One Autograph Letter Signed and another Signed Letter in a secretarial hand (both 'John Sinclair') from Sinclair to Lord Alloway, one discussing his 'son's singular adventure with The Emperor Napoleon, immediately previous to the Battle of Jena'.

Author: 
Sir John Sinclair (1754-1835) [David Cathcart (1763-1829), Lord Alloway; Napoleon Bonaparte; Sir Walter Scott]
One Autograph Letter Signed, Sir John Sinclair, agriculturist
Publication details: 
Both from 133 George Street, Edinburgh: the Autograph Letter docketed 'January 1826'; and the secretarial letter dated 4 February 1826
£120.00
SKU: 9341

Autograph Letter: 4to, 1 p. 10 lines. Text clear and complete. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. Inviting him and his family to dine with him and Lord and Lady Glasgow. Secretarial Letter: 12mo, 3 pp. Bifolium. Text clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Sending the 'narrative of my son's singular adventure', which he has 'been induced to draw up [...] for the purpose of supplying The Author of "Waverley," with "new materials," for his intended History of that extraordinary character'. Copies have been printed 'for circulation among a few particular friends', but 'it is not intended to be published in its present form', and he requests its return once read. Considers that the account 'furnishes a strong proof of the advantages of a public education, for no youth of Sixteen, bred at a private school, would probably have been able to have extricated himself so successfully from such a dilemma'. Short postscript on reverse of last leaf. Note: In the Historical Note that follows the Penguin Antiquary (and perhaps elsewhere), Sinclair is said to be the model for the duped Sir Arthur Wardour and to have been dsiliked by Scott.