ACCOUNT 
nufacuring DifriGs ; with a- large 
Appendix, containing a neg aise 
and Chronological Table of the Prices 
of Labour, of Provifions, and of other 
Commodities; an Account of the Poor 
. am . 
(an Scotland ; and many original Docu- 
ments on Subjects of Natzonal Import- 
ance, by Sir Frederze Morton Eden, 
Bart..in. three valumes 4to.° London, 
1797. 
F this excellent and intereft- 
ing publication, we are forry 
our narrow. limits will not permit 
us to give fuch a detailed account 
as the magnitude and importance 
-of the fubject juftly demands. Sir 
Frederic Eden, in the work before 
us, prefents fuch variety of ufeful 
information, in fo elegantand per- 
icuous a manner, as to blend 
amufement with inftru@tion, and to 
throw much additional Jight on a 
fubje@ fo highly Saath the as 
_ well to the hiftorian, the moralift, 
and the ftatef{man, as to every fin- 
cere friend and weil-wifher to the 
profperity and happinefs of ‘this 
country. 
The plan and nature of the book, 
and its general obje¢t, will be beft 
collecied from the words of the au- 
thor, in his preface, which he be- 
gins by obferving, that 
% The difficulties which the lIa- 
bouring ciafies experienced from 
the high price of grain, and of pro- 
vifions in general, as well as of 
clothing and fuel, during the years 
1794 and 1795, induced me, from 
motives both of benevolence and 
perfonal curiofity, to inveitigaie 
their condition. in various parts of 
the kingdom. As I advanced in 
my enquiries, the fubject became fo 
interefting, that I perfuaded myfelf 
the refult would be acceptable to 
the public, if I fhould be able to 
- You. XXXIX. 
OF BOOKS, 48% 
lay before them accurate. details res 
{pecting the prefent ftate of the la- 
bouring part of the community, as 
well as the actual poor. To colleé& 
them, however, to any good pur- 
pofe (though to thofe who have 
given fuch an undertaking, but a 
fuperficial confideration, “it may 
perhaps feem nothing more than 
the ftating clearly, plain, and ob- 
vious matters of fact) was by no 
means eafy, Private opinion and 
pafhions will, in fpite of us all, too 
often interfere, and bias and influ- 
ence the moft honeft and intelligent 
mind in their judgments refpecting 
even matters of fact. Aware of 
this, I have myfelf actually vifited 
feveral parifhes, and procured on 
the {pot (from perfons the leaft 
likely to be mifinformed, or to mif- 
lead). the fubftance of feveral of the 
reports recorded in the enfuing 
pages. But as it sas impoflible 
that an individual (engaged in pro- 
feffional avocations) fhould find lei- 
fure himfelf to vifit as many dif- 
tricts as were neceflary to form a 
complete’ view of the {ubject, I was 
happy to find it in my power to 
prevail on a few refpectable clergy- 
men and others to favour me with 
many accurate, and [ truft valuabié 
communications. To other parifhes 
and diftriéts not thus acceffible to 
me, I fent a remarkably faithful 
and intelligent perfon, who has 
ea more than 4 yearin travelling 
rom place to place, for the exprets 
purpose of obtaining exaét infor- 
mation, agreeably to a fet of gue- 
ries with which | furnifhed him; 
and that my object in inftituting 
thefe inguiries, as well as the pia" 
refs I have made in accomplifhing 
it, may be more obvious to the 
reader, a copy of thefe queries is 
here fubjoined,’”’ 
Hh Pati 
