After the journey formerly alluded to, in the course of which I had studied the characters of the various Sovereigns and Ministers in the north of Europe, no member of the British Cabinet, was so anxious to know the results of my inquiries, as Lord Thurlow. He was particularly desirous to procure some information respecting the state of Russia. After perusing the manuscript account I had drawn up of that empire, he returned it with the following note:

"The Chancellor presents his best respects to Sir John Sinclair, and returns him many thanks for the use of his observations on Russia, in which he has found much information and entertainment.

10th April 1788."

In a previous note, he had stated his regret at not having been able instantly to lay his hands on the manuscript respecting Russia, which, he observed, "though a very short and rapid account, was highly valuable, being well digested, and consisting of such particulars as afforded a most agreeable view of the subject."

Lord Thurlow having likewise expressed a wish to see the first part of the History of the Revenue, a copy was sent for his perusal, which was returned with the following note:

"The Chancellor presents his best respects to Sir John Sinclair, and returns him many thanks for his thoughts on a subject at once so interesting and complicated as the revenue of this country.

"From the perusal of the first part, he is naturally led to form the most satisfactory expectations from the sequel.

June 8. 1789."

Being much dissatisfied with the conduct of Ministers in carrying on the negociations at Lisle, I wrote my sentiments upon that subject to Lord Thurlow, and in return received

the following important communication, addressed to me at

Edinburgh, where I then resided.

Letter from Lord Thurlow to Sir John Sinclair, Bart. 27th January 1798.

DEAR SIR,

The behaviour of the French

Your letter turns upon points which cannot easily or conveniently be discussed in this way of conferring. That the war was needless, and unjust in the commencement, absurd and iniquitous in much of its conduct, the perpetual shifting of their ground by its advocates affords abundant proof. That a war, so manifestly against the apparent interests of both countries, might, at many different epochs, have been concluded, admits of no doubt; nay, perhaps even now the avenue to peace is by no means shut. negotiators at Lisle was so awkward and gross, I can put no interpretation upon it. But even that uncertainty would naturally lead to change the mode of treatment, and to feel individual pulses. The parade of a congress is ridiculous, without some previous understanding between the parties; and the means of creating that which others have tried successfully, should not be neglected on our part. The fee-simple of all the ostensible terms in question are not worth the bribe which would buy them off. When you return to town, if I can be of any use to your endeavours to bring forward any thing useful, I shall be happy to discuss it with you.

This interesting letter fully explains Lord Thurlow's real sentiments on the subject of the war with France. But Mr Pitt had, at that time, such an ascendancy over the King and the people, that it was quite impossible to remove him, and the Ministers seemed more anxious to defeat the attempts of his domestic opponents, than either to conciliate, or subdue the national enemy. Whether any means were ever taken to obtain an influence among the members of the Directory, I have never been able to ascertain; but such a plan,

if practicable, would certainly have been the easiest and cheapest mode of terminating the war.

XI.

LORD LOUGHBOROUGH, AFTERWARDS EARL OF

ROSSLYN.

From the subjoined communication, I had every reason to believe, that the Chancellor, then Lord Loughborough, was friendly to the establishment of the Board of Agriculture.

"The Chancellor presents his compliments to Sir John Sinclair, and returns him many thanks for his polite attention in sending him the draught of the proposed commission for the Board of Agriculture. He thinks, with a very few alterations, it will do perfectly well, and will take the earliest opportunity of consulting with the Attorney-General on the subject.

Bedford Square, Monday Evening.

Notwithstanding this appearance of good will, it was with great difficulty that Mr Pitt could afterwards prevail upon that learned Lord to append "The Great Seal" to the letters patent establishing the Board. On other occasions, also, the Chancellor was equally unfriendly to various measures which I considered of importance to the internal prosperity of the country, and seemed actuated with a degree of personal hostility, for which I could not account. It was at his suggestion that Lord Somerville was set up in opposition to my reelection as President of the Board, of which I was the founder and it was by his intervention, that " The General Inclosure Bill," after being carried through the House of Commons, was thrown out in the Lords.

r;

In justice, however, to a political opponent now no more,

I think it right to state, that in the most trying circumstances, he maintained the integrity of his judicial character. It is well known how closely he was connected with the late Duke of Portland. The Marquis of Titchfield, the Duke's son, married Miss Scott, the eldest daughter and joint heiress of General Scott. Besides the immense property left by her father, she had likewise a claim, by the death of her relation, Sir Robert Gordon, to the valuable estate of Gordonstoun, in the county of Moray. The other claimant was Mr Cumming of Altyre; and in the litigation before the Court of Session, a decision was given in his favour. It was appealed to the House of Lords, when Lord Loughborough sat upon the Woolsack. Knowing that, in the peculiar circumstances of the case, the eyes of the public would be upon him, he earnestly requested Lord Thurlow's assistance in deciding the question. It is singular that Lord Thurlow's opinion was favourable to Lord and Lady Titchfield, whereas Lord Loughborough thought that the question ought to be decided in favour of Mr Cumming. Had he chosen to acquiesce in the opinion given by Lord Thurlow, in favour of the Titchfield family, a large fortune would have devolved upon the son of his friend; but greatly to his credit, he decided in favour of Mr Cumming. For this single act, so highly creditable to the purity of English jurisprudence, I forgive Lord Rosslyn all the injuries he did me.

It has often been asserted, that Dr Franklin had declared in company, after the celebrated attack made on him by Mr Wedderburn," That he did not value what such a fellow had said, but that he would make his master repent it ;" and the late Alexander Small, Esq., a great friend of the Doctor's, was said to have been present at the conversation. I had the curiosity to inquire of Mr Small, whether the story was true, and received an answer upon the subject, dated Newent, (in Gloucestershire), 5th March 1793, from which the following is an extract:

"As to the anecdote of Dr Franklin, the case is as follows: The day after Wedderburn's abuse, we dined at Sir John Pringle's, and the Doctor was asked, how he felt himself after Wedderburn's philippic? He answered, 'He despised the speaker and what he had said, and that so mercenary a man would have said as much in favour of the devil, if he had been well paid for it, as he had said against him.' The Doctor did not mention the word King or master, and I am persuaded he did not at that time entertain any resentment against the King, for, to my knowledge, he was then exerting his utmost powers to prevent the war. Even after he returned to America he continued to act in the same manner. For the truth of this I can appeal to Lord Howe, who then commanded the British fleet on the American coast, Dr Franklin having twice written to him, proposing the means of preventing it."

It is certain, however, that Dr Franklin deeply felt the severity of that attack; and his friend, Dr Ingenhouze, informed me at Vienna, that he often alluded to it in their correspondence together.

XII.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ERSKINE.

I had frequently an opportunity of meeting with Lord Erskine at Holkham, and other agricultural fetes, where, though he knew nothing of husbandry, his wit and eloquence insured him a cordial reception. At one of these meetings he pleasantly said, "that he had formerly studied Coke at Westminster, and that he was now studying Coke at Holkham; that Coke the agriculturist was as great in his line, as Coke the lawyer in judical questions: and that wheat from the farm of the former, was as easily distinguished from other corn, as the doctrines of law, in the pages of the latter, from every other legal composition."