xxiv bistorical chroniele. ane 
rithing state .of this country, |ling, which subjects the .poor 
combinations -have become jof this place to very great in- 
very general of late among convenience. 
different clafses of this diserip- |. The magistrates of Edin- 
tion of persons, to abstain from|burgh on this.occasion have 
work, until their employers |exerted themselves to alleviate 
fhould agree to augment their |this evil in a manner that me- 
wages. In many .cases this|rits the warmest approbation 
has been productive of the de-jof the public. They grant a 
sired effect, and a rise of price;considerable. bounty on all 
has been the necefsary conse-|coals imported into ‘Leith, 
quence. But in no case has/and grant other indulgences 
the effects of these combina-|tending to moderate the price. 
tions been more severely felt|/But the vefsels freighted to 
than that which respects coal-|bring coals within the frith, 
liers, This description of men |where only they can pafs, duty 
by being able to earn muclilfree, are detained so long be-_ 
higher wages than others of/fore they can be loaded, as to 
their own rank, can afford to |counteract the beneficent purpo- 
lie idle, without experiencing|ses of the magistrates. The 
the effects of want, muchjonly effectual remedy seems 
longer than ethers. They/|to be to obtain a repeal of the 
have of late exercised this/the coal duty, which alone can 
power to the utmost, in thefopen a free intercourse be- 
coal works around this place ;/tween this place and Newcastle 
in consequence of which the'and Sunderland. 
quantity of coal raised has} We hear a very rich seam 
-been so much fhort of the usu- ‘of coal was lately discovered 
al demand, that the price of at St Catharine’s within three 
*this necefsary article has star- imiles of Edinburgh.—The pe- 
ted in a few months from five|troleum of the famous balm 
vpence the hundred weight, ts vel ifsued from this coal. 
gisual selling price, to one fhil 
Jo OVR READERS. ~ 
As there are now considerable arrears due for this work, 
especially by persons at a distance, the Editor requests the a 
vour of his subscribers to make remittances when opportunities 
offer. The sums due by each individual must appear very trif- 
fing to them; but when many small sums are added together, 
the amount becomes considerable, and of some consequence to the 
Editor. Few will wnagine that the arrears due on this werk 
could be gr reatly above a thousand pounds, 
e 
