i^p2. on the commotions in Rof\Jh}re. 303 



worse, that deserves the severest reprehension, our legisla- 

 ture has not only neglected to avail itself of that circum- 

 stance ; but has even contrived, by cruel and absurd laws, 

 totally to preclude the people from the pofsibillty of a- 

 vailing- themselves of those advantages which nature had 

 conferred upon them 5 and have converted that which 

 ougiit to have been a blefsing to these realms, into a 

 source of distrels and opprefsion to the people. 



Those who have been long readers of the Bee, will 

 easily perceive I here allude to the fiiheries, and the salt 

 laws respecting them, [see Bee vol. viii. p. 192.] Had 

 the people been left at perfect freedom to catch aijd cure 

 filh, and trade in them either at home or abroad, without 

 restraint, they would naturally of themselves have esta- 

 bilihed filhing towns and villages along the coasts, in 

 which they could have provided for themselves a subsis- 

 tence by industry and traffic. By the money they would 

 thus have acquired, they would have become buyers of 

 the natural productions of the internal parts of the coun- 

 try. Roads to these markets would then have becbme 

 ^lecefsary j and would of course have been formed. 

 These roads being once made, manufacturers would have 

 gradtially sat down in the internal parts of the country, to 



contracted a debt, which you never can discharge : — he becomes Ijzy, 

 indolent, carf.lcfo of what he dues, but constan:ly craving for more, 

 more. In fliort his demands are insatiable, and his exertions nothing. 

 To a generous mind, tl.is is most distrefsing ; and he submits to it as fro a 

 grievous burden he ^tnows not how to remove. To o:^ of Jefs delicacy, 

 a total breach follows, and clamouious complaints of cruelty and unjus;ice 

 are the unavo dable conicquences. 



From rhes" consideratio:>s I am convinced, the humane exeriions of 

 this btneficei.t society cannot sft'crd any radical and permanent relief to the 

 people of that country ; ano that in spite of thur exirlions, if nothing 

 more effectual can be dune, coiisiderable emigrations from the north uf 

 £.:oiland, must still continue to prevail. 



