SMITHFIELD, LONDON. 307 



convince him. It might happen, that, instead of returning home 

 with bank notes and sovereigns in his pocket, he might, like 

 Moses in the Yicar of Wakefield, bring back only a quantity of 

 green spectacles. 



The state of the market, the current demand, the supply to 

 be expected, together with the state of the dead-meat market, 

 and what supplies of meat already killed are to be expected, are 

 all matters to be taken into calculation. These are all inquired 

 into, and well known to a thoroughly intelligent and expe 

 rienced salesman, but are very imperfectly understood by any 

 other persons than those who make it their constant business to 

 become acquainted with them. The division of labor is carried 

 to a great extent in all the business pursuits of this great country, 

 and, while it seems unfriendly to that general tact with which 

 persons among us apply themselves to a great variety and 

 diversity of pursuits, must obviously contribute to a high degree 

 of skill or improvement in the particular art or profession where 

 it is applied. 



2. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. Animals in Smithfield are almost 

 always sold on the hoof; yet an estimate is formed of their 

 weight, and the price given is calculated upon the number of 

 pounds the animal is computed to yield after being slaughtered. 

 The gross hundred weight of one hundred and twelve pounds is 

 still used in England ; but the calculations are generally made in 

 stones of eight pounds. By an act of Parliament, the stone of 

 fourteen pounds is required to be adopted in the reckoning in the 

 market ; but custom in this, as in many other cases, defies the 

 authority of the government, and eight pounds continue to be 

 reckoned as the Smithfield stone. 



The different measures and weights used in different parts of 

 the kingdom are extremely inconvenient, and sadly perplexing 

 to a stranger. The English, the Scotch, and the Irish acre are 

 each different from each other. Grain is, in different places, sold 

 by the bushel, by the quarter, by the comb, by the boll, and by 

 the load; and a load is in some places four, in others three 

 bushels. A Scotch pint is two English quarts. In Covent 

 Garden market, two pottles of strawberries, containing little 

 more than a pint each, are called a gallon. Potatoes are some 

 times sold by weight, and sometimes by the barrel; in some 



