25 
of Edinburgh, Session 1875-76. 
His education commenced in Edinburgh University; but he 
went afterwards to Pembroke College, Oxford. 
In the last book which he published, entitled “ Old Times and 
Distant Places,” he mentions that, when at Edinburgh University, 
he was the chief means of forming what was called the “ Rhetorical 
Society,” among the members of which were the present Earl of 
Wemyss, the late Adam Anderson (afterwards Lord Anderson), and 
David Robertson, who, whilst on his death-bed, was created Lord 
Marjoribanks. 
When he went to Oxford, he proposed a similar society; but 
“the Dons” (he says) “ frowned upon him, and prevented it.” 
The project was renewed some years after. The “ Oxford Union 
Club” was then formed, embracing among its members the present 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr Gladstone, Mr Lowe, and others 
who afterwards became men of distinction. 
Having gone through the necessary forms for taking orders in 
the Episcopal Church, he was ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln 
in 1820. He was shortly thereafter appointed to St Paul’s Episco- 
pal Chapel, Carrubbers Close, where he remained till he became 
assistant to the Rev. Mr Alison, the officiating clergyman of the 
then new and handsome chapel of St Paul’s, in York Place. 
It was in the year 1820 that Mr Sinclair joined our Society. I 
see from his little book, that he took a considerable interest in our 
proceedings, as he mentions our Dinner Club, of which he was a 
member, and specifies several duties which he undertook as a 
member of Council. 
Thus he was selected by the Council to endeavour to induce Dr 
Williams, rector of the English Academy, to shorten the length 
of a paper he was to read on Greek particles, a subject on which 
he had read several long papers before, much to the ennui of the 
majority of members. Dr Williams, it seems, was not a person 
who could be easily diverted from bis purpose ; Mr Sinclair under- 
took to try his hand upon the inflexible Welshman. He explains, 
in an amusing way, how he succeeded. 
Another more important work with which Mr Sinclair was 
entrusted by our Council, was the arrangement of the unpublished 
MSS. of Hume, the historian. These MSS. had been left as a 
legacy to the Society by the late Baron Hume, the historian’s 
VOL. XI. 
D 
