Star.
London, England, 1831-04-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE..

The Correepoisdenca and Reasiisimeisoes of the Right lion. Sir
John Sinclair, Bart. 2 volt Rro.
John Sinclair is now in his 77th year ; at that age,
anti after a life spent in active and useful exertion, it will
>r timely be regarded as unwarrantable egotism or vanity.
that he has set himself down to tell the world, what he has
heti, about all his lifo. The venerable Baronet, however,
has no intention to retire from the scene of literary action ;
tie tells us that he finds himself still capable of great exer-
tion, both personal and mental ; and is at this mo-
ment collecting the materials for some other works ;
regarding those which he has hitherto published as of in-
ferior value, with the two exceptions of his " Code of Agri-
culture" and his " Code of Health and Longevity." The
objects on which Sir John is now engaged, must be ad-
mitted to be really " great" for a man at any age; they
are a " Code of Political Economy," and a " Code or
Digest of Religion," both of which are intended to com-
plete what Sir John calls " The CODEA x System of Litera-
ture," of which the two Codes already published, form a
constituent part. His plans for these, with a variety of
interesting particulars relative to his division of time, study,
&c. will be found in an Appendix at the end of the second
volume.

The first volume, and a small portion of the second, is
professedly dedicated to his Correspondence and Remi-,
uiscences, which he has arranged under 15 heads:—l. Im-
perial and Royal. 2. British Cabinet Ministers. 3. Fe-
male. 4. Naval. 5. Military. 6. Clerical. 7. Agri-
cultural. 8. Statistical. 9. Medical. 10. Finance,
Currency, and Commerce. 11. Poems of Ossian. 12.
Political 13. Literary. 14. Miscellaneous. 15. Ame-
rican. The Travels and Correspondence with the natives
of different countries follow :-16. France. 17. Nether-

lands. 18. Holland. 19. Denmark. 20. Sweden and
Norway. 21. Russia. 22. Poland. 23. Austria. 24.
Prussia. 25. Districts and Countries which he had not
visited. Besides these, we have an introduction containing
an outline of the author's personal, public, and literary Ca-
leer ; an addenda, and two appendixes.
Sir John was born in 1754, the son of George Sin-
clair, a highly resspectable country gentleman, of the county
of Caithness, and of Lady Janet Sutherland, sister of Wm.
Earl of Sutherland. His father died when he was sixteen.l
He was bred at the High School of Edinburgh, and after-
wards studied at the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow,
and Oxford. In 1775, he became a member of the Faculty
of Advocates, and was afterwards called to the English bar,
itnout any intention to practise in either country, but
hierely to acquire that knowledge of the laws of his country,
‘tlich is necessary to him who would become a member of
the legislature. When he came of age, his first atten-
tion was directed to the improvement of the family estate,
.tnil of his native county in general. In 1780, he was re-
turned to Parliament as member for Caithness, and sat in
the house as representative for that county, and for two
Eng,lish boroughs, till 1811. Having preluded as an author
by some pamphlets on various subjects of public interest, in
1790 he commenced that work, by which he became so well
known in his own country and abroad' " The Statistical
Account of Scotland," which he completed in 1799, in 21
vols. Bvo.
In 1786-7 Sir John made a very extensive tour through
the north of Europe ; and contrived, in the course of seven or
eight months only, by dint of great activity and perseverance
" to see the objects best entitled to attention, and the per-
sons most distinguished for their power, their beauty, or
their talents." This journey laid the foundation of that ex-
tensive correspondence from which Sir John has selected
what appears in these volumes.
In 1793 he succeeded in establishing a Board of Agricul-
ture, of which he was the first chairman, and over which he
continued to preside for many years. In that capacity he
originated the series of reports of the agricultural state of
every county in England and Scotland (extending to about
71) volumes), which have been of so much use in diffusing
the knowledge of the best principles and practices of agri-
culture and rural affairs throughout the kingdom. His Ge-
neral Report of the agriculture of Scotland, condensed from
these, has contributed, perhaps, still more effectually to the
same object. His name, in connexion with agriculture, thus
became known all over the world, and the numerous societies
established for that purpose, were eager to enrol him as an
honorary member. Sir John mentions the names of 25
societies in Europe and America, from which he has re-
ceived diplomas, and dwells with some degree of pride on the
flattering epithets with which our polite French neighbours
I:ave been in the habit of coupling his name.
In 1786 he was created a Baronet, and in 1811, under
the administration of Mr. Percival, a Privy Councillor.—
When he retired from Parliament in that year, he was ap-
pointed cashier of the Board of Excise in Scotland, the sa-
lary of which he says has enabled him to apply the rents of
hi:- estate to the discharge of the incumbranees afiecting it.
In 1794 he raised a regiment of Highland fencibles for
the defence of Scotland ; and the year following, another
ialion of 1000 men for the service of Ireland. As a pro-
er encourager of every society and institution, that
hall the prosperity of his country, and the encouragement of
Its arts, manufactures, and commerce in view, Sir John Sin-
cia;r's name has always stood prominently forward, and in
deserved estimation.
" Reminiscences" are many of them curious, relative
to persons who figured with distinction on the great theatre
of life, and have now passed from the stage. His judgments
on these are given with great independence, without allowing
himself to be dazzled by the brilliant qualities which kept
others from examining, closely, the defects which these qua-
lities concealed : take for instance the following, which is a
par: of his notice of Mr. Pitt :
" Mr. Pitt was formed by nature to be an orator. He possessed in
their highest perfection the following advantages:—l. He had great
quickness of apprehension; 2. his memory was so tenacious that he
never forgot any thing he had ever learned ; and 3. lie had a power of
ex-ression, greater than almost any individual had before possessed.
nad also a clear and pleasing voice, and a dignified style of speak-
ing With these advantages, he coulid not fail to acquire complete
cenrnand over his audience. His principal detects as a statesman were,
1. That he was not much inclined to read anything but classical works,
and greatly undervalued modern literature; and 2. That he knew no.
thing of foreign languages, or of the character of foreign nations, and
did not seem desirous of receiving any information about thent. Lat.
terry, also, the continued possession of political power greatly altered
his original character, and he became soured and miserable from the ill
stine.xs, which had attended all his exertions, to repress the torrent of '
the French Revolution. He at length would listen only to those
who flattered the opinions he entertained on political subjects, and con.
'tiered them in the light of personal enemies who ventured to tell him
unpalatable truths. It was impossible for a Member of the House, who
took so much labour, to become master of all the most important
branches of politics, and who was convinced that, in every respect, the
affairs of the country were very inefficiently conducted, long to remain
the subservient tool of a minister of this kind."
The follow ing account of the Battle of Waterloo from the
great actor in it is very characteristic:
.• Upon applying to the Duke of Wellington, for his aid to complete
the account I proposed to draw up of that celebrated engagement, he
said-4 I can give you no information that would be of any use to you.
My mind was so completely overpowered with the great events of the
bauh that I could not pay any attention to its minor details. All
that I can tell you is, that we met the enemy ; that we fought a battle;
and that we gained a victory.' "

MISs Smithson has terminated her brilliant career in
Fi mice, and with a spirit of enterprize which is seldom
a;litd to so much beauty, she is now arranging a similar
theatrical adventure in Holland and Germany.

P.‘NOPAMA OF THE BRITISH

E 111 P I R E.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, APRIL 9.
From a Commandant.

I regret to state that all the great collieries in this district are to-
tally unproductive at present, in consequence of the obstinacy of the
men, In refusing to renew their engagements with their employers.
On Wednesday last there was another very numerous meeting of the
pitmen, in the Black Fell, in the county of Durham. About a fort-
night ago, a similar meeting took place on the Town Moor, near
Newcastle.
Their object is an advance of wages, which the coal-
owners are unwilling to concede, as they consider their present rate of 1
pay and allowances to be fully on a par with the current value of la-
bour, as regards the other working classes. It appears that the pitmen
bad expected the coal-owners would have made some proposition on
Wednesday last, which might have led to an arrangement; but
as nothing of the sort took place, the men dispersed, but
with a resolution not to return to work on the former terms.—
This is a state of things which we cannot but deeply deplore, as results
may be generated of a very serious complexion indeed. It is true, se-
veral of the Magistrates of Northumberland, wholly unconnected with
the coal trade, have offered their friendly services to adjust the present
misunderstanding, between the Pitmen and the Coal-owners; and it is
to be hoped that the meeting, which is fixed to take place at the Moot
Hall, on Monday next, may pave the way to the complete adjustment
of the differences.

A great sensation was created in this town yesterday, in consequence
of the Duke of Northumberland's agents causing the following notice
to be inserted in the local papers " The Duke of Northumberland
has healed and circulated Petitions to his Majesty, and the two Houses
of Parliament, agabut the extent of the present Reform Bill ; and has
sent counterparts thereof to Northumberland, for the signature of such
gentlemen as may be favourable to a more moderate Reform."—
Not having seen the important document alluded to, (though would it
not have been fair towards the public to have given publicity to it
through the press ?) lam precluded from offering an opinion upon it.
However, as far as I have heard the thing spoken of, it is considered
as an ill-advised placard ; and only calculated to produce a degree of
angry collision in the country, which—under existing circumstances—
had much better have been avoided. We shall see by and by, who range
themselves under this Dues. Protest; fur the opinion seems to be.
gaining ground daily, that none are anti-ministerial, save those who
have an intelligible, sinister, interest, that prompts than to opposition.
In Ireland, the Duke's Government gained him—and deservedly
great and lasting honor. Pity then, that any thing should occur to
throw a withering influence over a Fame, that any Man might be
justly proud of.
BIRMINGHAM JOURNAL, APRIL 9.
Ton ARGUS Takata.—The length of these trials of the Four Indict-
ments against the publisher and the " Proprietor-Editor" of this scan-
dalous publication, the lateness of the hour at which they closed on
Thursday, together with the report of the County Meeting. prevent
our doing that justice to them which we intended and could have
wished. We have, however, given a full abstract of all the evidence
in the indictments preferred by Mr. Morris and 111-. Parkes, with a
summary of the proceedings on the prosecutions of Mr. Edmonds.
The trials disclosed a complete insight into all the secret workings of
this " infernal machine," which, in a few more numbers, would have
become the instrument of a more extended system of provincial defa-
mation, and of diabolical extortion of money from those weak enough
to fear its calumnious attacks. It has, however, been stopped in its
infamous course; and the exposure of the contributors to its pages.
with the signal punishment of its publisher, Chidlow, and the editor,
Allday, will doubtless operate as a warning.
We Anil shortly state the substance of the disclosures. The work
was commenced in lON, by Allday (assisted by a person of the name
of Harrison, the purchaser of the Birmingham t'hronicle), and pub-
lished by Mr. BroomhalL It was then n weekly twopenny pamphlet,
and never circulated more than fifty numbers. Middy never paid the
publisher ; and libels cradled its infancy. Mr. Webster then published
it—Allday its sole conductor and proprietor. Mr. Webster relinquished
it from its libellous character, and it was then removed by its editor to
Mr. Ford. Ultimately Chidlow (originally a compositor in Ford's
office), was set up in Great Charles-street, by Allan'', with types and
presses, to print the work. Up to this period its circulation was trifling,
and its editor being unassisted, could furnish no talent or public in-
terest in its pages. The subsequent connexion with Mr. Mackenzie Is
detailed in the evidence of that gentleman. Eighteen months since it
began to assume its reckless contempt of character and the law, by
opening its columns to every malignant correspondent who chose to
violate the honour of society, and to vent his envy or malice against his
connexions or enemies. We need not enter into any detail of the Infa-
mous calumnies perpetrated in its recent numbers.
The applications to the Magistrates have been before reported in this
journal ; the indictments were founded upon them. On Wednesday
Isennight Mr. Parkes seized in London all the April number of the
Argus just ready for publication, with all the manuscripts of that and
the March number, and numerous private letters of Many's. The
whole plot transpired in this seizure, and then Mr. Parkes served Mr.
Mackenzie with a crown subptena to produce all letters and papers, and
all copies of the Argus in his possession. We here forbear to make any
remarks on the product of Mr. Mackenzie in his connexion with the
work, or his subsequent exposa of it.
The four chief contributors were Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Blaudsley, jun.
and Mr. Gibbs, clerk in a factor's office; Allday's contributions were
chiefly compilations from libellous materials sent by other peesons. We
now only name the contributors known to have furnished assistance. As
some actions are about to be commenced, and two ,other indictments
will be preferred, we abstain, for obvious reasons, from entering into de-
tails. The names are as follow :—Joaeph Allday, sole editor and pro-
rietor • R. Shelton Mackenzie, his chief literary assistant; Maudsley,
Gibbs, William, Wright, Turley, John Jones of Kidderminster, J. J.
Raiford, Orem, Harrison, Pickering, E. Bagnall ; with correspondents
its Dudley, Hales Owenßromsgrove, G. V. of Worcester, "Wigorn,"
in Atherstoue, Kidderminster, and Walsall. The forthcoming num-
ber, " crushed in its birth," contained libels, if possible, exceeding in
atrocity any of its predecessors; against Mr. Haines, Mr. Parkes, Mr.
Cotterell, Mr. Scholefiela, Mr. Timothy Smith, the Magistrates, and
many legal and medical gentlemen of the town. Some regret is ex.
pressed that a fine was not imposed; but it was proved that he was
pennyless, and a loser by the work; and ten months imprisonment,
within the walls of a gaol, is a severe punishment.
We only echo the general sentiment of the town when we repeat the
obligation of the inhabitants to those gentlemen who have fearlessly
come forward to exterminate this monster of calumny and malignant
slander ; and we trust that the expenses of the prosecutions will not be
added to the labour and loss of time incurred by those gentlemen in the
performance of their duty to the puhlic at large.
At the close of the felony cases, Mr. Parkes entered the court, and
by his counsel complained that he had been assaulted in the hail by
Joseph Allday and John Allday, the former one of the defendants in
an indictment in which he was prosecutor, and the latter one of his
bail. Mr. Parkes being sworn, stated, that while he was speaking to
Mr. Francis Lloyd, the banker, John Allday came up and addressed
to him the most opprobrious language at the same time shaking his
• fist in his face. Joseph AUday,observing the altercation, came up and
ran violently against Mr. Parkes. During the time Mr. Parkes was
making his statement, both the Allays, who were situated in the wit-
neat box, behaved in so violent a manner,that the chairman threatened
upon the instant to commit them. The facts stated by Mr. Parkes
being fully proved by other witnesses, the magistrates held both
of the Defendants to bail, in the sum of Forty Pounds each, to
I keep the peace toward Mr. Parkes for the space of twelve calendar
Imonths.
At the Wolverhampton Pablic Office, on Tuesday last, John Clare
was brought up for a libel upon Mr. Smith, druggist, Cock-street, in a
scandalous work called " The Canulion," published at his shop. He
immediately gave up the author, and a warrant was issued against R.
Machattle, a clerk at Messrs. Shaw and Crane'a, of that town, who
was apprehended, and held to bail to answer the charge at the sessions.
RAILWAYS.—The advantages offered by railways as investment for
capital, arc strikingly shown by the Stockton and Darlington railway.
Though that undertaking was the first of the kind, we believe in the
kingdom, and therefore laboured under many disadvantages andl dia.
ficulties which others have not been exposed to, it is at present a
very prosperous and thriving concern. The original shares were one
hundred pounds each, and though the railway has been, and is now,
undergoing great extension and improvement, being in fact altering
from a single to a double railway, the shareholders received a diva.
Idend of five per cent. and 1001. shares sell, when they are disposed of,
fcr 2101.