INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS,

EXPLANATORY OF THE SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE, AND CONTAINING A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR AND HIS WRITINGS.

As it is desirable to have some acquaintance with the history of an author, previous to the perusal of his works, and more especially as it would be hardly possible, either to enter into the spirit, or to understand the nature, of the letters communicated to him, unless the reader be previously furnished with some biographical details, I have thought it necessary briefly to narrate the following particulars :

1.-BIRTH AND PARENTAGE of the author.

I was born at Thurso Castle, in the county of Caithness, North Britain, on the 10th of May 1754. My father, George Sinclair, Esq. was a highly respectable country gentleman, who had been educated under the charge of the celebrated Dr Isaac Watts, and had travelled abroad, in company with Lord Sandwich, (the Cabinet Minister), President Dundas, and other distinguished characters. My mother, Lady Janet Sutherland, was sister of William, Earl of Sutherland, descended from one of the most ancient families and titles in Scotland. She undertook the charge of the family estate, and

superintended the education of her children, who lost their father when I was only in my sixteenth year.

2.-EDUCATION AND PROFESSION.

The foundation of my classical knowledge was laid at the High School of Edinburgh. I afterwards attended the Universities of Edinburgh, of Glasgow, and of Oxford, and have ever since been persuaded of the advantages of a diversified education, it being evident, that a person may thus obtain a knowledge of the world, and may, at the same time be instructed, in the several branches of study to which his attention is to be directed, without the one acquisition being injurious to the other. In 1775, I became a member of the Faculty of Advocates, and was afterwards called to the English bar, without intending to practise, either there, or in Scotland, but merely from a conviction, that he who is likely to become a legislator, should be acquainted with the laws of his country, and that every man should have a profession. should have a profession. By these means I acquired, at an early period of life, a numerous acquaintance.

3.-IMPROVEMENT OF THE FAMILY ESTATE, AND THE DISTRICT IN WHICH IT IS SITUATED.

It is impossible for any, but those who have been compelled to make the attempt, to conceive, the numerous difficulties to be encountered, when any endeavour is made, to carry on improvements in a remote and previously neglected district, where every thing is to be done, and where a great variety of new, and important objects must, at the same time, be attended to. They who live in a part of the island that has already made considerable progress, cannot form an idea of obstacles which must be surmounted,-when towns and villages must be erected, as centres of communication and business,-when roads and harbours must be made, for the sake of domestic and foreign intercourse,-when manufactures or fisheries must be established, to provide employment for the surplus population, which an improved system of agricul

ture, and the enlargement of farms, necessarily occasion,— and when new breeds of animals, new instruments of husbandry, and persons skilled in new modes of cultivation, must be introduced from distant parts of the kingdom. It is possible, however, by unceasing attention, and at much expense, successfully to carry on these various objects at the same time. The one, indeed, has a tendency to promote and to encourage the others. The spirit that is excited by the improvement of one article, rouses a similar spirit of energy in regard to others; and a new race of people is gradually formed, who, from a state of torpor, ignorance, idleness, and its concomitant poverty, are animated to exertion and inquiry, and impelled, to obtain by their industry, the acquisition of wealth. The various obstacles to improvement above enumerated, existed, in their full force, in the remote county of Caithness, the most northerly on what may be called the continent of Scotland, being within sight of the Orkney islands. When a spirit of improvement, however, was once introduced there, it was followed up with great energy, in regard to various departments, which may be classed under the following heads: 1. Roads and bridges; 2. The erection of villages and towns; 3. The establishment of manufactures; 4. Improvements in agriculture; and, 5. The extension of the fisheries. In carrying on these improvements, I necessarily took a lead, being the principal proprietor, and the representative of the county in Parliament, but in their progress, had the advantage of being powerfully supported by several respectable proprietors, in particular by the late Earl of Caithness the Lord Lieutenant, and by James Traill, Esq. of Hobbister, the Sheriff of the county, who is much distinguished for his public spirit and intelligence. As it may be of use in other districts, I shall briefly state the different measures which were then taken, for the benefit of Caithness, under these several heads.

1. Roads. These are essential for the improvement of any country; but it was not easy to introduce them into a district

where the climate was wet, and the soil unfavourable. The making of them was first attempted by enforcing statute labour, every individual being obliged by law, to work at the roads for six days in the year; but this system was found to be inefficient *. An act was therefore procured, for converting the statute labour into money; and afterwards, even turnpikes have been introduced. To assist in making the principal roads and bridges, some public aid was procured; and with such zeal has this great means of improvement been entered into, that an act has been procured this year, (an. 1830), by which Caithness, considering its extent, will be better accommodated with roads than any county in Scotland.

2. Erection of Villages and Towns.-No district can thrive, unless villages and towns are established in it. A scattered rural population, must have a market for the sale of their commodities, and a place where they may be supplied with the articles they require. In this respect, the county of Caithness, prior to the year 1770, was extremely deficient. Thurso was merely a small fishing village; and Wick had only a few hundred inhabitants; and these were the only two collections of houses in the whole country. To remedy this great disadvantage, I have commenced a new town at Thurso on an improved plan, which though it has not made much progress from the want of a harbour, is nevertheless a great ornament to its neighbourhood. Villages were founded at Halkirk and Sarclett, and at Castleton and Louisburgh, by two respectable proprietors on whose estates they are situated. But a settlement, made by "The British Fishing Society," at Pul

• There was a hill called the Benechiel, situated in the centre of the county, the carrying a road through which was considered to be impracticable. In order to give the country people an idea, of what might be effected by exertion in making communications easy, a road was lined out, above twelve hundred people were collected early in a morning in July, supplied with tools and provisions, and the whole extent was made in one day. This convinced the people of what might be effected, in regard to road making, by unanimity and exertion, and was the first circumstance, that gave me an idea of the practicability of effecting objects on a great scale. A road, however, made so rapidly, could not be dura

ble.