1808. | 
from a vital error in the original organi- 
zation, and particularly from not forming 
a proper estimate of the sums necessary 
to be paid at entry, and annually there- 
after by the members, to enable the so- 
cieties to bear their weight when at ma- 
turity, whereby they unknowingly and 
unexpectedly fall short of giving full ef- 
fect to their originalintentions. At their 
formation they merely copied from others, 
without looking far enough into futgrity, 
or anticipating the probability of a defi- 
ciency of supphes in various possible 
events. No calculation was made of the 
probable number, out of every hundred, 
of members and widows which at a dis- 
tant period it might be necessary to sup- 
port: nor was any information solicited, 
from which proper data for acting upon 
might be furnished, and a criterion af- 
forded whereby to judge of the utmost 
probabie extent of pressure. Without 
regard being had to these considerations, 
it was impossible to fix upon the original 
requisite extent of levies. 
I feel myself interested in the proper 
formation of a new. Friendly Society 
amongst the servants of a manufacturing 
concern in this place, expected to consist 
of about one hundred members, and to 
he divided into two classes, according to 
their rates of wages. The first class 
members to receive 10s. weekly, if con- 
fined; butif able to walk about, 7s. 6d. 
only; those of the other class being en-. 
titled to half the amount. It is also pro- 
posed to allow the members of -the first 
class to bequeath to their families or rela- 
tions 5/ at deathand those ofthe second 21. 
10s. To allow for defraying the funeral ex- 
pence of first class members 2/. and 34, 
yearly to their widows during their wi- 
dowhood; half the amount heing also al- 
lowed for the funeral expence, and to the 
widows of second class members: to al- 
low 2/. for the funeral expence of wi- 
dows of first class members, and t/. for 
that of those of the second. It is lastly 
proposed, that to meet these contingen- 
cies, there shall be exacted 21s. at entry, 
and 16s. annually thereafter, from mem- 
bers of the first class, and half the amount 
from those of the second. 
With many societies in this place, it 
is customary to accept of a certain sum 
from a member at entry, after which he 
is what is called a free member, and af- 
terwards exempted from all further con- 
tributions, 1 beg leave to ask what sum 
should be exacted at entry from a person 
wishing to become a member of tliat de- 
Moxrury Mac, No, 170, 
t. ‘ 4 
Proposals for cultivating Tea in the Cotonies. 
305 
scription, asa fair equivalent for the 21s. 
or 10s. 6d. at entry, and 16s. or 8s. an- 
nually hereafter? 
Now, Sir, I am; from the fore- 
going considerations, induced to request 
that you, or any of your well-dis- 
posed Correspondents who may be tho- 
roughly acquainted with the subject, will 
be so good as to communicate through 
the medium of your Magazine, your opi- 
pion of the propriety or impropriety of 
these propositions, and of the probable 
permanent utility of the society on sucha 
footing: and to point out the best.treatise 
you know of, on the origin, progress, and 
present state of Friendly Societies of the 
above description, and which suggests 
the best fundamental principles to be laid 
down as their basis, with the most judi- 
cious maxims to be observed in framing 
the rules, orders, and regulations for their 
government. Will you also mention the 
names of a few societies, whose rules 
and regulations you can recommend as 
models worthy of imitation? ’ 
IT have searched your Magazine back 
to vol. 11th, without observing any dis- 
cussion on this subject, and have seen 
none elsewhere, If it has not already 
been brought under the amplest discuse 
sion, I think its importance is such as en= 
titles it now to be so, and I am confident 
that a signal and lasting service will by 
that means be rendered to the commu- 
nity. Your’s, &c. 
J. M. acONSTANT READER, 
Dumbartonshire, Murch 17, 1808. 
P.S. If. itbe of any use to your Corre- 
spondent Dr. Mavor, to know the circum- 
- stance, i can inform you on the authority of 
three persons, on whuse veracity I can impli- 
eitly rely, that a swallow was seen by them, 
and several times fired at, on the banks of 
Lochlomond, about six miles north from Dun- 
barton, so late in the season asthe 1ith of 
December, 1807. On being informed of the 
circumstance, I hinted the possibility of its 
not having been a swallow, but some other 
bird of a similar appearance. ‘Lhis they in- 
sisted could not possibly have been the case, 
having viewed it with the most marked atten- 
tion, and under the impression that they 
might have been under that mistake on first 
view. 
N 
—"E ee 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
Ta time when such enlichtened 
ideas are entertained by the com- 
mercial part of the community, it appears 
a mysterious affair that-we submit to such 
Ss dis- 
