MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



XXXIU 



In the year 1833, a somewhat curious, and, to Sir 

 Henrj, interesting circumstance occurred, the presenta- 

 tion, namely, of a copy of his work, which had recently 

 appeared in America, by the publisher himself, who unex- 

 pectedly made his appearance at AUanton in the com- 

 mencement of that year, being then on a visit to this 

 country. The American publisher of the Planter's Guide 

 was a son of the celebrated Grant Thorburn, the original 

 of Laurie Todd, and the subject of one of Gait's novels. 

 The repeated clearings which had ultimately disfigured 

 many parts of the United States, came at length to require 

 not only a more sparing employment of the axe, but con- 

 strained the Americans to resort to some system of trans- 

 planting for the embellishment and shelter of their bare and 

 unwooded domains. A work like the Planter's Guide 

 appeared very seasonably at such a juncture, and the 

 spirited descendant of Laurie Todd reprinted the first 

 edition*of Sir Henry's Essay, which obtained an extensive 

 circulation in the United States. Perhaps, such an 

 opening for the dissemination of his opinions and intro- 

 duction of his system, would have been among the last 

 which could have occurred to Sir Henry ; and the cir- 

 cumstance, as may well be supposed, gave him the 

 highest satisfaction. 



About the commencement of the following year, the 

 father of Sir Henry's American publisher. Grant Thorburn, 

 as already mentioned the original of Gait's Laurie Todd, 

 who had left Scotland in early life, and had amassed con- 

 siderable property in business in New York, arrived him- 

 self at AUanton. He was in height about five feet, stout, 

 and rather deformed from an accident, very lively and 

 amusing. He is stated to have drunk no wine, but 

 indulged in the national practice to a great extent, as he 

 was in the habit of smoking about five times a-day. He 



d 



