3^4 



I would ferioufly recommend thefe hints, to the notice of the wealthy 

 and powerful, and conjure them, not to confider the foregoing fcheme, 

 as wholly chimerical, and imprafticable. Much more might be effeft- 

 ed, by the judicious expenditure of fmall fums, in this manner, through- 

 out the kingdom ; than by all the parade of bounties, foliciting the 

 induflry and enterprize of opulent traders, and mafter manufafturers, 

 to exertions, which they would have been difpofed to make, of them- 

 felves, had bounties been out of the queftion. Morality of manners 

 would become a conftant refident, in the homeftead of the peafant, 

 and the artifan ; the induflry, independence, and comforts of the poor, 

 would be fixed on a rock, by . permanent habits ; and not left to wheel 

 about, on the weather-cock of commercial ipeculation, the fport of 

 every wind, that blows. Some few perfons, of elevated rank, have 

 attempted to fet examples, of tiiis manner of encouraging induftry and 

 good conduft. — For inftance, premiums for fpinning have been propo- 

 fed, to the young women of a diftrift ; and, were methods to be 

 adopted, by every gentleman and lady, of rank and fortune, in their 

 refpeflive neighbourhoods ; the expencc would be inconfiderable, com- 

 pared with the magnitude of the objeft ; and, I am perfuaded, would 

 quickly produce the mofl beneficial confequences to the nation. — I need 

 not aJk the humane and rational fpirit, whether prizes of this kind 

 would not be more ufeful to the public, and afford more real fatif- 

 faftion to the donors, on reflexion, than filver arrows, for bow-men, 

 and araazons, and toxophilites ; and gold and filver cups, for jockies, 

 and running cattle. 



Should the inftitution, at laft, become a national objcft ; and a fund, 

 for the difcibution of premiums, be provided, either as I have already 

 mentioned, by applotment, on the different pariflies, or by prefent- 

 ment, on the county ; the adjudications might be made, at the diffe- 

 rent quarter feflions, by the juflices, in conjunftion with the parochial 

 or diflrift committees of moral infpeftion. I would propofe, that the 

 rewards, fliould be ready prepared, and bellowed on the deferving can- 

 didate 



