duce, some years hence, such a work as may be worthy your approbation and that of our learned friends on the continent. My brother expects to be in London before the end of this month, and promises himself much pleasure in your acquaintance. Pray have the goodness to introduce him to Mr. Browne. He longs to have you and some other literary friends to a snug, rational party at his house. I hope to be more fortunate in seeing Browne the next time I visit London, than when last there as soon as Lady Ouseley's accouchement shall take place, I have promised to pass a fortnight or three weeks with my brother in town. He will deliver to you the four little volumes, which form the most extravagant, the most-I don't know in what terms to express my opinion of the work.

MR. PINKERTON TO MR. M. LAING.

No. 7, Clement's Inn, Dec. 6th, 1805. I could not find the map for the copy of my Recherches, but have now found it, and shall send it the end of this month.

The defect of eleven books might have been removed by a twelfth, containing an account of the Manners, Literature, &c. &c. of Scotland during the seventeenth century. This very interesting addition I recommended at the first. Your Dissertation on Mary's guilt is excellent; but the other would have been far more interesting.

As I mean soon to publish my History of Scotland, 1371-1542, in 8vo., I shall be greatly obliged to you, if you will tell me freely (nay, very freely as a friend) what is said of the style, and any faults in it, on your side of the Tweed. I can correct all in this second edition, and beg you will not hesitate to tell me all.

DR. SHAW* TO MR. PINKERTON.

London, Jan. 1st, 1806.

I have added a few observations to some of the European countries, which may perhaps serve to amuse the reader a little. You have given so good a general abstract of the Zoology of each, that hardly any thing in the larger branches need be added. I mentioned some slight errors in the work, the memoranda of which I cannot find; but they were only three or four at most, one of

* George Shaw, M. D., one of the Librarians of the British Museum, and author of General Zoology, of The Naturalist's Miscellany, and of many other works on Natural History. He died in 1813. Of the assistance derived from Dr. Shaw to the second edition of his Geography, Mr. Pinkerton speaks in the following words :-" Conceiving that the Zoological part might admit of some improvements, in hands profoundly versed in that science, the author applied to Dr. Shaw of the British Museum, whose works have acquired a deserved reputation at home and abroad. He has kindly lent his aid, as the reader will observe from the Zoological remarks at the end of each volume; those on Australasia being of considerable extent, but authorised by the novelty, variety, and curiosity of the animals of that region."- Advertisement, p. xxvii.

which you say you have already secured, viz. that relative to the ourang-outang. The chief of those remaining was, I recollect, a passage taken, I believe, from Mr. Tooke, in which mention is made of boars' tusks found fossil of such a size as to weigh, I think, a thousand pounds, or some such thing. I forget the particulars; but, though scientific people would easily rectify the error, common readers might seriously suppose that boars of the size of elephants had once existed.

When the work comes out, which will certainly be one of the most valuable and improving in the English language, Mr. Longman is to send me a well-bound copy, which he will, I presume, accompany with the compliment agreed on between us; so that I think it need not be particularly mentioned to him at present.

MR. MONROE TO MR. PINKERTON.

London, Jan. 20th, 1806.

I had the pleasure to receive yours of yesterday this morning, as I had last night the inclosed

* At the time of writing this letter, Mr. Monroe was residing in England as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, by whom he was much employed in important missions. He published a View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States, as connected with the Mission to the French Republic during the years 1794-5, and 6; illustrated by his Instructions and Correspondence.---Philadelphia, 1798, 8vo.

sheets of your Account of the United States. I see nothing to correct in it as far as it goes. You make a just distinction between general geography and topography; and, from the sketch which these sheets give, (for my engagements have been such as to prevent my perusing any part of the last edition of your work,) I am strongly persuaded that you will omit none of the details which may with propriety be classed under the former head. You appear to me to take up the work with a proper spirit, and to direct the attention to proper objects. I hope you will not be misinformed on any material fact: indeed there is little cause to be uneasy on that point.

The difference in the character of the emigrants to Virginia and Massachussetts, the former the cavaliers or adherents of the royal cause in the civil wars of the Stuart family, the latter, those of the opposite party, seems sufficiently to have taken your attention. The first President of the American Congress was Peyton Randolph, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Virginia: he was succeeded by Mr. Hancock. It is my intention to call on you on Friday, as early in the day after twelve as possible; but it is not in my power to fix the hour; nor can I positively say that I shall be able to call on that day. There are many objects which claim my attention here: besides, there are ships daily sailing to America, by which I am favored with opportunities to communicate what deserves that attention. All that I can engage for, is, to read with care whatever you may submit to my consideration; and to give you,

with the least delay that circumstances will permit, my free sentiments on it. In taking any thing from the local geographers, you will of course avoid their prejudices. Too often those gentry write more to abuse their neighbors, than to diffuse useful knowledge.

Since writing the above, I have received official returns of all the important facts relating to the United States, which are embraced by your view of that country. I shall therefore make a note of such corrections as they may require.

The returns or reports referred to, are those made annually to Congress by the heads of departments. One topic is not comprised in them; it not being of a nature to be included in an annual report. This is the state of the population. I wish for such a statement at two successive terms: that is, the last and preceding one, distinguishing the black from the white population in each. The object of it is to show the proportional increase of the black and white population, under the mild system of government which exists in the United States; a system whose effects is felt on the black, or on domestic slavery, wherever it exists. I want this account immediately for a very interesting purpose; and I should therefore be particularly thankful if you can supply it. In case you have not two returns, (that is, of two epochs,) I will thank you for any notes you may be able to give.