4600.4 
chara&ter fhould be annually chofen in 
every parifh to perform this office; their 
department fhould be confined to the ma- 
nagement of women and infants, of whom. 
they fhould have the entire fuperintendance. 
The male overfeers need not object to this 
affidance, as it would relieve them of a 
great deal of trouble, without infringing 
their privileges, their affociates being made 
accountable to them for all manies difiri- 
buted by their direétion. j 
Experience would doubtlefs fuggeft ma- 
ny ufeful modifications of the plan, which 
the circumftances of different parifhes 
would require; but the general principle 
of introducing women to be the public 
guardians of’ their own fex would I am 
perfuaded, conduce to increafe the comfort 
and improve the morals of the lower 
ranks. PW, 
Od. 9, 1800. 
za 
To the Editor of the Mouthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HEN I firft determined to fend 
“you a communication for your 
Magazine, the fubject I chofe was very 
different from what this letter contains, 
and [ fhould probably, have finifhed it, avd 
difpatched it to your publifher’s, had nota 
friend popped in, and looking at part of 
the mamufcript, exclaimed, ‘* How thock- 
ingly unfeafonably! Why nobody will 
read fuch fubjects at prefent: if you wifh 
to be read, you muft give them a touch 
of the times, fomething about the icarcity 
and the dearnefs cf provifions, becaufe 
thefe.are topics which all the world dif- 
cuffes, and all the world thinks it uzder- 
jtands.”’ 
Mortified at this repulfe, for no men 
are fo fere on fuch occafions as authors, 
I threw down my pen, and determined to 
obferve an inflexible filence, until people 
begin to take their thoughts of Mark- 
lane and Bear-key. An incident, how- 
ever, induced me to change my opinion, 
and become reconciled to the popular con- 
verfation of the day. 
Having occafion to vifita friend a few 
miles out of town, I ftept into one of thofe 
inviting vehicles called Short /rages, and 
{von found myltelf one of fix ‘* agrecable 
companicns,’’ who refolved to fhorten and 
{weeven their journey bya familiarexchange 
ot fentiments. The /carcity occurred to 
us before we were off the ftones. ‘* It is ail 
owing,” faid a grave looking gentleman, 
*° Tt is all owing to the war in which we 
‘ares engaged3”.s)<«Nay,’? interruptedsa 
young gentleman in a {mart uniform, 
Caufes of the Scarcity. 
301 
‘¢ Tt can’t be owing to the war 5, you have 
had wars before, and no fearcity ; and be- 
fides, what fhould we have done without 
the war? In my opinion, the monopolixers 
are at the bottom of the whole bufinefs. 7” 
‘© WVonopolizers !”" quotha third perion, in 
a drab coat, ** that is eafter faid than 
proved ! where are 'thefe monopolizers to 
be found? No,.no, it is owing ,to the 
millers.’ == 6 “Whe millers indeed i’: ex= 
claimed a very pretty country Icoking wo. 
man, who feemed to be poffeffed of the 
clack, ‘© The millers: indeed! I «wonder 
people will allow their tongues fuch free- 
doms with large bodies of men; there 
have always'been millers, and I fhould be 
glad to know befides what yau would de 
withoutimillers? -lt is very clear 16 ts all 
owing to the great farmers.” §° I don’t 
cnow, Ma’am,’? Jatd the fifth perfon in 
our collection, © why the great farmers 
ate to be blamed ; a man may furely bea 
great farmer, without being-a ereat rogue : 
people are not to bring their corn in hand. 
fuls to market: there bave always been 
great farmers ; befides, what would you do 
wiithoul great farmers? . For my part, I 
have no doubt, the root of the evil lies in 
Mark-lane ; look at your corz faéfors,” 
added he with an air of triumph, and look= 
ing at me, as if he expected my opinion. 
I faid it might be fo, T'was unacquainted 
with the fubjeét ; where all parties are 
blamed; it is probable fome deferved ir. 
The military fpark, recclleting himfelf, 
declared he would be d d if the bakers 

-had not a fhare in this. bufinefs ; but che 
bakers foon found ao advocate in the pret- 
ty female who pleaded the caule of the 
millers, and who exclaimed, ** The dakers # 
Lord help them! the worft-ufed people on 
the face ofthe earth : when did you hear 
of a baker that was rich? Befides, ewhat 
would you do without bakers ?” 
This gave.me .an opportunity to fum 
up the evidence, by obferving, that as ave 
could not do without war, nor without 72- 
lers, nov without great farmers, nor with- 
out corm fadors, nor without beakers, we 
had nothing left but to fit down quietly, 
and fubmit to ovr grievances, as, not- 
withftanding fo many perfens are detirous 
of throwing the blame, itis impoffible 
to make it flick any where. | This feemed 
tolerably agreeable to all parties (each re- 
ferving his own opinion to hinjelt), and 
peace was reltored upon a tolerable foot- 
ing, when an unlucky queftion ftarted by 
one of my: companions, againi fplit the 
coach into parties. This was no. other 
than ** Was tne f{earcity neal or artifici- 
al?” The officer and the encmy to corz- 
feciors 
