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difficulty of imitating them in other metals coated and a very small augmentation therein. would stop a great many coiners, none of whom at present require a prefs like that used at the mint. The trouble in weighing may be objected to, but it would be almost nothing, as a light fhilling would in general be easily distinguished by the sight, as light guineas are, by most people, through practice. Of the ease of weighing coin expeditiously with a small pocket steel-yard, we were well convinced here a few years ago, when the people at one period weighed their halfpence, an operation which was found by experience, after the people got into the habit of it, neither to take much time nor trouble; it being only necefsary with the suspected ones.

2dly, Nothing could be done in this matter without varying the proportional value betwixt silver and gold coin.

This might be done once every ten years, or perhaps not so often, either by parliament, or the king in council, government paying always when the standard price of silver was raised, to every person holding above a certain sum in fhillings, the lofs sustained thereon; for the public, not individuals, ought to bear every contingency of that nature.

Without this regulation we must always be at every variation of the price of bullion, either receiving in payments bad and debased money, or running fhort of specie of one or other sort sufficient for our own conveniency, as is now the case with silver.

Edinburgh, March 1793.

HANDELS BEOBATCHER.

THOUGHTS ON THE BEST MODE OF PROVIDING FOR

THE POOR.

Continued from p. 280.

THE following modes for supplying the poor, without afsessments, are humbly proposed to the consideration of all concerned.

1. That proprietors treat the inhabitants of their respective parishes with humanity, and show upon every occasion, that they wish to render them happy; that they make allowance for their prejudices and weaknesses, especially when they are harmless and innocent;-that they grant their tenants leases upon reasonable terms, and gratify the whole of the people by settling among them. popular and sensible clergymen, of whom they are always fond; thus by the great numbers, by the ability, and benevolence of those who attend the parish churches, the poor, with little or no aid from the heritors, could easily be supplied; whereas by pursuing an opposite course, the number of those who attend the churches upon the establishment, is diminished, and that of the difsenters increased, whose contributions go to the support of their own clergymen, while those who attend the parish churches, are obliged not only to maintain their own, but also the poor of all the different sectaries,

Or,

July 3. 2. That heritors, for their own interest, make frequent inquiries into the state of the poors funds, and when they find any danger of approaching want, that they give, in as private a manner as they can, a few pounds, to be disposed of together, with the other collections by the kirk sefsions, who are best acquainted with the circumstances of the poor, and in general the most economical managers of their funds. Matters will thus continue to go on smoothly, the common people will contribute as usual, the heritors will give but a small proportion, and the poor be amply supplied.

Whereas when heritors not only neglect to make these inquiries, but to answer the requests made to them in behalf of the poor, by clergymen in private, and therefore in a prudent mannner, clergymen and their elders are discouraged and provoked, difficulties multiply,, assessments necefsarily take place; then an heritor is obliged to pay annually, ten, fourteen, and perhaps sixteen pounds; whereas, by adopting the measure above proposed, three or four pounds would have sufficed. In the parish of Yarrow, containing twelve hundred and thirty souls, the poor by the accounts from that parish are maintained by assessments; these at their commencement were moderate, last year they amounted to 1201. If then one man were the proprietor of such a parish, he would pay an assessment of 60 1.; if two heritors, each of them a tax of 30 1. Sterling yearly; and so on, in proportion to the number of the heritors, and the demands for the

support of the poor, which in the nature of things must rather increase than diminish.

Or,

3. That all heritors attend, every Lord's day, some place of public worship. The good effects of this would be, that they would, along with the common people, contribute to the support of the poor; and their inferiors or the common people, encouraged by their example, would give more liberally for behoof of the poor, and attend more regularlytheir respective churches: by these means, the wants of the poor will be fully supplied in the most eligible manner, men of all ranks, by attending places of worship, will become more intelligent, more regular in their manners, more observant of their duty to God and to men, and more happy in themselves. Such as are restrained by scruples from attending churches established by law, may attend where they will; but let them never forget the poor. Το those of that description or who do not reside in the parishes where their estates are situated, and leave -the poor to subsist as they may, the introduction of assessments into Scotland has been hitherto chiefly owing.

Gentlemen generally are, and all of them ought to be, the most polite, and best bred of the society to which they belong, or of the kingdom where they reside; but where is the politenefs or good breeding in withdrawing every first day of the week their countenance and presence from the society of their inferiors? from a numerous, and respectable body of men, upon whom 'they depend for their wealth, their ease, their power, and influence, from

July 3. men when afsembled for the most rational, the most useful and laudable purpose, for worshiping God, for receiving religious and moral instruction, for rendering thanks to God for all his mercies, and for praying to him for themselves and for their superiors, while these superiors are in the mean time, either amusing themselves, or transacting business, which, with as much ease, and with greater propriety, might have been accomplished upon any other day.

For a long tract of years, this conduct of their superiors, appeared to the common people, in a light so unengaging and odious, that they withstood the temptation, which the influence of their example threw in their way; but now the case is much altered. Some ministers in their statistical accounts complain, and many others, had they been so minded, might have complained, that farmers in the neglect of the duties of the Sabbath, follow their superiors at the heels; and in many instances, no doubt, surpafs them : and fhould this spirit, or this fashion descend to the lower classes of the people, which, without a wonderful change hardly to be expected, must be the case, when religion loses its hold of their minds, the principles of morality are overpowered, and cease to operate. As the lower orders of men are much more numerous, and when set in motion, vastly more powerful, than the handful of men who rule over them, and nothing can withstand them, then, God have mercy upon the rich and the great, for neither castles, nor bolts, nor bars, nor laws, nor armies, can resist the impetuosity of a lawlefs mob.