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ters of barley; and this observation must have additional force, when it is applied to an article, the cultivation of which, for various reasons already stated, ought in particular districts to be encouraged as much as possible.

On this point, and a variety of other particulars connected with the enquiry, the Committee refer to some very satisfactory evidence given by the Reverend Doctor Skene Keith, which is subjoined in the Appendix to the Report.

Under these circumstances the Committee found it difficult to form an opinion, regarding the exact proportion of duty that ought to be imposed on all the different articles to which this Report relates; at the same time they have no doubt that there should be a deduction from the two last duties in favour of Scotch bigg, to the amount of one-third thereof. As to Scotch. barley, the Committee have stated the facts contained in the Report and the Appendix; without, however, being able to agree in any conclusive opinion upon the subject.

Before concluding this Report, the Committee think it necessary to take notice of one additional particular, namely, the peculiar state of those remote parts of the kingdom, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, in regard to the tax on malt. On this subject they refer to a memorial printed in the Appendix, stating the inferiority. of the grain produced in those islands, and praying for redress. The exposed situation of those remote parts of the Empire certainly requires attention, as it renders their crops so precarious, that even in common years the grain produced is of an inferior quality; and in 1802 and 1803 had proved so extremely defective, as to induce Parliament to grant relief to their starving inhabitants.

inhabitants. It is stated in the memorial that the taxes ou malt were formerly levied in Orkney and Shetland by composition, a system probably originating in the great number and dispersed state of those islands, and that severity of climate, so hostile to the operations of agriculture, with which they have to contend. The Committee cannot give any opinion upon that point; at the same time they beg leave to observe, that it may be well worth enquiring, if a still greater deduction from the duties on malt cannot be admitted in this particular case, whether returning to the old system of composition might not be again resorted to, as better calculated for the situation and circumstances of those islands, and by a saving of expense, prove even more productive, in point of income, than the present mode of levying the duties payable upon malt.

The Committee have thus endeavoured shortly to lay before the House the substance of the information which they have been able to procure, regarding a point of the most essential consequence to the Northern part, of the kingdom; and it is of the more importance, as it is in fact the only particular connected with the Union of 1707, which still remains unadjusted. The Committee however trust that Parliament will now be able to settle this interesting subject on just and permanent principles, so as to remove all sources of uneasiness that can arise between the two countries, and to consolidate the Union, which has been so happily established between England and Scotland.

On the whole the Committee came to the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that bigg is an inferior species of barley; that it is princi

pally

pally grown in Scotland, in situations improper for the growth of a better sort of grain; that in ordinary years it is used for the purpose of making malt; but that in seasons unfavourable to the ripening of oats, it is the chief resource of the inhabitants for food: it is therefore the opinion of this Committee, that it would be impolitic to discourage the cultivation thereof, by imposing the same rate of duty on malt made from that article, as from English or Scotch barley.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that there ought to be a deduction from the duties imposed in 1802 and 1803 in favour of Scotch bigg, to the amount of one-third thereof.

Resolved, That it appears to this Committee, that on an average of twelve years prior to 1804, the barley of Scotland was inferior in point of price to the barley of England, at the rate of 7s. 2d. per quarter, or to the amount of 19 per cent. and the difference in point of duty is at present at the rate of £15. per cent.

CHARLES

List of Patents for Inventions, &c.

(Continued from vol. XII. Page 440.)

HARLES DIBDIN, of Cranford, in the county of Middlesex, Gent, for a method of facilitating the learning of music. Dated April 9, 1808. Specification to be enrolled within one month.

DANIEL DERING MATTHEW, of Upper Marybonestreet, in the county of Middlesex, Esq. for certain improvements in the construction of watches and chronoineters. Dated April 27, 1808. Specification to be enrolled within one month.

WILLIAM

WILLIAM CHAPMAN, of the town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Civil Engineer; for his method or methods of conveying coals and other minerals in the working of mines or below ground, and of returning the empty vessels and carriages, so as to save much labour and expense. Dated April 27, 1808. Specification to be enrolled within four months.

WILLIAM BELL, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Engineer; for an improvement in making pipes or pumps for conducting water and other liquids. Dated April 30, 1808, Specification to be enrolled within one month.

EDWARD COLEMAN, Professor of the Veterinary College, in the parish of Saint Pancras, in the county of Middlesex; for certain improvements in the construction and application of a horse-shoe, which will completely prevent several diseases to which the feet of horses are subject, more especially that very general disease called contraction of the hoof, and is also particularly adapted for flat convex feet, for horses of cavalry, and for hunting, and for all other purposes where the loss of a shoe is productive of great inconvenience. Dated April 30, 1808. Specification to be enrolled within one month.

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Specification of the Patent granted to DANIEL DERING MATHEW, of Upper Mary-le-bone Street, in the Parish of St. Mary-le-bone, in the County of Middlesex, Esq.; for certain Improvements in the Construction of Watches and Chronometers. Dated April 27, 1808.

With a Plate,

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I the said Daniel Dering Mathew do hereby declare, that the nature of my said invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and ascertained as follows; that is to say: In the drawings hereunto annexed, Fig. 1, (Plate IV.) represents (in the manner of a plan) those parts of the structure of a chronometer which are more immediately employed in maintaining the vibration of the balance, and are distinguished by the name of the 'scapement or escapement. The letters a A, b B,`c C, d D, e E, ƒ F, indiVOL. XIII.-SECOND SERIES.

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