promoted agricultural societies, and introduced the 'long sheep' into the Highlands. His son tells us that due regard was paid in his improvements to the interests of the poor; that a tide of prosperity set in, and population increased rapidly. At any rate, Sinclair translated into practice Young's most cherished principles. Sinclair sat at the feet of Adam Smith; and travelled to Sweden and Russia in search of information; and wrote a History of the Revenue; and became a Member of Parliament. He began, in 1791, to publish a book of great value, the Statistical Account of Scotland. He is said to have been the first person to introduce the word 'statistical' into English; and this book, a collection of reports from the ministers of all the Scottish parishes, was of great importance at a time when people did not even know for certain whether population was increasing or declining. Sinclair, in 1793, persuaded Pitt to start the 'Board of Agriculture.' Arthur Young had bet the nineteen volumes of his Annals against the twenty-one of Sinclair's Statistical Account that Pitt would not consent.[1]
He lost the bet, to his great satisfaction; for, though the Minister would only allow £3000 a
- ↑ A brief and interesting History of the Board of Agriculture has just been published by Sir Ernest Clarke, secretary to the Royal Agricultural Society.
