1 751- LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. 271 



Sir John has juft finifhed the printing an account cA fou^ 

 parifhes in Scotland, which he means to diftribute to allth^ 

 clergymen in that country, as a fpeciraen of his intended 

 ■vfork, and as an incitement to thofe who have not yet finifhed 

 their accounts, to go on with their inquiries, which, for the 

 honour of all concerned, we hope and flncerely believe, will 

 be the raoft complete and authentic account that ever was 

 publiflied. 



It is only neceflary farther to add, that with that difinte- 

 refted philanthropy, which is fo commonly the attendant of 

 great minds. Sir John Sinclair has appropriated the whole 

 profits that lliall be derived from the tale of this work to the 

 augmenting the funds of a fociety lately inllituted in Scot- 

 land, for the relief and fupport of the children of fuch clergy- 

 men as fiiall be, left in hampered circumilances. 



The following extraft is offered as a Ihort fpecimen of the 

 work. It refpefts the town of Port- Patrick, near which is 

 the fliorteft ferry between Ireland and Britain. 



" "The Packet-Boats to Ireland. — The mode of conveying 

 the mail between the two kingdoms, has undergone many 

 changes. At firft regular packet-boats, with falaries, were 

 cflabli(hed. But before the quay was built, and, while the 

 paffage was attended with the difficulties above defcribed, 

 delays were frequent. The failors, efpecially as their wag- 

 es at all events were running on, often chofe to rell them- 

 felves.^ EllabliOied packets were therefore aboliflied, and a 

 rule fixed. That whoever failed firft fhould have the mail, 

 and a certain fum for carrying it. This operated as a pre- 

 mium, and produced, for forae time, a very good effect. 

 Soon after, however, as trade increafed, the allowance made 

 by government became of lefs confequence. The packets 

 were no longer the iame objeft. It often happened, that a 

 boat would not fail with the mail, unlefs (lie had fomething 

 elfe to carry. The mail coach alfo was eftablifhed, and the 

 conveyance of travellers became an objeft of attention. The 

 boats which carried cattle, were peculiai>ly offenfive to paf- 

 fcngers, not to mention that fuch a cargo, with a gale of 

 wind, was even dangerous. Paflengers were therefore dif- 

 gufted or deterred, and were often induced to take another 

 rout. It was one great branch of Mr. Palmer's public-fpi- 

 ritcd plans for promoting the commercial intercourfe of the 



