From John Jay to John Sinclair, 12 July 1797
To John Sinclair
N York, 12 July 1797
Dr Sir
I was Yesterday favd. with yours of 29 March last1 enclosing three Copies of your account of the origin &ca. of the Board of agriculture—for wh accept my Thanks2
This Publication is in many Respects interesting— It shews how much may be accomplished by the Talents Zeal & Perseverance of patriotic Individuals; and how much ^greatly^ the Success of the best Institutions depends of on the application and Zeal of their Directors.
When the mass of Information acquired ^& which is still accumulating^ by the Board shall be ^come perfectly arranged ^methodized &^ compressed, and the Results rendered obvious to the Public, it is to be expected that the Progress of Improvements will ^Doubtless^ be be exceedingly accelerated ^come more & more rapid^ especially by ^after^ the Return of Peace & general Tranquility.
The Husbandry of our northern and middle States has within ten Years past improved ^advanced^ far beyond the Expectations of the most sanguine—A Farmer on Long Island last Year paid above twenty Guineas for the hire of a Young Bull for one Season—and a calf of this Spring was lately sold in west Chester for fifty Guineas ^250 Dol^— I mention these Prices to shew the spirit which prevails relative to the Breed of horned Cattle, for as to Horses ^altho^ our attention may to them the [qu?] still more ^to Horses is^ greater than to other animals ^yet it^ originates in various motives ^Inducements^ some of wh. have no immediate Reference to Li Husbandry.
Formerly the Subject of Manures was much neg neglected; at present
our Farmers are becoming attentive to it— In several Places green Sea weed is raken in great Quantities from the Bottoms of coves and Inlets ^along the Sea Shore^— Shells are collected and immense Quantities of Fish are taken— for the sole purpose of manure— The planting of the Locust Tree is increases— it is the most durable Timber we have and I think is worth your Notice— it grows well in England— I seen ^have some young^ Trees there which appeared to thrive well—
The Proceedings of your Board begin to be known here and will excite more Curiosity and Interest, in future than at present—Political Events and Questions have for some time past almost engrossd the attention thoughts of our People — and ^they^ have an inauspicious Influence on the arts of Peace — I have the honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Dr Sr your most obt Sert
Sr John Sinclair Bar[one]t.
Dft, NNC (EJ: 08973). Endorsed: “… in an[swe]r. to 29 march last”.
1. Sinclair to JJ, 29 Mar. 1797, ALS, NNC (EJ: 08635). For more on their correspondence, see the editorial note “John Jay’s Mission to London, 1794–95,” above.
2. Sinclair, Account of the Origin of the Board of Agriculture, and Its Progress for Three Years After Its Establishment (London, 1796).
Sinclair founded the Board or Society for the Encouragement of Agriculture and Internal Improvement (commonly known as the Board of Agriculture), a voluntary organization dedicated to agricultural experimentation, in 1793. JJ was made an honorary member in March 1795. See Sinclair to JJ, 31 Mar. 1795, ALS, NNC (EJ: 07141), and JJ to Sinclair, 1 Apr. 1795, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08936).
On 15 July 1797, Sinclair wrote JJ, enclosing his address to the Board and some agricultural surveys, requesting that JJ provide them with agricultural news from America. ALS, NNC (EJ: 07147). JJ noted in his reply, “We in this Country are as yet so far behind You in these excellent arts, that we can afford but little [illegible] ^can cast only a few interesting mites into your Treasury.^ — You will teach us useful Lessons, and more in agriculture, & they will cost us nothing; which is more than we can say as for [illegible] some of the other Lessons we are learning.” JJ to Sinclair, 7 Nov. 1797, Dft, NNC (EJ: 08975).