TO SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART.

plied, in this particular, with your requeſt;=-which, however, I am convinced, was made only with the view of ſtimulating me to finiſh my account; but which, I am afraid, had rather the contrary effe&t Notwithſtanding I have been ſo late in ſend- ing to you theſe ſheets, I am ſenſible that ſtill I have omitted many things which deſerve attention. It will therefore give me much pleaſure, if the huſbandmen who live in different parts of this country, and who are beſt and moſt intimately ac- quainted with the rural induſtry of the inhabitants, embrace the opportunity afforded them by the circulation of this Sketch, to correct what is erroneous in it, and to ſupply what is deficient. I know the farmers in this diſtri&, an intelligent, liberal- minded claſs of men, are well able, and I hope will ever be diſpoſed, to aſliſt in pro- moting the important obje& of the inquiries now carrying on by your Honourable Board, the advancement of Britiſh agriculture and internal improvements.

I am aware too, that my Narrative might have contained all the little information it has in much leſs room; but it requires more pradice in writing than what I am maſter of, to arrange and compreſs my thoughts. Indeed, had you not honeſtly acquainted me with the neceſſity and reaſons for my completing this taſk as ſoon as poſible, I would by no means have ventured to ſubmit to you this Report in the crude ſtate in which you find it. I have then to beg of you, and the Board of Agri- culture, as well as all thoſe who may chance to peruſe it, to forgiye its numerous imperſeCtions; while I muſt lament my raſhneſs in undertaking a buſineſs, in which nothing but my zeal for huſbandry, the firſt of all profeſlions, not only-in the order of time, but importance, and my wiſh to promote your general objet, could ever have induced me to engage.

I moſt fincerely wiſh every ſucceſs to the laudable exertions of the Board of Agriculture.

I have the honour to be, My dear Sir;

Tower'of Alloa,; Your moſt obedient humble Servant, zoth March, 1797.

J. F. ERSKINE.