imparted, with the combined operations of all the members of such an association. We trust that some attention will hereafter be given to this very important object, and favourite project of Sir Henry.

For several years after the publication of the " Planter's Guide," Allanton was visited from all quarters by persons interested in the new system of transplanting; as also by tourists and others who were desirous of gratifying their curiosity with the view of a place which had been actually re-created by the wonderful and successful improvements of the proprietor. Scarcely a day passed without the arrival of some visitor, to whom, according to circumstances, either Sir Henry or some of his people pointed out the improvements on the park at Allanton. But the formation of a park by the removal of large trees did not form the only important feature in the landscape. During the winter of 1819-20, Sir Henry had employed nearly two hundred of the unemployed weavers in forming an extensive piece of water in the centre of the grounds, which, combined with the woods that on all sides surround it, increases in no small degree the picturesque beauty of the park. The employment of so many distressed manufacturers in a period of general depression and disturbance, reflected the highest credit as much on the wise and benevolent feelings of Sir Henry, as it must prove a lasting monument of the proprietor's taste in the embellishment of his demesne. It is by such acts of kindly beneficence, combined with taste and utility, that a country proprietor not merely endears himself to his people, but also, in addition to the benefit which the district derives from his taste and exertions, those feelings of subordination and dutiful respect are cemented and maintained, which justly entitle a resident proprietor to be esteemed the benefactor of his people and the country at large.

In the year 1833, a somewhat curious, and, to Sir Henry, interesting circumstance occurred, the presentation, namely, of a copy of his work, which had recently appeared in America, by the publisher himself, who unexpectedly made his appearance at Allanton in the commencement 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 Galt'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 constrained the Americans to resort to some system of transplanting 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 introduction of his system, would have been among the last which could have occurred to Sir Henry; and the circumstance, 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 Galt's Laurie Todd, who had left Scotland in early life, and had amassed considerable property in business in New York, arrived himself at Allanton. 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

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remained at Allanton till the following morning, and repeatedly expressed his regret that, in consequence of Sir Henry being obliged to leave home soon after his arrival, he was unable sufficiently to express the high estimation in which the Planter's Guide was held by himself and his countrymen, especially at New York. Several members of his family had devoted much of their attention to planting, having become extensive seedsmen in the United States. Some American seeds of indigenous plants were subsequently transmitted to Sir Henry by the Thorburns from New York.

We remarked, in the commencement of this Memoir, that it was only our intention to present a few of the principal incidents in Sir Henry's life, and, if possible, to give a slight sketch of his character, so far at least as the materials in our possession would enable us to do so. In a life so useful, but at the same time so uneventful, as that of the subject of this Memoir, it was difficult to draw up a sketch such as we proposed; and we fear we may not have succeeded in rendering the preceding details interesting to the general reader, especially in the absence of any copies of Sir Henry's correspondence with the numerous distinguished and literary characters whose letters on various interesting subjects remain still in possession of his family. Sir Henry was in the invariable habit of destroying, from time to time, all copies of his own correspondence, and for so slight a Memoir as that designed to be prefixed to this work, it was considered unnecessary to make any attempt to procure the originals or copies of his letters, if any such exist, from the families of his numerous correspondents. The want of such materials for a biographical Memoir is the more sensibly experienced, when a sketch of the character of the individual who forms its subject is proposed to be given; particularly when the bio

grapher has not been intimately acquainted with the subject whose history he has undertaken, however slightly, to sketch. For we conceive it to be the duty of a biographer to make the subject of his Memoir portray, if possible, in his own language a character of himself. This may to a certain extent be performed by his biographer, when no materials exist for enabling the subject of his Memoir to draw his own portrait, provided he has lived on terms of personal friendship, or at least general acquaintance, with him whose history he writes. As the author of this Memoir has not enjoyed either of these advantages, he must endeavour, from such information as he can recall or collect, to draw up a slight portrait of Sir Henry, which, from his well-known character, there is less difficulty in effecting.

The author of this Memoir-to commence with his own recollections-well remembers the last occasion on which he saw Sir Henry, in company with the Baronet's relative, General Sir James Steuart, whom he accompanied on a visit to Allanton from Coltness. This occurred a few years previous to Sir Henry's death; and a distinct recollection is still retained of the appearance and urbanity of the author of this work, presenting a fine instance of the high though easy manners of the old school, accompanied by the graceful deportment of ancient descent and intellectual culture, with a natural mildness and kindness in his general bearing and demeanour, for which Sir Henry was usually distinguished. Unruffled calmness and natural dignity of deportment, which seems to place a natural restraint on every disposition to sudden sallies of temper or unusual excitement, is conceived to be the proper results of the highest polish of which manner is capable; and these results were particularly observable in Sir Henry. It would be difficult perhaps at any period to

fix upon a character which possessed to so great an extent those qualities, which are more frequently looked for than discovered in the titled or landed aristocracy of this country. Such qualities at once mark the gentleman and dignify the man.

But it is not alone, or chiefly, in the sunshine of prosperity that the moral qualities of any individual can be best drawn forth and properly estimated; the true character often lies hid beneath the surface, and its worth or its hollowness are best tested and known in the day of adversity. Happily for man, uninterrupted prosperity is not destined to be always his lot; and there is nothing so beneficial as occasional affliction to assign its true impress to the character, either to present it in its undisguised features, or to separate all baser alloy from its intrinsic worth. When the clouds of any such human vicissitudes occasionally dimmed Sir Henry's horizon, they served only happily to show with what dignity and consistency a character of so much solid worth was enabled to encounter, endure, and surmount them. Such occasional mutations are of inestimable value to impart the last finish to the portrait which is susceptible of their touch; and all who knew the subject of this Memoir, will admit that he stood the final test to which all more or less are subjected.

Sir Henry's society was much prized among the gentry of his neighbourhood. Among these, we may mention the late and present Dukes of Hamilton, Lord Corehouse, Lord Belhaven, the late Sir Alexander Cochrane, Lady Ross Baillie, and the late Sir Charles and Lady Mary Ross of Balnagown. Though in his general habits dissimilar from many of his country neighbours and acquaintances, he still both attained and secured their friendship and esteem. As a deputy-lieutenant and justice of the peace, he at all times actively exerted himself, as also