C'est avec les sentimens de la consideration la plus distinguée que j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur le Chevalier, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, S. C. WORONzow. 6. THE PRESIDENT OF THE IMPERIAL SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE AT ST PETERSBURGH. I had the honour of being admitted a Member of the Imperial Agricultural Society of St Petersburgh in 1792; and having communicated my intentions of sending to that respectable institution, a copy of my Code of Agriculture, as soon as an opportunity of transmitting it occurred, I was favoured, in return, with the following polite acknowledgment from the President: MONSIEUR LE BARONET *, La Société Impérial Economique de St Pétersbourg a reçu de vous, son très honoré membre, la lettre datée le 9me Juin 1817, dans laquelle vous annoncez l'impression de votre Code de l'Agriculture, et en voulez bien nous promettre l'envoie. SIR, * Translation. St Petersburgh, August 4. 1817. The Imperial Agricultural Society of St Petersburgh has received from you, its much honoured member, the letter dated the 9th of June 1817, in which you mention the publication of your Code of Agriculture, of which you are pleased to promise us a copy. The Society will receive it with gratitude, as a learned work, tending to advance the interests of agriculturists, and will make use of it accordingly. Receive the testimony of the regard and high respect with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant, The President of the Imperial Society of Agriculture at St Petersburgh. La Société le recevra comme ouvrage savant, et utile au bien-être des cultivateurs, avec reconnoissance, et en fera usage conforme à son but. Recevez le témoignage de la considération et du haut respect, avec lesquels j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur le Baronet, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, President et Metropolitain de Siestroncowicz. St Petersbourg, ce 4. d'Août 1817. 7.-PRINCE GABRIEL DE GAGARIN. This Prince held a high office at Moscow,—that of “ Procureur de Senat." I had a letter of introduction to him, which I had the pleasure of delivering on my arrival there, (the 11th of September 1786). The Prince had been eight months in England, but had not learnt to speak English. We had a good deal of discussion together in French, regarding the Ukraine, (which I proposed to visit in my way to Poland), the commerce of Russia, &c. He maintained, that Constantinople could be much more easily supplied with grain from the Ukraine, than from Egypt. His conversation was remarkably polite and intelligent; and so attentive was he to the comfort and safety of a total stranger, that, as appears from the subjoined letter, he actually sent a non-commissioned officer from Moscow to Kiow, as a protection, in travelling through a country which was sometimes attended with danger. A circumstance, which, at the time, I thought of little moment, insured me the most flattering reception at Moscow. The Empress, it seems, made it a rule, to speak to none introduced to her, who was not in some respect or other distinguished. When I was presented, being a member of the British Parliament, and known as an author on finance and political subjects, she gave me a most favourable reception; and when I came to Moscow, I was pointed out as the gen- tleman "whom the Empress had spoken to." the Highland dress, and been introduced as a Scottish chief, my reception would have been still more gratifying, from the novelty of the garb, and the favourable opinion entertained on the Continent, of the Scottish character. Très flatté d'avoir fait votre connoissance, mes regrets de vous perdre sitôt n'en sont que plus vifs et plus sensibles; et ce qui augmente mes désagremens, c'est que je suis obligé departir aujourd'hui pour la campagne, et par là je me vois hors de la possibilité de vous continuer mes services. Je suis assuré cépendant que mon oncle y suplééra. Le porteur de celle-ci est le bas officier qui vous accompagnera jusqu'à Kiow; c'est un brave homme, et j'espère que vous en serez content. Il vous remettra aussi une lettre pour Mr. le Gouverneur de Toula. Je vous suplie, Monsieur, de m'accorder une place dans votre souvenir, et de me croire toujours avec la considération la plus distinguée, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, Mercredi, ce 2. de Septembre, à 6. heures du matin. GABRIEL, PRINCE DE GAGARIN, SIR, * Translation, Being much flattered by your acquaintance, my regret to lose you so soon, is sincere in proportion; and what increases my mortification is, that I am obliged to set out to-day for the country, and am thus deprived of the possibility of being of further use to you. I am fully persuaded, however, that my uncle will supply my place. The bearer of this is the under officer, who will accompany you to Kiow. He is a deserving man, and I hope you will be pleased with him. He will also deliver to you a letter for the Governor of Toula. I entreat you, Sir, to grant me a place in your remembrance, and to believe me always, with the highest respect, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant, GABRIEL, PRINCE OF GAGARIN. |