428 
which, as a further improvement to the 
undertaking of this country, is added 
that of preparing the fkins after a peculiar 
method, to haften the corrugation of the 
fame. With re{pect to the fulphuric acid 
being ufed by Seguin, that is exploded in 
this country, which the fatal experience 
of Mefirs. A. and M. can teitify in not 
practifing that method 2 although they 
havea patent right todo it; andithas often 
been demonfirably proved, that Mixerail 
fubftances, fuch as fulphuric or vitrolic 
acids, are deftrustive to animal fubftances, 
of courfe inimical to tanning: fuch mode 
debilitates the leather fo much, that it is 
not marketable in this country (where 
tanning is arrived at fo great a degree of 
perfection), and whatever it may be 
elfewhere, it is univerfally admitted, 
that no other liquor, but what is pre- 
pared from vegetable fubftances, canan- 
fwerthe purpoletortanning. C.T.C, 
Se 
Zo the Exitor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR 
S ee. 86 of the utmoft importance for 
any country to have an abundant 
fupply ot corn within itfelf, fo Agricul- 
tural Improvements have at all times met 
with the moft liberal encouragement in 
every enlightened and well-reguiated fate. 
‘The alarm of a icarcity in thefe king- 
doms a fhort time ago, the premiums at 
that time given out of the public purfe 
to encourage importation, and the atten- 
tion of the Britith legiflature in forming 
a board of agriculture, abundantly thaw 
the neceflity ot further eXertions not only 
in improving what is now under cul- 
tivation, but of bringing under the 
plough as far as poflible tuch grounds 
as have hitherto remained in a {tate of na- 
ture or nearly fo, and of which there is a 
Very great proportion in this ifland, and 
particularly on this fide the Tweed. A 
very great change has taken place I many 
arts of Scotland within theie few years, 
and to great and evident advantage, which 
would extend and be more beneficial, but 
for one difficulty, a fcarcity of hands, 
which has been, and is ftill, a very great 
complaint among the farmers here. One 
great caule of this, is a very general in- 
clination in the country labourers to be 
at their own hand during the fummer half 
year; (thar is, unengaged to one matter 
tor the whole half year) a time for work 
as neéceflary for the farmer as during 
winter, and which, at leaft here, is im- 
poffible to be performed under the uncer- 
tainty which attends fervants hired by 
Employment of Soldiers on the Roads. 
[Dec. 
the day, or even week. The labourers 
are chiefly induced to this from the cer- 
tainty of being hired by the day in the 
making and repairing the public roads, 
which are daily increafing in number and 
demand ef hands, generally thé beft in 
the neighbourhood. I have often thought 
that if Government were to take the ma- 
nagement of the highways into their own 
hands, and in time of peace employ the 
military in the making and repairing of- 
them, that it would tend much to prevent 
this very general complaint of the farmer . 
and it would certainly be no difadvantage 
to the prefent labourers to be thereb 
obliged to cultivate the ground. This 
meaiure might alfo be attended with 
many other advantages. The military by 
being ftationed along the various high- 
ways would render the roads more fafe 
for the traveller, and the Carriage of 
goods, and in a great degree would tend 
to deftroy imuggling, that bane. of the 
revenue and fair trader. Befides, the fol- 
dier himfelf would be in a much better 
fituaticn, with a {mall addition to his pay 
if government fhould think that proper 
than leading an enervating, idle, and too 
often debauched life in the various towns_ 
and villages where he is quartered. I 
have often mentioned thefe circumftances 
in converfation, and always found them 
littened to, as what would be of very 
great advantage to the country. 
Your giving this a corner in your very 
ufeful Mifcellany will oblige many, as 
well as your obedient fervant, Z.Z 
Lothian N. Bs Now. 21, 1798. 

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR; | 
beeen me to avail myfelf of the 
very flattering notice you have 
taken of my ‘* Examination of the lead- 
ing Principle cf the New Syftem of Mo- 
rals’’ in your laf Supplementary Num. 
ber ; todraw your attention to the main 
{cope of that treatife, which appears to 
me to have been much lefs diftin&tly and 
forcibly felt than I had fondly expeéted it 
would be. 
This {cope is fimply to fhow, 
I. That moral diftin&tion is zot derived 
(as the new Syftem of Morals affumes) 
from a fenfe of the tendency ot its obje&ts 
to promote or thwart the general good. 
Firit, that fuch a derivation, though now 
fo familiar, is in truth of mere modern 
introduction: Secondly, that it is op- 
poled by analogy, the end to be attained 
being im no ove inftance befides through- 
x 
