14* ON THE BRIDEWELL ACT. 0&. 5. 



the heavy aflefTment of a fliilling each per annum ; yet no 

 notice on this iubjeft was ever given to the tenants, notwith- 

 ftanding that they have to pay a vafl: deal more, in propor- 

 tion, than the lairds themfeJves ; nor will ths greater part of 

 them have fo"^ much as heard of the nature of this impofition, 

 untill it becomes leviable upon them I How does this condufl 

 correfpond with the idea generally entertained in this country, 

 that in it no man's property is liable to be legally wrefled from 

 him without his confent ?* 



The farmers in this county have long been in the pradlice of 

 afTeding themfelves annually in a confiderable fum for the fup- 

 port of their police, by their fociety for profecuting rogues. 

 The benefit thence relulting to the country in general, has 

 doubtlcfs been great, and is, I believe, generally acknowledged. 

 One would naturally have thought, that .in any new fcheme 

 for the correftion cr punifhment of rogues or vagabonds, as 

 the farmers already pay more towards that purpofe than other 

 people, they would, in confequence, have now been fubjeded 

 to a left aflefTment. For from this, by the Bridewell A6t, they 

 are to pay not only a vaft deal more than their lairds, (poor 

 men I) but even much more than any other defcription of peo- 

 ple whatever I 



* In addition to what this fenfible correfpondent has fo pro- 

 perly urged on this head, allowr me to add, that, by a ifanding 

 order of the Houfe of Commons, no bill can be introduced 

 thtrf unt:l the nr.ture of it has been fully dated to the public, 

 in an advertil.-.^icnt properly promulgated, many months be- 

 fore the bill is to be ititroduced, in the view that every perfon 

 who is to be afiecttd by the bill may have an opportunity to ap- 

 pear at the bar, and ftate their objedions to it before it be 

 paflTed. Buf it does not appear that the tenants of Mid-Lothian 

 were previoufly advcrtifcd, in any way, of the claufe intended 

 to be put into that bill fur affcffing them to the amount with 

 which they are now burthened ; fo that they had no opportu- 

 nity of watching over their own intereft before the Houfe. If 

 fo, it would feem that, either intentionally or accidentally, the 

 order of the Houfe had been virtually eluded, though it was 

 nominally complied with ; fo that this permiflion to tax them iti 

 an unjuft manner has the appearance of having been at leaft 

 improperly obt. lined. Edit. 



