LAUGHLIN -BRIDGE. 91 



had a letter of recommendation to Mr. Mer- 

 cer, which through carelefTnefs I had loll. I 

 did not care, however, to pafs without feein? 

 the mill, drove down to it, and was in the 

 aukward fituation of explaining myfelf to be 

 a traveller — what I wanted — fro .11 whence I 

 came — and fo forth : but the good-nature and 

 politenefs of Mr. Mercer prefently diflipated 

 the difagreeablenefs of thole firit explanatory- 

 moments. He {hewed me the mill, and ex- 

 plained every thing with the utmofl: civility. 

 It is a very large and convenient one; grinds 

 1 5,000 barrels a year, and if there was a 

 briiker demand could do yet more. 



I found the fame neceffity of kiln drying 

 here as at Slaine mill, and made the fame ob- 

 fervation that the wheat was none of it of a 

 fine bright colour, like what is common in 

 England. 



The farmers alfo drefs their corn in fo ilo- 

 veniy a manner, that there is the fame necef- 

 fity of dreffing it over again, for which very 

 powerful machines are contrived. The whole 

 is very well calculated for fiving labour in 

 every operation, and only eight hands are 

 employed. After the mill was built, Mr. 

 Mercer made many alterations of his own, to 

 render it more fimple and effective, which 

 have fully anfwered his expectations. The 

 barrel of bran here is 4 ftgne, and fells for 3d. 

 Mr. Mercer has tried feeding cattle with it, 

 but could never make more than 6d. by it : 



has 



