And in computation, the following quantities of ground corn shall be confidered equal to a bushel: Wheat-meal, Wheat-flour, Rye-meal, Barley-meal, Bear-meal, Oat-meal, § 11. Wheat flour that does not pafs through a cloth, commonly called a fourteen filling cloth, to be confidered as wheat meal. § 12. The inspectors of corn returns are to make a comparison betwixt the measure in ufe in each county and Winchester meaîure, hang fame up in fome public place in town, and tranfmit it to the receiver of corn returns. § 13. All former laws for fecuring the revenue, not particularly altered by this, not to be affected thereby. 14. No fee to be taken for oaths administered according to this law. 15. Actions for penalties incurred by virtue of this act are to be fued for in any of the Courts of Record at Westminster, or in the Court of Exchequer at Edinburgh respectively, in the fame manner as penalties for offences against other laws refpecting the revenue, except penalties incurred by corn dealers or factors, and infpectors of returns, which are to be fued for before the justices of peace of the county. § 16. All actions brought against any perfon by virtue of this act, for any thing done, must be brought within three months of the thing done, and the action laid within the county. And if the verdict be given for the defendant, or the plaintiff discontinue the action, the defendant to have treble cofts. N. B. There are feveral fubordinate regulations, of little importance to the public; and fome provifions for incidents previous to the 15th Nov. 1791, which I have paffed over as not of confequence enough to take up more room with them. On the falutary Effects of Manufactures. Hence! rules the circling deep, and awes the world SIR, To the Editor of the Bee. THOMSON. I READ with very unpleafing fenfations Jaques' letter on agriculture, vol. 2d, page 141, in which he says, "Manufactures lay a certain foundation for future mifery and wretchedness by the introduction of vice under every form," and particularizes cotton mills.— When I read that paper, I could fay nothing on this fubject; but was agreeably furprised, lately, in feeing Lanark cotton mills, as I had been made to expect to fee fomething in the circumstances of the people employed in manufactures, which introduced vice among them in a peculiar degree. The advantages refulting to a nation from manufactures are many, and might easily be enlarged upon; but that I may not draw this paper to too great a length, I fhall briefly state a few facts which I have lately come to the knowledge of, introducing them with the advantages derived from them. Ift, The public are relieved from a burden, which if not quickly alleviated, behoved, in a fhort time, to become a very great incumbrance, viz. the maintenance and education of deftitute children. Upwards of 130 children have gone from Edinburgh charity work-houfe, and about 40 from St. Cuthbert's to Lanark mills, and about 40 from Edinburgh charity work-house to Stanley, within these 12 months. 2d, Many, who, if they had not been dependent on their refpective parishes, would, at beft, have been in a very ftraitened and miferable fituation, are brought into eafy and comfortable circumstances. I faw fome who came from the north of Scotland and went to Lanark mills fometime ago in a dirty and tattered condition, dreffed in clean and neat clothes; and their robust appearance and chearful countenances bespoke the plenty they enjoy. 3d, Many who would have been expofed to all the evil effects of idlenefs, are enured to habits of industry by fuch manufactures, and thus, thofe who would have been not only useless but hurtful members of fociety, do both support themselves, and furnish their quota to the general welfare. I faw authority maintained ftrictly, which is abfolutely neceffary. where there is fuch a multitude, yet without severity: and obedience was yielded with an alacrity and chearfulnefs, which indicated that they who were under authority were pleafed with their fituation. 4th, Many are inftructed by this means who otherwife, it is to be feared, would have been immersed in ignorance by their parents being unable to inftruct them, and as unable to pay for their inftruction, or perhaps, by distance, being deprived of the opportunity of attending fehool. The proprietor of Lanark Mills pays two teachers for inftructing fuch children as are boarded with him; and if the children of fuch people about the work as are poor, or have large families, are not taught gratis, (of which I am uncertain) they have the means of inftruction near them, and for a low fee. And as an encouragement to application, and a stimulus to emulation, premiums are given to fuch as have made the greateft proficiency. It may perhaps be thought that matters are reprefented too favourably here; but I think what follows is a corroboration of all that is faid. Such good ac counts had come from the children who went to Lanark from Edinburgh work-house the end of last year and beginning of this, of the happiness of their situation; that those who went away this month left Edinburgh with the greateft chearfulness. These few facts convince me that Jaques must be mistaken as to what he afferts, or that Lanark mills are much better conducted than any he has seen or heard of. If this, with other manufactures, has no direct tendency to meliorate the heart, as Jaques afferts agriculture has, fure I am, it of itself, has no direct tendency to viciate it. That profligacy will appear in all fuch places I have no doubt; but this proceeds from the great fource of all the mifery of man, the natural depravity of his heart *. Where men are most numerous, their depravity is moft confpicuous. This, I think, proves that the human mind only waits an opportunity to difcover itfelf; and confequently that, if the husbandman is apparently less vicious than the manufacturer, it is to be afcribed to his want of opportunity to discover his difpofition. This alfo proves that Jaques' argument condemns the ftate of fociety in general, no lefs than the establishment of particular manufactures. As a well-wisher to agriculture, I wish fuccess to the manufactures of Britain, being perfuaded that their fuccefs infures that of agriculture, as Criticus has concisely and clearly fhewn vol. iv. page 101. INSPECTOR. *Might not this be as juftly attributed to the natural defire that all animals feel to participate in enjoyments which come within their view, and which the fituation in life of the bulk of mankind does not enable them honefly to attain? Edit. Hofpitality and Gratitude. An Allegoric Tale. DARK was the night, and keen the north-east blew, "Ah! Thou who own'ft this mansion, Rude was the ftrain, but fuch as caught the ear Vol. VI. D |