The Statistical Account Of Scotland, 1791. John Sinclair. 21 Volumes. Leather
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:7039897 | Year Printed: 1791 |
| Language: English | Binding: Leather |
| Publisher: William Ceech | Author: John Sinclair |
| Place of Publication: Edinburgh | ISBN: Does not apply |
The Statistical Account of ScotlandDrawn up from the communications of the Ministers of the Different ParishesBy Sir John Sinclair1791The first (Old) 21 Volumes, Original leather bound.The First (Old) Statistical Account of Scotland[edit]Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster had studied German state surveys and wished to use what he called for the first time these "statistical" methods to measure the quantum of happiness that existed in the nation and find ways of improving this. In t...his he was a remarkable example of Enlightenmentidealism at work. He stressed the empirical ideal of that age by lauding its anxious attention to the facts and he set about completing the work left unachieved by the previous attempt mentioned above. The results are crucial to an understanding of Scotland on the eve of both the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution.In 1790, Sir John sent structured questionnaires to over 900 parish ministers, covering the whole country. This contained 160 questions in 4 sections, namelyGeography and topographyPopulationAgricultural and Industrial productionMiscellaneous questionsThere were follow up questions in Appendices – six new questions in 1790 and four more in 1791. The general response was excellent, though the length and quality of submissions varied greatly, as can be seen by comparing those for two East Lothian parishes: Whittingehame (19 pages with detailed tables) and Stenton (2 pages of minimal information). Since the survey was not complete, Sir John sent out Statistical Missionaries in 1796 . The project was finished by June 1799, though much had already been published, and Sir John was able to lay before the General Assembly a detailed portrait of the nation. Taken as a whole, the reports are of inestimable historical value. Some are excellently written by ministers who were themselves meticulous Enlightenment scholars (see for example the response by the Rev Dr James Meek for the Parish of Cambuslang in Lanarkshire).The finished volumes were published in Edinburgh by William Creech.[2]
