ESSAY ON THE Trade, Commerce, and Manufactures O-F SCOTLAND. B T DAVID LOCH of Over Carnbic, Merchant in Edinburgh. EDINBURGH: Printed for the Author, and fold by all the Booksellers in Town and Country. M, D C C, L X X V, IPrice Thr:^ Shillings.-^ r I To His Grace HENRY Duke of Buccleugh, Earl of Dalkeith, Earl of Don CASTER, <^'c, ^r. My Lord Duke, T^HE Countenance and Protecflion (hewn by your Grace, to the improvements of the Manufad:ures and Commerce of your Country, have juftly endeared you to the affections of all tliegood people in Scotland ; and pointed you out as the Patron of the fpUovving work, v^hich was undertaken en- tirely with the view of promoting thefe de- firable objecls. The condefcenfion and affability with which you permitted your name to be made ufc of upon this occaflon, 1 look upon as the highefl honour I could pofiibly receive, and affords the moft flattering hopes, that, while fuch diftinguiflied Perfonages as your Grace, are not aQiamed to (land forth the avowed Friends of the Fabric of Scotland, its Manufac^lures and Commerce can fcarce fail of fbon arriving at a pitch of perfed:ioa and luftre hitherto unknown. I have upon many occafions acknow- ledged my want of abilities as a writer. Thi$ [ ] This fniall tra DAVID LOCH. PREFACE. THE author of the folio whig fhects has fo often freely offered his fentiments to the public, that fome of his readers luay think the prefent work entirely lupeniu- ous. A defire, however, to gratify the wifties of feveral of his beft friend^, and whom he is proud to fay, are likewife tlie beft friends to then* country, prevailed u- pon him to digeft mto one pamphlet, ni the belt manner he was capable, what he had upon different occafions, and at re- mote periods, publiflied in the news papers, with fuch remarks as may have fince oc- cured to him. An undertaking of this nature, the au- thor will readily acknowledge, is extreme- ly out of the line of life in which he was educated. He, confequently, muft la- bour under many difadvantages in the pro- fecution of it, which others, more accu- ftomed to literary labour, would not be lia- ble to. Theie he did not fail to mention to thofe gentlemen who have honoured him with their friendihip ; but, as they were pleafed to fay, that his experience in trade would do more than compenfate for any A deficiencies ( ii ) deFicicncies in point of language, he has aciveiitured upon the tafk; hopuig that his other readers will be equally indulgent in this refpe6l, with thofe of his hiends upon w'hofe folicitations it was undertaken. Having pren/iicd this much, the author will now proceed to lay down the plan on •\vhich he means to profecute the work. Firft. As it is the greateft objeft for the in': reafe of our woollen manufacture, which the author has, trom his earlieft lite, thought the llaple of this country he will endeavour to enforce the propriety of encrealing the number of (beep; and the necelfity of get- ting a proper bieed of that ufeful animal introduced into the country, he will next endeavour to point out the many advan- tages fuch a conduct would be of, not only in reducing the price of provillons; but like^vile as being the mon: beneficial man- ner in which the farm«'r could poflibly em- ploy his gx'ound, '1 he author, having Ipent the mod part ot his t'me in mercantile af- fairs, cannot be preiiimed ib luUy qualilied to treat this part of his fubjecSt fo much to his ovv'n fitibfaction, or thole of his readers, as others that have in a more partic\ilar man- ner engaged his attention. 1 his deicct, however, he has been at pains to remedy, by very frequcruly converlmg vviih many judicious and knowing farmers, on the lub- jcd: of breeding (heep. He has likewife had recourle ( iii ) rccourfe to fome of the beH: authors who 1 have wrote upon it; and he flatters 'limfelf, 1 '^hat the obfervauons he has thence been enabled to make, if ferio'ifly confidered, , will not be unworthy the actetition of thofe l^who would wifh to improve the breed of ^flieep in this country. 7 he next (ccftion of tliis work will be di- redled to the Woollen Manufactory. On this lubje(^, the author has tlie vanity to think lie can fpeak with fome degree of confidence. Trade, to many different parts of the globe, having bf-en hi conilant em- ployment, from the eaiiie^ period of his life, and having carried it on to an extent, not very frequently pradliled in this cou;ir try he has thereby been enabled to make fome oblervations, on the nature of mer- chandife in general, which he thinks may lay claim, atleafl, to a patient hearing. On this article he hopes ro fliew, by the moft irrefragable proofs that the woollen manu- factory is not only the natural, but the moft beneficial flaple, in which the inhabitants of this country can poilibly engage, and : that every public, as well as private encou- n^agement, ought to be afforded thofe who fet up manuta£tories, in which wool can be employed. The linen manufactory, which has been long thought the ftaple of this country ; but to w hicli idea the author could never give his affent, will fall natu- A 2 rally ( iv ) rally to be treated of under this head. As this branch has long been favoured with the proteftion and encouragement of the public, it may be thought a bold attempt, in an individual, to combat lb univcrfal and fo long received an opinion. But opinions, however refpeclable, niuft always give way to facls. From thcle the auilior has no doubt of convincing every impartial reader, that flax, being an exotic in this countiy, and the climate an enemy to its ever being brought to perfeclion, mud, in every view, be confidercd as a niofl unnatural purfuit; while wool, which is the natural produdli- on of the country, and which might be in- creafed to any extent, not only without riik, but with the highefl advantage to the raifer, and the country at large, ought to be (Irenuoufly prolecutcd and encouraged. Ihe Filherics Ihall occupy the next fecU- on of this work. Ihefe the author has long confidcred as an article of the highefl: con- fequence, ahd which ought to be prolecut- ed witi) the moll unremitting ardour. The Woollen Manutaclory he conlldcrs as the firft flciple of this country : he can liave ]ittle doubt, that the Fiiheries dcferve the lecond place. As fo very large fums of money are an- nually lent to London tor Porter, and as it is an objec^f worthy of the particular at- tention of every friend to his country ; the author ( y ) author has adventured fome ohfervations on that fubje^l. Happy fhould he be, could thefe have the effeil of opening the eyes of his countrymen, ih far as to di veil them of the unnatural prejudices which they have long indulged againllthe malt liquors brew- ed in Scotland. If this were once to take place, and proper encourai^ement given to our own countrvmen, the author has little doubt, that the public would be equally well lerved, a number of additional hands employed, and much money kept at home, which is now lent to London, The American difputes having unhappily arrived at a height to which few expected them, and confequently very much attrac- ted the attention of the public, the author has allotted part of this work to oifer his fentiments upon that fubjecl. The fre- quent intercourfe he had with that country, while he was concerned in trade, he hopes, will afford fome apology for attempting to write upon a fubject that has fo long en- gaged the heads and pens of the moft emi- nent men in the nation. If he fiiall differ in opinion from mofl of them, he flatters himfelf it will not be attributed to a defire of being fingular, but to its true motive, that of delivering the real fentiments of his heart, which he has done on this, as well as every other fubjeft on which he has of- fered his opinion. This will naturally lead to C vi ) to fbme obfervations on the trade carried on between Great Britain and her colonies, which ieems to have been little underftood by the patriots on the other fide the Tweed, or falfe glolles put upon it, in order to de- ceive their weaker brethren. Thefe un- happy difputcs and heart-burnings, he is hopeful, will ibon be terminated. In that view, therefore, he will endeavour in the next place, to point out a plan, by which that trade may be improved to the mutual advantage of Great Britain and her Colo- nies, and in a more efpecial manner to Scot-? land. Some general obfervations, on various fubjed:s, will conclude this work. The author has already confefTed his inability to perform it as he could have wiflicd. But, as it is folely intended for the good of his fellow countrymen, he is confident that conlideration, with the judicious part of mankind, will atone for a number of faults. As he is entirely difmterefted himfelf, far- ther than the defire he has of feeing the manufactures of his country flourifh, he is fenfible of meeting with the contumely of the interefled, again ft whom many of the cnluing obfervations may ftrijce, though he aflures them no perfonal or ill-natured at- tack is intended. He is alfb fenfible he [hall be treated with derifion by another clafs pf people, who, he is forry to confels, are ( vu ) are fer from being contemptible, in poin£ of numbers. He means thofe who cannot conceive how a man, who has the misfor- tune not to poflefs fo many acres, or can (how Co much ready cafti as themfelves, ih(>uld have the prefumption to oifer them an advice ; or why, if he has that effron- tery, any attention ftiould be paid to it? There is dill another clafs, whofe fneers he lays his account with receiving, and thele are the middli:ig, and even lower fet of people ; though it is the intereft of thele very people which the author has mod at heart- But while he continues to enjoy the approbation of the real friends to his coun- try, no confideration (hall deter him from expofing every thing which he is confcious is contrary to its true intereds, and recom- mending, with the utmod exertion of his poor abilities, whatever he thinks may tend to its advancement. With thefe relolutions he enters upon the prefent undertaking, and hopes from an impartial public a patient hearing, and gi what indulgence his want of knowledge in loliterary matters, and the importance of the -^ fubje^l itielf, may be thought to merit. SECTION I. Of the propriety of encreafmg the numhsr of Sheep in thit Country y and the nee JJity rf gctti/ig a propsr Breed of that Jifeftii Animul introduced into it, I HAVE cliofcn to make the railing of Sheep the firfi: ret!lioii of the prefent work, becaufe, if proper attention is not paid to that article, however anxious the country may become to encourage their own woollen manufacture, in preference to every other, yet if the manufadlurer cannot be fjppHeil with a fufficiency of good wool, it muil: be a kind of forced work ; or, at leall, not carried on with that brifknefs and fuccefs which it might be, were the quantity of wool, the produce of our own country, to be encreafed. To accompli/lr this is by no means either a dangerous or a difficult talk. I have been told that there may be at prelent three millions of Iheep in Scotland, and that their number might be encreafed to ten millions, or even to a much great- er number, without encroaching upon a fingle acre of corn- land. Before the Union, we not only clothed ourfelves, but fent cloth and woollen goods, to a coniiderable value, abroad ;, nay, I find, befide*, that large fums came into the country for un- manufactured wool. From this it is evident, that the num- ber of flieep in Scotland, before that period, muft have been extremely fuperior to what they are at prelent. And, in corroboration of that fa(5l, I beg leave to mention one inftance, of which I have been credibly informed, viz. That, forty years ago, there were, in Ealt and Mid-Lothians, ioflice]), for one that are in thcfe counties at prefent. That thefe are fadls, 1 imagine no one, in the leafi: con- verfant with the liiflory of his own country, will controvert. In hopes to be forgiven, for endeavouring to account why we allowed our flieep to diminifii fo greatly after the Union, I fhall offer lome conjei^iures on the fubjecTl:- It is well known, that however the Enplifh may now affecTt to defpife the Scots, they courted a union with the mofl unre- mitting ardour for a feries of years, and that it M'as at laft brought about, more by underhand dealing, than from its being thought, by the bulk of this nation, of any advantage to it ; nay, is it not well known_, that by fitr the grcateft A part [ 2 ] part c>f Scotland tliought tbemfelves fold by a few rf their leading men ? \Vl)etlier, however, this union hag been of advantage to both countries, is a queftion which has been clten agitated, but which docs not, from the nature of this little Vvorli, Item neccfl'ary lor me to determine ; perhaps, were 1 to give any opinion, I would ani'vver in the affirmative. This much, however, I thought ntccllary to offer, in order to pave the way for my conje M'hich this author (ays is tnuch colderthan the hills in Twee- dale, hy frigid blajis, and frojl rinds ; but certain I am., their wool, in general, is much better, and they are improving it every (eafon. The brucked faced flieep, fo much raifed in Tweedale, bear the woril wool of any flieep in Britain, and are by no means hardier than the white woolled, Ihort leg- ged fheep, which ar>e now railed in the higheft and coldeft grounds in Scotland. This gentleman recommends clumps of firs, as a proper flielter for flieep ; than which, I will be forgiven to fay, nothing can bi more abfurd. The drops which fall from trees are certain deltrudtion to flieep ; nei- iher do they aflPord any food, and very little fnelter, The proper flielter for flieep is undoubtedly whins; they both afford protedlion and food, and our forefathers, who, it will be no reflc<^ion on the prefent generation to fay, were in iiuny things as wife as ourlelves, were fo fenfible of this, that a premium was given, by a Scots acH. of parliament, for railing them. They arc not a native plant of this country, but were imported from France ; and I heard a nobleman from the county of Fife, with whom I have the honour to be acquainted, fay, that fome of his old tenants have heard their grandfathers tell, that they remembered the time when there was not a whin in Fife-fliire. The propagation of whins has been greatly neglecled in the flieep countries, in the fouth of Scotland, where they are much wanted. I would therefore humbly propofe, that a little more attention might be paid to that article by the gentlemen and farmers of the fouth country, A moft judicious and experienced far- mer, in the (heep and black cattle way, with whom I con- verfed on this fubjeiFt, recommends the propagation of whins, as the heft cover and feeding for flieep in the time of a ftorm. It fliould be done on a fouth expofure, with a loamy and dry foil, and may be raifed to advantage from the feed, which Ihould be fown in March. Thefe expofures, in different places, would prevent the neceflity of houfing the flieep at night, which greatly fullies and deftroys the wool. Another great prejudice to the wool of this country, is the unaccountable praclice a number of our people have got into, of tarring their flieep. 1 will venture to fay, that nothing can more effe(5lually tend to the deftroying of the wool, than this cuftum does, at the fame that it has not the fmalleft influence in preferving the flieep, which is the only reafon that can pofiibly be afligned for ftill continuing it. Nature, however, that creat andjuft monitor, fpeaks loud- C 7 ] ly againfl it. Has the God of nature created any living thing, without at the fame time giving it fuch covering as is beit fuired ftfr its exigence in this world ; and fliall we, finite creatures, pretend to amend his fyftem ? Depend U" pon it, whenever we maUe the attempt, we Ihall find oiir- felves egregioufly miltaken. Do we not fee the horfe, tlie cow, and every heart of the Held, nay, thofe which arc merely d 'medic, liich as the dog and cat, furnifhed, by that unerring Being, with a warmer covering, during the winter than the fummer months ; and lliall we fet ourfelves up as bet- ter judges, by adding to the covering of the flieep, what nature never intended (hould be added ? I am much afraid, if we do, our labour will be lort, and our prefuming to rtray from the path that nature has pointed out, will only ferve to confirm our ignorance. Let us take a view of the moft northern climates, where we, accuftomed to, and born ia this country, could not exift. Are the wild beasts in thefe regions fupphed with any artificial covering ? They are not Do they require any ? — We have all the reafon in the world to believe they do not. From whence do we receive all our fine furs and beaver, but from thofe countries ; and fiiall we then doubt, that the colder the climate is, there may we naturally expedl the finert wool to be produced. In fpeaking to this point, hitherto, I have deduced my arguments from nature. Tome, I will readily acknowledge, they are by far the moft forcible ; and many more migiit have been added. I ihall now, however, endeavour to flievv, that the practice of the moft knowing and wifeft in this country, as well as that of the greateft breeders of fheep in the world, ftrongly coincide with the opinion I have here adopted. To thefe farmers, who have been in the practice of fmear- ing their fheep with tar, it is by no means my intention to advile a total abolition of it at once ; as, to thofe who have already undergone that operation, it muft, in a manner, have become a fecond nature ; but Aire, even in thefe, the quantity might be gradually diminiflied. Inftead of this de- ftrutSive pradice of fmearing the Iheep with tar, whicli greatly diminiflies the Ibfcnefs, cleannefs, and finenefs of the wool, I would humbly recommend, upon the authority of a fenfible, judicious farmer, who has had thirty years ex- perience in the management of Iheep, the rubbing them o* ver with the juices of broom and tobacco, boiled together with ftrong urine, and mixed with ioK foap. This makes the fheep itand the winter, keeps tliem clean, and free from fcab, vermin, and moft other difeafes they are fubject to. The flems and refufe of tobacco anfwer for this compofition ; unif [ 8 ] and, if goverment would give orders to boil, inAead of burn, all the condemned tobacco, and let the ftore farmers have the juice, or fell it to them for behoof of the pour, it would be a great means of reducing the price of butter; whicli^ a- mong other necefTarie?, has got up fo high, by lefTening the confumption of it ; and foftfoap can be had as good in Leith as in any place in Europe. This gentleman likewife informed me, that foft foap, applied to any part that is alTcdled uitli itching or fcab, removes it fooner than any article with which the flieep can be rubbed ; and, furcly, it is of a much fofter and kinder nature than tar, and comes cheaper than butter. Indeed, from the materials of which it is made, there can be no doubt, that it is the befl ingredient that can be applied to flieep. It has likew j!e this furtlier advantage, that the ahove gentleman declares he never knew it to tail, when rubbed in time, on any hard, fcabby part of the flieep, but that it always removed the caufe of the complaint. The noble Lord, who I have already mentioned, makes ufe of no tar to his flieep, nor does he fmear them with any thing inftead of it, and ytt they thrive better than thofe of his neighbours, who prac^iife that method, and their wool fells at five times the price. Moll of the gentlemen, and fcnfible farmers, who breed flieep in this country, now fol- low tke fame example, and I hope the praiftice will loon become univerial, as it is undoubtedly fo in Eng- land, Wales, and indeed every other country who wUh to have fine wool. I believe I may venture to fay, that this is fo much the cale, that, if a calculation could be made of all the flieep reared in the known world, it would be found, that, for one flieep which is fmeared with tar, ten thoufand receive no other covering than what nature has aiForded ; which, as I before obferved, has taken particular care to fortify the brute creation with fuch cloathing as belt fuits the dillercnt climates in which they live, and even to encreafe or dimi- nilh it, according as the variations of the fcafon renders it more or lefs neceflf^iry. I am fcnfible the tarring of flieep has long been prac^ifed in this country, and that it is no eafy matter to abolifh a cullom, which has become inveterate by ufe ; efpecially amonglt the lower clafs of people. To thcfe, however, I would obferve, that their grandfathers as firm- ly believed in witch-craft, as they were convinced that flieep could not live wichout tarring, and many poor old women were burnt for being witclies, for no other caufe, but that they were more fcnfible than their neighbours. This inhuman practice has happily long been aboliflied ; and, I cannot help thinking the tarring of flieep is equally ridicu- lous J for thefe poor people can give no better reafon for continuinz C f 3 «)iitinulng it, than that their fathers and grandfathers did fo before them. I would therefore recommend to them two very limple expeiimenti, w Viich I think fhoulcl con\ince them of their error, and in which they may eailiy latisfy themfelves. Let them take a handful of fine wool, that never was tarred, and another that had undergone that o- peration ; let both be expoied to a heavy rain • and, let the preference be given to that fpecies of wool which belt throws off the rain. I am certain the experiment will ter- minate in favour of the wool which never had been tarred ; and therefure mult conclude, that tarring, initead of being ufeful, is the delhuCtion of the very fheep we mean to pre- ferve. The other experimei.t I would beg leave to recom- mend is this. Let them, in very cold weather, apply to their naked bodies the fkin of a fheep which had not been tarred, and the fliin of another which had been tarred, and I am perfuaded they will find the former much more com- fortable than the latter. Can we then entertain a dojibt, that it mufl: have the very lame effect upon the fheep them- felves, which it is the great aim of every ienf.ble farmer to keep, as much as poffible, from wet and cold, during the win'er ? Nothing, furely, can anfwer that purpofe fo well as the covering with which nature has fo amply provided them ; nor is any thing more necefTary for their prefervati- on and comfort, than keeping them from wet, and afford- ing them a proper fhelter from the inclemency of the weather, ■which may be eafily done, by making plantations of whins, at convenient places, as already noticed, and which is even preferable to houling them, as their wool would thereby be kept clean, while the putting them into houfes fullies and delfroys it. Our American brethren, indeed, have for fome- time pafl made ule of this precious ointment, mixed with fome feathers, as a prefsrvative for men ; and I have no ob- jection that they fhould Hill continue the practice. Many of them, 1 am certain, deferve to be fmeared with tar, and fuch dirt, much better tlian our poor harmiefs flieep ; and, I make no doubt, that, by this time, they will be fond of any covering. I would therefore humbly propole, that govern- ment fhould allow them the fame bounty for keeping their tar at home, that they do for fending it here ; as we can be fupplied with plenty of it for every neceffary purpofe, from Norway ; that they fhould itrictly enjoin the Bo- ffonians to tar all the hogs, tups, rams, and crofs grown beafls in that country ; and that their vermin of clergy fhould be inrtruCled to adminilter that ufeful falve to the bodies of their flocks, fo foon as they are able to carry arms againft God, their King, and Mother Country. B Another [ TO ] Another gVcat deftriicVion to our (hcep, 5s the number «f nfeltfs dogs1 ho have outlived their teeth. The flieared (heep go to the fields' to feed a little, if it be fine weather, and they return in the evening to pals the night in the yard before the houfe, within the flielter of the walls ; but if it be cold and cloudy, they go into the houfe. They are thus brought by degrees to bear the open air ; and their firll days journies from the (hear- ing iioufe to the mountains are ftort : where we will leave them to conclude their annual peregrination, and go ice hovvr fare the flocks of Molina Arragon, which have by this time got thither. But while the mule is faddling, a word of the ihorn wool, '* The iheep and fliearers difpatched, the firfl thin? done C . M t IS ] U, to weigh the whole pile of wool : the next is, to c'ivi.le each fltrece into three I'oits ol' w«,ol; the-back and belly give the upejfine ; the neck and fides gives the fine ; the brealts, ihouldtrs, and thighs, tlic toarfe wool. A different price is Hxed upon three clifles, though the general cultom i^, to iell tlie whole pile together at a mean price. It is lold af- ter it is waflicd, when it is to go out of the kingdom, or to any confiderable difVance in it ; for, as it never lofes lefs ilian lialf its weigiii in wafhing, and ol'tcn nn>re when the Iv/eatiiig is vioh nt, half the carriage is i'aved. ** Thirty-ont l.agues S. E. of Madrid, a:id five leagues S. of the fource of the river Tagus, is the town of Molina Ar- ragon, capital of a lortllhip of the crown, Tvhich is twelve leagues wide, as many long, and almolt in the center of Spain. The highlands of this liitle territory are covered M ith pip.e trees; the lowlands feed about 150,000 flieep. Here 1 learnt lome truths which prove that the ti ree fuUow- ing opinions fhould be ranked among vulgar errors. '' r. That llieepeat and love aromatic plants, and that the fiefli of thole that feed on hills where fweet herbs abound, has a fine tude- " 2. That laltfprings a'e not found in the high primativc mountains, but in tlit- low hills and plains only. ** 5- The metalic vapc-urs deltroy vegetation, that no rodcs nor mf)untai:is, pregnant with rich veins of ore, are covered M'ith rich veo;etable foil. " As my duty obliged me to pafs hundreds of days at the Platillo mine of Molina, I 'aw tlioufands of Iheep feed around it. I obferved that, when the (hepherd made a paufe, and let them feed at their will, they fought only for tbe fine grafs, and never touched any aromatic plant ; that when the creeping !trpilliini was interu'oven with the grafs, the iheep indultriouiiy noflcd it afide to biie a blade, which trouble made tliem loon fcek out a pure graminous I'pot. I obfer- ved too, when the fnepherd perceived a tlneatening cloud, and give a iignal to the dogs to collei^t the trihe, and then to go behind it, walking ap.;ce himfelf to lead the fhcep to iheker, that, as they had no time t > Itoop, they M'Oiild take a Ihapcf iloechas rofemary, or any other fhrub in their way ; for Iheep will eat any thing when they are hungry, or v.'hen ihey walk fall. I law them greedily devour henbane, hem- lock, glaucium, and other naufeous weeds, upon their iffiie out of the -{liearing-houfe If fheep loved aromatic plants it would be one of the greatelt misfortunes that could befal the farmers of Spain. The number of bee-hives is incredible. 1 am almoil alhamed to give under my hand that I knew 2 parifli priell who had 5000 hives. The bees fuck all their C 19 3 ibeir honey and gather all their wax from the aromatic liowers, which ^aiuvicl and peiiiime iM'o thirds of the iheep- ■ walks. This prieft cautiouily Itizes the queens in a i'maU crape fly-catch ; he clips of their \vings ; their njajcilies ^ay at home. He ifFurcd me that he never loft a I'warm from the day of this dilcovery to the day he iaw me, which I think \vas five years. ** The flieepherd's diie: care, is not to fuifer the flieep to go out of their toils till the morning fun has exhaled the dew of a white fiolt, and never let them approach a rivulet or pond after a fliovs'er of hail > for if they fliould eat thedewy grafs, or drink hail-water, tlie whuie tribe would become melancholy, faft pine awuy, find tlie, as often liappened, Hail-Vt'atcr is fo pernicious to men in this climate^, that the people of Molina will not drink tlic river water after a vio- lent fnower of hai! j experience taught the danger : but Jet it be ever fo rnuddy, and rife ever fo higli after rain, thcv drink it without fear. Perhaps this may be the unheeded c^.ufe of many endemical epidemics of other cities. The ilicep of Andalufia, who never travel, have coarfe, long, hairy wool, I faw a flock in Eflramadura, whole wool trail- ed on -the ground. The itinerant fiieep have fhort, (ilky', white wool. I do b«Iievc, from a few experiments, and long obfervation, that, if the fine-woolled Iheep ilaid at home in the winter, their wool became coarfe in a fev/ genera- tions. If the coarfe woolled flieep travelled from cli- mate to cliniare, and lived in the tree air, tlicir wool would become fine, I'iiort, and lilky, in a fev/ generations. '* Tlie finenefs of tlie wool is due to the animal's pafling its life in an open air of equal tcinperatnre. It is not colder in Andalufia and Eftramadura in the winter, than it is in the Montano'or Molina in fummer. There is little frofl in An- dalufia. Sometimes it fnov/s in June m Molina. I felt a cold day upon the leafl cloud in fummer. Conftant heat, or con- ftant cold, with houfing, are the caufes of coarfe, black and fpeckled wool. All the animals, I know, who live in the open air, conflantly kecj) up to the colour of their fires. There are the mofl: beautiful brindled fiieep in the world a- mong the coarfe-woolled fheep of Spain. I never faw one amongft the fine-wooUed flock. Thr free, but lefs abun- dant perfpiration in the open air, is fwept av/ay as faft as it flows, whereas it is greatly increafed by the exceflive heat of numbers of fheep, houied all night in a narrow place. It fouls the wool, makes it hairy, and changes its colour. The jfwine of Spain, who pafs tlieir lives in the woods, are all of one colour, as the M'ild boars. They have fine, filky curled briftlcs. iNiever did a Spanifh hog's briille pierce a C 2 fhos [ 2C 3 flioe, \Miat a quantity of dander is daily fecerned from the glands of a Oabled horfe : the curry-comb and hair cbth e- ver in hand : How clean is the fkin of a horfe tliat livffs rn the open air !" Ricliard Tuifs, Efq ; -who has lately publiflied trarels through Poitugal and Spain, agrees M'ith the gentleman a- bove quoted, and gives us the following pafTage on that Tub- je(5t: ** March 1 1. The road over which we travelled this day, was fomewhat hilly; we arrived at noon, at the city of Sego- via, which (lands on a hill, at the foot of \\ hich runs the fniall, J ivcr Erefma. Segovia is walled, and is about eighty miles iiiilant from Valladolid. Between Olmedo and this city IH'C faw vaft numbers of llieep, the wool of which is accounted the fineft in Spain. I made enquiry about the Ihtcp walks, and concerning the method of managing thefe ar.iinats, of vhicli a very jufl account is given by the Abbe de L P'u t?, in the fixtccnth volume of his Veyagcur Francois, priated in Paris in 1772. It is as follows: *< Numberlels flucks of Ihcep cover the plains of Segovia, and produce that excellent wool, which makes I'uch an im- portant branch of the conmierce of Spain. The kings were antiently the proprietors ofthegreatefl part oftlicfe flocks; they have been lucccllively alienated for Itate exigences. Philip I. vas obliged to iell the lall fourteen thoufand (heep, which be- longed to the crown, to defray the cxpences of war. They are, however, flill the object of the government's particular attention: In eflet^, there is a confiderable exportation of wool, M'hich is ufed all over Europe, Does its fuperiority depend only on the climate, or on a particular method of managing the fliecp? Thofe that embrace the latter opini- on lay, that theie are in Spain two Ibrts of flieep, very dif- ferent in their fleece, though they appear to be of the lame breed. The flieep with coarfe fleeces remain all the year in the fame place, and in the winter nights they are fliut up in a fold. On the contrary, the others live always in the open air, and travel twice a-year. During the fummer they fbay on the mountains of Leon, of old Callile, of Cuenca, and of Arragon : They pafs the winter on the tem- perate plains of la Mancha, Ellramadura, and Andalulla. According to very exa;^ calculations, there are reckoned in 5;pain, more than five millions of thofe travelling flieep with fine wool. It may eafily be imagined how much care; in- telligence, and a^livity is requillte from thofe who have the charge of conducfting thofe valt flocks. ** Thty miill take particular heed not to let them want fait, efpecially after their leturn from the fouth to their iummer palhirages. That commodity keeps them in health, a:.G hardens their condiiution, which contributes infinitely to the C 21 1 the beauty of tlie wool. After having pafTed the winter ia a temperate climate, they let out in the month of April for the mountains. ** The fheep themfelves fhow their defire of changing their place, by many unquiet motions ; and that deiire is fo ihong, that the fliepherds muft be very watchful to prevent their efcaping. ** They begin to (hear them in the month of May, either on the road or after their arrival. It is necelTiry to wait for fine weather; for if their wool was not dry enough, the fleeces being piled on each other would ferment and fpoil. Towards tlie end of July, the number of rams neceflary for propagation are mixed with the Iheep. Six or leven rams are fuflicient for a hundred faeep : Out of a numerous flock of «am«, the Itrongtft and handfomeft are chofen for that purpofe. There are in general very few Iheep in thefe travelling flocks, thougli tlieir wool is finer, and their flefli bet- ter than that of the rams, but the fleece of thefe is heavier, they live longer, and by that means their total produ(5l is more confiderable. It is elteemed very eflTential to befmear thefe animals in the month of September, from the neck to the root of the tail, with a ferruginous earth mixed with water. It is faid that this unguent, mixing with the greafe of the V. ool, becomes impenetrable to rain and to cold, and that it ablbrbs part of the tranfpiration, which would other- ways render the fleece rough and coarfe. At the end of September the flieep begin their march towards the lower plains. They travel one hundred and fifty leagues in forty days, when the time comes that the fheep drop their lambs, the ihepherds firfl: feparates thofe which are fteril from ihofe which are fruitful : Thefe are guided to the beft places of fhelter, and thofe to the coldeil parts of the diftrift. The fpots which produce tlie beft and moft abundant herbs, are alio alloted for the youngefl lambs ; that, by being fortified with good food, they may be able to depart with the others. The tail is cut off within five inches of the rump to keep them the cleaner. It is an error to believe that the fheep prefer aromatic plants to others, and that they are more be- neficial to them. It is the tender herbs that grow between thofe plants, that afford the moft wholefome nourifhment for them, and that gives a good tafte to their flefli. They mud never be led to feed till the fun has diffipated the morning dew, and mufl not be allowed to drink immediately after a hail ftorm, becaufe that water, or wet grafs, renders them melancholy, and makes them languifh and die. " It appears then to be certain that the fuperiority of the wool in this country is not to be attributed to the climate •nly ; and that it depends in a great meafure on the precau- tions t 22 5 tions above mentioned; becaufe, in the fame dimate, the. fceep of Andalufia, which are of the fame breed, but which are net taken the like care of, have tlieir wuol much coarf- er. Would it be advantageous in other countries to allot large tra^^s of land for the pafturage of thefe animals ; and would it be as much fo to the proprietor, as if he had made thofe lands ferve for otiier purpofcs ? To tlicfe countries where lands are fuccefiively cultivated, flocks of (lieep muli he confidered more for th.e ufe they are of to agriculture, than for their fleeces. Dung is there much more neceflary than wool. The travelling fheep fui nifli no manure wheii they wander in the mountains, fo that they muR be confined together in lands which require cultivation." Though I will not pretend to fay, how far a fimilar con- £u6i ought to be followed by the ralfers of flieep in d^is coun- trj', with what is obferved in Spain, a-- to their palhiring, yet I do humbly think, that feveral very ufefnl hints may be gathered, by the fenlible farmer, from a ferious perufal of the above pafHigey, particularly with regard to the proper time of flaughtcring the flieep, when nature has fo far depriv- ed them of teeth, as to difable them from eating a fuflicient quantity of food to fatten them ; the obfervance of which, I am afraid, is, in general, but too little attended to. And, that even a trial of prefenting fait to them, at difl'erentftages cf their walks, as it would be an experiment attended with very little cxj)ence, fo, if it fliould not anfwcr every expec- tation conceived from it, might, at leafl, be tried without i'ear of danger. If falutary confequences were obferved to arife from it, then the prac^tice might be extended^ At any rate, I could fincerely wifli, that fome gentlemen, or farmers of public-fpirir, would make the experiment, upon a fmall part of their flock, and either continue or defift from it, as they faw it attended with or without fuccefs. One thing material to be obferved, however, is, that the Spahiards have lung confidered fheep, and their produce, to be the mod valuable jewel in the crown. The Englifli na- tion, whofe wifdom no one will difpute, have been of the fame opinion for many ages. They have, and with great reafon, preferred the cultivation of wool, to mines of gold or filver, as it employed the heads and hands of the ingeni- ous and induftrious, and thereby brought a fund of wealth into their kingdom, which could not pofllbly be derived from any other fource. Confcious of its being the ftaple and glory of England, they have ordered, that their fupreme Judges, "when convened together in the great council of the nation, {hould be feated on wool-packs ; that care flieidd be taken «ever to export any wool, till manufaflured into cloth j that none C 33 1 nonie of the breed of their ftieep ihould ever be allowed t4 he carried to foreign parts ; that the exportation of either Jlieep or wool, fliould be a capital crime, and every perion difcovered to be any way concerned in it, defpifed, looked upon as an enemy to his country, and branded with infamy and difjyrace. Nay, fo far was their attention carried to the encouragement of this mofl valuable branch ; (indeed, it is of more real confequence, and yields more profit, tliaa all the trade of England befides) that they would not fudef their dead to be buried in linen, the liaple of poor Scotland, but all in woollen, in order that the conlumption of this va- luable manufacture might not ceafe with tlie living, but eveii be fent to the grave with the dead. This wife nation hath been equally attentive to procure every ingredient made ufe of in the Woollen Manufacture at the clieapell rate. For this purpofe, all drugs, dye-fluffs, and every other article made ule of in that b anch, is allowed to be imported iato every part of Great Britain, free of any duty whatever j while our fancied, and vifionary ftaple, the Linen, is bur- dened with a very high duty on every article made ufe of in its manufacture, the rough flax alone excepted, and even ©n it the charge is confiderable. But of this in its proper place Before I conclude this feCtion, which perhaps has already fwelled to too great a length, I muft be forgiven to fay a few words in anlwer to fome objections that have been Itarted, as to encreafmg the number of fhcep in this country. 1 have been told, that fome gentlemen think, if the number of Iheep were increafed, it would lower the price of mutton, and confequently leflen the value of their land. This opinion, however, I will beg leave to lay, proceeds entirely upon a miftake ; for the wool alone, exclufive of the mutton, will be fully fufiicient to enable the tenants to pay their prefent rents ; and, if the mutton were reduced to half the price it now bears, the advantages tliat would thereby accrue to the manufacturer, and the country in general, would be im- menfe. It is well known, that the cheaper we can brin<5 our goods to a foreign market, the more certain we are of getting them difpoled of. It is equally well known, that, in a country where provilions are dear, the price of labotir muft be proportionally fo. If, therefore, the one can be reduced, the other naturally, and of confequence, falls like- wife ; fo thrit I humbly conceive, at the fame time that the landed gentlemen can fuffer nothing by the increai'e of 'lieep the manufacturer, and the country in general, cannot fail of receiving great benefit from it. But, fuppofing fo many fheep to be t'td as to overdock our ov/n market, I can fee C 34 3 liobad confcquences which could arife from that circumftance, as the overphis could be failed and fent to foreign markets, Vhere it would be certain of a ready fale. The moft northern fettlement in Europe, I mean Iceland, belonging to the king of Denmark, follows this pra»Stice. I have purchafed iait mutton at Copenhagen, which had been brought from that place, the fatteft I ever faw, and 1 can fay with great truth, it proved excellent provifion. Let us not, therefore, be deterred from increafing the number of our flieep, from the apprehenlion of its decreafing the va- lue of our land, or overltocking the market. The former can never happen ; and, if the latter flioiild, a new branch of trade will thereby be eftablifhed, which may give em- ployment to an additional number of hands, and bring mo- ney into the country. It may likewife be objec'^ted to in- creafing the number of our flitep, that we ihall thereby di- minifh the number of acres at prefent occupied in corn-land. But, to this i anfwer, iliat millions of adilitional flieep may be raifed, without incroaching upon a fingle acre, capable of bearing corn, or rearing black cattle ; for flieep can feed to advantage, where neither the one nor the other will thrive, nor can any thing fooncr bring land in, capable to Icar corn, than having it previoufiy paftured upon by flieep, Some Ipeculative gentlemen, as I already obftrved, have attempted to raife corn upon grounds, where it is almoft next to an impoffibility it could ever ripen. Had they, in- ftead thereof, flocked them with fine wooled flieep, their returns would have been much larger, and more certain, at the fame lime that they were contributing their fhar« to the general good of the kingdi^m, by encreafing the quantity of wool, which I always thought, and fliall now endeavour to convince my countrymen, ou^ht to be the ftaple manufac- ture of this kingdom. SECTION SECTION IL Of the Woollen Manufactory. That It is the natural Staple of Scotland, and therejore ought to be encour- aged, by every true lover of his country, in all its vari- ous branches. WHATEVER material is the natural produ61ion of any country, we may reafonably conclude the cultivation and the manut'aiSturing of it, into fuch commodities as the in- habitants cannot do without, and may export to foreiga na- tions with advantage, is preferable to any other material, which cannot boall of thefe advantages. It is for this reafon that 1 have, from the firft moment I was capable of forming any rational ideas of trade, been firmly convinced, that my countrymen have all along been purfuing a phantom in the Linen Manufacture, while they have totally difregarded, or very much overlooked, that real and fubftantial fource of trade, which they would have found in the Woollen Manufadlure, and which it never can be too late eagerly to follow after. To combat an inveterate cuftom, I am not infenfible, is a very bold, and a very hazardous undertaking. If that cu- ll om, however, from the experience of ages, fliall have been found a moft prejudicial one to the interelts of the communi- ty, I have too high an opinion of the good fenfe of my coun- trymen to imagine, that the endeavours of an individual, to point out the evils attending it, and the advantages which might be derived by adopting a different conduct, will meet with their difapprobation. In thefe hopes, and from a confcioufnefsof the great fnpe- riority of the Woollen Manufa(5lure over the Linen, vi ere equal encouragement given to both, I have adventured, up- on many different occaiions, to point out the advantages of the one, and the alniolt iniurmountable clogs and difficulties which are the attendants of the other. I have already ob- ferved, in the former Section of this ^^'ork, that this couu' try is fit, with very little foreign aid, to raife up a breed cf fheep. equal to thofe of our neighbouring kinp;dom, or, per- haps, any other country. If we lliould ftand in need of a finer fpecies of wool, than what can be produced from our own D flic-cp, C a6 3 flieep, that can be eafily attained, and (hall be taken notice of in its proper place. But, perhaps, before going further, it may not be imjiroper here to point out the di fad vantages attending the proleciiiioti of the Linen Manufac^ture, to lb great an extent as we have hitherto done, as from thence ii M'iil more evidently appear, how far the Woollen Manu- f^iSiiire tnuft furpals tlie Linen, in every fubltantial and real advantage. To b^gin, then, with flax. This great and fundamental ariicie, if the Ma.Mifaclurer means to have luch as is fit for his puijwfe, he miift commifiion from (ome port in the Bal- tic, or from Holland. Anotlier article wliichheis under the neceility of bringing from abroad, is Pearl and Pot Alhes. For tlic faiisfaciion of thofe, who may not be acquainted with mercantile affairs, I nuiU beg leave to lay before ihem, thd charges attending the importing a cargo of thele articles. They are as follows : per cent. For a cargo of flax, (hipped at St. Peterfburgh, Riga, or any other port in tlie B:iltic, commifTion 2 per cent. ])ort-charges, fhipping charges and Sound dues, 2 l-halt /^r cent. 4 1-2 Infurancc, at a medium, through tlie feafon, ^ I -half per cent, freight to Lcith I l-half^^r cent. 5 Lofs, by dry damage, at a medium, and fhort, ufelefs flax, packed fo that it cannot be diicovered, 5 Sea-damage, tliat the under-writers are not liable to pay ; for they don't pay under 5, 3 1-2 Flax. Shore dues at Leith, poiterage, cuftom-houfe charges, i-lialf per cent. ware-Uoufe rent, and wcigh-houlc dues, i-j(ihper cent, O 3-4 In aU, 18 3-8 Charges on a cargo of Pearl and Pot AJhes. per cent, CommifTion 2 per cent, port-charges, fliipping, and Sound dues, 2 \-\\z\i per cent. 4 1-2 Inlurance, at a medium, 3 i-half/>cr c?«/, freight to Leith, 2 per cent. 5 1-2 Lois by fea-damage, which the under-writers do not pay, 4 Duties, 35 Forterage, cartage, fhore-dues, cooperage, cuftom- houfe fees, weighhoufe, &c. 1 1-4 In all, 40 1-4 The C 37 3 The fame charges attend wed and wood a(hes ; only they are not lb liable to damage at liea, nor are the duties near fo high as on the pot and pearl aflies ; but it equally aireds the value, as they are much cheaper in price. The flnx from tioHand is not loaded with liich high charges and freight as fr^ the Baltic ; but even from Holland it will be equal to fix or {even per cent. This is but a fmall part of the trade ; for the bulk of flax ufed in Scotland is imported from the Baltic. The charges on Flax from Holland are, ' per cent. Commiffion 2 per cent, fliipping (*hargcs and port- charges, 1 i-)^^ per cent. 3 1-2 Infurance through thp feafon i -x-^^xh per cent, freight to Leith 1 -AiUx per cent. I 1-2 Lofs that the under-writers do not pay, i per cent. porterage, cartage, lliore-dues, \ 4th per cent. cuftom-houfe fees, and petty charges, i-8th per cent» • 13-8 In all, 63-8- From tbefe fchemes, which T am certain no one will fay is un- jufl in the minutefl article, it will be oblerved, that for every article imjiorted for the uie of the Linen Manufacture, flax only excepted, no lefb duty than 25 per cent, of its real value, IS paid by the importer ; and, though it may be laid, that, as no duty is paid on the flux itielf, and, conCequently a fuf- ficient encouragement is Thereby atF()rded to the Linen Ma- nufacturers to tarry on that branch of bufuicls, -I would be glad to know if thofe whom they employ to purchafe this article, furnifli them with fuch flax as they manufa'ilure th.emfelves ? or, if, after all, they can make fuch a profit, as to make the hands they employ live with any degree of comfort ? I am pofitive they do not ; for the flax that is msrie ufe of in Silefia is of a far fuperior quality to any I ever faw brought to this country ; and I am fully perluaded every qthev country from whence we receive that commo- dity, will be equally attentive to their own interelt in not exporting the bcil of the commodity which they manufacture at home. But I am aware of the anfwer v.hich will be made here. It may be faid, we can cultivate flax ourfelves ; and the Truftees have given us every encouragement to do fo. This lafl: propofition I will not deny. The Trullees have indeed carried iheii encouragement to a height, which, D 2 I hope^ t 23 ] I hope, more mature confideration will iiuliice them to put a ftop to. They have made many of our farmers facriHce the bcli of their ground to the raifing of flax, for the fake of their premiums, M'hich otherwife might have been employed in corn-lant], much to the advantage of thcmlclves, and the ccmntry in general ; but from which, by this new and exotic culture, they mufi: have been egregious lolcrs, had not the largenefs of the premium indemnified them for the price of labour and land, though it cannot be diiputtd that the lafl v/as ihereby totally loll to the community. As to our cuhivating flax ourfelves, at lead to a!iy good purpofe, I w ill venture to fay, it is an attempt frauglit witJi the highclt ablurdity. This, nor any other iiland, that ever I knew, Ireland excepted, is proper for the growth of flax. I will beg leave to give my reafons for ihjs opinion very Ihortly. In ail iiiands the weather is very changeable, and the fnow in Jscotland never lies a iufficitjit time to keep the froft out of the ground ; neither is our heat in Ipring fuHicieut to w-arm it, lb as lo make it fit for the reception of the feed ; and vegeta- tion, of confequwice, cealcs. I cannot better exemplify this, tlian by informing my readers, that lalt fummer, hav- ing taken a journey to tiie North, in order to vilit a gentle- man, whole afiiduity in promoting the manufactures of his country is well known, and whofe memory will be venerated by afier ages ; I law, in perhaps ihefinell country in Scotland for the j^urpofe, fevcral fine fields plowed down, which had been foXvn with flax, at a great labour and cxpence, but Avhich, unhappily for the deluded farmer, yielded no crop whatever. ti:u\ lall fpring been an intolerably cold one, this miglit have been pleaded as a realon for thelailure; but every one knows, that a more promifing and warm fpring has not hajipened for many years palh 1 likewile paid par- ticular attciition to the llax I faw growing betwixt Perth anod reafon for withliokiing payment from the Scots merchant, as he not only was deprived of the crop he expelled, but Ilkewife loft all his labour, and the ufe of. his ground for that year. When (iich are the uncti tainties attending the raifing of flax in this country, it is fiirely high time to give up the pravftice ; for «he moft fkillfiil cannot promife. upon ffeing the feed, but what it is in every reCptdl good and wholelbme, while, at the fame time, it may be dead, and ufelefs to all intents and purpofes. This was exprefsly the cafe in one of the proceflbs above alluded to. A proof was taken as to tlie quality of the feed, when (hipped from Hol- Lind. people, knowing in thele matters, gave evidence, that it had every appearance of good leed at that time. It was proved to have received no damage at lea ; and leveral per- ir.ns, who were deemed proper judges, gave it the highefl character, after it came into the Scots merchant's pofTeffion. Tlicre it received no prejudice ; and yet nnt a fingle veftige fcf it V..IS to be feen, after being put into ih? ground, though town by many different farmers in the county of Moray, •which is known to contain as rich good ground as any in Scotland. I have been the more particular on this fubjeft, as I would fincerely wifh to convince the gentlemen and farmers of tlie impropriety of taking up their valuable grounds with an ar- ticle fo extremely uncertain and dangerous ; and, as I am certain, flax, much preferable to any which can be railed in this country, in the moft favourable feafons, and from the inoft luxuriant crops, may be had upon eafier terms from ihole countries where flax is a natural plant. It was never my Intention to diffuade thofe who are al- ready engaged in the Linen Manufacflure, to give up that branch altogether : but to get out of it flowly, and apply more to the Woollen. Linens, for our own confumption, ought certainly to be made at home, and even lome for our neighbours the Englifli ; but thefe Ihould be of a coarfe qua- lity, and from foreign flax. The Scots manufar fervants honeft, and fome of them very alert, witnefs Mr. W. T"d ; yet all would not do. I had the honour to be ac- quainted with fome of the gentlemen who were in the di- rection fome years ago. I have furniflied the company with Ihips for feveral feafons to bring home their flax. My poor opinion has often been afeed by fome gentlemen, largely con- cerned in this trade. I was always uniform and explicit, that it could not fupport itfelf. — The money that has gone out of this country, (and it is all cafli) in my time, to pay- flax, and flax-feed, to Holland and lluffia, is Jo immenfe, that it is almoft beyond credibility. I know, very nearly, the fum that has been remitted, for thefe twenty ye-ars palt, to Amfterdam, Rotterdam, and Hamburgh, tor thefe articles; but it is fo very large, that I do not chufe to mention it, as it would ftagger the belief of the molt credulous. The fum paid for pot, pearl, weed and wood aflics, &c. has likevi-ila been [ 52 ] been far from being inconfiderable. This trade, I am pcr- fuaded, has carried more money out of Scotland in my time, than all our foreign trade put together ; for tiie French and Spaniards take our goods in exchangefor their commodities ; but thofe who fupply us with flax, flax-feed, &c. take no- thing but ready money. It is to this caufe, therefore, th it 1 muit attribute the great fcarcity of caOi, and of the London and Dutch exchange being fo much againft us. As tiiere have been lefs of thefe articles, however, imported within thefe two years pall, the exchange has liecome more mo- derate, which is an evident proof of my affcrtion being well founded. That I am equally fo, with regard to the advan- tages that mud attend a lefs vigorous exertion in favours of the Linen, and a j)roper application being made to that of the Woollen manufadlure, 1 fliall endeavour to make evident in its proper place. My knowledge of what put the political fpinning wheels in motion, is not of yeflerday. It was Archibald Earl of Iflay, alterwards Duke of Argylc, who long held the reins of the political fyltem of tliis country, that gave birth to this Utopean fchemc, and he had able and good men to manage for him; but they were cliained to his party. It is far from my intention to fay any thing difrefj^edful to the memory of that nobleman. He was undoubtedly a very great man, and an ornament to this country ; but the doctrine then was, Kcfp the peopi: posVy and they luill be dependent ; nor could a more proper device, for that purpofe, poflibly be thought of, than employing them in the Linen branch. This I have frequently taken the liberty of mentioning to fome of the leading men of tliofe days, with whom I had the honour of being acquainted; but words or writing, at that period, were of no avail. The anfwer to every thing elfcred on fo un- popular a fubjeol was, We mull not difoblige the Knglifli: the Woollen is their great ftaple, with which we mult by no means interfere, otherwife they will be ofliended, and then we fliall get neither bounties nor premiums. A patriotic, dotflrine this, it may be faid ; but fuch was the cale. Some-, thing more, however, was neceffary, to make the delufion. - go down. The counties and burghs were fupplied with plenty of Britilh Linen Company notes, which they were made to believe was eqivalent to calh. Large quantities of flax, flax-feed, wheels, reels, flax-mills and ivind-miUs, were likewife poured in among them, in order to carry on a trade, that never did, nor ever can fupport itfelf, if credit, at lealt, can be given to forty years experience. Bleachfirlds were ere<5led, and premiums given to thofc who could raife the I 33 ] the moft flax, &c. Provort fuch-an-one, with the afliflance of the Dean of Guild, Convener, and Deacons of Cr;uts, were appointed to have the diret^tion of the difl^ricl ncxi to their refpeJlive burghs. Keails were given to thei'e gentry, flax, &c. put into their hands. Bounties, prcmiuns';, and what not, v.ere founded in their ears. Bitaclificlds vere encouraged, though they were forbidden the ul'e of linic or pigeons dung. Something inltead thereof behoved u- be lubflitute, V hich would force the linen to a hidden \v htce- nefs, and, at the fame time, be lels expenfive than foap or any foft materials. Spirit of vitriol, or lome fuc h perr;icious materials were made ule of, in order ro enable them to bleach cheap. One devil was made to drive out another. It is foftened with the name of Ci/ of Vitriol ; and many large bottles are ufed by fome bleachers, I do not fay by all of them ; but it is fure to extract the oils out of the yarn, and to burn the cloth. This has had a great efFedt in ruining the character of the linens made in this country ; and many an honeft houfe wife, who makes for her own family ule, fe- verely feels the bad tendency of this new invented method of whitening cloth. Chymifts, indeed, fay, that it may be ufed in fmall quantities by fltillful hands ; fo may poifon and brandy to the human body ; the operation is flow but fure. If cloth is bleached with foap and aflies, it will laft: double the time of that which is forced white with a fpirit that will corrode iron. TheTe, and many more which might be mentioned, are the difadvan;ages that attend a too extenfive concern in the linen trade; or, in other words, making it the flaple of this C'untry. At the fame time, I am far from thinking, as I have already hinted, that the maHufa(5luring of linen fhould be entirely laid alide, or that Ibme kinds of it may not be carried on much tp the advantage of the manufacturer, as well as to the country in general. But let us not attempt to fupply London, or any foreign market, with tlie fine white Linen article, as we are by no means capable of rivalling other countries who deal in that branch. Eiicouragemenc undoubtedly ought to be given to the thin, low priced linen, manufa(5iured in the counties of Fife, Perth, Angus, &c. as well as to that fpecies carried on at Paifley, &c. and t© the linen yarn, manufactured in the connties of Aberdeen, Banfl*, tec. which has a ready and extenfive fale at Nottingham, and other manufadluring towns in England, and has brought a great deal of money into the country. The Paifley branch requires little flax to carry it on, and our own flax, if we mult continue to raife it, will anfwer almoft all the other E pur- C 34 ] purpofes. Thcfe articles have long had an el'abli'hecl and ready iale at London and otiier foreign markets; and though they lliould be extended, would be equally iiiccefsful. It is to tliem, therefore, that the attention of the Linen manu- facturer (hnuld be entirely diredied, and not to the fine white linen which nature ha^ deprived us of the means of making equal to other countries, who are our avowed rivals in that branch. I have dwelt thus long upon the article of the Linen Ma- nufacture, as many, for what reafon I am at a lofs to con- ceive, have im igined, that I propofed it Ihould be given up altogether, whicii wa' far from being my intention. So far was I fioni being an enemy to the Linen Manufacture, that upwards of twenty years ago, I prevailed upon one of the greatelt men in the country, Mr. Ofwald of Dunnikier, to apply to administration ior having the duties on all the ma- terials imported for the Linen Manufacture taken oft", and likewife tie duties on hemp; but ihis application proved a- bortive. My great objection to it, therefore, as this could not be fffetled and which Itill remains with me, was, that we were pufhing it too far, while the VV'ooUen Manufactory not iubjeCl to any duty whatever, was totally neglecfted, ■which 1 have long thought ought to be the ftaple of this country. In the former Section, I took occafion to point out the manv advantages wliii.K Scotland enjoyed over mod other countries, with regard to lier great abundance offheep-pafture. I fliali now endeavour to Hiew, that it is equally favoured by Providence with every other article requilite for carrying on the Woollen Manufactory, and that therefore this branch ought to be profecuted with vigour, and in preference to any other. It would be needlefs to recapitulate all thefe here. I fhall only mention the three capital ones. The Wool, whicli we may increaie to any quantity we pleafe ; or, if it Hiould not prove poflible to improve the breed of flieep to that de- gree, as to render it fo fine as is requifite for fome purpofes, we can coramiflion and receive fuch from Spain, upon as eafy terms as our neighbours. Firing is very much uied in almolt every article manufactured from wool. This Scotland in general, a very few places excepted, is abundantly fupplied with, and at an ex pence far below our neighbours the Kng- lilh. The price of labour, likewife, is much lei's than what it is in oar neighbouring country. Thefe, did we pofleis no other advantages, were fufEci- cnt, of themfelves, to encourage us to hppe for fuccefs in tlie Woollen C 35 3 Woollen Manufatflory. But thefe, great as they are, do not comprehend all that we enjoy even above the Englifli, ■who have carried that branch higher than any country in Europe. Let us then fet about it, in good earneH-, and not Hften to the delufive arguments of the narrow minded, or Iflf-interelted, who would infinuate, that, if we interfere too far in the ftaple of England, they w ill be offended, and refufe to take thofe articles from us, with which we hnve long been in ufe of fupplying them. This, I am certain, will not be the cafe : for, however contraiRed the notions of fnch people in this country may be, the Engiifii are en- dowed with a more liberal way of thinking, and have jnfter ideas of trade, than to refufe to deal with any country, be- caufe that country may attempt to fupply themfelves with what they formerly commilfioned from P>ngland ; or even to rival them in a particular branch. But this laftcan ne^ er be the cafe, with regard to the Woollen manufa(5ture of this country ; for, I dare venture to affirm, that, if it is pro- perly attended to, let us manufacture as m.uch as we pi flibly can, the Knglifli trade will not fufi'er in the fmalleft degree, but may even be extended ; as a friendly junetftable fooling in this refpe6l, as well as Ea(t Lothian, and I would humbly propofe a fimilar conduct to be followed on their part. The farmers in Eaft Lothian, indeed, I believe, in general, are more wealthy and fubftantial than thofe of moft other coun- ties in Scotland-, it may therefore be neceflary, perhaps, to make the fcheme upon a narrower fcale, and not to attempt the manufa'i^uring of cloths of fo fine a quality. Suppofe the fubfcriptions in thefe counties fliould be fo low as fifty fliil- lings, and the higheft not to exceed fifty pounds. This might raife a fund lufficient ro let a manufactory a-going, which would fupply themfelves. If they afterwards faw that they could extend their trade to advantage, the capital mighn then be increafed; and, lam perfuaded, there are not want- ing public fpirited gentlemen in every county in Scotland, who would readily aniit both with their purfes and ad- vice. The r 40 ] The Truftees, of late, have likewife given fome degree of countenance to the Woollen Manufavfture. But, I am lurry to fay, it is far from being fuch as might have been expeiSted. They have offered premiums, but of lo triflmg a nature, e- fpecially for the Broad Cloth, that few people, I d(jubt, will be tempted thereby to bec(;irit competitors. It would have been much better h d they advertifed fome premiums to the merchant or manufa<5lurer who Ihould exj)ort the greatefl quantity of Woollen cloth, and to the nobUnian, gentleman, or farmer, wholhould bring the beft rams into the country, for bettering our breed of hue w( oiled r^ecp. For the ina- rufadturer and farmer, m^-ney might have been offered ; and to the nobleman and gentleman, medals, expreffive of what they were given for A little of the public ino.iey, likewife, could not be better empl(»ytd, than by lending a few flieep, (hearers into fome parts of th< Ncrth of Scotland, the Ork- neys, Zetland, &c. where, I am it. formed, they are in life to row their ftieep, as they call it, that is, pill off the wool with their hands, much to the hurt of the Iheep, as well a^ the wool. Thefe (heep-lheareis fliould b« furniihed with the proper implements for cutting the wool off the ftieep, in the fame manner as is praci^tiied in this country ; and they ftiould be direnk as highly of ourleives as our merit gives us any preteniions to do, and if a candidate fhould be unfuccefsful for this year, he will not, for that reaibn, i::ive up the conteft: the next, confcious to himfclf that hf i^ polfeired of equal abilities, and enjoys every means of maiinfacturirig goods of a quality no way inferior to thofe of the fuccefsful candidate. The creating aid keeping alive fuch a ij'irir, 1 fay, ftinuld be the principal view in granting premiums, and if proper attention was paid to them, the advantages which would thence arife could not fail of being productive of very falutary eft'eifts ; for. wlien a peif.n has attempted an improvement in any thing, it is net to be fup- pofcd he will drop it till he thinks he has brought it to perfection, nor will he be deterred from it, even tliougii he flioukl have the misfortune to be unfuccefsful at fir'A. Cer- tain I am, that no country in tlie world is better lituated for carrying on the Woollen Manufacture to advantage, nor are we deficient in any one article rcquiHtc for that pu'-pote, but, on the contrary, enjoy many in a jnufh fnperior deg( ec to our neighbours. Let us then ''ou'e fr-on: our prefer.t le- thargy, and giv^e encouragement to oul Broad Clotii Manu- facturers, ma-iy of whom have already brougliE it to that flate of perfection which no Scotfman need be afiiamed to wear; and, if they find a ready lale for it, which entirely depends upon ourfelves, there is no doubt, that, as they are pofTefTed of the means, fo neither are they deficient in abili- ties to mainifaCtpre as fine cloth as any in Europe. Befides the conlumpt of our own country, this article would find a ready lale at foreign markets. I now fet forth ■what 1 have learned from experience in my firlt trade ; I wifii it had always been carried on in that manner. I re- quired no money. The honed Woollen merchant trufted me fome pieces of Scots Woollen cloth, from 4 s. to 10 s. per yard, and fome dozen pairs of Stockings from 20 d. to 4s. per pair. Thefe goods I bartered at Hamburgh for goods that found ready fale and good profit here, the flockings par- ticularly ; for thofe that colt me 20 d. per pair, I got one yard of linen, valued there at 30 Itivers. This J fold in E- dinburgh [ 44 ] trinburgh at 5 s, per yard, and a great pcr.nywonl. it was. All m^ hofe wer.t off in tiiat j.-roportion for I'cveral voyages, til! I g;'.ve np going to fea, and conld not get a proper ptr- foij lo attend it. I w ifh I liad never dealt in auv other branch, and continued going over to Hambiirgli mj felf ; in v'hich cafe it is hard to l";iy vhat profit miglit liave been marie. I have fhirts by me, that have been in common life of rny wearing thele twenty-fix y^avs paft^, which coft me a jMir f.f (lockings per yjird, value 22 d. at Leith ; and which aoy man of b'ifinefs might wear. They are now worn as tliin as a cobv/eb. 1 have Scots linen, that I bought only ieven years ago, whicli cofl me 5$. 9 d. per yard, that is now all to piccv-^s, thoujjh no oftcner worn tiian in the ordi- naiv courfewith my old Hamburghers. I t'-.onght it neceifiuy to mention this circumflance, in or- der to (liew how very ridiculous it i<; to attempt to rival oiher countries in what is their natural manufat^lure, and the more cfpecially as we can be fupplied with that very ar- licle from them, v\'ithout taking any money out of the coun- try, but by bartering the comn;odities of our own, which is our natural production, and whicli gives mucli better and more lucrative emplovment to our labouring people, at the fiime time that tliey can engage in it from a itate of infancy, to the very laft Aage of old age. Leading, now, the Broad Cloth Manufaw prices. There is r.o great difficulty in alligning a reafon why, a number of years ago, we fliould coniume a quantity of Eng- li:h manufactured {lockings. They were the firil who prac- tifed tlie method of weaving them in looms, and confequent- Jy could afford to fell them cheaper than thofe which were knitted wi;h the hand. But now that we have manufac- tories of the fame kind fet up in many different parts of Scotland, by people well fliilled in that branch, who can fur- nifli the public Vvith goods of the fame quality, and at lower prices, we fliall certainly be highly inexcufcable if %ve prefer the manufacture of England, or any other country, to that of our own ; and, if we want knitted {lockings, 1 dare ven- ture to affirm, that this country {lands unrivalled in this ar- ticle, both as to their quality and finenefs. Aftor fupplying the confumption of our own country, I am likewife fenfible, that the manufafturer may have a ready fale for any quantity he can poflibly work up, at fo- reign markets. In the fevcn provinces of Holland they will fell to good ac- count. Campvere is a free port for ilie encouragement of this valuable llaple of Scotland. They will alfo find a ready market at Bremen, Hamburgh, Lubcck, and Dantzick, all of which are alfo free ports, and fupply the greateft part of Europe with thefe goods. The fenfible honeil Zetlandcrs have long made great quantities of coarfe {lockings for the Hamburgh market, and get good returns for tliem ; and I have had {lockings from the wool of that country fo fine as to be worth los. 6d. per pair. No filk was finer ; and they lafted longer with me than any four pairs of filk or worfled {lockings I ever v^^ore. Indeed, I have been told by a gentleman from England, who has been regularly bred in this branch, that the wool of this country is as fit for making ftockings, both coarfe and c 45 J and fine, as any r.ool he ever wrorgbt in England, or got from any other pl.icc. The Storking Manufactory hcis indeed an advantas;." over tlie Brond Cloth; and that is, that it can be carried on with- < i.t lo (neat a ft'>ck ; the want of which, to the ingenious me- (!)Hp.ic and manufacturer, is a great drawback upon the im- j'-rovcments of lliis country. Happily, however, thi« diffi- culty is now beginning to be removed, in a great meafure, 1 y the public fpirited conduct of fevcral ncblcmeii and gen- tlemen of property, v.-ho, with a difnitcreilednefs worthy «'f their exalted characters, have cllabliliied manulaOlores cf vr.rious kind";, in diflerent parts of tlic country, not fo uincl: with the view of reaping any advar.tage to themfelve?, as giving bread to t'le hungry, employing tlie young as well ■■'S thc' a-j-ed, and thu5 renderins; the one ufeful members of lociety, whom, without being timeonfly inured to labour and induftry, m:"-ht have proved ihc very bane of it ; while the Oilier, by beina fupplied with inch work as they are capable of pcrformi!ig, inflead of becoming burdens upon the public, ?'.re enabled to maintain themfelves more comfortably and decently, than tiiey pofTibly tan be in any Charity Work- houfe. Such aclions r.s thefe rcflciJl higher honour upon the per- forners of them, than if they were to bellow the h ilf of Their edates upon the poor. The one is doing good to his coun- try, and to the individual at the fame time ; while the other might be the mere cffcifts of a milkinefs of difpoltion, not able to refiil: tlie fight of an object in dillrcfs, and therefore 1} ready enough, perhaps, to aiford him fome prefent relief. This will no donbt be tluuight chai itv, and I fliould be (orry to give it another name, or tliat the bowels of comp.illlon of my fellow countrymen flioukl be finit againft tlie poor. But lure I am, he who affords employment, and confcqncntly prevents povertv, is poflefied of a more exalted notion of charity, and dirtributcs it more ellec^ually, tlnn he, who rcgardlefs of this, and unwilling to put hinifclf to any trou- ble, affords the beggar Mho comes to his door, a fmall pit- tance to prevent him from ftarving. -'\mongfl the number of noblemen and gentlemen, who might be taken notice of, as poflefTing this diiinterelted and belt of all chTvitics, which I have been endeavouring to re- commend, I (liall only mention two at prefent. The one is his Giace the Duke of Argvle ; the other Lord Garden- /ton. The former, in conjunction \vi:h fome gentlemen of the ( c>nty of Argvle, has ertabliflicd, at Invcrary, a manu- facflure t 47 3 fa(n;iire of Yarn for coarfe Woollen Clod) and Blahkct?. tt has been found fully to anfwer the laudable piirpuit'p the lambs from throwing their fleece, which they frequently do at the time above mentioned, when nature Ihould be afliJted. As this bufinefs is in a very thriving fituation, I think the Itore- farmers, and the raifers of Iambs, fliould take the hint. »I am fully perfuaded it would bring a great deal of money into their pockets, and be of eflential fcrvice to the country G in [ 50 ] in general. Froni tlils, and otlier inaterials vvliicl) are pro- duced in oar own country, the hat makers here are enabled to make hats from is to 12 s. 6 d. per hat. All other materials the h?.t-niakcrs of this country can be fiipplied with upon as eafy terms as thofe of any other na- tion. 1 am well informed, by lome lubdanti.il, and long exi)erienced makers irf" hats, that the pile of fur, on cur hare and rabbit fliins, is even fuperior to that produced in moll places in Britain. Indeed, our northern fituation mult make it fo; and as to the making of felt, or wool hats, ei- ther for homu c )nfumption or exportation, they can be made in this coi'ntry, and particularly about this place and Glafgow, of equal quality, and on as good terms as any •where in Great Britain, or even in turupe. If finer hats are required, we can have no dilficulty in ])rocuring foreign materials ; I mean the fur of the beaver, from which our own manufuJturers can make hats from 12 s, 6 d. to the fin- eit any country can produce, Thefe materials we can likewife have upon the lowe(l terms, and of the bell quality, they being; often imported into this country as a branch of trade. But were we even to commiffion them from London, we can have them brought to the port of Leith upon as fmall ex- pence as they can be carried to any manufai;Id throw off the unnatural partiality they have imbibed in I'.i- vcur of every thing which is foreign ; make a fair campai i- fon between hats ^lanufa^ftured here, and thofe whieh are brought from England; and candidly give the preference to that which appeals heft. Were this method to be fuUovied, 1 have not a doubt that the Scots hat would be found greatly the belt at the price. 1 have already obferved, that our hares and rabbit flcins are luperior to the Engiii'li. Every other article made ufe of in the mdniifaclure can be had u- pon as eafy terms, many much below, parricularly fervants wages and firii^g, which is greatly needed in this bulinefs ; and I dare venture to atnrm, that there are not hat-makers more knowing in their bniinefs, or that employ better hands. Than thofe in this town and neighbour-hood, in any part of Great Britain. Add to this, that they are gentlemen who ileal honourably, and will ferve a perfon who is entirely ignorant of chocfing a good hat, upon the fame terms with one who is ever fo well (killed. The retail bufinefs, 1 am certain, they wo?ild not have taken up, had our merchants and iiaberdafhers done them jidrice in that refpeOl ; but wheo that was not the caff, I mult applaud their Ipirit, in refuling to become mere drudges to ihi I'e gentry, moft of whom, I will be pardoned to fay, have a-- little knowledge of the goodnefs of a hat, as the peribn who comes to pus chafe it. To prevent, theieiure, th-i-ir being entirely trampled upon by thcfe pretenders to knowledge in the bnrinel'^ which tliey have made their only Ihidy, leveral of them have opened retail {Imps tor therafelves. To inform my count' v men, that they can be i'crved upon better terms by the tnar.ufac- turer himlelt, than by a perfon who perhaps conanilli ns the goods from a fecond or third hand, would be olfering a poor complinjent to their underftandings. I latlier ciiule to rclt the force of my argument, upon tiie benefit which mult ;e- fult to the country, by encouraging it", manufactures, than upon any trifling gain which would undoubtedly ccu'er ni the purchafcrs pockets, by applying to the real manufacturer, inltead of a haberdafner, who brings large quantities of goods from foreign countries, with which he couid be equal- ly well fupplied at home. A conduiSt fuch as this lurely de- ferves the fevereft animadverfion, and I hope the public will beftow it, by deferting thofe Ihops which are entirely cal- culated to drain the country of the fpecie, and reiorting to fuch where they are certain it will be employed in giving bread to all around them. Thi^ Se(B:ion has indeed drawn out to a length which I G 2 little little expe(5led. There is, however, one article, vhith I think of the higueft confequence to every branch of the "Woollen Manulacture, and which I therefore cannot omit taking notice of. It is with regard to the Cards employed in th;jt bulinefs. It has for loire time been t!ie fubjeCt of c tin plain t, that moft of thefe inlhumcnts made iiie of in Scotland, have been Inch as were judged part fervice by the iiighfh, much to the prejudice of ihe manufac'ture of Scot- land. Every one who kni.ws any thiiig of this matter muft be ienfible, that when the teeth of tlie cards are broke or deftiojed, it is impoflible to malce the rowings, as they are called, evenly j the thread fuffers in the fame manner ; and, ■when it comes to the cloih, inllead of havmgit quite fmooth, as it cuglit lo be, innumerable knots are the conlcquence. Our wife neighbours the Knglilh forfaw the bad etl'eOls with which fucii a praiTlice mufl imavoidaby be latcnded ; and, for that rtafon an a^t of parliament was palt in the reign of Charles II. proliibiting the importation of foreign wc'ol cards, in ihe following words: *« WHFJREAS, by tlie ar their piivare lucre) bought up, and the oH iron wire, of the laid old wool cards, beir.g very »veak, and iniiifficient for the well carding of wool, is put into new leatlicr and new boards, and lo altered and fold to ignorflut people, for new wool cards, to their great detriment, and the indamaging of their work, carding of wool, and the cloth made thereof; Bv all which very great inconveniencies have been found, by experience of clothiers, in their making of Li.j^doin of England, dominion of V/ ales, or any part thereof, vor uied wicliin the fame, nor any card wire, taken out t.f old cards, be from henceforth put into new leatlier, ap.J new card boards, nor any fuch wool cards, made thereof, be put to fale, upon the paifis penalties and forfei- tures hereafter following; that is to lay, every perfon or per- lons, who ihall import, or bring any foreign wool cards, or foreign card wire, or iron wire, for malang of wool cards, into the kingdsjm of England, duinini^'ii of Wales, or any parts thereof, or make any wool carc'r, of any fuch old card wire, as aforcfaid, or put the fame to lale, fhall forfeit the faid wool cards, and card w ire, or iron wire, for making wool cards, or, the value thereof, if the lame be not feized, the one half part thereof to the King's Maje(|-y, and the other half part thereof to fuch perlon or perlbns, who Ihall firlt lei?e, or fue for the fame, by aclicn of debt, plaint, bill, information, or indiOlmcnt, in any of his Majelty's courts of record at Weitminirter, or within the county, city, burgh, or town corporate, where fuch offence fliall be committed, •wherein no elleign, prote(5tion, wager of law, or injun(5lion, /hall be allowed or admitted. " Provided always, that this adl fhall not extend to hinder ,the owncis of any wool cards to caufe them to be amended, for their own ufe, or to tranfport or fell (for tranfportation only) all their old worn wool cards, in parts beyond the J'eas, out of his Maje(ty's dominions." Though it might have been expected, that this act would have extended fo far, as to prevent the importation of thefe fecond handed cards into Scotland, and though the a^R itfelf might 'very naturally bear fuch a conltrutaon, yet as no man, or particular body of men, are by it diretled to put the fame into execution, the conftant practice lias been, of importing feveral thoufand dozens of fecond hand pairs of cards into Scotland annually, to the very great detriment of the Woollen Manufacfture, the raw material having been thereby injured, by eftitnation, at leafl fix per cent. So fenfible were the fy^incipal WoUen Manufacturers of this country, of the great lofs the continuance of liich a ]iracT.ice muft be, not only to themfelves, but to the fabric in which they were employed, that feveral of them applied to the Board of Truftees, by a memorial, fo far back as November 1775, ftatJng the facl, and craving that Honourable Board would recomniend it to the Royal Burghs, and their Com- miflionery C 54 3 miffioners, to apply to the legiflature to have the prohibitioa cxteiificd to Scotland. The above application was at this time made, becaufe thel'e memori:i!ills had been informed, that a law was ex- pected to pals, the then next feafon of Parhament, maV'.ng fundry regulations, with iefpc(5t to the manufaftures of this country, and that thele regulations were principally to be pointed out, by Conimiflloners employed by the Royal Borghs of Scotland. No notice has hitherto been taken of this memorial ; for wiiat realbn I have not been able to learn. Certain, how- ever, it is, that fo great an evil requires a fpeedy and an effechial remedy, as the very exigence of our Woollen Ma- luifaciure in a great mealnre depends upon it. It would likewifc employ a number ol" liands to make To great a quan- ■^tity of cards, as is requiiile for the conlumption of this coun- try, and at the fame time add conhderably to his Majelty's revenue of excil'c, becaufe the qviantity of leather nectflary for that purpofc would be at lealt 2000 lib. weight, and this leather pays a duty of three half pence per pound. I have already endeavoured to apologife for the length of thi$ fedlion. I hope the importance of the fubjec^t will be thought the beft I can offer. That it may be viewed in the fame light by the re(t of my fellow countrymen ; and that proper encouragement may be given to the (everal branches I have taken notice of, is my utmolt wifh. Many other ar- ticles, in the woollen way, fell properly to be mentioned un- der this fe(fti')n ; but thefe, as they are of a more triffling nature, for the fake of brevity, I have not infilled upon. Indeed, if the principal branches are duly attended to, the inferior ones will follow of courfe. SECTION C ss 1 SECTION IIL Of the Fisheries. This being an article of trade, in the prd" fecution of which we require no foreign aid, and viay ac- quire many and great advantages, fhouli therefore be purfued with unremitting perfeverana and aflivliy. T is an obfervation founded on the experience of ages, that the Icfs expence and oatlay of money, which is employed in any branch of trade, fo much the greater reafon has the adventurer in that trade to hope for fuccefs. This obfervation, I humbly conceive, could never be ap- plied with more propriety than in the preient inlrance. In many branches of this trade, the profecutors of it are re- lieved from feveral articles of charge, which unavoidably fail upon thofe employed in almoft every other occupation, I fhall only inftance a few. The farmer, after purchafing all the utenfils made ufe of in hufbandry, as well as the grain which he puts into the ground, muft likewife, belides main- taining his labourers, pay very largely to the proprietor of that ground, for the liberty of tilling it. - The manufac- turer ; the merchant ; in fliort every perlbn whatever, who carries on any bufinefs, as well as thofe who do not, whether they refide in town or country, have innumerable articles to pay for, of which thofe who plow the watery ocean, in fearch of iifli, that great fource of riches to every country, whole fi- tuation affords an opportunity of catching them, are entirely relieved. After they have once furniihed out their Bulles or Veflels, they have little other expence to look for ; and even in this, they are wifely afflfted by government in various inftances. They are loaded with no fliop rents ; no public burdens to the King or Royal Burghs ; nor do they pay any thing for tilling that element, from which they expe-it to reap their harvell. Thefe, furely, are encouragements which ought not to be flighted : But. though none fuch had any exiflence, I may venture to aiBrm, that tliis trade, if properly managed, would turn out a lucrative one to the ad- venturer, and a certain fund of wealth to the nation in ge- neral. There are different kinds of fifheries which may be car- ried [ 56 ] ricd on with great advantage. Tl;efe I flial! fpeal: to In the follou'ing order : FirJ}, The Sahnon-fifhing, carried -on in rivers, and in a certain part of the fea, into which thefe rivers tminy tliem- lelyes. S':co}idlyy Tlie Whale-fifliing, carried on in Greenland. Thirdly, The Ccd .ind Lini^-filhii.g, which may be carried en in many places to advantage, and pai ticiilarly on the coails oppofite to tlie Welt Hitvhlarn.1: ; as Vv'tll as in various lalt-\va- tcr lochs, levcral of which run far up the country. And, Fourthly, The Herring; or, as it is commonly called, Ths White Htrrivg F:/hcry. It will not be iieceirary to beflow many words upon the firft {'>f thefe articles. All the Salmon fifhir.gs in Scotland, ori- ginally, and of right, belonged to the Sovereign ; but were granted, upon dilFerent occalions, to the Royal Burghs, next adjacent totliefe rivers, or to the Noblemen and Gentlemen, whofe eftates lay upon th.cir banks. Several burghs ilill re- tain the property of them ; otiiers, not thinkmg them of great confequencc, as indeed they were not fome centuries ago, granted the rights they had aci]nired from the Sovereign, tnher to fome leading man in the burgh, or to foine noble- man or gentleman in tlie neighbourhood, I'ometimes for a trifling conlideration, and at others on account of fome real or imaginary lervice done the community. Tlie importance, however, of thefe filhings, which for- merly were thougiit of fo little ronfequence, now afford an article of conmierce highly beneficial to this coimtry. We owe our improvements in many branches to our intercourfe with the Englifh ; but in nothing more than in this article. Salmon-finiing';, which formerly were of little or no effima- tion, by Englilli adventurers taking tacks of them, now give employment and bread to many induftrious people, and bring a great deal of money into the country, at the lame time that they enrich the proprietors. I believe, I may venture to fay, that, next to the article of our Black Cattle, Salmon brings more ready cafli into the country, than any other in w hicli we deal, ft has this further advantage, that every fixpence which is produced by luch commerce, is earned al- moll entirely at the expence of bodily labour ; nor is there the fame danger in over-fifhing a river, which there is in over-labouring a field of corn-ground. The one may be fcourged in fucha manner as to be rendered ufelefs for years to come. The other, if proper attention is paid to the pre- fervation of the fpawn, which every fkilful perfon will take care lliall be the cafc; is plentifully fnpplicd bv the luxuriance of [ S1 ] cf that occr.n, which is Briiaiti's greateft boaft, and the fource of all its riches, and of all its glory. Such being the litiiation of moil: of the Salmon fifliings in Scotland, it would be needlefs in me to dwell longer upon thcni. I am perfuaded they are at prefent under as proper management as the nature of the thing will admit of; and I hope, for the fake of this country, they will long continue to be fo. The next article I propofed to fpeak to, under this Se6lion, Was that of the Cnenland Fljhery. Thii braiicli of trade has undoubtedly brought a great deal of money into the country, or which is the fame thing faved much from going out of it. I was among the firfl who pro- moted it in this country ; was one of the firlt named as a manager of the Edinburgh Whale-filhing Company ; among the firlb who fublci ibed to the ftock ; and has more of the Itock in my name, at this day, than any one partner of tliat Company. With a few other merchants in Edinburgh, I fitted out two other fliips for the Greenland trade, viz. the Prince and Princefs of Wales, and continued the trade feveral years ; and after this I bought two fliips of the Edinburgh Whale- fiihing Company, on my own proper account, iu ■which fome gentlemen joined me, and took one half concern ; but I held the other half of both Ihips, and all the materials and llores, which, I believe, was rifqning more in the trade, than has been done by any man in Scotland ; and I conti- nued this till one of the fliips, the Edinburgh, was loft in the ice ; after which I flill continued the fliip Leith for eleven years more, though with very bad fuccefs. I have been the more particular on this article, as an a nonymous writer, imder the iignature o{ Scotia ^r/iicus, has taken it upon liim to advance, that I was foon tired of one branch of bufinefs. The above, I think, is a lufficieiit con- futation of that allegation ; and, had this anonymous gentle- man been at the trouble of examining the Cuftom-houfe boQks in Leith, before he had adventured on his hearfay ftory, he would have there l^een, thit I likewife purfued another branch of trade, with (Icadinefs, for twenty years gether, viz. the Hamburgh trade. The lengih of time, in which I was engaged in the Whale- fifliing bulinefs, atlbrded me many opportunities to be thoroughly acquainted with the nature of it, and from thence lean venture to fay, that, if it is properly managed, it may turn out a ftill more lucrative branch of trade than it has hitherto done. The government continues to give a very handfcme pre- mium to thofe who chafe to fit out Ibips for this flfliery ; and C 58 ] the conditions upon which this premium is to be obtained, are fo wifely framed, that the f]iip|would be unfit for the voyage, were any one of tliem to be omitted ; nay, flaould the pre- mium be difcontinned, which probably will be the cafe fbme years hentc, thole who fit out /hips for the Greenland fifliery, will find it necefiary to furnifh them with every ar- ticle the government lias fpecified they fliall have to be en- titled to the premium. Some Companies in Scotland, particularly the Dunbar Whale-fifliing Company, have made very handfome profits by this trade. The Edinburgh Whale-filhing Company might likewife have made confiderably more than they have done, had they n(Jt fully infured every fhip. This pracftice took away a great deal of profits, which otherwife would have fallen to have been divided among the adventurers. Tliough I am far from being an enemy to Infurance, but on the con- trary, think it a wife and a very falutary meafure, yet where the Adventurers nre fo numerous as in tlie Edinburgh Whale- filliing Company, and the (liares fo fmall, I cannot help think- ing, that Infurance, in that particular, was very unnecelfary ; for, fuppofnig the worft that could have happened, that fome of their fhips had been loft, that lofs was to fall upon fo ma- ny, and in fuch fmall fums, that they would not have felt it. The Dunbar Whale -fifliing Company infure none of their fhips ; and it is owing, in a great meafure, to this, that they have been enabled to divide fo much more profits than the other. At the fame time that I am of this opinion with re- gard to large Companies, I am equally clear, that where only One, or even a Imall Company, are engaged in an adventure of I hat nature, they flieuld never allow their fliips to go to fea without being infured, becaufe the lofs, if any were to happen, as it behoved to be borne by a few, would confe- quently fall very heavy ujwn them ; and the ])remium for Infurance, in fuch cafes, lliould be confidered by them as an object of no confequcnce, when, perhaps, their whole for- tunes were in the balance. The Ling, Cod, and Tufl<-fifliing, might alfo be rendered a very important branch of trade to this country. It may be carried on with great fuccefs on the coafts of Orkney and Zetland, as well as on thofe of the Weft flighlands, and in the various falt-water lochs, with which that country a- bounds. I muft, however, take notice of one very necefTary pre- caution to be obferved in this, as well as the Herring-filhing, and that is, with regard to the killing and faking them in proper time, after they are catched. Every one knows, that the blood of ail living creatures, after they are deprived of breath [ 59 3 Aiddeniy congeals : and, if not taken ofF, by fome means or other, corrupts and renders ufeleis the whole body. In crea- tures of fat or oily lubilances, fiich as the herring, this, in a peculiar manner, mult be tlie cale. To prevent, therefore, fo great a misfortune, 1 would recommend it to thole em- ployed in our filheries, immediately when they get the fifh upon deck, to cut their throats with a fmall knile. They will then bleed freely, which cannot happen, if they are al- lowed to die by any other means. After this the gills and guts are to be taken out, and the fifh inftantly falted. This iimple pn>cefs will render the filh wholefome, and quite white and tranfparent. It will have this further advantage; a great deal lefs lalt will be neceflary ; whereas, if they arc allowed to lie a few hours dead, without being bled, as above-men- tioned, more fait will be needed; the fiin will not be io good ; and the herring, in particular, owing to its richnei's, by that time, will be advanced in fuch a Itate of corruption, that all the fait on board will not be fufficient to cure them. The Dutch, who ar^ allowed, on all hands, to be excellent fifliermen, obferye this method ; and I would beg leave, in a particular manner, to recommend the prat^lice of it to my countrymen, as I am convinced they would loon fee the fa- lutary elFet^s of it, by getting the preference at the market, to thofe, who, through indolence or inattention, negledted to cure their filh after this manner. So nice, indeed, are the Dutch in this refpedl, that thofe of fuperior rank will not touch a flfii which conies dead to market. This makes them famous for having the fineft of fifii at their tables. Their fifliermen have well-boats on pur- pofe to keep them alive, and I have feen fix IHvers, equal to our fixpence halfpenny, given for a haddock alive, when fix of the fame fort of fifli, which had been brought dead to mar- ket, might have been purchafed for that money. In further corroboration of the propriety of this manner of curing fifn, I cannot here omit taking notice of two cargoes of Ling and Cod, which were brought to Leiththis year, fhe one belonged to Mr James Chalmers merchant in Leith, and the other to Captain William Fergnfon, of Peterliead. Tliefe cargoes were caught in the Welt Highlands, and moil part of them in Loch Gairlcch. Both were cured in the manner 1 have been recommending; both found ready fale and were indeed excellent fifh, being fo white and clean that one might have feen through them by holding them betwixt one and the light. The filh of the fiiit mentioned cargo, however, was pleafanter to the tafte than the lalt, though both were equally clean and well cured. This difference 1 can attribute (blely to the former's being cured with great or foreign fait, while H 2 the [ 6o ] the proprietor of the other cargo made ufe of nothing but na- tive or fmall fait. The laws with regard to tlie duric on forciirn fait, to be ufed ill our fisheries, are in many rcfpccls conliiicd and i''er- plexed, and the officers, whole province it is to collec^^ or in- I'pect the fait revenue, often itrctch ]H)ints, which are not very clear, too far ; by whic h means, many who would make ufe of foreign fait, which is undoubtedl3' nnich fujxrior for the purpofes above mentioned, to that of our own country produce, are afraid to do fo, on account cf the heavy duty. The legiflatuie, who, much to the honour of thofe who are at the helm of affairs, gives every encouragement to the Newfoundland and all oiher branches of fiihing, I am pcr- iuaded, do not tie up the hands of tliofe oiiiccrs or infpe!eiriiums to the \\ hale-fiihtry. In this branch, no article of tackling, llores, &c. is impoied upon the adven- turer, but \\ hat he necefTarily behoved to take along with him, even had he not been tied down by the law, if he wiflied to. be fuccefsful. In the herring-fiihing. 1 am forry to fay, this is far from being the cafe. The adventurers in this brancij are obliged to furnifli their veffels or buffes with many ar- ticles, M liich are fo far from being necelfary, that they are even incommodious, and anlwer no other purpofe than putting the adventurers to an additional outlay of money. •Among feveral of thele articles which might be taken notice t)f,l Ihall only n^tntion one, w bich conlllts with my own know- ledge, and of wiiich I have heard many complaints from dif- ferent perfons, who gave up the trade on that account. The article I mean, is the great quantity of nets they are ordered to carry our, each veifel or bufs being obliged to have 250 fquare yards of nets on board, for every ton they meafure, which, I am j^erfuaded, is at leaft the double of what is ne- cefTary, tlie one half being gererally rotten and fpoiled, as it is impoffible to ufe them, or get them properly dried, if they could be made ufe of. This, however, I only mention as an ol^eiSlion, amongft many others, which might be offered, to the law as it pre- fently (lands. My great objection is to the law itlclf, and I 'fha'l (ubmit it to the public with that deference which becomes an individual, when treating of matters of public concern, and, at the fame time, with that freedom which is the un- doubted privilege of every Briton. By the law, as it prefently ilands, the vefTcls employed in the Herring-lilhing, entitled to the bounty, muit be of the fize of 20 t(.)ns and upwards. Thei'e vefTels, before they can receive a certificate, mufl: be furniflied with the flipulated quantity of nets, calks, fait, and number of hands, which, at a medium, makes the coft and outfit of every one of thele vefTels, amount to no lefs a fum than 800 !. fterling. It mult occur to every one, that (o large a fum as this is not eafily railed in the Well Illands of Scotland, which put^ it [ «2 ] it out of the power of thofe who lie in the very heart of the iiihing country, from availing themfelves of w iiai the public principally meant to give them, employment, and what na- ture had likewife fo Iciongly pointed onr, in affording them io excellent a iituatioa fcr carrying on this branch of trade. After giving employment to the inhabitants, and encour- aging a new fpecies of merchandize in this country, the go- vernment's next viev.', in granting tljefe bounties, undoubt- edly was, to rear up ajhardy and ufefulbody of feaman, who, in times of emergency, might be called forth to vindicate ihe rights of Great Britain. lam far from denying, that the intentions of government have been fully anfwered in every one of thele views; but, if they can be rendered itill more extenfive, it furely merits the mature confideration of the public. With this defign, I humbly beg leave to lay before them the following plan; which, I am perfuadcd, were it, or any limilar one adopted, might be attended with many falutary confequences, (jovernmcnt allows a bounty of 50s, per ton, on all vef- fcls fitted out, as already mentioned, for the White Herring- il/licry. This bounty is paid on the arrival of the vefTels, or a very fliort time thereafter, whether they are fuccefsful or not, providing it appears, to the fatisfaction of the proper officers, that the mailers and crews have done their duty ; and there is no manner of doubt, it has been of much advan- tage to the country ; a great number of vefTels, or bulTes, Iiaving been fitted out in confequence thereof; who have met with a degree of fuccefs Jafl year, hitherto unknown, but which may reafonably be expeiSted to increafe, if fol- lowed out witli perfeverance. I lliall fuj^pole, that for feveral years pafl, at a medium, 150 biifTes have been fitted out annually for this trade, and that about 10,000 1. (Itrling of bounty have been paid upon them. I fhall alfo iuppole, that the quantity of Herrings caught by theic bufTes, dividing the bounty by the number of barrels properly cured and packed for the market, may a- mount to 5 s. 6d. per barrel, reckoning the number of bar- rels at about 6o>ooo. This is paid by tlie bounty on the bufles, and if all, or any part of thefe herrings are exported, the merchant receives from the public, another bounty of 2 s. 8d. per barre'. Many people may think, that government could not pof- fibly have devifed a more probable method of giving ftabihty to the Britifti Herring-filhery, than by affording the bounties and encouragements which I have faithfully narrated above; and I have already acknowledged, that they have been pro- diK^ive of many falutary effec^ls. But experience has con- vinced [ 63 ] vinced me, that thefe bounties, ftiliitary and efficacious as they certainly have been, may (till be put uptm a better foot- ing ; which leads me to the plan 1 humbly prelume to lay be- fore the Public. Inflead, therefore, of giving the bounty upon the ton of lliipping, which is now the cafe, my propofal i^, that it fliould be bellowed upon the herrings. Were the Icgiflature to enaft, That for every barrel of herrings caught and proper- ly cured for home confumptiou, a bounty of 3 s. and 6 d. per barrel fiiould be jjaid, and 6 s. 2d. for every barrel exported, without any limitations with regard to the mode of catching them, I cannot entertain a doubc, that every purpofe, pro- pofed by "government from the prefent bounty, would be an- fwered. It may be objedled to this plan, that the fame number of feamen would not be bred, as by the prefent mode of giving the bounty ; for that, as the vefTels or bulTes are obliged, be- fore they receive the bounties, to produce certificates of their having fifhed both feafons, that is, fummer and winter, fo the boys and men employed in them, are hardy and fit for any fervice ; whereas, were the bounties to be given as I have propofed, a great deficiency in our able bodied fea- men would be tiie confequence, as moll of the filhery would then be carried in open boats, which would only be a nur- fery for fifhermen inllead of feamen. But to this, I beg leave to anfwer, in the firfl place, Tliat though a great number of hands would undoubtedly be em- ployed in open boats, yet it does not from thence follow, that the fifliing by vefTels or bufTes would be given up. This I am far from thinking would be the cafe ; on tlie contrary, I imagine their numbers would rather be encreafed ; for, as the adventurers would not then be fubjedl to the hardfliips they at prefent labour under, on the outfit of tlieir vefTels, before they can be entitled to the bounty ; fo, wlien they had it in their own power, to at^ in that matter as they thought proper, and were to receive a bounty equivalent to the quanti- ty of herrings caught and properly cured by them, what they faved on the furnilliings of tlie vefTtls would probably be be- ftowed on engaging an additional number of hands ; it being natural to fuppofe, that the more of thefe which were cm- ployed, the greater chance would there be of catching a larger quantity of fifli, which behoved then to be their only objeifl. But, id/y, Suppofe the alteration I have propofed fhould, in- flead of increafmg, decreafe the number of veflels em]5loyed in tliis branch, which I am far from thinking would be the cafe; yet, ftill the additional number of hands which my fchemc t 64 1 fcheme muft give bread to, would do much rrtorc than cotn- penfate for any deficiency that could poflibly happen by lucli an alteration. 1 have already obferved, that tlie titting oat of a vefFci in fuch manner as to be entitled to the bnurity, comes to lo large a fum, that it is altcgeiher out (,f the power of molt people, wlio refide in thele places belt adap- ted for carryiniT on the fiihing, at all to engage in it. Were my plan to be adopted, however, there is iujc an idle hand but what might be employed, much to their own advantage, as well as to the bencJit of tiieir country. The boats and tackling, necefTary for this bullnels, miglit be purchaled a: an eafy rate, and the regard for the bounty would be a great ftimulative for perlbns of all ranks and ages to engage in it. I may likewife venture to fay, that this would prove as good a nurfery for feamen as the other. Boys of almolt every age may be employed in this fort of Hlhiiig ; they are expol'ed to harcHliips unknown to thcfe who fail on board decked vefTel?, and therefore prove the beit of feamen. For my own part, I always preferred fuch ; and, though they might be a little .lukward at fir(t, in fix months lime they generally proved the molt nccelHiry liands on board. Thefe are fome of the advantages, which I think could not fail of following the propol'ed alteration of the bounties upon herrings. Many others might be taken notice of: I Ihall, however, content mylelf at prelent with only mentioning one more, which is, that by their putting all our people in motion, and having no idle hands in thole jilacer, to which tJie herrings refort, we might loon be enabled to drive the Dutch, and every other nation, out of the market. This, indeed, is the great objec'l: to be ftudied in every branch of trade or manufacture; for, if we allow foreigners either t<; undcrlel us, or to fupph" other countries wiili better goods than we can do, it is not to be expected that theie couuirits fliould deal with us. If, however, all our idle hands were eiTjployed, a premium given to make them indullrious, aiid the duties taken otf the foreign fait, it is impollible tiiis could be tiie cafe. It is well knov\ n the Dutch catcii tlie molt of the fifii they export off our own coalls. Should not this lead us ferioufly to reflecT^, what a reproach it is to the good fenfc and underflandings of the Britilh nation, to lie idle by, and fee the inhabitants of any other country, enriching thtm- felves with what nature has in a peculiar manner bellowed upon us, if we will only be at the trouble of leeking after it? I hope this folly will foon be got the better of; and, I do think, the adopting a plan limilar to the one above mention- ed, is the molt prcbable method of attaining an end of fo much [ 65 3 natural confequence : the completion of wuich ought ear™ ncltly to be wifhed lor, by every real friend to his touutry. I took the liberty of recommending to thofe of my coun- trymen, who are, or may be employed in the Ling and Cod fiihery, to follow the method prac'^ifed by the Dutch in the prolecution of thai bufinefs. 1 am fo fully convinced of their ikill in the herring branch, that I would beg leave to recom- mend them as patterns worthy of imitation in it likewife. Indeed, they have long had the reputation of curing their herrings the beft of any other people. It is not, however, a very difficiilt matter to equal them in this, which certainly is a very elTential article. The method is fimply this. They fhoot their nets in the evening about fun fet, and haul them in again before fun rife in the morning. So foon as they get the fifii on board they cut their throats, as cefcribed under the article of Ling, ire. and filts them immediatly, fo that they are in a manner cured alive. This is a very eafy prccefs, but it is a procefs which muft be exactly followed, if clean wholefome tifh are expected. Having, however, fpoken pretty fully to it un- der the preceding article, it would ^be unnecefTaiily taking up the time of the reader to dwell longer upon it. Before 1 conclude this Sedlion, I muft be forgiven to fay a few words, with regard to the manner in which the great Holland filheries are carried on. In that country all ranks and orders of people are concerned in them. There is fcarce a footman or fervant maid in Holland, or any of the other provinces, who is not an adventurer, as fhares may be pur- thafed from twenty guilders to twenty thouland. I would beg leave to alk. Whether the Dutch are not Worthy of imitation in this refpe(5l alfo f and, whether Com- panies of this fort, elbblifhed in Scotland, would not be of in- finite advantage to this country ? We are at no lofs to find many people here, who are apt enough, after the example of the Knglift], to enter into com- panies, or clubs, for the purpofe of fplitting lottery tickets ; and ihall we be difHculted to procure adventurers in a branch but this furely cannot be attributed to the unfldlful- iiefs I 2 [ 68 ] nefs of our brewers, or a deficiency of materials necciTdry lor its Tnanufaifture. I know it has been advanced, that Porter cannot be made without Tuames water; but ih.is is a ni«>it ridiculous notion. Mr Ccmbrunc, who wrote a very lenfihle cfl'ay on brewing, Jaughs at that vulgar prejudice. Every man of lenle, wiih whom I h^ve con v cried on the fubjeoi, does the fame ; ai;d I am well iuformed, that, even in London, where one butt of porter i-! brewed of T hamcs watei , there are ten made from the New River, and other vvattr about tliat metrcpolis; nor is there better fofr water in Britain, than that with which this city and neighf;urho(;d is fupplicd. To fay that the people of tl'.is country have not genius to arrive at perfec'tion in this btanch, is equally ridiculous, and an infult on tiieir underftandmg";. Inllauces innumerable night be given lo fhew rlie futility of thii argument. A few iliail fiiflice. It is not many years fince the Soapery and Glal'shoules were fct a-going at Leith, and up-hill work it no doubt was fur f'Mne time; but, bv perfeverance and ap- plication, thefe people became as good lolt ioap- boilers and bottle-makers, as any in the kingdom. The prejudice againft our foft foap was even greater then, than it is againfl th.e porter at prefeiit ; in fo much that the manufacturers were obliged, jfor feveral years, to fend it up to Newcaftle, in order tl.at they might get it fold in Scotland, upon its re- turn, for Englilh li ap. This prejudice is now entirely got the better of; and the manufacturing of thefe two articles, foap and bottles, lave a great deal of money to the country j but 1 hope loon to lee the woollen good=, and our home- brew cd porter, fave ten times mf)re than both. The geni- us of f)ur countrymen likewile appears, from the falisfaction they give their employers, in the works carried on in the Caldtown of Edinburgh in the chimnev way, at Freltonpans, Carron, and feveral other places which miiiht be mentioned. The money which goes out of the country for the article of porter nlone, i*; really fliameful, and would Icarce be cre- dited, if the fd(St was not well known. Kor feveral years pail, the quantity brought into Leith, and the other parts in the Krith of Forth, exceeds ;o,ccO 1. Ihrling per annum; and I imagine Dimdee, JVIontrofe, Aberdeen, Invernt fs, and all the other ports of Scotland, cannot be eftimated at lefs than 2o,OGol more. A pretty llim this, truly, to be pay- ing for an article we can fo w ell do without. 1 would be glad to know what became of our forefathers, who never tantd, nor thought of it? Good lirong ale and two-penny plcafed them ; and they were as merry and good company over C 69 3 «ver it, as their defcendants are over their porter. It is, be- fides, a moll expenJive drink; as people but of low circum- flances, who inc'ulge themfclves in this piece of luxury, will tofs off their two or three bottles at a few draughts; and, 1 am lorry to fiy. this extravagance has now arrived at a pitch hitherto unknown in this country. We have number- lefs tJubs in this tity, whofe meetings feem to be calculated for no othtr purpoie, than that of guzzling down fo many bottles of London porter as amounts to the quota they are refolved to fpend, while, perhaps, their wives and children at home, ftand in need of many things which are abiblutely necefiary fcr the fupport and maintenance of the family. I am far from meaning, that friendly focial meetings of companions fliould be aboliflied or given up. After the toils of the day, a little indulgence of that kind is very pardon- able; but I would have my countrymen, even in their con- vivial, as well as ferious moments, to have the interefts of the place of their nativity in view; and, while they do fo, in the article of di inking, as well as every other which I have been endeavouring to recommend, I am perfuaded they v.'iil at the fame time ftudy the interefl; of their families, and of their own pockets ; for I have feen tlie bill at drink- ing porter run higher, than a claret biU did fome years ago. I have already acknowledged, that we have not as yet ar- rived at fuch a tkg'ree of perfection in brewing it, as they liave in London ; but 1 dare venture to fay, there are many porter brewers in and about this city, who make fuch porter as any Scotfman may be pleafed with. 1 beg leave to men- tion the following, viz. Meflrs. George Millar, St Ann's yards ; James Hntchkifs, Grafs-market ; Archibald Camp- bell, Cowg^te; Gardner and company, Goofedub, all in and about Edinburgh; and MefTrs. Cundeland Son, and Matthew Comb, at Leitli. 1 likewife hinted, that the London porter confumed iri our taverns and public huufes was not genuine, but adulte- rated with fmall beer. To eftablilh this faiSl, let any perfon go into a tavern or public houfe, in Edinburgh or Lcith, and drink this Aezr fluff ; for fo 1 call it; it is not genuine por- ter ; and they will find at leaft one third, if not one half of the drink in the bottle, fmall beer. Whether the mixture is made in London, in Leith, in Edinburgh, or perhaps part- ly in all the three, is noways material to the drinkers. Sure 1 am, they pay high to plejfe their corrupt talles; for, what with the fmallnels of the bottle, and the quantity of fmall beer glutted down along Mith it, the drinker pays at the rate of feven-pence for every Englifh quart or Scots chopin. On the other hand, good Scots porter, without any adulte- ration. C 70 3 ration, can be had at three-pence the bottle, and excellent Itrong ale at the fame price ; both which are better worth the money, than the adulterated trafh, which is drunk by hun- dreds of dozens in a day, in and about this metropohs. It is Tiothing but prejudice in fome, and fell-intereft in otiiers, wliich has brought this deflruclive branch of bufinefs to fij great a height. It is truly amazing what avcrfion we have to every thing snade in our own country. Better ale, I'mall beer, and two-penny, I am j»er(uaded, cannot be had in any country wliatever ; and why we Ihould not be fatisfied witii thefe, ^nd fuch jiorter as we can make among ourfelves, is very unpardonable. I am afraid we deferve, in part, what Mr (j lover fome time ago faid of us, tliat we had every fenfe but common fenfe ; for I do tliink, that a Scotlman, \\ ho will rot wear gooil cloth, becaufc made here, and refufes to drink good porter, bccaul'e brewed in or about Edinburgli, in a great mealurc verifies that gentleman's Jilfertion, and may jullly be faid to liavc no regard whatever for his coun- try. I however liojc, that tliis folly is wearing out in a great mcalure, fo much London porter not having been imported TJiis year as has been for feveral preceding ones. Indeed," if wc lerioudy reflected on the confequcnccs, a flop would be put to it altogether, by a refolution of the people of Scot- land, to drink nothing but home-brewed malt liquors; for I am certain, befides the money fuch a refolution would keep in the country, tlie advantage of whicli muft be apparent to every one, tliat our own brewers are capable to aiford bet- ter drink, for the fdme money, than the tlngUfh can pofTibly do ; and that for two rcalons ; fir/}, Bccaule they pay juft double the duty for their malt w Inch we do for ours ; and, j:coiuily, Becaufc they pay at leaft fire times the price for their coals. Thcfe are the two principal articles confumed in tl'.e brewing bufmefs ; and, w lien we pofTels fuch great advantages over our neighbours in thcfe, as well as feveral otliers wiiicli miglit be mentioned, it furely requires little ar- gument to convince any lenfible man, that we may be fup- plied with better and more wholefome drink at home, tlian any we can import from England. I miglit mention many inliances to prove the truth of this alTertion, from Edinburgh, Glafgow, Dundee, Leith, and other placca ; but fliall only take notice of one at prefent ; and that is, Mr Hugh Bell of this city. That gentleman oc- cupies a mofl: exteiMlve brewery, and, T think, I fhall not fall under the cenfure of having an improper partiality for the inanuf:i!riures of my own country, if I aver, that no brewer in E 71 ] in Great Britain can poffibly furniih better liquors, of tlie ditFcreit ki.ids and prices, than he does. This gentleman dues' not confine himfelf to one Ipeties. He brews fniall beer, of a very excellent quality, indeed ; which, if properly taken care of, will keep hroughout the year, and is very little in- ferior to what v/e are furniihed with, in many public houfes, under the appellation of London porter^ It is a very clean wholefome drink, and private families may fupply them- felves with it at a trifle more than a penny the buttle. He like wife brews (bong ale and beer of various kinds. I be- lieve, indeed, he has not yet attempted the porter; but, what ftrengthens my argument greatly, viz. That the brew- ers and every other manufacturer in this country, are ci- pable to equal, if not to excel thole of any other, is tliis, Mr Bell brews ale and beer, in imitation of fuch liquors brewed in the mod famous towns in England, and tiom whence they take their names, to as great perfecT.ion as in thefe very towns; nay, I believe I lliould not exceed the truth, if I faid greater, as Mr Bell's ale and beer is generally- preferred to theirs at the foreign markets. Thefe being fa^'is which cannot be controverted, I fhould be glad to know, in what confilts the grand and inexplicable myltery of brewing Porter with equal fuccels ? I think I have accounted for it already, when I laid, it was entirely owing to the brewers not getting proper encouragement, by which they were difabled from carrying it on to tiiat extent which is neceflary. I believe I might add as a confequence, or rather as the caufe itlelf, the numerous Porter clubs in this city, who will not talle any Porter brewed by their own countrymen, though they can give no better reafon for fuch refufal, than that it is Scots. Thefe clubs are compofed, in a great meafure, of mer- chants and mechanics. I would therefore beg leave to aC; them how they would relifii it, fhould the Noblemen and Gentlemen of property withdraw their bufinefs from them, becauie they were Scots merchants, Scots wrights, Scots flioemakers, and fo forti), of every other profefTion ? What refle(5lions would they not have, and how highly would they be offended, to be told, that none of them underllood their trades fo well as foreigners ? — This, however, is the treat- ment thefe very gentlemen give to the Woollen Manufaililur- ers, and the Brewers of Scotland ; but how highly injurious, as well as unjufl, they are, when applied to them, mull: ap- pear evident to every one who has fo much the love of his country at heart, as to make ufc of their commodities ; and, I humbly apprehend, no character, however exalted, neei be alhamed to do h. I C 7* ] 1 cannot conclude this Section, witliout mcntioring, to the honour of the gentlemen, merchants, &c. of Gldigow, Dun- dee, and feveral other towns, that they give all encourage- ment to their own Porter, and every otlicr article manufac- tured among themfelves ; nor fhould I forgive myfelf, were I to omit taking notice of the public fpirited condudl of many of my fair country-women in this metropolis, who will ad- mit no other Porter to their tables, but fuch as is brewed in Scotland. In this they furely ihidy the intcrelts of their huf- bands and families, as they lave at lealt a penny upon every bottle. They at the fame time promote the inteielt of their country, by encouraging its manufanour to be known to Sir Peter ; his life was of more value tlian manv Americans. Now, however, the time is come, that they have forgot all thefe moll elTential fervices done them ; fervices that have colt iliis nation at lealt the blood of 15,000 go«d men, and 20,000,000 !• of good fter- ling money ; and, when parliament taxes an article «jf luxury or effeminacy, of no real ufe, I mean Tea, what a noil'e do thev make I Would to God that ail our taxes were laid on that dpltruclive, mean, infignificant article, and taken off the necefTaries of life ! Happy would it then be for this coun- try. Let thofe who drink lea, pay for it ; and on condition the duties were taken oiF fait and leather, of which the poor pay almoll the whole, I heartily wilh it were at 30 s. per pound. The way and manner the people in Boflon took to difap- poini Governtnent of railing this duty, is indeed without pre- cedent. No fooner it is brought into port, than they make a formal attack upon it ; as if the tea was to come into their houfes. [ 77 ] houfts, and to levy the tax of itfelf. Had they allowed the tea to have been laiided, and iuffercd J: to rot before they would ute or pmchafe it, they would have a^ed like rational men : Or, if it was rotte^n before it came to hand, as I have heard fome giddy-headed people fay, v/hy buy it, or have any thing to do with it I The Eail India company was net to oblige or force them to purchafc their goods. But to allow a law- lefs banditti to commit piracy in open fun Ihhie, and not to endeavour, by every means, to oppofe them, was acquis fc- ing in their crime. Had I been mafter of the fliip the fea was on board, with my ten Scots boys at my back, (and L am no fighting man) eaeh of us fhould have Ihor our man, before thej' had taken up the hatches, if we (hould have been cut to ])ieces in the t-vd, A bill of loading is a faci ed writing. The {hip-ma(ter cbliges himfelf to deliver his cargo, Jeu ha- zard excepted. As there was no war, they were pirates who prefumed to touch his cargo ; and as fuch ihey fhciild have been treated by the Ihip-mafter, and the inhabitanrs of Boflon. If, therefore, the poftonians did not ufe their i.r- moft endeavours to prevent them from an open violation of the laws of every country, and to fecure the prrfons of the pirates, they ought to pav all the coft c* the goods, and e- very experce and damage inci;rred. Were the inhabitants of Edinburgh and Leith tamely to look on, and allow a law- lef^ mob to go on board a (hip in Leith harbour, or in the road of Leith, and fuffer the cargo to be taken out and de» llroyed before their faces, without doing the utmoft in their power to prevent it, they would, by the law, be (ibliged to pay the damages, and undergo a fevere cenfure from, theij;; cou"try and all good men. I have been twice in America, and traded confidcrably t«» diircreni parts of it, but not to advantage, as I could not get payments. 1 have, at prefent, feverai hundred pounds due there, which I v/ould willingly give a right to for as many !iun- dred pence. And I verily beheve, were the Americans to balance accompts with this country, ail their boalled waith and property would not djfcharge the jui't and lawful debts due by them to the inhabitants of Great Britain and Irclarid. So far back as the 5 ill: of Decembe*- 1 774. ^ proppfed the ful* lowing plan tor reducing the Americans to obedience : Take off tlie bounties given upon the importation of their goods ^ let them carry none to any market but to Britain, Ireland, and the Welt India iflands, our own property, apd no ether; and, to pi event them from trading v/ith the French, Sj.-^- ni/h, or any other fcttlements, let them go under convoy f our men of war, and take failing orders; in which let rl:e owneis C 78 ] owners of the fliips and cargoes be mentioned, and the 15111 of loading be affixed to the failing orders; the Ihips to pay all attention, as under convoy in time of war, as to the lignals, rendezvous, &c. Ten frigates of 32 guns, ten fhips of ao guns, and twenty floops of 14 guns each, will do the bufinefs, and employ our feanien and Icldiers. Let each fhip have only z-gds of her complement of failors; kt the other i-^d, to make up the full complement, be loldiers, which may be ftationed thus: Two Sloops, 1 4 guns, at Savannah in Georgia. Two Ships, 20 guns, and two floops, 14 each, at Charles- Town, South Carolina. Two floops at Wilmington, Cape Fear, North Carolina. One fhip 20 guns, one (loop, at Smcrt, Sound, Albemarle. Two frigates, two floops. Cape Henry, and Cape Charles, Chiiwick's Bay, Virginia. One frigate, two iloops, Maryland. Two frigates, two floops, Ptnnfylvania, Philadelphia, Two frigates, two /hips, 20 guns, three floops, Long Ifland and Newport. Three frigates, five ftiips 20 guns, four floops, at Bofton and in the Maffdchufetts Bay, Salem, &c. Or in fuch man- ner as the Lords of the Admiralty (hall think molt for the good of the iervice, and will molt furely contribute fpeedily to bring thefe ungrateful Americans to their duty, and iheir own good; I liad almoft laid, ihcir /ahatiofi. Remove the ■whole military, except fuch as have been always employel in their forts and garifons ; for the money fpent by the troops feeds them, and Ipirits them up to rebellion. To prevent the necelTuy of a convoy going to Great Bri- tain, let the nialters, owners, and merchants, who Ihip the goods, find fecurity in double the value of fhip and cargo, that they Ihall really and truly land them in fome part of Great Biitaln or Ireland, (fea-hazard excepted) and no where elfc, or forfeit their bond to the puiilic ; and, to re- lieve the bond, they Ihould have two certificates, under the hands of the colledtor, comptroller, and furveyor of the port where the cargo is difcharged, as to the true performance, fo as they can tranfmit one by firlt (hips, and keep the other to be brought ov'er to America by themfelves, to relieve their bond, or cancel it. Every man of property, obftru(fting or flying in the face fif the laws made by Great Britain, Ihould forfeit his whole cftate and effeds, as guilty of high treafon againft the Itate ; and all merchants and others, forfeit their goods and chatties, and their perfons be fent home to the country from which ihey or their forefathers originally came ; for there is not one -> > C 79 3 4»nc in ten of them who was either himfelf, or his forefit"' thers, born in Great Britain: They are moftly made up of Cerman emigrants, French refugees, and convidts of all nations tranfported from Great Britain and Ireland, wh» never could get bread in their own country : yet they, for- footh, mud boaft what their forefathers did to fupport our conftitution- Por fhame ! that Britain fliouid be deluded by^ fuch a hotchpotch medley of foreign enthutiaftic madmen ; who, whillt they throw dirt at the family that gave them moll of their charters, praife Lord Chatham for ruining them, and hurting the mother country. At the fame time, they rail at Lord Bute for making a peace that gave them a quiet pofleflion of all that vaft country, by getting the French to give up every place in North America to the Crown of Great Britain. I was in London at the time the peace was in agitation. I had the honour of being well acquainted with Sir Henry Erfldne, the Right Honourable James Ofvvald, and many people in authority at that period. 1 have often keen afked, what the opinion of the merchants was. I al- vays told them, the acquifition of all North America, upon our back fettlements, was the great objedl. I own, my worthy friend Sir H. Er(kine forefaw things which did not, at that time, occur to me*, he often faid, " Thefe people are turbulent. It would be better to leave part of Canada to the French, to keep them in a proper fubordination." i have even heard fome very fenfible merchants on the Change of London fay fo; but by far the greateft number were for the terms which were agreed to; and a glorious ])eace it was, Thefe inflammatory letters, from the general Congrefs to the people of Great Britain, and to their friends and fellow- lubjedis of Quebec, are wrote upon the mod fallacious and bafe principles ; not a word of truth from beginning to end, except what they quote from my late moll worthy corre- fpondent, the great Baron Montefquieu. Had they a trial at his court and conftitution, or the King of Pruflia's, that Pro- teftant hero, they would foon be brought to themfelves, and to good manners. In (hort, thefe deteltable letters are not conceived in the ftyle of merchants, by whom only they ought to have been wrote ; but appear to be the produ(5l!on» of fome banifhed EngUfli or Irifli attorney, or limb of the law, who has baniflied himfelf from this country ; or by fome of the vermin of the clergy, who infeft that deluded sountry and people. I took the liberty of tranfmitting to Lord Nortli, a copy of this Plan; and at the fame time ufed the freedom of writing ray opinion to his Lordiliip on the fubjeft, «nd of otfering my advice, as a private perfon, and a friend ft'iend to the mother country, in what manner the Ameri* tans might be brought to a leivfe of their duty, aud allrgi- giarice to their parent ibite, with the leall prejudice to either of the contending parties. This I did not think prudent to- pubhih to the world at the time. Indeed, fuch a i\ep would have entireJv deftroyed the very intention of the writer, ha, though,' I tiufl, wuh better lucct; ., They forced' the inini/ier to break ihroug'i the &i:t of na-v i- gation, and to allow the Americans to export theii enume- rated goods, as they wci c pleafed to call them, viz. ail their rice, wheat, bailey, Indian corn, and al! forts of coriis, fifii, &c. &c. to any port in Euroye, Ibiith of Cape Finiltt ri e. Before that period, trade was carried on with peace and quJetnefs, and a certain profit to Gieat Brirain, as v.ell as great, advantage to America. But no fuoner was thii; door opened, than the Americans commenced fm>:ggl£;rs. It point- ed out a way for them to throw oiT all conneclioh in trade with the motlier country, wh-'fe fleets, at che fame time,. Were their prote(ftion. With the Britilh, flag flying, and their Mediterranean pafsin their cabins, to Icreen them from all the piratical ftates, they carried on trace with more f.iie- ty than any other nation in Europe. But, fay tiis graieju-l people, we are not to pay any proportion of the < xpence neceilary for the fupport of that fleet ; that uibta'.tar, and that Port Mahon, \vhich aftord us this profeoion. Let eld England, and poor Scotland, pay for our faiety ; -but let us "reap the profits of their trade and commerce. The Britiili trade in the Mediterranean, before the 1739, the time when the /'///r;o//)a^lan abwve mentioned to^k place, was much inore extenfive than ever it has been fuKe. The \;aufe is obvious. The corn and fiih, alone, were great arri- cles in point of freight, *and gave bread to our own fullors, whom we can always depend upon for manning our flte's. Can we trult to the Americans for this necellary piece of duty ?. — No ! If we repofg any confidence in them, they may perhaps point their guns againit us, as they do at pre- ient from their floating batteries. It is lurely high timf , therefore, for Great Britain to en- courage her own navigation. Let the Americans b« put on the fatne footing, with regard to trade, which they enjoyed \> . in [ 92 ] in the 17:^, Let their exports and imports be through th^ channel of Great Britain, Ireland, and our Weii India fet- tlements; then, and not till then, will they pay us tor what they take. F*or many years paJl they have taken our goods, turned them int;) money, and with that money gone to Hol- land, Hamburgh, France, and other countries, where they purcliaCe their manufan better terms than any other country in Europe ; with Cloths from the coarfcfl Flannel to the fined Superfine : with Hats, from 10 d. to "os. a-piece ; w ith Stockings, from 6d. to 10 s. the pair ; and, with every other article in the Wool- len branch proportiorally cheap. Shoes, and every thing made from leather, we arc ac- knowledged to be equally expert in, with the manufa<^lurers of any other country, and can afford to i'ell them at as low prices. Chimney grates we ftand unrivalled in ; nor, I believe, will any other nation compete with us in any wares manu- faiflured from Iron. Upon the whole : When the Americans come to their fcnfes, they will find it for their intereft, as well as their fafety and conveniency, to ftrenglhen the bond of friendfliip with the Mother Country ; and to promote her trade and manufa(!'liires. Let them confider liow much the flag, which hitherto has prote(51ed them, would be defpiied and torn to pieces by every petty Prince, were it not for the Britifh Lyon. Even the king of Pruflia, that little maritime Monarch, could fit out as many fhips of war at Embden, Stelin and Konings- burgh, as would deltroy all ihe gt eat North American trade in two years. SECTION [ 83 ] SECTION VI. ^TlADE in general, interjperfed with fuch ohfervations f. the author thinks, if duly -weighed and confidercd, may b produilivc oj good offers to this country. *" I ^ HE preceding Seed in giving encouragement to the manufactures of il>^«^ country which gave birth to their hufbands; nor, in- dee J, can they be ("ufficiently applauded for it. Many ladies of our own countrv are bhfTed with the fame fpirit and be- iievoLvnt difpofitions ; and I flatter mylelf, from Inch bright examples, the!'" numhehs will dailv encieafe. Out of num- be'-s which might be mentioned. I fhall only take notice of one Lady of Qjiality, worthy of imitation, whofe place of re- fidence i, ii')t a Iv.indred miles re noved fiom the Royal Pa-' lace of Holyrood-houfe. This Lady has a great deal of me- rit, in railing upon her Lord's eftate, an excellent breed of fheen, of the fine wot. lied kind, as well as all other forts of cattle, though in a very indiffVrent part of the country. This Ladv has alfo variety of Woollen, T.inen, Damalks, &c. manufa(f^ured under her own infpc(ftion, of excellent qualities. In •*• fame manner, from ladies of inferior quality, many mi ,'..;• h^' mentioned worthy of imitation ; but in this, as in t';! Inimer imlance, I fhall confine myfelf to one, as a pat- t:.'- : to other ladies, who would wifli to promote the real in- terefls of their country. The ladv I mean, is fpoufe of a worthy citizen in an eaftern burgh in Eaft Lothian. The greatcfl plcafure fl^e enjoys is that of giving employment to a number of indu'^^rious ncople in her neighbourhood, in the woollen and other branches of bnfnefs, and of relieving the poor by adl^s of benevolence and charity : nor is her buf- band lefs alTiduous in the fame commendable work. He gives bread to hundreds , is an honour to his profeflion ; and a blelling to that part of the country where he refides, as well as to that part of the coaft where I drew my firfl breath. To multiply inftances of the ladies and gentlemen of this country, who dcfervc to be held in the highell veneration for their public fpirit, would be endlefs. They are daily en* crealing, ahd I hope will continue to do fo, till this country is- broujjht to that ftate of improvement, in every branch of manufarture, of which its fituation, in many refpeCts, renders it fo highly capable. We lnje had gentlemen of truly pa- triotic t 9« 3 triotic principles in former times. I hope the race are far from being exiinguifhed. Air M'Leod of CadboU was one of thofe. An honour to nff country ; and, at the fame tirae, fo great an encourager of its manufacfturcs, that, from his earliefl: years, he never wore that of any other country ; as an inflance of which, I miift here mention an anecdote of that gentleman : Having come up to Edinburgh upon fome private concerns, and ftanding in need of a new liat, he en- quired his man of biifinefs, whether there was any hat-makers in f"dinburgh ? To this he anfwered in the affirmative, and at the lame time told him, that a parcel fhould be immediate- ly fent, that he might take his choice of one. This oiFer, however, Mr M'Leod rejected, well knowing the many tricks which are pra^lifed upon fuch occafions, of paffing off for Scofs, what in reality was the manufa(5lure of England. He behoved therefore to fee the hatter himfelf, and waited with patience till he had made one for him according to his directions. Were all our countrymen to behave in this man- ner, our manufacturers would be in no danger of wanting employment. Indeed, fuch a conduct is highly requifite at this tjme, when fo many tricks of this nature are daily prac- tifed by many of our Ihop-keepers. Thofe, therefore, who wilh to encourage the manufactures of their country, in order to avoid fuch impofitions, fliould purchafe from none but fuch as ailvertife the commodities of it. One company in Edinburgh, and they are not the leafl: confiderable in it, have already done fo. There the public may be fatisfied they will be fupplied with real Scots cloths, as the company are con- cerned with more than one manufaiTlory in that branch. T hope they will meet with that encouragement which every promoter of the interefts of their country merits, Notwithflanding this tra6l has drawn out to a much great- er length than I at firft expe(5led, yet many things are omit- ted, which I once intended to have taken notice of; particu. larly, with regard to the mines and minerals, of which this country is fo abundantly ftored, and from which fo mncli riches may be expelled. I likewife intended to have taken notice of the delightful appearance of the face of the country, from the many itnprovements made upon it by rhe noblemen and gejitlemen of property, But thefe, for the reafon al- ready mentioned, I am under the neceffity of deferrir?- ti!! fome other opportunity. One improvement, I cannot ommit ta''- ,v •. this place, as it is a new as well as a not properly fupported at prefent, may to this country. I mean the Dircf^o; ktcly eftabliflicd by Mr Peter \V;:ii/ •••'.• C 9* 1 entercourfe orcorrcfnomlence between merchants is ihe moll certain way of carrying on trade jyr'^<^^*"^'*y^^* I ^vil'j 'liere- fore, beg leav<» ta meiuiorl, that tio icheme pivyei^led by any perfon in Scotland, feenis more calculated to effectuate thi« great purpoi'e, than the Directory and Penny-Poll, fet on fobt by Mr Williamfon, and I Ihould be lorry, on that ac- ■' ddhnt, if proper encouragement were not given to it. \ Before I conclude, I cannot help returning nty moit grate- ful acknowledgments to thefe Noblemen and Gentlemen who have been pleated to tertify their ctpprobation of the Letters which, froint ime to time publiflied to the world, on the ma- nufactures and commerce ot this cou-itry. The card which I fome few days ago received, on this fiibjecfl, from a Noble- man of the firlt didinCtion, and who has expended upwards of fifty thoufand pounds Iterling, upon inipr')vements, in the neighbourhood «»f this city, is truly flattf ring ; and I am hap- py that thefe Letters, which I meant entirely for the good of my country, have not been viewed in another light b> thole who are its greatelt ornaments. I have cnly to add, that however confcious I am of the little merit this ireatife polTcfles, in point of compofition, I am liopefiil the intention with which it was undertaken will plead its excufc. i:1^^ ':^:lf^S ti /-