USEFUL PROJECTS. 



8G9 



iBtend the sale of articles in so li- 

 mitted and unembarrassed a con- 

 cern ; and tlie whole might be 

 periodically inspected, with little 

 additional trouble, by the church- 

 warden or overseer. 



The benefits that must accrue to 

 the humble purchaser are obvious. 

 Without any compulsion, he would 

 possess the opportunity of expend- 

 ing his earnings in an advantageous 

 manner. The impossibility of ac- 

 quiring goods on trust (as the pa- 

 rish shop would of course sell only 

 for ready money), is a circumstance 

 that must be ultimately beneficial 

 to him. Admitting that the profits 

 of the institution might not, from 

 the superficial accounts of the pur- 

 chase and sale, altogether defray 

 the expenses, the parish would 

 certainly be gainers in the aggre- 

 gate, independently of the amend- 

 ment of manners likely to take 

 place from the system ; for the 

 debt of the pauper generally be- 

 comes an indirect burthen on the 

 payers to the poor-rate, under the 

 present order of things. 



This project is not entirely chi- 

 merical. A shop, in its essential 



point resembling that which I re- 

 commend to general adoption, has 

 been established by a most amiable 

 character in Oxfordshire, — the bi- 

 shop of Durham, whose seat, named 

 Mungwell, is situated in the vici- 

 nity of Wallingford. The institu- 

 tion of this philanthropic prelate 

 is in every desirable shape success- 

 ful. The peasantry of England 

 will have reason to repeat his lord- 

 ship's name with gratitude, should 

 his private example find parochial 

 imitators. 



The shops instituted by the pro- 

 prietors of iron-works, in the re- 

 cluse parts of Wales, likewise 

 exhibit the propriety of the plan. 

 These little marts arc established 

 for local accommodation, but they 

 sufficiently prove the efiicacy of 

 public shops in. neighbourhoods 

 where a competition of sellers is 

 unattainable. 



Wishing that these hints may 

 obtain notice through the extensive 

 circulation of your miscellany, 

 I remain, Sir, 



Your's, &c. 



J. N. B, 



lOlh August, 1809. 



ANTIQUITIES. 



