J 03 observations on the sail laws. -^prit d,* 



of that power, which too many in this country idoh'ze, I point, 

 out with freedom, and without malevolence, abuses, which 

 it is a disgrace to any country, that calls itself civilized, so 

 long to have tolerated. If the time be not yet arrived, it af- 

 suredly will come, when those things I now begin to point 

 out to the notice of the public will be reprobated as the 

 opprobrium of the nation. 



Nor is it to the fiftieries only that the salt laws are des- 

 tructive, nor to Scotland alone that their influence is con- 

 fined. There are numb.-rlcfs xaanufacturcs retarded, and 

 many branches of industry baniiued from this kingdom, 

 that would otherwise flourifli in it, were it not for that 

 pernicio-as inlluence of these laws. I fhall here only spe- 

 cify two cases, out of many hundreds that might be produ- 

 ced. 



Vast sums of money are sent annually from Britain to 

 Spain for barilla, which is a necefsary article in the manufac- 

 ture of glafs, and the finer sorts of soap. That salt comes 

 at a very high price to us, and of course enhances the 

 price of those manufactures in which it is used. It was 

 proved, some years ago, before a committee of the House 

 of Commons, that barrilla of a superior quality to that 

 which came from Spain, could be extracted here from 

 common salt, and could be afforded full thirty per cent. 

 cheaper than it, Were it not for the salt duties. 

 The committee having been satisfied with regard to 

 these facts, recommended that the salt to be employed 

 for this purpose ihould be exempted from duty. It was 

 so \ but the precautions, necefsary to guard against the 

 salt being taken away for other purposes, became such 

 a burthen on the manufacture, that the undertakers were 

 consfaiiied to abandon the enterpiise witli lofs. Tliere 

 are many oflier chemical manufactures, of great national 

 moment, v.hich must be abandoned on the same accouut^ 



