fjgi- INTEtLIGENCE RESPECTIMG ARTS. 221 



Company is now eflabliflied. By the care of Dr Anderfon of 

 Madras, fome feeds of the fineft cotton India produces were 

 fent to the Ifland of Saint Helena two years ago. There ' can 

 be little doubt bat they have there prospered, and that the 

 plants before now have perfedted their feeds. It is but a ftep 

 from thence to Sierra Leone. How eafily then may the feeds 

 be tranfported thither ! and this done, the bufinefs is complet- 

 ed. 



MACHINE FOR SPINNING FLAX. 



The machine for fpinning linen yarn near Leven in Fifefhire, 

 is now at work, and is found to perform extremely well, tho' 

 the owners have not yet attempted to make any fine yarn. 

 They are now about to make trial of fome of the bed Dutch 

 flax, and have no doubt of fucceeding perfectly. — Of this ma-- 

 chine, when fully perfefted, a more particular account will be 

 given in this v/ork. 



ABUSES RESPECTING REVENUE OFFICERS. 



It is with pleafure I am fo often called upon thus to remark 

 the advancement of manufactures in Scotland ; but it is with 

 ftill greater regret that I find it neceiTary fo often to bewai I 

 the pernicious tendency of the revenue laws in checking the 

 growing profperity of the nation. The money that is paid in 

 confequence of thefe revenue laws, conftitutes the fmalleft part 

 of this evil. It is the abufes to which the aollefting of that 

 money gives rife, the reftraints upon the freedom of the manu- 

 fadlurer, the interruption to his bufinefs, and the vexatious pro- 

 fecutions, fines, and forfeitures, with which lie is perpetually 

 threatened, that render thefe laws obnoxious in a free ftate^ 

 The men who are entrufted with the execution of thefa laws 

 in the under departments, muft in all cafes be men of the low- 

 eft ftation and illiberal principles. In fuch hands, ifa dif- 

 cretionary power be lodged, abufes will be felt, unlcfs guarded 

 againft with the ftriftcft care: and that fuch abufes too much 

 prevail in Scotland, is a ta£t that admits of loo frequent proof?, 

 to be denied. 



There was a time when the people of this country were 

 unacquainted with the principles of trade, and were poflefTcd 

 of no manufaftures : There was a long period, during which 

 this part of the nation wasfubjedled to a defpotic governmont, 

 and when the people \\'erc accuftomed to bend wi.h reverence 



