1796.) 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
S the Manuractures of this 
country are the principal fource of its 
great wealth and political importance, it 
cannot but afford matter of realonable 
furprize, that fo little has hitherto been 
afcertained and publithed relative to the 
origin, progrefs, and extent of their fe- 
veral branches. 
We have, in faét, feen no attempts 
made towards digefting a complete trea- 
tile, or even compiling a ftock of ma- 
-terials on this fubjeét. The writers of 
local and county hiftories, from whom we. 
fhould naturally expect the completeft 
information of this kind, pafs over, with 
incurious hafte, or total filence, the ma- 
nufactures of their refpective diftriéts. 
Almoft the only exceptions to this re- 
mark (which is fo difgraceful to our na- 
tional tafe) and efpecially to’our topo- 
graphical hiftorians, are the accounts of 
Manchefter and its environs, by Dr. 
AIKIN, containing a complete account 
of the Cotton Manufactory; and the in- 
genious Leétures, elucidating the various 
branches of our manufactures, as the 
are conneéted with the fcience of Che- 
miftry, by Mr. Faris, of Cambridge, 
My objeét in this Letter is to point out 
an eafy and certain mode of adding con- 
fiderably to our prefent fcanty fiock of 
publifhed = materials on this important 
topic. Among other ufes of a mifcellany, 
of the extenfive plan and circulation of 
the Monthly Magazine, I conceive none 
is of fuch high importance as its afford- 
ing, at all times, a cemtre, or focus, to the 
correfpondence of intelligent perfons, on 
ail fubjeéts that may be interefting to the 
public. Let it, then, Mr. Editor, hence- 
forth be generally underftood, that a 
part of your Mitcellany will be exprefsly 
allotted to communications of Hadé?s re- 
lating to the State of our Manufactures. 
Permit the infertion of thefe Hints, to 
imply your earneft invitation of fuch 
communications; and I have not the 
fmatleft doubt, but every manufacturing 
diftriét will immediately fupply you with 
information. In Norwich, Birmingham, 
Colebrooke-dale, Sheffield, the New- 
caftles, Yorkfhire, Paifley, Nottingham, 
_Lancathire, and, indeed, in all the great 
manufacturing towns, there refide anum- 
ber of well-informed perfons, who will 
cheerfully contribute towards a defign 
fraught with {uch extenfive utility. 
May I prefume to add a few hints to 
perfons who may undertake the ufeful, 
end, as I conceive, very interefting 
Enquiries addreffed ta Manufatiurers. 
2g1 
and pleafing tafk, of fending you infor- 
mation on this fubject 3 
1. The raw material ought to be 
traced, from its growth, or importation, 
through each procefs, to its aétual con- 
fumption, or exportation. 
2. ‘The machinery employed ought 
to be accurately defcribed, fo as not to 
interfere with unpublifhed patents, or 
neceffary and prudent fecrets. 
3. The number, and the proportion of 
the hands, which each department gives 
employ to, with their feveral emoluments, 
ought to be afcertained. 
4. The hiftery of the manufaétory, its 
firft rife, gradual progrefs, and all its 
improvements and {peculations, ought to 
be minutely inveftigated. 
5. Its value to the public, and its 
grofs return and profit, ought to be fairly 
eftimated. 
6. Doubtlefs, alfo, every peculiar 
branch will fuggeft, of itfelf, to the in- 
telligent and philofophical obferver, other 
particulars, which may be equally ac- 
ceptable and interefting to the public. 
Should you honour this letter with a 
place in your Mifcellany, I thall, poifi- 
bly, trouble you hereafter with fome 
fimilar inquiries on the fubje&t of Canals, 
Sea-ports, Population, Agriculture, &c. 
Tam, Sir, your's 
May 5, 1796. INDAGATOR. 

For the Monthly Magazine. 
On Law. 
opi profeffion of the law takes its 
origin folely from human depravity 5 
and this. being the cafe, it is no wonder 
that confiderable abufes fhould always be 
found in it. Crafty and defigning men 
will ever be attempting to enrich them- 
felves at the expence of others ; and they 
will never want profeffional ailiftants to* 
gain their ends, or to defend their 
caufe, if they are attacked. This mutt 
neceflarily oblige the honourable prac- 
titioner to exercife arts, by way of coun- 
teraction, which, in trict abftract juftice, 
he would condemn. Hence allo, the 
practice itfelf will unavoidably become 
a labyrinth of fubtleties to him who is 
engaged in it; and of no ordinary vex- 
ation to him who is under the neceflity 
of having recourfe to it, as a means of 
defence, or to obtain a right unjuftly 
ufurped. a 
The intricacies and difficulties of the 
profetfion muft, undoubtedly, therefore, 
be numerous. They arife from the pros , 
_ feffion itfelf; and while it continues to 
Ppa be 
