[ 88S) J 
doubtedly, as has been faid before, an advantage to 
to the landholders of it; but it is in another fenfe 
a difadvantage to them, (viz.) in the article of la- 
bourers; although the wages of the labourers have 
increafed confiderably within thefe few years, yet it 
is now barely fufficient for their fubfiftence, and a 
few days illnefs brings them to the parith. 
The parifh rates are of courfe very high, and 
daily inereafing; and if the fyftem newly adopted 
in the clothing manufactories, of fpinning the 
wool in the towns by machines, which ufed to be 
done by women and children in the villages, be- 
comes univerfal, the price of labour muft ftill be 
very confiderably increafed. 
Another great caufe of the diftrefs of the poor, 
in many parts of this county, and particularly on 
the downs, is the fearcity of fuel. 
Coals are already advanced very confiderably ; 
and let the price of carriage be ever fo much re- 
duced by good roads, or even by canals, coals muft 
ftill be dear in many parts of the county. 
_ Wood is the natural, and fhould be the depend- 
ing, fuel of a great part of Wiltfhire. 
How neceffary, therefore, is it for thofe who 
have woods to preferve them, and of thofe who 
have not, to plant fome? But as this muft necef- 
farily be a work of time, it may be ufeful to hint, 
that for a quicker remedy of this alarming incon- 
venience, a few acres of furze might be preferved 
from 
