1804. On the ConduR of ScotiJIj Mechanics. 4Jf^ 



dear-hair prevails, which is only fit for fummer food, the opera- 

 tion is not fo neccflary, as a fuperabundance of water rarely pre- 

 vents accefs to all paitures at that feafon of the year. I wouW 

 recommend the drains to he made eighteen inches wide at top, 

 and of about the fame depth, Hoping in the fides, fo as to meet 

 in an angular point at bottom *, but where the fubfoll is clay or 

 gravel, it would be preferable to have them about a fp-.ide breadth 

 v/ide at bottom alfo. I remain your friend and fervant, 



S. L. 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER S MAGAZINE. 



Detached Thoughts on the Syjlem purfued by Mechanics in Scotland^ 

 in Pi'oftcuiing and Executing their Works of Labour. 



Sir, 



It was with much pleafure I read, in your lad Maga2ine, % 

 paper, entitled, * Confiderations on Regulating the Value of La^ 

 bouYy ' chiefly regarding mechanics in the Highlands of Scotland, 

 which contained fuch ufeful information and found argument, 

 as mud convince every impartial reader, that the writer was com- 

 plete mafler of his fubje^l ; and I fincerely hope, that he will 

 continue to fiipply your entertaining and ufeful Magazine with' 

 the fruits of his inveftigations, which muft be truly valuable ta 

 the public. 



From the perufal of the above paper, I was led into a train 

 of thinking concerning the condu6l of mechanics (I allude chief- 

 ly to mafons and carpenters) in the Low Countries. I fhall there- 

 fore beg leave to lay before the public my fentiments on this fub- 

 je61:, through the medium of your intelligent publication. 



Should a country gentleman defign to build a houfe of refidence 

 for himfelf, or erecc a fet of farm-olhces upon any part of his 

 p-roperty, he will probably firil apply for a plan, and then engage 

 with a mafon and carpenter to execute their refpeftive fliares of 

 work, according to contra6l. No doubt but both thefe mechanics 

 (though at the time they have more work from others than they 

 can pofiTibly overtake) will engage to finiili his bufincfs by a dated 

 period. Well ; the eftimates are given in, and apparently cor- 

 rectly made. To work they fall. At firft, the employer fees a 

 number of good hands, and things go on fwimmingly, to his 

 great fatisfadion. In a (hort time, however, the pidure is re- 

 verfed 5 hands drop off daily ; till at laft the work is almoft at a 

 /Uad. If the mafter carpenter or mafon is called for, the excufe 



is. 



