1792- htnti to the patrons of the ^ee. 297 — 1 



I have already said, see Bee vol. viii. p. 153. that I 

 have been informed the minister is cordially disposed to 

 free the nation from this cruel and opprefsive tax ; but 

 I fear the eyes of the people are not yet sufficiently en- 

 larged to be ready to afford him that firm support in car- 

 Tying forward this measure, that he would require. I ^ 

 have not forgot the saying of a sensible foreigner : " Wo 

 be to that minister, whose knowledge goes before thar of 

 the age in which he lives." These remarks are therefore 

 rather intended for the people than the premier. If they 

 Ihall unanimously require the repeal of this tax, not by 

 tumultuous clamours, which, heaven avert ! but by cordi- 

 ally concurring in agreeing to put some reasonable substi- 

 tute of equal value to the state in its stead, there is no 

 leason to fear that he will not give his afsent to the same. 

 If that, and the coast duties on coals ihould be removed, then 

 •would a door be opened for augmenting the prosperity of 

 this kingdom, to a degree that neither we ourselves, 

 nor foreign nations, can at present form an idea of. I 

 ihall venture, in a future paper, to throw out some hints 

 on this truly interesting subject, in the hope that the pub- 

 lic, by considering it with attention, will in time fall up- 

 on some unexceptionable device for attaining the ooiects 

 in view. 



HINTS TO THE GENES.OUS PATRONS 

 AND LEARNED CORRESPONDENTS OF THE BEE. 



For the Bee. 

 The rapid advancement of Scotland in agriculture, manu- 

 factures, arts, sciences, polite literature, trade, and navigatr- 

 on, since the peace of Aix la Chapelle, has excited so great 

 attention in political economists, and seems so striking an 

 example of the benefit to be derived from the improvement 

 of the soil in precedence tot he establifliment of manufactures, 

 and from the general excitement of industry, arising from 

 VOL. X. f t — 2 ' f 



