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rived at Kilmahunock, near the har bour in. Loch-Crinan, and hard by the entrance from that into the canal, where we called the people from their beds, and took up our lodging. Al though this was but a poor despicable inn, the woman was civil and discreet, and we agreed very well. The re day being Sunday, we were obliged to remain here; as the people will not open the locks to let vessels through on that day, although I wish they may never do a worse tum. Or anxiety to get forward increased with every opposition: and we felt very impatient during the Monday, which continued so windy, that the vest could not be moved for fear of beag dashed against the rocks; while we were cooped up in our little pub house, and could not stir abroad fr the rain. On the Sabbath-day w climbed to the highest point in St Knapdale, from whence we had extensive view of the Atlantic, and all the islands and headlands th lie between the paps of Jura and the dark rocks that wall the coast of Mil, besides a good extent on the easte shore of Isla. But as I have descr bed a considerable part of that ca try already, I shall take my leave, ter subscribing myself

Potatoes, bear, and oats, are their only crops; and the latter looked very poorly in the braird. We had a very disagreeable walk to Lochgilt head, for, as usual, it rained most furiously. We arrived at the inn in our old state, and though extremely hungry, I thought of nothing but going away without dining, late as it was, such a violent heat arose betwixt Mr G. and the house. He pretended, as his grounds for this animosity, the huge impropriety of showing us into the bar instead of the dining-room; but the truth of the matter was this: The dialect of the country differed widely from any that he had been acquainted with; and as you know the tone of the voice is understood to be more expressive of the state of the mind, and the exact feeling of the speaker with regard to you, than the words which accompany it; so, the sharp key in which they talked, did not accord with the musical ear of my friend, especially the last syllable of each sentence which was not only lengthened out to a minum; but in the beginning also rose to a fifth, and descended with a rapidity, and cadence, so abstracted from all precedent in Italian music, that it raised in him a belief, that the people were not only in a high passion, but treating him with the utmost disdain: and he being resolved to be nothing behind with them, wrought himself into such a strain, that if I had not remained obstinately fixed on my dinner, we had I. certainly danced off without it. Here we laid in considerable stores for our voyage, being determined to treat for a passage in the first vessel that left the canal for the north. Accordingly about mid-way we spoke with the Johnson of Greenock, bound for the isle of Sky with a valuable cargo of luxuries and as the owner made us very welcome to such accommodation as he had, we thought this extremely lucky; but in the event it turned out but moderately so. At a late hour we ar

Yours, &c.

J.B

SCOTTISH REVIEW. A General View of the Coal T of Scotland, chiefly that of the E ver Forth and Mid Lothian, 38 C nected with the supplying of E burgh and the North of Scotland with fuel; to which is added, " Enquiry into the Condition those women who carry coal ground in Scotland, known by 1. name of Bearers. Svo. pp Edinburgh, 1808. Tis perhaps surprising, that

the subject to which this volume relates. Few topics connected with political economy seem more interesting to this country. The great extent of the trade, its subserviency both to the uses of domestic economy and to various important manufactures, joined to peculiarities, both in the nature of the supply, and the mode of working, combine to make it deserving of a very ample discussion. The present work does not quite display that extensive information, and those luminous views, which might be desired; but it contains a great deal of good sense and observation: it is that of a plain practical man; and tho' it can hardly be said to exhibit a General View of the coal trade of this country, contains many detached hints which may be of material use.

Our author begins with some particulars relating to the coal antiquities of Scotland. The first authentic accounts of coal wrought in this country are in 1291, when it is mentioned as taking place on some lands belonging to the Abbey of Dunfermline. The only mode of draining the collieries, was by forming a communication with lower grounds. This precarious plan was succeeded by water wheels and buckets, which performed the same operation in all situations, but with great trouble and inconvenience. Half the water was spilt in its ascent upwards; and when any of the bolts gave way, the whole machinery fell to the ground, with a tremendous crash, in which every bucket was splintered into a thousand pieces. Several public-spirited proprietors sent to Newcastle in hopes of obtaining better machinery; but there it seems to have been still more defective; for their machines could not act above fifteen fathoms, so that when the mine was to be sunk lower, it became necessary to form detached pits, and transmit the water from one to the other, till it reached the top. The

Scotch machine, on the contrary, raised water, at once, to the height of forty fathoms. This machine has since been advantageously superceded by the water wheel, with cranks and beams, working with pumps.

After some curious particulars relating to the introduction of the steam engine, our author proceeds to give a comparative view of the mode of supplying the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow with coal; and this part of his work seems indeed very important. It appears that the price of coals in Edinburgh is nearly double that of Glasgow; that while the former is 1s. per cwt., the latter is only 7d. Now, our author undertakes to prove, and seems fairly to have proved, that this difference of price arises chiefly from ignorance and bad management. It is true, the pits are somewhat nearer at Glasgow, the average distance being four miles, while in Edinburgh it is stated to be five and a half. But, on the other hand, wages are higher in the former, and the carter will not work without an assurance of greater gains. The first superiority of the Glasgow system, our author states to consist in the quality of their carts and horses, which are so much preferable, as to be in the constant practice of carrying 24 cwt., whereas the Edinburgh carts carry only from 12 to 15 cwt. This greater burden will much more than compensate the difference, though great, which takes place in the prime cost. The remedy of this evil is difficult, as it rests with the carters, who may not possess capital or enterprize sufficient for the adoption of a more liberal system. The coal-proprietors, however, might, we conceive, find it their interest to interfere, and advance to them the means of doing so. A still greater error, however, consists in the manner in which the coals are conveyed. In Glasgow, each colliery has an agent in town, who receives all orders for

coals,

laid aside, and sold separately at an
nferior price. The Glasgow colliers,
on the contrary, make no distinction
of this kind, but accommodate their
customers with a mixture of both, as
produced in the course of working.
Now, this mixture appears to be the
only way in which Scots coal can pro
duce a comfortable fire. Chews af
ford the strongest heat, but burn too
fiercely and rapidly; while large cal
form a lasting, but dull and dead fire.
It is only by mixing the two, that a
fire, at once strong and durable, ca
be produced. Upon this subject, Mr
Bald makes the following pertiner
remarks, which entirely accord with
our own observation.

coals, and transmits them to the manager. This person then arranges with each carter the precise time when he is to receive his load, for which, therefore, he never has occasion to wait. In Edinburgh, on the contrary, the carters receive the orders, or bring in the coals upon chance.. When there is a great demand, they go in crowds to the hill, and have to wait a long time, sometimes a whole day, before they are supplied. Here the superiority of the Glasgow system is evident, and the remedy so obvious, that we cannot but consider it as a reproach upon the coal proprietors in our neighbourhood, that it should not before this have been applied. The consequence is, that while the EdinTo burn such masses of coal as are in burgh carter usually makes only one the cellars is quite impossible, as they journey a day, carrying 12 cwt., the would not kindle by any ordinary mean Glasgow carter makes three journeys, If, therefore, in a winter morning, a carrying 24 cwt. each, or 72 cwt. intention is paid to what is going on all. It is true, the one is paid 10s. the coal cellar of each family, where a 6d. the other only 4s. 9d.; still the number of fires are to be put on, nothing former amounts only to 81d. per ton, is to be heard but hard blows; and for each mile, while in Edinburgh, ment of those who have attended to the pon entering, what must be the asterisk. we pay 1s. 5d. Thus every one suf- whole detail of keeping the coal in large fers by this blundering system; the masses, to see them at last violently proprietor, the carrier, and most of tacked with every kind of destructive all, the public. That all parts of the implement, such as heavy cannon bik operation may be equally ill conduct- double and single headed shot, hammers of all descriptions, axes, crows, po ed, the weighing is performed on common beams, by 4 cwt. at a time; in- kers, picks, and pieces of whinstone, by one piece of coal dashed with ve stead of by weighing machines, as in lence against the other; all with a view Glasgow. to reduce part of them to chews, which was previously so much avoided, and which could be bought 30 per cent, cher per than the great coal. Of the ab implements actually used for breaking coal, not one is adapted for the purpos except the pick; all the rest not only break the coal into chews, but absolute ly bruise much of it into a powder of so use; and therefore, while the predilection for great coal continues, no family such to allow their coals to be broken by any

Still, however, the price of coals, even at the hill, is considerably lower at Glasgow than at Edinburgh. In the former, it is only 8s. 4d. per ton, in the latter, 11s. 8d.

A considerable part of this difference, however, Mr B. imputes to the groundless and exclusive prection, which the inhabitants of this city entertain, for what is called great coal. To accommodate themselves to this taste, the miners are at incredible pains tỡ divide the coal only into large pieces; while the chews, or small coal, which are necessarily produced, to the amount of about one third of the whole, are

other implement than a light sharp pick

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Upon the whole, though the cl of Mid Lothian appears, even in the first instance, to be somewhat bight than that of Lanarkshire, it seems f

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to infer, that by proper management, and by merely following the example set by Glasgow, we may reduce our coals 20 or 30 per cent., to the great benefit of the proprietors, and the public. The former might thus be enabled to undersell their maritime competitors, and to check that propensity to the use of English coal which seems rapidly gaining ground. We must remark, however, that the use of mixed coal does not promise to produce any augurentation of the supply, since all the chews appear to be at present consumed in our manufactories.

With regard to the use of coal in families, our author advises a fire of chews in the morning, to heat the house, and then recommends that, after breakfast, a large coal should be laid above them, which will keep up a comfortable fire during the day. He censures the use of gathering coals, and recommends, that both the kitchen fire, and the others in the house, should be lighted every morning by means of wood. We doubt, however, that in this country there would be a deficiency of the article, unless the purpose could be answered by shavings, or thin flakes separated by carpenters in the operation of sawing.

We are next presented with some important facts respecting the mode of procuring labourers for the coalmines. Till the year 1775 the colliers were slaves, adscripti glebe; and upon the abolition of this degrading system, it was expected that the trade might attract labourers from other professions. This expectation has not been realized. So uncomfortable and laborious is the trade, that not even the allurement of double wages has yet induced any one to enter into it, who has not been, from infancy, habituated to its hardships. Indeed Mr Bald seems to think, that no other would be capable of enduring them. On the other hand, persons are daily seen passing from it to other less lu

crative, but more agreeable employments. Under these circumstances, we really think that Mr Bald's proposal deserves consideration, of exempting colliers from the militia ballot, which would both remove a constant drain upon their numbers, and would act as a bounty upon a trade so necessary, and, at the same time, so disagreeable. Our author insists, that they "fight a much better battle for their country, when driving vigorously at the coal wall, than when charging the eneniy sword in hand."

Another important point which occupies the attention of the author, is respecting the free exportation of coal. To this he is decidedly inimical; and really, with all our attachment to the principles of commercial freedom, we must own ourselves somewhat staggered by his arguments, and at least admit, that if such a prohibition be admissible in any instance, it is in the present. In the first place, he maintains that the coal field of Scotland is limited; that the drain from it is immense and continually increasing, and that therefore it must, in a certain period of time, be exhausted. With regard to theories of its reproduction, our author insists that this process, if it really takes place, has been imperceptible for the space of five hundred years, (though we hardly see how the thing can be traced quite so high;) that the completion of it must therefore belong to a period indefinitely remote. He enquires what we are to do in the interval between the exhaustion of the present beds and the formation of the new; and alledges that our posterity will think the transmission of an ingenious sym, a poor substitute for the comforts of a good coal fire. When in addition to this we consider the manifold uses of coal in agriculture (for lime,) in machinery, and in directly promoting the accommodations of life; when we consider the serious blank which its cessation would leave in this country, we must

ad

admit, that there is no article of which it is more important to be economical. Encouragement to production, therefore, the chief advantage of free exporiation, is here scarcely desireable. We admit this reasoning, however, not without reluctance; and we rather incline to suspect, that the freight on so bulky an article will, even during peace, confine its export within narrow limits, and to cases in which it is of great and indispensable utility. So long as this is the case (which at present it avowedly is, in consequence of the war) we do not see sufficient ground to recommend the adoption of so churlish and illiberal a system.

In the course of this discussion Mr B. gives the following statement of the extent and direction of the coal

field of Scotland.

The coal-field of Scotland is confined to a certain district of country. It crosses the island in a diagonal line from west to east. Beyond this belt, either to the north or south, little or no coal is to be found; and the inhabitants who are removed at any distance from the coal-field feel the greatest hardships, by the high price and scarcity of fuel.

The north boundary of the coal field

extends from the banks of the river

Eden, near St Andrew's, to the south parts of Kinross-shire, from whence it sweeps towards the Ochil mountains at Dollar, and keeps close upon their base westward till it arrive at Craigleith, one of the hills of that beautiful range, when it suddenly turns southward, and crosses the river Forth below Stirling; from thence it is traced by Kilsyth, Campsie, Witch-hill and Kilpatrick, till it fall in to the river Clyde above Dumbarton.

The south boundary commences near Haddington, and stretches by Linton, Douglas Mill, Glenbuck, Muirkirk, New Cumnock, and from thence down

the water of Girvan, till it join the

ocean.

These boundaries are not minutely correct, but they certainly contain the whole of the Main Coal-field of Scotland which

is of any impurtance. Detached insula

ted fields are no doubt to be found beyond these lines, as at Brora in Sutherland

shire, and at Sanquhar in Dumfries shirt, but they are not of great extent. Coal strata are also to be found lying underneath the precipices of greenstone rock at Abbey Craig, Stirling Castle, and Craigforth, in Stirlingshire; but these are beyond the line of the main fird, and only very thin seams of coal desti tute of bitumen, termed Blind-coal, have been found there.

Even within these boundaries are the intervention of hills, and the convul tracts of country without coal, owing to sion of the sarata by whinstone, and those troubles and dykes so common i coal fields.

P. 95.

In the last chapter, our author com plains grievously of the present un settled state of mineralogical nomen clature. He proposes that a general society should be formed, for the pu pose of agreeing upon a common las guage. We suspect, however, that the evil arises necessarily from the pre sent unsettled and polemical state ef the science; few, at least, will ticipate much union from a gener meeting of Edinburgh mineralogist The mind of the learned is, upon subject, in a state of agitation, fro which great improvements in the s which necessarily produces, in the mem ence may, we hope, result in time, b time, a good deal of confusion.

the

Our author concludes with rem strances on the hardships endured by the class of women called Bearers, whe bring up the coal from the pits, and t commends the use of horses in the stead. The difficulty is, that they c sist of the wives and daughters of the colliers, who are there at all ever and are willing to perform the work a moderate rate.

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