[ xxiii ] 



pofd ? Huve particular taxes alfc been impofed with this view? What 

 are they ? 



17. How is the poft office regulated ? Is it conduced under the in- 

 fluence of mercantile, oijinanci.il, or of political notions ? Are letters ne- 

 ver in danger of being llojiped at the poll office, or fearched there, un- 

 Icfs by the highejl authority, in times of imminent public danger ? Arc any 

 perfons or bodies of nun exempted from the charge of poilage : Who 

 are ihey ? and what are the privileges they enjoy, and how limited ? 

 Arc any general regulations adopted for facilitating literary communi- 

 cations either altogether free of cxpence, or at a moderate charge ? What 

 are they? Are thefc publicly known and invariable ; or do they depend 

 in any cafe on private favour, fo as to be either granted or withheld at 

 pleafure ? Particulars relpedting this department are earneftly requefted. 



18. How do the laws in tliis country Hand refpe<ftlng j-amc ? Who 

 are excluded from participating in this diverfion ? What privileges do 

 thofe poflcls who are permitted to indulge in it ; and how far may they 

 with impunity trefpafs on the property of others ? What animals are 

 with you zccoax'XtA game ? What animals that roam at large have been 

 accounted private property, and by what regulation have thefe been pro- 

 tcded ? 



19. Are there any public libraries of note, colIe<5lions of paintings, or 

 mufeum», in this ftate ? How are thefe endowed and cared for ? Arc 

 thefe inftitutions of old ftandiiig, or of modern date : Do they confift 

 chiefly of colledlions that have been made at one time, owing to par- 

 ticular circumftances, and when ? or have thefe collections been made 

 by a regular accumulation from year to year, from the firft inftitution ? 

 Under whofe influence (I mean what clafs of men in general) have thefc 

 coUeftions been made ? Is the adminiflration of the funds always un- 

 der the fame perfon or fet of perfons for life ; or do different individuals 

 take it in rotation for certain periods, and how ? Are thefe libraries opea 

 for the infpedfion of the literati in general'; or can accefs only be ob- 

 tained through certain cliannels ? What are thefe ? Have the coUedlions 

 in thefc repofitorics been reduced into order, and catalagues of them 

 made out or publillied ? What is the prevailing complexion of the writ- 

 ings, &c. of fuch of thele coUciSions as have fallen under your own par- 

 ticular obfervation ? Is it permitted to make copies or extradls from thefe 

 performances without any farther charge than that paid for tranfcribing ? 

 What are tl*e moll noted private colledlions of booKS, pi(5lures, &.C. that. 

 have come to your knowledge ? If there are any old religious houfcs 

 here. Is it known if there be any ancient manufcripts, &c. in their repo- 

 fitorics ? Is there reafon to fufpeiil that there may be in any of them 

 lome literary treafures that are negleiSted and unknown ? Can you point 

 out any of thefe ? 



ao. What literary or patriotic focieties or academies have been eftab- 

 lilhed in tlys country ? How long have fuch of them as have fallen un- 

 <lcr your own particular notice, been inflituted ? What arc the chief ob- 

 jcffts aimed at by thefe focieties ? What nieafures have been adopted for 

 effedling thefe ends ? If premiums are dillributed — for what obje^s 

 given J and what arc the funds from whence Uicfc aro paid ? If the fo- 



