14 Of feducing the affections of the fair. the leaft honour that was done it. The defending, anfwering, and vindicating of this work, involved our philofopher in a literary warfare, and dubbed him a man of letters, at a time that others be gin to think of retiring from the prefs. It was about this time, that a lady of the first diftinction in Paris, was willing to give Rouleau fome marks of her fatif faction in his performances; but hearing that he refufed all pecuniary offers with fome indignation, the fent him fome mufic to copy, which fuppofing to be in the way of his profeflion, the expected that he would not refufe whatever the thought proper to pay him for his labour: the therefore fent him a purfe of gold when the work was done. But he only deducted a few shillings from her favour, which was the real price of his trouble, and fent her back the rest. His name being now established, feveral fucceffive pieces made their appearance; fuch as the Devin du Village; a mufical entertainment, performed with great applaufe; by which, however, he had a dispute with the musicians of France and his letter upon French mufic contributed ftill further to excite their refentment. Their mufical mania went fo far as to hang him in effigy. His difcourfe upon the origin of the inequality among mankind [xxiv. 95.], which may be justly reckoned his greatest and beft In this he performance, followed next. Endeavours to fhew, that all men being originally equal, were neceffarily free; and that all focial engagements were but fetters impofed upon the indolence, ignorance, or weakness of humanity. ance. A letter to D'Alembert, upon theatrical exhibitions, was his next performIn this he only traced the path of our countrymen, Prynn and Collier; for the French writers often embrace our literary paradoxes, when we begin to throw them afide. He there condemns playhouses with fome warmth. To the reafons of this work, D'Alembert and Marmontel returned copious and fufficient anfwers: but people would refort to the playhoufe whether they had answered it or not. The New Eloifa [xxiii. 31. 528.] next appeared; which did more honour to his genius than his philofophy. The Social Compact Exxv. 161.], and Emilius [xxiv. 542. fucceeded: and the liberty he takes in them of disturbing received opinions, and undermining established doc Vol. xxvii trines in religion, procured him more cing the affections of the fair, and then man ought certainly to make his Love, whatfoever fome may think of Progres Progress of FLAX-HUSBANDRY in Scotland. Written by Lord Kames; and published, about the middle of January, by the Truftees for Improvements.] AS S the power of a state confifts chiefly in the number and industry of its people, every thing must be of importance that contributes to thefe ends. This obfervation puts the linen manufacture in a confpicuous light; for it employs many hands, and requires the most painful induftry. In Scotland, this manufacture, which, within the memory of man, scarce deferved the name, has of late years made a progress fo rapid, as to become our chief manufacture, circulating more "money than all our other manufactures in conjunction. Nor is there any fymptom of its being stationary: on the contrary, it is every year boldly advancing with wider and wider steps. This prospect must be agreeable to every well-hearted Briton; and to gratify the laudable curiosity of fuch perfons, the following brief account of the progrefs of the manufacture is prefented. The board of Trustees was established anno 1727: the value of the linen ftamped from the ft of November 1727 to the ift of November 1765, not including what was made for private ufe, was as follows. [xii. 351.] L. 322,045 367,167 The union of the two crowns of England and Scotland, was a fatal event for the latter. The great increase of power which our kings thereby acquired, reduced the Scotch nobility to a state of humble dependence. From being petty monarchs, they became flaves to the crown, and had nothing left to fupport their accuftomed dignity, but, under protection of the crown, to inflave their inferiors. The national fpirit, bold and brave, fubfided by degrees; and a general torpor fucceeded, the never-failing effect of flavery. Though restored to liberty and, independence, by the union of the two nations, yet mutual jealoufy and enmity obftructed long the advantages of our new fituation. At length the bleflings of liberty and independence became confpicuous, and invigorated multitudes to exert themselves in laudable undertakings. And hence that fpirit for improvement in Scotland, difplayed upon hulbandry, upon manufactures, upon commerce, and upon literature. The establishing a board of Trustees for directing this national fpirit, upon fisheries, and upon the manufactures of linen and woollen, was a measure wife and political, zealously promoted by a worthy patriot; who was rewarded, hy the opportunity he long had of ferving his country, as an eminent member of that board. His ftatue was erected in the fenate-house, by thofe of his own profeffion, in token of their veneration for him, as a judge above all corruption. From his fellow-citizens in general a ftatue was not lefs due, as a token of their gratitude for his patriotifim. [ix. 553, 4, 5. xiv. 268.] But whatever was his zeal for the pu406,816 blic good, and whatever zeal he infpired 345,349 into others, yet the operations of that 367,721 board were not at first attended with 401,511 great fuccefs. The indolence and igno424,141 rance of the low people, and their wayt 451,390 of honesty, could not be cured but by per523,153 feverance and artful management. But 516,354 unluckily we were at that time ill provi 474,807 ded with political phyficians, skilled in the 552,288 cure which is always the cafe in a coun try where industry is dead, and no person thinks of it. The Trustees were forced for fome time to grope in the twilignt of knowledge: they frequently mistook their road, and adopted meatures that were not always adequate to the ends propofed. But, as the intendment of this paper is neither to make a fatire nor encomnium upon the 573,243 222,870 1765 $79,227 Though the progrefs of the linen manufacture in general is not the profeffed purpose of this paper, yet I fhall endeavour to account for it, as a proper intro duction to a historical narrative of the measures taken by the Trustees for promoting our flax-husbandry. C 2 Truites, Trustees, it shall only be obferved in paffing, that the ignorance of this nation with respect to manufactures, and with relpect to the means of promoting them, may well excufe the few errors committed by the Trustees at the commencement of their management; and that these errors ought not to derogate from their merit, in ferving their country without the flightest motive of private interest, The Trustees, having with great af fiduity furmounted endless difficulties and obftructions, were encouraged to redouble their diligence. The people are in a measure reclaimed from idleness and difbonefty: induftry is gaining ground, and is fpreading even to diftant corners: spinners and weavers, greatly multiplied, are daily acquiring more and more kill: many bleachfields are perfected, and the colour of our linens is much improved. Nor have water-mills been neglected for dreffing flax of our own growth; though thefe, after much expence bestowed, do not now give general fatisfaction. Thefe expenfive articles drew great fums from the Trustees: fo great, that little was left for promoting other branches. But thefe articles being now far advanced, fo as not to require much further fupport, it is the intention of the Trustees to promote the growth of our own flax with their utmost affiduity. This appears the proper time for encouraging that capital article, because a market is now provided for it, viz. a home market, which of all is the beft; and no perfon can doubt of this market, when he is informed, that foreign flax, to the amount of 110,000 l. is yearly imported into Scotland. raise flax, the farmer may be affured, that our own flax, when skilfully managed, and the ground well prepared, is tough, compact, and fmooth; and confequently, for thread, lace, gauze, cambric, and lawn, is better fitted than that of Holland, which generally is fpungy and cottony. Scotch flax, when brought to its utmost perfection, may probably rival even that of Flanders. It is too good for Ofnaburgs, which require coarie Ruffian flax. The Dutch flax is only preferable for thick hollands. 3dly, All the labour bestowed upon foreign fax purchased by us, in preparing the ground, in fowing and pulling, in watering, grafing, and dreffing for the heckle, is paid for by us. What a benefit to this nation muft it be, to give bread to numbers of our own people, by employing them in that work? 4thly, As a confiderable proportion of the flax we use is of foreign growth, and as the beckler and the fpinner must pay money for it, the one is difpofed to over-heckle it, and the other to draw it out into too fine yarn, in order to make the most of their money. This evil would be in a good measure prevented by having flax in plenty of our own growth; for the heckler and fpinner would in that case use it freely, without labouring to draw it beyond its grift, The Trustees, for these reasons, cannot direct their management to a more important object than to that of flax-raifing. This indeed they had early in view, though they did not always hit upon the most effectual means. They brought flaxraifers and flax-dreffers from Holland, Flanders, and England: they published directions for railing flax: they laid out The faving this annual fum to the na- money for breeding apprentices to flaxtion, is not the only, nor indeed the raifing and flax-dreifing: they encouraged greatest benefit that will accrue by pro- the erection of lint-mills; gave falaries moting flax-husbandry. A manufacture to ftationed railers and dreffers of flax, cannot but be upon a precarious footing, and diftributed heckles. The article latt when recourse must be had to a foreign mentioned did good, and continues to do market for the crude materials; and a na- good but most of the other articles were tion must be upon a precarious footing, lefs fuccefsful than was expected; becaufe when it is in the power of foreigners, the Trustees, inflamed with the spirit of with a fingle Fiat, to ftarve a great pro- patriatifm, made a more rapid progrefs portion of its people, by withdrawing than was confiftent with the circumftanfrom them the means of labour. This ces of the country. For one inftance, it obfervation is in part unhappily verified feldom happens that the best artists are by the prefent ftate of our fax-com- moved by the hope of greater gain to demerce; for foreign flax has, within these fert their native country; and therefore Teven years, been gradually fo much rai- to fend fome hopeful young men abroad fed upon us, that we pay now for it fifty to be thoroughly perfected in the art, is per cent. more than formerly [xxvii. 572.]., a measure more flow indeed, but always dly, For a further encouragement to more fuccefsful. And had this method been been followed, the fuperior skill of the men thus educated would have procured them good bread, without burdening the public fund with falaries. By neglecting this fafe measure, there were few or no kilful persons that could be employed as ftationary raisers and dreffers of flax; and the Trustees were forced to take up with fuch perfons as could procure the best recommendations; which generally proceeded from interested motives. The negligence, accordingly, and unskilfulnefs of these perfons, ruined all. One of the encouragements for flaxraifing, was a premium of fifteen fhillings upon every acre prepared for flax-feed, according to a method prefcribed. This premium was in effect putting the plough before the horses. It indeed excited many to low lint-feed; but it was foon difcovered, and might have been foreseen, that it was no fufficient encouragement, without providing a market for the flax when feparated from the ground. The premium was not the half of the price of the feed: the product lay upon the farmer's hand, who had neither kill nor people for drefling it with stock and hand, lint-mills being at that time extremely rare; and, by these means, he was upon the whole a great lofer by this premium. Lint-boors came next in play, by a hint taken from Holland and Flanders. The lint-boors there purchase all the green lint in the neighbourhood, water and grafe it, and, in a word, prepare it for the heckle. This measure had a fair appearance; the Trustees were fond of it, and gave great encouragement for carrying it into execution. But this measure proved abortive; and it could not happen otherwife. It was not adverted to, that the culture of flax had fubfifted in Holland and Flanders for centuries; and that confiderable stocks were acquired by dealing in the different branches of the manufacture; part of which could not be better employed than in the lucrative trade of a lint-boor, furrounded with lint-fields, that fave the expence of carriage. In Scotland every article was oppofite: The manufacture was still in its infancy no provision of skilful hands: lint-fields were thinly scattered: and it was a great burden upon the lint boor to carry fo weighty a crop from a great diftance: no perfon had a stock for building houles, preparing canals, &c.; and had there been fuch perfons, they would not hage stooped to an inferior branch, while the higher branches lay open to employ their money upon. The water-mills mentioned above, having a specious appearance, met with vigorous encouragement, and exhausted a great deal of public money. They were favourites of the country-people, by faving labour in dreffing the flax; of which thofe were the most fenfible who were acquainted with the flowness and fatigue of the stock and hand. It was not doubted but that these mills would incline every farmer to raise flax; and the Trustees were intent to accelerate that effect. A premium was notified of eighteen pence per stone for dressed flax of our own growth; which was confined to the three great li nen counties of Perth, Fife, and Angus, because the public fund was not adequate to a more general premium. The fuccels of this measure has been confiderable; and would have been still more confiderable, had a fufficient number of skilful flax-railers been provided to inftruct the country-people. The demand for foreign flax has greatly fubfided in these counties; and in a few years will probably vanifh altogether. This premium is now transferred to the counties of Lanark, Air, Renfrew, Dumbarton, and Stirling, where it will certainly produce the fame beneficial effects; and the intention is, to carry it progreffively through the kingdom. For the fame purpose of promoting flaxraifing, quantities of lint-feed have been diftributed, moftly in the highlands, at first gratis, and afterward under prime coft. This measure had a good effect; but not equivalent to the fums bestowed upon it. For the farmers were not fufficiently skilled in preparing the ground: and they were not fufficiently anxious to be inftructed, because they put little value upon feed which they got for nothing, or at a low price. To remedy this evil, and to excite a spirit of cultivation, large premiums were given for the greateft quantities of flax produced upon an acre. This inflamed the industry of the farmer, and had the effect of procuring very rich crops. Some farmers became expert in high dressing for flax-feed, and every one was fond to receive instruction; which was the great object of the premium, And yet the Truftees were forced to drop this premium, though with great reluctance, before the effect was completed. Industry was not fo far advanced as to have reclaimed entirely the labouring poor from trick and deceit. deceit. The preiniums were confiderable; and if, upon the one hand, they promoted good husbandry, they, on the other, were a temptation to practife frandulent methods for obtaining false reSports of the quantities of flax produced. Such frauds are infectious; and the Truftees faw no other means to prevent the infection, but to withdraw the bounty al- ́ together. There is no reafon however to repent of having fet this measure on foot; for though it may not have had the complete effect intended, it has undoubt edly promoted skill in flax-hufbandry, and has alfo given fufficient evidence to the flax-farmer, that plentiful crops can be produced by high cultivation. To proceed in the history of watermills, experience difcovered that they were attended with many inconveniencies. The labour of carrying rough lint to these mills from a distance, came to be felt; as alfo the delay of getting the fint dressed, when the mill happens to be much employed. At the fame time, the ordinary yield of this mill in dreffed flax, is fo much inferior in quantity to that of stock and band, as to overbalance fully what is faved upon labour; not to mention the hurt that is done to the flax by the violent and ill-directed action of the mill. But the worst of all is, that the Aint-miller, being under no check nor -control, is tempted to defraud his cuftomers of part of their dressed flax : and there are inftances where the whole has been with-held from poor people, who it was thought would not have courage to bring a law-fuit. In many places there is not fufficient houfe-room provided for the flax that is brought to the mill; which, in a buly time, is often expofed to the air for months together before the miller can reach it. By thefe means, many lintmillers, I am far from faying the whole, are fo funk in their credit, that the farm ers in their neighbourhood, rather than fubmit to the foregoing hardships, chufe to abandon flax-raising altogether. It is peculiarly lucky for Scotland, that, during this diftrefling fituation, a tax machine has been invented, that promi. fes not only to remedy the said inconveniencies, but alfo to advance flax-dreffing to its perfection, with no lefs frugality than expedition. It is wrought by a fingle hand, takes up little room, is port ble in a cart, and fo little expenfive, that three or four neighbouring farmers may have one in common for a mere tride contributed by each. Its motion, at the fame time, is so easy, and fo much unde command, that it is equal to stock and hand with refpect to the yield of dressed flax, and also with respect to the gentlenefs of its motions. And taking into the account the expedition of this machine, which performs at least thrice the work of stock and hand, it must be pronounced a happy invention. But we have not exhausted all that can be faid in its favour, nor indeed the greater part. It is a capital advantage, that by it the farmer can fuperintend the dressing his flax without hazard of being cheated; and, what is ftill more, to get his flax dreffed without a farthing of charge; which may be done by the following method. The flax is generally watered and grafed before the corn-harveft, or at least before the bufy time of it; and therefore may be done by the farm-fervants, without interrupting other work. The flax may be housed at the end of a barn or other convenient place till winter, when the farm-fervants, for want of light, are laid idle for fome hours in the afternoon. During this time, the farmer and his fervants cannot be more profitably employed than in dreffing their flax; and the long nights afford more than fufficient time for dref. fing all that will be raised by a knot of neighbouring farmers. And even fuppofing the fwifteft progrefs of lint-hufbandry, every farmer may afford to purchase a machine for his own ufe folely, which may be employed, not only during the dark hours of the afternoon, but frequently in day-light, when bad weather forbids all field-operations. It is difficult, I am fenfible, to entice people to employ in labour their accuftomed idle hours; but addrefs and perfeverance will conquer many difficulties. And to operate this conversion of idleness into labour, there is one means among many that cannot fail of fuccefs. article is commonly ftipulated by farmfervants as part of their wages, which is, to have ground allotted them for fowing fome lint-feed. They are generally put off with the worft foil, ill prepared: their crops are fcanty: the expence of drefling unconscionable: and stating eve ry article by a just calcul, lint purchased at a market would come cheaper to them than what they thus procure. To engage them to work at the machine, no more is neceffery but that the farmer take them in as partners. He has, for exam ple |