66 MEMOIR OF PALLAS. 
disappointment :—“ Were this the proper place to 
inform my readers of the disquictude 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 
continuation 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 began 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, 
