BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 63
regarding the management and improvement of the navy. Previous to the’
resignation of Lord North, owing to various causes, among which was the insincerity
of the Cabinet on the subject of peace, Mr. Sinclair had become so
sensible of the necessity of a change, that he was a principal promoter of the
St. Alban’s Club, whose deliberations led to the formation of the Coalition
,Ministry. - In the parliamentary histov of this year, an instance of watchful attention
to his country falls to be recorded. Owing to a very unpropitious season, a
general failure of the crops throughout the northern counties had occurred, and
the people were reduced to severe distress. By the exertion of Mr. Sinclair a
grant of ;ElS,OOO was obtained from Government, by which the inhabitants of
fifteen counties were preserved from starvation. Another measure gratifying to
Scotland, obtained in 1782, and in which Mr. Sinclair deeply interested himself,
was the repeal of the act prohibiting the use of the national garb. On his
next visit to Caithness, attired in the full Highland costume, he had left his
carriage, and was enjoying a ramble on foot, followed bya crowd of natives, one
of whom, in his simplicity, assured him that if he was (‘ come in the good old
cause, there were a hundred gude men ready to join him within the sound 0’ the
Bell 0’ Logierait !”
After the accession of the Shelburne Ministry, and when overtures for peace
came to be entertained, much discussion ensued on the state of the national
finances. In the opinion of Mr. Sinclair, very mistaken notions were entertained
and promulgated on the subject, both in and out of Parliament, tending to injure
Britain in the estimation of her opponents. At this juncture, he came forward
with a pamphlet (‘ On the State of our Finances,” which took a comprehensive,
accurate, and well-founded view of the resources of the country. This was succeeded
by another, containing a plan for the re-establishment of public credit.
These speculations give rise to a more extended and laborious production,
published in 1784, his “History of the Public Revenue of the British Empire”
-2 vols. 4to. This work at once established the reputation of its author as a
financier and economist. It was r’eceived with the highest encomiums abroad
8s well as in England, and passed through several editions.
On the dissolution of Parliament in 1784, in consequence of the system of
alternate representation, and the unexpected opposition of Mr. Fox as a candidate,
occasioned by the Westminster scrutiny, Mr. Sinclair lost his seat for the
northern burghs. He had, however, secured his return for Lostwithiel, in
Cornwall, and took his seat accordingly. Some members of the corporation
visiting London, embraced the opportunity of waiting on their member. After
expressing their satisfaction in complimentary terms, one of them, contemplating
the tall figure of Mr. Sinclair, observed that they were glad to be able to
look up to their representative. “I assure you,” answered Mr. Sinclair, ($1
never shall look down on my constituency.”
By the death of Mrs. Sinclair, in 1785, he was so deeply affected as to propose
abandoning public life altogether. In order to divert his attention, he set
