NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 357 



is that of John Collett, a Norwegian farmer ! As to those of the Prince 

 de Castelcicala, and Count Alexis Dorlow Cesmenskoy, I would give you 

 a week to decypher either of them; and that of M. La Harpe, preceptor to 

 the Emperor Alexander, is a happy illustration of what I have advanced 

 on the graphic art, for such a scratch was never seen by a pupil, still less 

 by a master. Luckily, there is a glossary given of them with the list. 



I must not omit to mention that, exclusive of the above, Sir John gave 

 me a small portrait of himself, which I shall have put into a frame when 

 I return to England. Beneath it, are the following words, of which the 

 right honourable baronet's countrymen must feel proud : " Founder of 

 the Board of Agriculture.'^ It was in 1793, I believe, that he applied 

 to Parliament for the small sum of 3000/. wherewith to found this ad- 

 mirable institution; and, of one hundred and twenty-seven members, who 

 were in the house, twenty-six were against the grant! ! Sir John was 

 undoubtedly the most zealous friend and promoter of agriculture that 

 Great Britain has ever yet seen ; and what, but agriculture, is the 

 certain source of wealth, strength, and independence? Commerce 

 flourishes by circumstances, (witness the past year) precarious, contin- 

 gent, transitory, and as liable to change as the winds that waft it to our 

 shores. On this consideration then, as well as on many others, will the 

 name and memory of Sir John Sinclair be handed down to posterity with 

 honour and applause, and those but little impaired by his having been 

 charged with one of the common infirmities of our nature — the love 

 of fame. In my eyes, his character bears a strong resemblance to 

 that of the Consul Pliny ; and 1 think the public would be satisfied, if all 

 our men of high rank and large property were modern Plinys. He had 

 a thirst for applause, which he also merited ; and what is it, after all, but 

 a strong motive to do that which we think may deserve praise ? A man 



