430 | 
at their respective mills for the 
purpose of being ground, 
2. To grind all grain separately, 
maslin excepted. 
3+ To keep a regular account of 
the produce of the said grain, subject 
to inspection of the magistrates of 
the county or distriét where the 
mills are situated, when they shall 
find occasion for setting an assize 
‘on Hour or bread. 
4, Persons who have had corn 
made into flour at any mill, to have 
the option of paying the miller’s 
toil, either in money or in kind 
{meal} as they choose. 
§- That nothing of this shall 
affect the custom of soke mills, as 
far as relates to their ancjent te- 
nures, but that the magistrates shal] 
‘have ‘a power of examining their 
books as above. 
When I propose these resolutions 
to the committee, it is for the pur- 
pose of drawing their attention to 
the subject, and to request of them 
to converse with their intelligent 
‘neighbours in the country, who 
are either farmers, flour dealers, 
or bakers. I have received several 
Jetters on this subject, containing 
opinions of persons of experience 
and prattice. They all agree in the 
justice of the plan I propose; some 
dread the dislike which attends 
every thing that is new, bur al- 
most all allow that the improvement 
would be of considerable benefit to 
the country, I am particularly satise 
fied by the decided opinions (in fa- 
your of weight being the regulator 
of measure) of Mr. Strutt, of Ter- 
ling, of Mr. Davies of Longleat, and 
Mr. Messiter, of Wincanton (in 
their letters to Mr? Morton Pitt), 
and of Mr, Billingsley, of Ashurst 
Grove, in Somersetshire: gentle- 
men who are so fit to judge, from 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
theirability, experience, and judg. 
ment in these matters. Mr. Bil- 
lingsley is desirous that the weight 
of the grain should be put higher 
than it 1s directed by the 31st Gea. 
IH. I have subjoined his letter to 
this, that the weight he recom. 
mends may be considered. 
I have only to add, that should 
the committee, on their return to 
parliament, approve of the pro- 
posal I have now made, and it is 
thought, of too great importance to 
be contained in a part of the a& 
for regulating the obje&s which® 
now engage the attention of the 
corn committee, T will funless some 
gentleman of more consideration 
will undertuke it) move for leave 
to bring ina bill for the purposes 
stated in this letter.—‘* To use 
weight as the regulator of measure, 
in baying and selling of corn ;’’ 
not intending to carry the biil 
through the houses of parliament in 
this session, but that it should be 
printed and distributed in the coun. 
try, and brought forward here. 
after, if it should be generally 
approved. 
I have the honour to be, 
With much respe, 
’ Your obedient servant, 
CHARLES DUNDAS, 
Barton-court, near Newbury, 
qth Dec. 1795. 
Copy of a Letter from Mr. Billingsley, 
to Charles Dundas, Esq. 
Dear Sir, 
Should parliament think proper 
to alter the present mode of selling 
grain, and to substitute weight 
instead of measure, I think the 
standard should be fixed rather 
high than low. 
Suppose 
