market on equal terms, at least in that refpect. The fame observation applies to the barrel of beef and pork; both which in Ireland contains only 28 gallons, while the British barrel is 32; and with regard to which the very fame complaints prevail. FOREIGN HERRINGS. The Reporter is likewife informed, from very good authority, that it is a common practice in Ireland, to import great quantities of Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian herrings, which are afterwards exported from thence to the British Weft India iflands; though he believes that foreign cured herrings are not by law allowed to be fent by British fubjects to those islands. If this be fo, that practice ought no doubt to be stopped. 1 EXACTIONS IN IRELAND. Another grievance refpe&ting Ireland, of which the British herring fishers moft loudly complain, and of the truth of which the Reporter had occafion to be fully informed on his late tour, is as follows: For fome years paft herrings have been caft up in greater quantities towards the latter part of the feafon on the northern coaft of Ireland, than elsewhere; and the Scotch buffes went there to catch them. At first they were permitted to fifh without molestation; but in winter 1782 fome fmall fees were exacted by fome of the customhouse officers, for granting them permiffion to fith. This became general in winter 1783; every bufs was forced to pay two guineas for each boat the carried, for liberty to fish, befides paying duty for all the falt and barrels they had on board at the time, though they never were landed, as is more fully fet forth in the memorial. And in the year 1784 they have been forcibly driven from the coaft altogether, in confequence of an affociation of the inhabitants for that purpose, as they are informed; the particulars of which are fet forth in another memorial: all which exactions and outrages greatly prejudice their intereft, and being contrary to law and juftice, certainly claim the speedy attention of Government. He will only obferve further on that head, that for fome years paft the conduct of the board of cuftoms in Scotland, with refpect to the Irish fishers on our coaft, has been fuch as could not give any reafon for fuch a conduct on the part of Ireland; as thefe fishers have not only been allowed to fish where they pleased on our coafts, but have even been allowed to draw the Britifh debenture on fith catched and cured in those feas, in the fame manner as if they had been natives of Britain. These are all the particulars that occur to the Reporter, as of material moment to be attended to, for eftablishing the fifheries on thofe coafts upon a fure and permanent foundation. But the following particulars, as ftrongly affecting the general profperity of the country, ought alfo to be feriously attended to. WOOL. The western parts of the Highlands of Scotland are for the moft part extremely teep, rugged, and mountainous, (and the fame may be faid of many of the iflands), forming dry healthy pafturage for fheep, and would afford a much greater profit to the owners, if depaftured with sheep rather than with cattle. The islands likewife, which are at present poffeffed of a breed of sheep carrying finer wool than any in Europe, and which could be eafily there preferved without debafement, or even improved fo as to yield great quantities of wool of a quality fuperior to any that is yet known, would in many cafes yield a return, if stocked with fuch fheep, perhaps tenfold greater than if paftured with cattle; yet, on account of the laws that, under the fevereft penalty, prohibit the carriage of wool by fea, but under regulations that cannot poffibly be complied with in thofe countries, the natives have been in general hitherto obliged to rely upon cattle as their principal stock, and thus to forego one of the chief advantages that nature had conferred upon them. These fine-woolled sheep are suffered to ftroll about neglected, in fmall numbers, and no national benefit has yet been felt from that wool; though it might, if raised in sufficient quantities, lay the foundation of woollen manufactures of certain kinds that would be unrivalled in other markets. A manufacture of fhauls, it has been already said, made of this wool, is juft now in its infancy here, which may perhaps in time grow up to be an object of great importance, as well as other manufactures of a kind for which fuch fine work is fitted, if the laws fhould be fo modelled as to admit of a reasonably free commerce in this article. At prefent, however, the natives, from never having been able to derive much advantage from that that wool, scarcely know any thing of its value in a commercial light; and should they come to discover its value, it the prefent laws fhall remain in force, there is reafon to fear it may be converted to the benefit of rival nations, by improving their manufactures, rather than our own. For, as the risk is really smaller to smuggle wool at prefent to France or Holland, by means of the fmuggling veffels which frequent thofe coafts with fpirits, than it is to fend to any part of Scotland, it is natural to think, that the people would embrace that as their surest and best mar ket for this commodity. That foreign ers begin to know the value of this wool, appears probable from the following ftory the Reporter heard in many places on his late tour, viz. that fome perfon in the iBands, finding this wool at prefent in little request among themselves, had been tempted to try if it could be fold to advantage in France; and that it had far exceeded his expectation, as he had there received an anker of brandy (worth at his own home from 50s. to 31.) for each ftone of wool; and this at a time when the wool of the main land (which is indeed of a much coarfer quality, the produce of fouth-country fheep) could not be fold for more than 4 s. and even not at that price. This report, true or falfe, is current at present through all the iflands, and will doubtless turn the attention of the people towards that market, Should this trade be permitted to get firm footing, it will be an evil of the firft magnitude, that will not be easily eradicated. Would it not be wife policy to nip it in the bud, by a judicious alteration of the laws refpecting wool, which, on many other accounts, call out for amendment? Great would be the advantages that would accrue to those regions from fuch alterations, as it would add much to the value of land in the first inftance; and, in the next place, would permit the woollen manufacture to be established in those regions fo naturally adapted for that purpole; though it must be long ere it can there profper, under the reftraints to which it is fubjected at prefent. Thus hath the Reporter, with as much perfpicuity as he was able, given the rude draught of a plan, which, if carried into effect, he is firmly perfuaded would lay the fure foundation of a lafting improvement to those countries, which never have hitherto been of any material advantage to the British empire; though they are by nature capable of becoming perhaps more valuable than any other province of the kingdom. His aim has been to discover and to remove thofe radical defects that have hitherto retarded the progrefs of all improvement, and not to trouble your Lordships with a multiplicity of partial schemes that tend only to exhaust the national treasure, without producing any adequate benefit. He has been particularly careful to avoid every thing that could lead to great national expence, not only in a perfuafion, that in the present state of the finances of this country, fuch frugal plans would have a better chance of being attended to, and carried into effect, than others that were more expenfive, but alfo from a firm conviction, that, next to smuggling, nos thing tends fo much to difcourage a fpi rit of fober industry among a people, as that of jobbing with public money, which never can be prevented where great na tional expence is incurred. As he wishes that these regions, fo remote from Court, may long continue the feat of active induftry, he has therefore weighed every propofal with the moft fcrupulous care, with a view to guard againft this evil, and has had the happiness to find, that he has been able to avoid it to a much greater degree than he himself imagined practicable, when he first reflected on the fubject. Indeed he has been fo fuccessful in this refpect, that he is afraid, fhould ever these proposals come to be made public, they will be received with great coolness by many of those whose interest they are calculated most effectually to promote. Nor are they calculated, like brilliant proposals that announce expenfive and glaring undertakings, to please the taste of the populace, who judge of the importance of any object merely by its fhow, and the parade with which it is introduced to their notice. He will be content if he can be in any measure inftrumental in quietly diffufing general happiness among the people, and of thus adding to the wealth and general stability of the empire. There are not wanting perfons who will fay, that his principal aim has been to increase the revenue, rather than to promote the improvement of the countries he has vifited; nor can it be denied, that the benefits which government will derive from these improvements, if carried into effect, would be at least equally great, and equally certain, as the advan B 2 tage tage that would refult to all other parties concerned; but that must be a neverfailing confequence of adding to the profperity of the people; for whenever this takes place, the augmentation of the revenue is certain and unavoidable. This is the only true and unequivocal mode of augmenting the national revenue with which the Reporter is acquainted. It is a mode too of impoling taxes, which, inftead of occafioning a popular odium, muft always produce the oppofite effect. He cannot therefore help regretting, that it should have been hitherto fo little at tended to in all the fyftem of finance: and it appears not a little surprising that it fhould not, when we confider how many ftriking inftances are before our eyes, of the baneful effects resulting from an oppofite plan of conduct. The profperity of that country, were the measures propofed adopted, the Reporter conceives would be certain and unavoidable. The people being freed from those restraints that, at prefent, tie up their hands from the fisheries, would engage in them with alacrity, and with proportional fuccefs. Being placed with in reach of giving and receiving mutual aid in all their enterprises, their exertions would acquire a vigour with which they are at prefent entirely unacquainted. The articles effentially neceffary for car. rying on these fisheries being always within reach, fo as to be ready when called for, would enable the poor to avail themselves fully of every fortunate oc currence that should chance to fall in their way; fo that fish, in these circumftances, could be afforded in foreign markets at a very low price, and at the fame time yield a reasonable profit to the perfons concerned. Thus the demand would be increased, and employment afforded to additional numbers of people. The quantity of fish thus prepared for market, would induce plenty of merchants to fettle in those towns, who would find a profitable employment in the commerce that this would furnish, and give at once an adequate price to the fisherman, which would enable him to proceed in his bufinefs without embarraffment. A ready market would be provided for fresh provifions, and for all the produce of the fields, which would be taken from the farmer in any quantities, as foon as they were fit for the market; which would give all the encouragement to agriculture that ever can be wished for, Ships would be daily paffing to and from Liverpool, and other ports, with rock-falt, coals, and other articles, wanted for the daily ufe of a numerous, wealthy, and induftrious people; in return for which would be fent, at a very moderate freight, in comparison of what it now is, kelp, flate, fish, fresh and cured, oil, bark, and other articles, of the produce of those countries. To the Weft Indies, the outward freight of fish would enable the merchants to import fugars and rum at a moderate freight, which would in time give rife to the refining of fugar. To the neutral Islands in the West Indies, their fish would be a welcome commodity, which would find its way into the French flands; in return for which they would procure, by an advantageous barter melaffes, which could be there diftilled for the African trade, with as great advantage as in Connecticut. To Spain, to Por tugal, the Mediterranean, and the Levant, their fish, their marble, and manufactures, would afford them ready access; and the articles they would receive from thefe countries, together with lead, and other native products and manufactures, would lay the foundation of a trade to Holland and the Baltic. Thus would employment be afforded to an innumerable multitude of people— the manufactures and trade of the country increased to an aftonishing degree— the quantity of shipping be greatly augmented-the number of feamen multiplied-the general profperity of the coun try promoted-the national wealth accumulated-and the revenue proportionably augmented, without the preffure being felt by any one. Such are the general confequences, the Reporter is perfuaded, which would refult from the arrangements propofed, and fuch are the reasons that induced him to adopt that opinion. He has stated thefe reafons with that warmth of colouring which is natural in one who is himfelt fo fully convinced of the truth of the facts on which he grounds his opinion, and of the certainty of the conclufions. He is fenfible, that to those who have neither had accefs to the one, nor to weigh with attention the other, what he has faid will appear to them fomewhat extravagant. He wishes, therefore, that other men, of greater weight and influence than himfelf, would put themselves into such a fituation as to prove the truth of the one, and attentively confider the other—as he has has not a doubt, but the more minutely these propofitions fhall be inveftigated, they will afford greater satisfaction to the candid enquirer. As he alfo confiders it to be a matter of great national concern, that the legislature fhould not be again mifled in their endeavours to augment the profperity of thofe remote and hitherto unknown regions, he does not think it poffible to be at too much pains to obtain the moft authentic information that can be got relating to them, before any decifive measures fhall be finally a dopted; and though he himself has inquired with care, and reported with the moft fcrupulous fidelity, he is far from thinking, that many things of importance may not have efcaped his notice, and has not a doubt but much new light might be obtained by the attentive obfervations of men better qualified than himself to decide on those momentous queftions. With regard to the falt laws alone, the facts are fo clear, and the pernicious tendency of them is fo obvious, that they loudly call for an immediate and thorough revifal, as every moment's delay must be productive of harm to many individuals, and much mischief to the community at large. Coats, near Edinburgh, Dec. 6. 1784. Narrative of the Sufferings of a Collier, but IN compliance with the requeft of the On Saturday, Dec. 4. 1784, about eight o'clock in the morning, Thomas Travis, a collier, aged twenty feven, defcended into the pit at Hurft, which is ninety yards in depth; and feveral other workmen were in readiness to follow him. But foon after he had reached the bottom, the fides of the pit fell in, and he was cut off from all fupplies of the external air. The quantity of earth was house, houfe, put into bed, well covered, and, fed with chicken broth. But his weaknefs rendered him indifferent to nourish. ment. He continued to dofe and fleep; and notwithstanding his pulfe feemed at, firft to increase in vigour, it became quick about five o'clock, when he warned them of his approaching end, and expired with out a ftruggle in a few minutes. Though Travis had been afthmatic for many years, his refpiration was remarked to be clear and eafy, under the circumftances above described. He remained perfectly fenfible till his death; but had no accurate idea of the duration of his confine ment in the pit: for on being interroga. ted concerning this point, he estimated; the time to have been only two days, yet added, that he thought thofe days were, very long. As the foregoing account is defective in fome interesting particulars, I have applied to Mr Lees for further information; and fhall lay before the Society the fub ftance of the answers which he has re-, turned to my feveral queries. I. I inquired what food Travis had taken during the fpace of twenty-four hours before he went into the coal pit; and have been informed, that on Friday morning he eat a mefs of water pottage and milk to his breakfaft, had roafted beef and potatoes to his dinner, broth and pudding to his fupper; and on the Saturday morning, just before his defcent into the coal mine, a cup of broth and a piece of bread and cheese. 2. It is not known whether he had any evacuations in the coal-pit, no marks of them having been discovered. 3. There is no doubt that he could fee at the time when he was found, as he gave affurances of it to the men, notwithfland ing the tumefaction and protrufion of his eyes. 4. The compafs of the cavity which he had dug, and where he was laid upon his belly at the time when the men reached him, was three yards in length, and two in width. The ftratum of coal is about two feet thick. There was a communication between the place where be was confined and another pit. But as the paffage was eighty yards long, and in no part more than eight or ten inches wide, the mouth of the pit alfo into which he had defcended being stopped, and the body of earth through which he had dug thrown behind him, no circulation of air could poffibly take place. And the truth of this conclusion is evinced by the state of the air in the other pit, to which this paffage, led: for it was there fo foul, as to extinguish the› candles, which the workmen carried down, in order to come at Travis, by the way which they denominate the airgate*. 5. The temperature of the air varies. much in coal pits, even of the fame depth. No thermometrical observations were made on the prefent occafion; but the fenfations of Travis seem to have indicated coldnefs; and his extremities never recovered their natural warmth. Moisture always abounds in these mines. 6. The weakness of Travis prevented: him from giving any account of his fufferings, either from hunger or thirst. But it was obferved, that he was eager to drink at the time when he was found. 7. It is certain that Travis had no provifions with him in the coal-mine, and that there was not any supply of water,* except near the mouth of the pit; a place he muft immediately have quitted, and to. which he deprived himself of the power. of returning, by throwing the earth behind him in his progress. We may there. fore prefume, that he paffed the whole. feven days of his confinement without either meat or drink. This affecting catastrophe coincides, ina striking manner, with an observation of Hippocrates, That most of those who neither eat nor drink for feven days die within that period; and that though they furvive, fo as afterwards to take nourishment, their former fafting will prove fa tal to them. Yet it is evident, that the remark of this faithful recorder of facts was founded on experience too limited to give it validity: for we have many well-attefted accounts of longer conti nued abftinence without deftruction to life. Sir William Hamilton, in his narrative of the earthquakes in Italy, A. D. 1 * The ventilation of this fubterraneous paffage might, perhaps, have been expedited, and the mepbitis almoft inftantly corrected, by carrying down into it buckets of water, and flaking in them a fufficient quantity of fresh burnt quicklime. The hot steam, generated by this operation, it may be prefumed, would have diffufed itself quickly through the whole cavity: the gas would have united with the aqueous vapour; been precipitated with it; and a current of atmospheric air would have rufhed in to fupply its place. ↑ Hippocrat. de Carnibus. Sect. III. |