of abridging their Labour on a Saturday. 431' 



if the gentleman found a weed upon the premises, he pulled it 

 up, and brought it to the gardener's door. Such a fact speaks 

 volumes, and requires no comment. In taking leave of this 

 subject, I cannot but earnestly entreat that some of your 

 patriotic readers in the counties of Northumberland and 

 Durham would shortly send you some communications, not 

 only confirming the truth of the existence of this practice, but 

 also showing its influence in extending the happiness and im- 

 proving the moral condition of the people. No one can set 

 limits to the amount of good which a few such communica- 

 tions might be the means of accomplishing, and surely no- 

 thing can be more honourable, and nothing more worthy of 

 man, than doing good to his fellow man. These efforts may 

 not be crowned with immediate success, and oppression and 

 injustice may still remain our fate ; but sure I am that those 

 who have been employed in such a benevolent undertaking 

 will find the consideration that they have attempted, at 

 least, to elevate humanity from its present degradation, and 

 to lessen the bitterness of the ingredients in the cup of human 

 woe, infuse such pleasing reflections into their minds, as will 

 prove more than a tenfold compensation for the little trouble 

 which their exertions may cost them. Once more craving 

 their assistance, I am. Sir, yours, &c. 



SciENTIiE ET JUSTITI^ AmATOR. 



Staffordshire, March 27. 1833. 



P. S. The general period for labour throughout Scotland 

 is only ten hours per day. As the labourer there, as well 

 as in England, is often employed at such a distance from 

 home, that he is obliged to carry all his provisions for break- 

 fast and dinner along with him, the practice of taking only 

 half an hour to breakfast, provided he received the Saturday 

 afternoon in exchange, would tend much to increase his 

 comforts, and prove a great means of introducing a taste for 

 gardening, to which comparatively very little attention is paid. 

 Much good might be effected by gentlemen raising a spirit 

 of emulation, by giving small premiums ; and desiring their 

 gardeners to instruct the cottagers in the neighbourhood how 

 to raise many vegetables which are found very profitable by 

 the English labourer, but which have but in few instances 

 found their entrance into the " kail-yards of auld Scotland." 



