GENERAL REPORT,

CF THE

AGRICULTURAL STATE, AND POLITICALCIRCUMSTANCES,

OF

SCOTLAND .

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

BY SIK JOHN SINCLAIR .

It is proposed, in tills introduction, to give a concise accountof the origin and progress of the undertaking, and a plan ofthe work.

1 .—ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OP THE UNDERTAKING.

The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement,was constituted in August 1793 , by a charter from the Crown,in consequence of an Address from Parliament recommend-ing such an establishment.

Among the various objects to which the attention of thenew institution was directed, the most essential undoubtedlywere, first, to ascertain the agricultural and general state of thecountry; and next, to point out the means of its improvement.

In order to carry cfn these important investigations, theBoard commenced its proceedings, by employing a number

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