no MEMOIR OP PALLAS. 



disappointment : — " Were this the proper place to 

 inform my readers of the disquietude and hardships 

 which oppress me in my present residence, and em- 

 bitter my declining days, I could easily apologise 

 for the late appearance of this volume/' 



But notwithstanding these feelings, he remained 

 nine years longer in this country, occupied with the 

 .•t>ntinuation of his works, and labouring also to 

 accomplish a project which was Very important for 

 Russia, the improved culture of the vine, quantities 

 of which he had planted in the valley of Sondac, 

 the ancient Saldaca of the Genoese. He had satis- 

 fied himself that this country was the more suitable 

 for its growth, because he supposed he had found 

 the vine in its wild state, although probably it was 

 nothing more than the degenerated stock of the 

 ancient Grecian vineyards. 



It was, when thus engaged, that he was visited 

 by our countryman, Dr Clarke, whose account is 

 interesting : — " This city," he remarks, " will long 

 be celebrated as the residence of Professor Pallas, so 

 well known to the literary world. His fame would 

 have been sufficiently established, if he had pub- 

 lished no other work than that begun by him under 

 such favourable auspices, the " Flora Rossica ;* yet 

 the barbarity of the people, with whom he is com- 

 pelled to live, is such, that they will not allow him 

 to complete the undertaking. The drawings are all 

 finished, and almost all the text. To the hospitality 

 and humane attentions of this excellent man we 

 were indebted for comforts, equal, if not superior, 



