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. 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 |