218 



PRICE OF SCUTCHING. 



complete^ re-appear in the form of a pamphlet, according to my 

 original intention. To which will be added the present cor- 

 respondence, as a record of the extraordinary and inexplicable 

 opposition to which my advocacy of a great cause has been sub- 

 jected; an opposition that cannot be too severely deprecated, 

 on account of the stubborn and senseless determination evinced 

 to underrate the future value of the flax crop, by overrating 

 the cost of preparation. 



In my last castigation, I showed Mr. Gower, that instead of 

 three shillings, flax could be readily scutched at one shilling 

 and ninepence per stone. I then made a slight mistake, for 

 the same work can be performed at much less money, as will 

 be seen in the following brief extract from a very gratifying 

 letter addressed to me by the gentleman to whom I alluded in 

 No. X. :— 



"South Petherton, February 1 5th, 1844. 



^'Dear Sir, 



I have noticed your movements in the public papers, 

 which, I trust, will be successfully consummated. With 

 respect to the misunderstanding between yourself and Mr. 

 Gower, relative to scutching flax, I believe in a former letter 

 that [ stated the expense to be Is. 6d. per dozen. I had re- 

 ference to times when the price of flax and wages were higher. 

 This season we get it worked at Is. per dozen generally, but 

 my own being very long, I am giving Is. 2d. with two pints of 

 cider daily. The three men I sent to Mr. Bates have only 

 Is. 2d. without liquor, and they earn \0s. per week, or even 

 more. 



" Mr. Bates intends cultivating about 12 acres this spring. 

 He had an idea of pajdng you a visit. I perceive that flax is 

 about to be grown in Oxfordshire. 



" I am. Sir, yours truly, 



T. B. Edmonds, Jun. 



To John Warnes, Jun., Esq.'' 



I intend to take with me to the meeting on Saturday, speci- 

 mens of the above-named gentleman's flax^ which I confidently 



