I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

College of Edinburgh,

December 18. 1777.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON.

II.

DR BLAIR.

The celebrated Dr Blair was my father's intimate friend, and I had been taught to regard him with hereditary respect and affection. I had also attended his lectures on rhetoric in the University of Edinburgh, and was anxious to cultivate an intercourse with one who was so much distinguished for his literary powers and accomplishments. On forming the intention of visiting Russia, I naturally thought, that a letter from Dr Blair, to the Princess Daschkow, would be of great use; and, as appears from the subjoined letter, he immediately complied with my request.

DEAR SIR,

I was favoured with your letter this forenoon; and according to your desire, I now, by the return of post, inclose a letter of introduction to you to the Princess Daschkow. I have had no occasion to write to her, except once, since she left Scotland; but as I was much in habits of friendship with her, I make no doubt of my letter answering the purpose you would wish, of procuring you all civilities from her. She is an uncommonly clever and accomplished woman. You will find her acquaintance very worthy of being cultivated, especially as she is at the head of the Academies of Petersburgh. In her political principles she is much inclined to republicanism and liberty; and when here, was always more connected with Opposition than with Government. I hope it is mere

ly improvement, or public business, and not any consideration of health, that leads you at present to go abroad. I most heartily wish you an agreeable journey, and safe return; and shall be happy to have the pleasure of seeing you again in this country having the honour to be, with great respect, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

HUGH BLAIR.

Edinburgh, 22d May 1786.

my north

As the Doctor had taken so warm an interest in ern tour, I sent him the perusal of a very interesting communication from Count Hertsberg, and also some accounts I had drawn up and printed, but not published, respecting Denmark, Sweden and Russia. The subjoined letter, which he sent me regarding those particulars, is evidently written with considerable ability.

MY DEAR SIR,

I return you, with a great many thanks, the Comte de Hertsberg's letter, which gives a very natural picture of the melancholy and discontented state of a great minister, dismissed from office, and reduced to a private station. From the account he gives of his services to the public, I should incline to think, he has been hardly used by his sovereign. The presumption is, that one who had been so long employed by the great Frederick, must have been an able and discerning man. The translation, which reads exceeding well, does honour to Lady Sinclair. I showed the letter, as you allowed me, to Dr Robertson.

I return you also your observations, in three parts, on Russia, Sweden and Denmark; for the perusal of which I am exceedingly obliged to you. They convey much curious matter, and much information on the state of these kingdoms; and do honour to that accurate and scrutinizing observation, with which you surveyed public affairs when you was abroad. Indeed, neither at home, nor abroad, do you allow yourself to

be unemployed, or inattentive to the public. Since the time you made that tour, the face of affairs in some of these countries, in Sweden particularly, has altered greatly. But still, many of your observations remain applicable to the pre sent state of things. Though I wish the public were in possession of part of your intelligence, yet considering some of the anecdotes you relate, and the freedom with which you treat some distinguished persons in high office in those kingdoms, I think you were much in the right, not to allow these papers to go into public circulation, but to print only a few copies for the perusal of your friends. Wishing you all success in your public-spirited and useful labours, I have the honour to be, with great respect and esteem, my Dear Sir, your most obedient and faithful humble servant,

Argyle Square, 5th December 1792.

HUGH BLAIR.

III.

THE REV. DR HILL, PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS.

On the death of Dr Robertson, the Rev. Dr Hill of St Andrews became the leader of what was distinguished by the name of " The Moderate Party," in the Church of Scotland,a situation to which he was well entitled, not only from the excellence of his talents, but from the superior powers of eloquence by which he was eminently distinguished.

The following letter gives a favourable specimen of Dr Hill's turn for epistolary correspondence:

SIR,

St Mary's College, St Andrews, May 1. 1809.

I have observed, with much satisfaction, the liberal invitations given, by some great proprietors in England, to Scots

farmers; and as you have not adopted the doctrine of Sir Francis Burdett, that attention to agricultural pursuits is inconsistent with the character of a statesman, I know that it will be gratifying to your patriotic mind to observe the improvement of land, and a just appreciation of its value, moving from the north southwards; and I may count upon your giving this spirit every encouragement that can be expected from a person in your condition.

Entertaining these sentiments, I will make no further apology for the trouble I now presume to give you.

Mr Alexander Meldrum, who resides about ten miles from this place, is to set out, in a few days, upon a tour of some weeks, through England; and proposes, at the end of it, to treat with the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Porchester, or any of the other great proprietors who have expressed an inclination to receive tenants from Scotland. He belongs to a class of sober industrious farmers, in this corner of Fife, who have risen, during the course of last century, by that profession, to considerable wealth; and, in their several branches, are now possessed of a great deal of landed property in this neighbourhood. My information concerning Mr Alexander Meldrum, with whom I am not personally acquainted, is derived from Mr Maule, the clergyman of his parish, (Forgan), a person in whom I can place entire confidence. He is unmarried, about forty, a steady correct man, an intelligent active farmer; perfectly acquainted with the modern improvements, and accustomed to practise them with success. He has realized a capital of eight or ten thousand pounds, which he carries to England, and wishes to devote to agricultural pursuits; and his skill is not inferior to his capital.

His nephew, Dr Ramsay, a respectable physician, to whom I lie under great domestic obligations, called upon me, a few days ago, to say that his uncle wished, upon going to London, to have some respectable person in an eminent situation, to whom those with whom he was to treat, might be referred; and to request my assistance in procuring him that most ho

nourable and essential advantage. You will not be surprised that your name instantly occurred to my mind; and you will not easily conceive the satisfaction which Dr Ramsay derived from the hope which I opened to him, that his uncle might be permitted to refer to a name which carries with it so much respect and authority.

I trust you know me well enough, to consider me as incapable of attempting to impose upon you, an account of any person, which I have not the best reason for believing to be true. Of the greater part of what I have said in relation to Mr A. Meldrum, he is in possession of written documents; and if you discern any defect in what he may request leave to shew you, I believe it can easily be supplied. But as many persons will be more disposed to rest upon your testimony than to read a number of papers, I have ventured to promise that you will encourage this adventurer, and invite others to follow his steps, by having the condescension to permit him to say to the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Porchester, or any other person with whom he may treat, that you have seen testimonials of his character, his skill, and his substance, with which you are satisfied.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

Sir John Sinclair, Bart.

GEO. HILL.

IV.

REV. DR DAVIDSON, PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

During the course of my northern tour, I was fortunate enough to obtain a fac-simile copy of the famous Senatus Consultum against the Bacchanals, which I resolved to present to the University of Glasgow. I entertained a filial respect for