J 792' observations tjii the sail laws. 193 



«itude, that I hope my readers will excuse me for specify- 

 ing a few other particulars, 



Wliile I am writing, a recent case has come to my know- 

 ledge which is a very striking illustration of the pernici- 

 ous influence of these laws on the community. I liavc 

 .seen a copy of an anonymous letter, that was lately sent 

 to the commifsioners of customs in Scotland*, informing 

 -them, that it has been long a practice on the west coast 

 of Scotland, for private persons to salt butter and cheese 

 with smuggled salt j and then this butter and ckeese is 

 frequently fhipped from one port to another, coast-iuise, 

 for market. The informant therefore desires that the com- 

 mifsioners will forthwith ifsue orders, requiring all cus- 

 tom-house officers strictly to prohibit any butter or cheese 

 i"rom being put on board any vefsel to be carried coast-wise, 

 Until they bring a clear and satisfactory proof that such but- 

 ter or cheese has been cured only with salt that has paid 

 the duty. And this modest gentleman concludes with 

 tlircatening, that if such order be not ifsued, he will write 

 to the lords of treasury, informing them of this fact, and 

 stating the negligence of the revenue board in this parti- 

 -cular. 



Whether such orders have been ifsued or not, in conse- 

 qence of this intimation, I do not enquire. But that simi- 

 lar orders, in cases of the same sort, have been ifsued in 

 i£cotland, admits of no doubt. I state the fact merely t3 

 ihow in what manner businefs is here conducted, and like- 

 wise to point out the disagreeable situation in v^hich the 

 commifsioners |of revenue in this country are placed f . 



• The comisifsioners of salt duties arc always connufsio.iers of cu»- 

 loms in Scotland. 



•f It has teen so much the custom \n this country to po'nt out.-b isei, 

 «nly with a view t» lieprc.ate the men who had been coaccrned in then, 

 VOL. viii, . ■ fl + 



