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SIR,

Perth, Fan. 8. HAving obferved a letter from Perth,

inferted in your paper of the 4th inftant, wherein the conduct of the Provoft is very imperfectly reprefented xxxiv. 692.], I think, that, in juftice to him, the fituation he was then in fhould be known.

After the riot-act was read, the Proyoft was left to guard the prifon with fome of the military, feveral of whom were wounded with ftones thrown by the mob, and he himself received a blow with a stone. Had he ordered the military to fire on the rioters, he forefaw, that many of them, and many innocent people whom curiofity had drawn thither, would have been killed; and that he and fome of the foldiers might probably fhare the fame fate, from the enraged defperate multitude. Had he withdrawn, and difmiffed the military; the rioters, after breaking open the prifondoors, would have fet at liberty, not only their two affociates, but alfo the other prifoners. Thus he was forced to chufe one of two difagreeable alternatives: Either to releafe the two rioters, and thus fecure the reft of the prifoners; or give orders to fire upon the mob; in which cafe it was uncertain but that they might prevail, and after all make the refcure. Prudence and humanity dictated the first, as the leaft of the two evils. He therefore releafed the two rioters, fecured the prifon, and thus difperfed the mob. It must be noticed, that at this time there was only a fmall number of foldiers in town after they were all col lected together.

A method of marking sheep, communicated to the Jociety of Arts, by a gentleman of Monmouth fire; who obferves, that the lofs of wool occa fioned by pitch marking, computed at 100,000 l. a-year, would by this method be faved.

Abstract of the act 10° Geo. III. c. 51. for encouraging the improvement of lands in Scotland held under fettlements of strict entail. xxxii. 327.]

[From the Appendix to Erskine's Inftitute of the law of Scotland, just published.]

IT is enacted, That proprietors of entailed eftates in Scotland, may grant leafes, for any number of years not exceeding thirty-one, or for fourteen years and one exifting life, or for two existing lives; provided that in leafes for two lives the tenant be taken bound to inclofe one third of the lands in ten years, two thirds in twenty, and the whole in thirty years; and in leafes for any term of years exceeding nineteen, to inclofe one third of the lands before the expiration of one third of fuch term, two thirds before the expiration of two thirds, and the whole before the expiration of the term of fuch leafe; no inclosure comprehending more than forty acres, unless the lands be improper for culture by the plough; and the fences to be kept and left in good repair by the tenant.

2. Proprietors of entailed eftates may grant building-leafes for any number of years not exceeding ninety-nine; provided that a leafe of no more than five acres be granted to one perfon, and that the leafe contain a condition, That it fhall be void if one dwelling houfe at leaft, not under the value of rol, be not built on each half-acre within ten years from the date of the leafe, and if all the houtes built be not kept in tenantable repair.

3. Provided, That no leafe be grant ed of the manor-place, with the offices, gardens, and adjacent inclofures, that have been ufually in the natural poffession of the proprietor; and that building leafes be not granted of any lands within 300 yards of the manor-place.

4. Provided, That no leafe be granted till the former leafe be determined, or, if for a term certain, be within a year of being determined; that the rent in the new leafe be not under that in the former; and that no fine or graffum be taken by the granter,

PUT UT as much lintfeed-oil to a pound of printers ink, as will, when well worked together, render it about the fame degree of thickness as houfe-painters generally mix their paint, but rather thicker than otherwife. When the fheep are thorn, make a large Roman let ter over the middle of the theep's back with a stubborn hog's bristle half-inch bruth, and rub the ink well in by using the bruth both ways 5. Enacted, That every proprietor of feveral times, fo as to work the colour quite an entailed eftate, who lays out money through the wool to the skin of the theep; in inclofing, planting, or draining, or in and turn them out. If it be in dry weather, erecting farm-houses, and offices for the the better; but wet will not effice the letters. fame, fhall be a creditor to the fucceedMake the mark over the theep's back, being heirs of entail for three fourths of the caufe they are apt to rub their des again? money fo laid out,

trees, rocks, Sec.

6. Provided,

6. Provided, imo, That the claim against the fucceeding heir fhall not exceed four years free rent of the entailed eftate as at the first term of Whitfunday after the death of the heir who expended the money.

7. 2d, That notice of the intended improvements be made in writing, three months at least before they are begun, to the next heir after the heirs of the proprietor's body; or if that heir be not within Great Britain or Ireland, to his neareft relation by the father, or to his factor or attorney and a copy of the notice lodged with the sheriff or fteward clerk of the county where the lands lie. 8. 3rio, That annually, within four months after Martinmas, an account of the fums expended during the year preceding that term, with the vouchers, be lodged with the sheriff or fteward clerk. 9. 4to, That when a fum equal to four years free rent shall have been expended, and fhall remain a fubfifting charge against the fucceeding heirs, it fhall not be lawful for the fubfequent heirs to expend any more under the authority of this act.

10. Enacted, That the fheriff or fteward clerks fhall record the said accounts, Vouchers, and copies of notice, and either make the record patent, or give extracts when defired.

11 Enacted, That the executors or affigns of the heir who expended the money in improvements, may, after one year from his death, demand payment from the fucceeding heir, with intereft from the term when that heir's right to the rents commenced; and in cafe of non-payment, fue him before the court of feflion; and on obtaining decree, ufe all diligence for recovering payment, except adjudication against the entailed eftate improved; and in all questions of competition for the rents of the entailed eftate, thofe in the right of this claim fhall be preferred to the other creditors of the heir in poffeffion.

12. Provided, That the heir in pofLetion shall be discharged upon his effectually conveying to the creditor in the fums laid out in improvements, one third of the clear rents of the entailed eftate during his life, or till the money fo due fhall thereby be paid off.

13. Enacted, That if the money due for improvements be not recovered from the heir immediately fucceeding, thofe in the right of it may fuc cither the fuc

ceffors of that heir in any other estate, or the heir of entail fucceeding to him, and ufe all kinds of diligence for recovery, except adjudication against the entailed eftate; and shall be intitled to a preference upon the rents of the entailed eftate to the perfonal creditors of the heir in poffeffion; and in like manner they may fue every fucceeding heir of entail, and with the fame preference.

14. Provided, the heir first fucceeding to him who expended in improvements, and the fucceffors of that heir, fhall be bound to relieve all fubfequent heirs of fuch part of the debt incurred by improvement of the entailed eftate, as fhall be paid by them, to the extent of one third of the rents, which have come to the use of the first fucceeding heir, or of his heirs or executors; and when that is exhaufted, then the next fucceeding heir, and his fucceffors, fhall be bound to relieve all subsequent heirs, to the extent of one third of the rents which have come to their use; and the fame relief fhall be competent to every fucceeding heir against the fucceffors of the preceding.

15. Provided, That the fucceffors of an heir of entail in any other than the entailed estate, fued on account of improvements, fhall be difcharged, upon making payment of one third of the rents of the entailed eftate which have come to the ufe of that heir or his fucceffors.

16. Enacted, That the perfon having a claim on account of improvements, fhall be obliged, within two years after the death of him who made the improvements, to demand payment from the fucceeding heir; and in cafe of non-payment within fix months after the elapfe of faid two years, to inftitute an action in the court of feffion, and proceed, without delay, to recover decree, and do exact diligence for making payment effectual: and if he fail, or allow the fucceeding heir to die without recovering to the amount at least of one third of the rents that may have become due to that heir, then, though he may fue the heir's fucceffors in any other than the entailed eftate to that amount, he fhall have no claim against the subsequent fucceeding heir of entail, except for the furplus.

17. Enacted, That if the heir first succeeding to him who made the improvements, fhall not live long enough to be indemnified of what he has paid on that account, by one third of the rents that

fhall

hall come to his ufe, or that of his fucceffors, these fhall be creditors for the balance to the fucceeding heir of entail; and relief shall, in like manner, be competent to the fucceffors of every heir of entail in the fame circumftances.

18. Enacted, That the money expended for improvements fhall not be made a ground for adjudging the estate improved.

19. Enacted, That if the fucceeding heir of entail fhall have right to the claim for improvements, then the claim fhall be extinguished, and never fet up against the fucceeding heir.

20. Enacted, That if any heir of entail fhall refufe to pay the money required of him for improvements, and if decree fhall be recovered for the full fum demanded, then the defender fhall be liable for full cofts of fuit.

21. Enacted, That an heir of entail, after having completed the improvement of all or any part of the eftate, may bring an action before the court of feffion, or the theriff, in which he fhall call the heir next intitled to fucceed after the heirs of his own body, for afcertaining the amount of the charge against the fucceeding heirs of entail; and the decree, if pronounced by the sheriff, fhall be final, unlefs fufpended within fix months; and if by the court of feffion, whether in the firft inftance or upon review, final, unlefs an appeal is brought within twelve months.

22. Enacted, That every heir of entail who lays out money in building or repairing a manfion-house, or offices, upon his eftate, or in adding to them, fhall be a creditor to the next fucceeding heir of entail for three fourths of the money expended by him.

23. Provided, 1mo, That the fums fo laid cut fhall not be effectual to conftitute a claim againft the fucceeding heir for more than two years free rent of the eftate, as at the firft term of Whitfunday after the death of the heir who expended the money claimed.

24. 2do, That notice be given, and the copies recorded, in the fame manner as directed with regard to improvements of the lands.

25. Enacted, Thofe in the right of the claim on account of that expence, may demand payment from the fucceeding heir, after one year from the death of him who expended the money, with intereft from the term at which the heir's

right to the rent commenced; and, in default of payment within three months of fuch requifition, may fue the heir, in the fame way as directed with regard to improvements.

26. Enacted, That the fame rules of relief among fucceeding heirs, of preference, and in fubjecting defenders to the payment of cofts, and for afcertaining the amount of the fum laid out, shall take place with regard to the money laid out in this way, as with respect to the expence of improvements.

27. Enacted, That it fhall be lawful for heirs of entail to make exchanges of land for the conveniency or advantage of their eftates, and for the improvement of the country.

28. Provided, That not more than thirty acres of arable land, or one hundred acres of grounds improper for culture by the plough, of such entailed eftates, fhall be given in exchange; and that an equivalent in land contiguous to the entailed estate with which the exchange is made, fhall be received in place of that given in exchange; and for afcertaining the value of the lands to be exchanged, application fhall be made to the fheriff or fteward of the county where the entailed estate lies, who thereupon fhall appoint two or more skilful persons to adjust the value of the lands; and upon-their fettling the marches, and reporting upon oath that the exchange will be juft and equal, the fheriff or steward fhall authorife the exchange to be made by a contract of excambion; and that being executed, and recorded in the fheriff or fteward books within three months after the execution thereof, fhall be ef. fectual; the land given in exchange to the entailed eftate fhall thenceforth be held a part thereof, and that given from it held as out of the entail.

29. Enacted, That this act fhall extend to all tailzies, whether made prior or pofterior to the act 1685.

Of Potato-diftillation. Malted barley has hitherto been fup

pofed to yield the largest quantity of fpirit of any kind of grain that has been tried, except rye, which is faid by fome to yield near one third more. In the Swedish tranfactions there are fome experiments of diftilling a fpirit from potatoes. Sixteen measures of potatoes were boiled with water, and worked with the liquor till the whole became tough

dough.

dough. This was diluted with boiling water to the confiftence of thin gruel, and fermented. The fermentation went on well, and the liquor, diftilled on the third day, yielded one measure of good brandy. The potatoes did not kettle, or burn to the ftill, as might have been expected. The author, Mr Kyte, makes a comparison, from this experiment, of the profits in cultivating potatoes and barley for diftillation. He computes, that the produce of fpirits from potatoes is to that from barley, in equal extents of ground, as 566 to 156, even admitting the potatoes to be planted in the worft kinds of ground, and the barley in fo good a foil as to yield an increafe, of fifty fold. It is wifhed that fome public-fpirited gentleman, or difliller, would make a trial of this, and acquaint the public with the effect. It is well toown that potatoes yield a very great increafe, and that fuch quantities of them might be cultivated on fandy and gravelly foils, as would prevent the ufe of them by the diftillers from enhancing the price or diftreffing the poor. Is not this worthy the attention of agriculture

focieties?

--

Alady to her niece on her expreffing great seafinefs at the lofs of her beauty by the fmall pox.

My dear Maria,

WE muft diftinguish thofe evils which are impofed by Providence from thofe to which we ourselves give the power of hurting us. A fmall part of your calamity is the infliction of Heaven; the reft is little more than the fretting of idle difcontent. You have indeed, loft that which may fometimes contribute to happiness, but to which happiness is by no means infeparably annexed. You have loft what the greater number of the human race never have poffeffed; what those on whom it is beftowed, for the moft part, poffefs in vain; and what you, while it was yours, knew not how to use. You have only loft early what the laws of nature forbid you to keep long, and have loft it while your mind is yet flexible, and while you have time to fubftitute more valuable and durable excellencies. Confider yourself, Maria, as a being born to know, to reason, and to act; rise at once from your dream of melancholy to wisdom, and to piety: you will find that there are other charms than thofe of beauty, and other joys than the praise of foois. I am,

Your affectionate aunt, A. V -r.

To the PUBLIC.

[The meeting after mentioned was held in confequence of a loose advertisement, of date Jan. 1. 1773; the preamble of which was much the fame with that of this addrefs.]

Edinburgh, Jan. 25. 1773. Whereas many honeft and induftrious, bout the city of Edinburgh, who have no fhare of any public charity, are oftentimes, by the feverity of the weather, bodily fickness, or other unavoidable miffortunes, deprived of the neceffary means. of life; efpecially at a time when the price of provifions of every kind is fo much advanced: And whereas many well-difpofed perfons, of various denominations, deeply affected with their ditreffed fituation, are defirous to contribute towards their relief, but have not proper opportunities, nor time, to examine into their character and circumftances: Therefore feveral of the Nobility, Gentlemen, Minifters, and others, have opened a fubfcription, in order to afford fome temporary fubfiftence to fuch needy objects, during the time of their incapacity to earn their own bread, from the caufes above mentioned: And in or der to carry this charitable defign into execution, did, at a meeting on the 19th: current, form themfelves into a fociety, under the title of, The fociety for relief of honeft and industrious poor in and about the city of Edinburgh; and did elect James Smollet, Efq; one of the Commiffaries of Edinburgh, prefes of the general meeting; Mr James Forreft, and Mr Charles Wallace, treasurers; and,

poor, and their families, in and a

The Rev. Dr Webster,
The Rev. Dr Erskine,
Mr W. Binning, Advocate,
Mr Alex. Belfches, Advocate,
Mr Scott Moncrieffe,
Mr Alexander Hunter,
Mr John Walker,
Dr Gregory Grant,
Mr John Forrest,
Mr William Dickson,
Mr James Young,
Mr John Young,
Mr William Anderson,
Mr Alexander Crichton,

Mr William Galloway,

as a committee for managing the ordina
ry business of said society; the aforefaid
officers and committee to continue till
the third Monday of January 1774.
The meeting did thereafter agree, that
the fociety thould be regulated, till that
time, by the following rules.
I. That

I. That fuch perfons refiding in or about the city of Edinburgh, who, by reafon of ficknefs, inclemency of the weather, or other unavoidable misfortunes, are rendered incapable of earning their bread in the ordinary course of their bufinefs, be deemed objects of this charity. Provided always, that fuch perfons are not stated penfioners upon any other charitable fund.

II. That as one great defign of this fociety is, to prevent, as much as in them lies, all impofition with regard to the objects thereof; and as the fund thereto belonging arifes wholly from fubfcriptions and charitable donations; thofe concerned have an undoubted right to judge, with their own eyes, of the qualifications of the petitioners for charity: Therefore it is hereby expressly provided and declared, That no petition, or application, fhall be received, except in writing, fetting forth the circumftances of the faid petitioners; which fhall be attested by two contributors, as confifting with their own perfonal knowledge, or with the perfonal or certain knowledge of two people of character, whose names fhall be mentioned in the atteftation of the contributors.

III. That no fingle perfon fhall receive, in one week, more than the value of two fhillings, nor in one year more than the value of twenty fhiilings; and that no family fhall receive more than the value of four fhillings in one week, nor more than the value of forty fhillings in one year.

IV. That one half, at least, of the allowance to be granted to each perfon, or family, fhall be given in meal, and the remainder in money, as in manner to be after expreffed, unless in fuch cafes wherein it fhall appear neceffary to the committee to give the whole in money

or meal.

V. That each perfon fubfcribing upwards of five fhillings annually, fhall be a member of the fociety, and as fuch intitled to vote in perfon, or by proxy, at every general meeting,

VI. That there fhall be two general meetings held every year in the hall of the Society for propagating Chriftian knowledge, (the Society having agreed thereto), viz. on the third Monday of January and November, at twelve o'clock, with power to adjourn themselves to fuch times and places as they fhall fee caufe.

VII. That the general meeting fhall

appoint fifteen of their number whofe ufual refidence is in or about Edinburgh, as a committee for managing the ordinary bufinefs of the fociety, three of whom shall be a quorum.

VIII. That the committee fhall meet once a-week, viz. on every Monday, at fix o'clock in the evening, in the Societyhall, for the purpose of receiving applications from perfons praying for a share of this charity; which committee are authorised, at their weekly meetings aforefaid, to appoint the treasurer to make payment of the fums of money allowed by them to each petitioner, and alfo to determine the quantity of meal proper to be given to each of the faid petitioners.

IX. That for the more effectual providing of meal of a good and fufficient quality, a person of character shall be contracted with, from month to month, to furnish the fame; upon whom orders fhall be iffued, fubfcribed by the prefes of the committee, for delivering to the perfons obtaining the benefit of this charity, the refpective proportions allotted to each, as aforefaid.

X. That the treasurer fhall, on the firft Monday of every month, clear accounts with the perfon employed as aforefaid, and fhall then pay to him the ftipulated price, conform to the quantities contained in the faid orders.

XI. That the committee fhall keep an exact account of all the fubfcriptions and donations received, and of the application thereof; and fhall lay the fame, together with their proceedings, before the contributors to the charity, at each of the aforefaid general meetings, and oftener if required.

XII. That the treasurer fhall grant receipts for all the fubfcriptions and donations received by him, if required.

XIII. That the whole proceedings of the fociety, and of their committee, and alfo the treasurer's accounts, shall be entered into books to be kept for that purpofe; and that these books fhall lie open in the Society-hall every Monday, from twelve to two o'clock, for the inspection of the members.

XIV. That on the third Monday of January 1774, and every year thereafter, while this fociety fubfifts, the general meeting fhall, by a majority of the members prefent, by themselves or proxies, elect a preses, treasurer, clerk, and committee; who are to continue in office for one year, and no longer.

XV. That

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