: 538 Pe ulation of Birmingham. — Ref éTions on Bankruptcy July 1, 
To the Editér Le the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR,. 
BEADING, in your Jaf Number, the 
valuable Odfervations cf J. T. Grel- 
lier upon thé Returns made under the Po- 
puliitio: 1 AG, IT oblerve a note at the bat- 
tom of page 323— The number of un- 
inhabited houfes in Birmingham was 
more than in Manchefter, Liverpool, Brif- 
tol, Plymouth, Bath, Portfmouth, Hull, 
ate Neuen together.” ; 
‘Fhat, at the time the return was made, 
the population of the inland and manufac- 
turwig towns was much reduced in favour 
of the fea-perts and maritime’ counties, 
your, Correfpondent’s fatements feem 
clearly to prove ; and that Birmingham 
had fuffered as much in this refpeét as any 
town in the ki ngdom, is, I-believe; gene- 
‘rally admi ted 5 yet, in comparing it with 
other: large bute s that thefe of your 
_ readers who are not acquainted with the 
place may not from hence form teo melan- 
chioly an idea-of the fituation of the town, 
it feems necefflary to remark, that the 
caufe why the propoition ef uninhabited 
houfes in Birmingham i is fo great, will - 
found in a great wiesfars to criginate i 
the na‘ure of the houfes themfelves. 
Fhe mode of building univerfally 
adopted in eer has been to ac- 
_ €ommodate every fami 7, be their circum- 
flances whatever it ee with a diftinét 
and feparate houfe. “This has caufed a 
very.sreat number of {mall houfes to be 
built (perhaps three thoufand or upwards 
might be enumer ated), whofe average 
rent would not be more than from is. od. 
to 2s. per week : hence the number of un- 
inhabited houfes: sri be exceedingly va- 
ricus and flu&tuatin 
A» temporary fagnetion of trade, ithe 
railing or recruiticg of a regiment in the 
neighbourkaed, 
militia, has ana me weeks. fhut: up fame 
feores of houles in B Birmingham ; while the 
dame cdules might, frava fome: dnl: large 
towns, -ta 1ké the fame rumber of flrs 
tants from : their lodgings in the two upper 
fiories of dJarge ho ufes, and yet. not add 
ne fo the number of thole Polp could be 
conferred uninhal bited. 
. (Could the amoune a the rents ee the 
uninhabited houlcs be by any. means afcer- 
tained, .thouga I bave no doubt thefe in 
Birmingham would in. fome degree ec 
that of any o het towniet nearly the. fame 
magnitude, I think «they, would is no 
means be feund to exceed them in the pro- 
p tion there tated. -/ 
Delirous, however, to 
enly what I confider to be 2 
communicate 
. 3 2 
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ov embodyina the county: 
ee when 
manele requeft’ J.T. G. to accept my 
thanks for the information contained in his 
Obfer¢ations, and am your obedient fer- 
vabt, Ww. B. 
bi 0 a May 24 1805. | 
1 aaa! ‘ 
‘To the Editor f the Monthl y Magazine 
‘2° SIR; 
SINGUL AR sddcitirennene’ a ch 
appeared in.'a° pt ‘ovincial paper 2 
ph time fince, naturally led to fome re- 
ficcticns on the fubjeé ‘of bankruptcy ;~ 
td \as it is an evil increafing: _every year, 
whatever'may be calculated:in the leat 
degree to'call the attention o: thé public 
towards mitigating fuch a national cala- 
mity, will; it is prefumed, not be deerried 
unworthy a place in your Megazine. 
The advercifement alluded to requefts 
that the creditors ‘of a perfon’ who fome 
time fince' (Owing to a concurrence of un- 
fortunate circumftances) paid them 4 com- 
poftion, would: fend an account of their 
original demands, ‘*he now having it in 
his” power, is wt? ing and defirous to make 
them full fatisfaétion.”” ‘This- does the 
unfortunate: man» great credit, and mult 
afford him the fincereft pleafure. *Phat 
fuch an occurrence is wncommon,: proves | 
the very low, ftateof marals, and ought to 
fhame thoufards whé have injured their 
fellow-creatures irreparably by failing in 
their debt, and, after being fuccefsful, | 
appropriate all to their own ufe, utterly 
forgetiul of t hat fimple but fublime maxim, 
whofe meaning none can miftake, * What. 
ever ye would that men fhould do to yous 
do ye to them lixewife.”” 
In a commercial country like ours, per~ 
haps it is impotiible: that bankruptcies 
fhould be wholly avoided ; but, out of-a 
huadred, probab! ly there i - not more than 
one Loge ee is the confequence of unavoid-. 
able misfortune. This may feem at fir 
view an uncharitable Ra: ement, but “let 
facis {peak for themfelves. If inquiry” be 
made in every town, it will be found that 
nee of its. moit dofhing inhabitants have 
for ALY fajed in. bufinefs, 
more than one in a hundred of thefe who 
ll their crediters. te gether for the pur- 
pofe of paying the remainder of their. 
debs?” The'Ggning a certificate is no 
difcharge tosan “ho spelt man: fuchan one, 
--{o foon as he has it in his power, will be 
sop to pay to the very uttermof far thing, 
and ifhe be not honeft when rifing in the 
bie it is more than-prohable he was’a 
-finking. Confidering the 
progre(s that is made in Civilization, it 
1 crime at ended 
JE ms ai fconsthing that a’ 
Z ; : with 
Ts there a 
K 
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