1822.] 
in favour of the continuance of those 
salutary enactments. 
The great ends of the Usury Laws 
are to protect simplicity, and check 
prodigality ; and what objects more 
noble could be proposed, however they 
may have failed in ‘their design, which 
has not originated from their want of 
restraining power, but from the loose 
habits and corrupt passions of men.* 
That the laws of nations should not 
interfere in matters of morality is 
absurd, and contrary to reason and 
religion, which ought to actuate every 
government ; therefore there is nothing 
in this point of view that derogates from 
the utility of the Usury Laws. 
li is not to be doubted that human 
affairs are subject to change, and that 
in different countries, at difierent pe- 
rieds, different laws have obtained, 
originating either from their general 
polity, or the state of their morals 
and population; but this circumstance 
is no reason why an alteration should 
be made in statutes which are in agree- 
ment with all just views of rectitude, 
as well as with the state of national 
affairs. 
The state of both the agricultural 
and commercial interests of our coun- 
try is, no doubt, in a predicament of 
comparative embarrassment, arising 
from a. variety of causes, and need not 
be made worse by an advancement of 
the rate of interest. The gencral 
scarcity of money is a reason why 
eyery article of consumption should 
sell low; and, in order to this, the 
tradesman and the farmer, who are 
in most cases borrowers, should not 
pay interest exceeding its present 
standard, neither should a scheme be 
devised to draw into circulation dor- 
maat capital, at the expense of a majo- 
rity of respectable society. 
Besides, owing to the increase of 
population, competition, and the mi- 
nute distribution of capital, the allow- 
ance of a higher interest than five per 
cent. would make the situation of the 
lender in a certain degree hazardous ; 
and, as no one chooses to lend without 
a bond as security, the alteration would 
* If the Annnity System is mischievons, 
Jet it be suppressed by Act of Parlia- 
ment. It is monstrous to propose to 
repeal the Usury Laws, because, in the 
only instance in which they ave evaded, 
great mischiefs accrue. To repeal them 
would be to extend and legalize the mis 
chiets,—Epi ror. 
On the Usury Laws.—Larch- Bark. 
317 
participate greatly of the nature of 
annuities. 
If we take an impartial view of the 
community in general, from the la- 
bourer to the aristocracy, we shall find 
in the gradation, according to the 
established rules of society, an indis- 
soluble union, which cannot without 
injury be broken, and which, if main- 
tained, tends to bind every heart to 
its native land; therefore it is no 
mean policy to endeavour to con- 
ciliate the attachment of dutiful sub- 
jects by enactments which will result 
to the general welfare. 
The repeal of the Usury Laws, in 
the humble opinion of the writer of 
these lines, would be an adventurous 
step, and an aim at an amendment in 
the interest of money, which might 
relieve a few, but which would cer- 
tainly depress the many, and be the 
cause of attrition, which he foresees 
would not be productive of good to 
the nation. T. 8S. 
Jan. 1, 1822. 
—a 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N_ addition to my communication 
respecting the genuine claims which 
I consider larch-bark to possess for 
the useful purposes of tanuing, I find, 
upon a reference to my note-hook of 
1814, the proportionate prices of vari- 
ous oak-bark were to the consumer 
nearly as follows :— 
pte Bae Us ob, Sede 
Best Sussex 15 15 0 to 16 00 
Kent, Norfolk 
Hants #6, bi 140 — 15°00 
Best Dutch, 11100 ~~ 142 090 
Do. mixt inferior 8 00 — 8100 
Prime Jarch-bark 8100 — 9 00 
Now the intrinsic goodness of bark does 
not disclose itself until the process of 
tanning is completed, for, in proportion 
to its good quality will the mauutac- 
tured article carry a corresponding 
weight; therefore the specific value of 
larch-bark arises from this source, what 
weight it will produce in leather, com- 
pared with the same quantity of Eng- 
lish oak-bark ; and, if it is not found to 
contain an equal portion of astringent 
virtue as the latter, in what ratio docs 
its disparity consist: again, if proved to 
be greatly minor in strength to the old 
staple article of this country, how will 
it stand the said test of experiment 
against Dutch or German, or any other 
foreign bark, My. Richard Emblecton, 
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who was the 
first 
