Scientific Intelligence. — Political Economy. 425 
fairs. It would certainly be wiser in the members of a Society 
to contribute a small sum (perhaps sixpence each) to cover the 
expence of an investigation, than to continue in ignorance as to 
the real state of their affairs, when perhaps they are daily go- 
ing to decay. 
It is to be apprehended, however, that many of the more aged 
members, and such as are present burdens upon Friendly So- 
cieties, may set their faces against every such investigation ; 
but it becomes the incumbent duty and the personal interest of 
the younger and more healthy members, to ascertain that, while 
they are giving certain allowances to their members at present 
in distress, an adequate fund shall remain to afford similar al- 
lowances to themselves, when they, in their turn, shall come to 
require them. More they should not desire ; but we are at a loss 
to see how less should satisfy them. 
The only information necessary to be transmitted to any pro- 
fessional gentleman, who may be consulted upon the affairs of a 
Friendly Society, and who is possessed of the Report to the High- 
land Society, or of the 6th volume of the Society’s Transactions, 
are — 
1st, The number and relative ages of the members ; 2d, The 
amount of the funds in hand ; 3d, The rates of contributions and 
allowances ; and, 4th, A copy of the regulations of the Society. 
29. Steam-Engine . — To eulogise the steam-engine is become 
common-place. Its value to this country may be estimated from 
calculations which shew, that the steam-engines in England re- 
present the power of 320,000 horses, equal to 1,920,000 men, 
which being in fact managed by 36,000 men only, add actually 
to the power of our population 1,884,000 men. — Heyicoocl. 
30. Cotton Mamifactures . — - u The extent of the national inte- 
rest in the skilful cultivation of the productive labour of this 
great country, is not adequately understood. I will step only 
on the threshold of the subject, by endeavouring to shew its im- 
portance in producing taxable capital, presuming that the whole 
sum received for British manufactures and produce in commerce 
with other nations, with the deduction paid to them for raw ma- 
terials, will be allowed to be so considerable, when it is borne in 
mind, that, in the case of a general and equal income-tax, those 
profits and wages would be liable to it.-- The value of the cot- 
ton manufactures exnorted during the twenty-two years of the 
