SECT. IV.-Weekly Markets.

There are no weekly markets held in the county, as there is no place in it fo populous as to require them. The borough of Campbelton is allowed by its charter to hold a weekly

"And many never sleep a wink,,

"But fit on earthy feats and drink
"Strong muddy ale and whisky clear,

"All night, with noise, that none can hear,

"Upon the whole, what's fung or faid,

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By man or wife, or boy or maid.

"Some ftrut about with hue and cry,
"Lamb t atb'r's do fheanar *, you or I;
"And roar out words I will not name,
"Left pious readers should me blame.

"Some pick a quarrel, fome a purse;
"But apprehended, swear and curse,
"And urge their innocence on cath,
"Though fome are hurt and robbed both.
"Here frugal widows, maids, and wives,
"Buy madder, indigo, and knives,

Starch, coch'neal, spoons, beads and rings,
"Cambrics, and forty other things:

"For, far and wide, they all come here
"To buy the necefs'ries of the year.

"And, as at twenty other fairs,

"The bouncing girls run through in pairs,

"Each asking of the man fhe loves
"A ribbon, handkerchief or gloves;
"Till, horfes fold, and all in trim,
"He after her, the after him,

"In hurry durry to the fore;

"Some haul the boat, fome cry-No more

"Some of the club, who stay behind,

"That boat and crew are gone ne'er mind;

"But ftroll about, in their own way,

"Till Loat arrive fome other day."

An expreffion of defiance.

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market; which it will probably do when its numbers are fomewhat more increased.

SECT. V.-Commerce.

Of the little commerce of this county, it is difficult to give any precife idea. The following statement respecting the continent of Argyllshire is offered merely as a conjecture, formed upon the beft information which could be obtained upon the subject.

By this statement, or rather conjecture, the country could fcarcely fave its credit; but a great deal of public money, drawn by thofe in the army and navy, and in public offices, and from adventurers to foreign countries, is constantly coming to our aid *; and if landlords would spend more of their rents at home, improving their eftates, and encouraging agriculture, trade and manufacture, we fhould foon do very well, and fee fewer estates going to the market, to make up for the balance of trade which has been for fome time against

us.

SECT. VI.-Manufactures.

MANUFACTURES have made little progrefs in this county. What we fpare of our flax is indeed fold in yarn, but our wool is moftly exported in its raw ftate. About 20 years ago, the Duke of Argyll, with that patriotism and public spirit for which he is distinguished, set on foot a woollen manufactory near Inveraray. All the buildings and neceffary utenfils were furnished by his Grace gratis, and the farm on which they

* There are also about 50 or 60 of our weavers at present employed by the cotton manufacturers of Glasgow, which brings about 3000l. a year.

were erected, was given along with them at a very low rent. Many gentlemen of the county alfo favoured the undertaking, by advancing money to the manufacturer, at two 1-half per cent. *. All this uncommon encouragement ought, in a country abounding with wool, to enfure fuccefs to the undertaking; and yet it has not hitherto done fo well as might reafonably be expected. Sometimes the want of conduct, and fometimes the want of capital, attention, or exertion, in fucceffive managers or undertakers, have frustrated the just expectations of the noble patron, and of the public. It is impoffible, however, but a scheme fo well adapted to the country, and fo much encouraged, muft in time do well. At prefent about 600 ftones of wool a-year are wrought here, chiefly into carpets.

The principal hinderance complained of by the prefent occupier, is, that he cannot get a fufficiency of wool fpun to anfwer all the occafion he has for it. This might be easily remedied, if ftoremafters would give out their wool to be spun by the poor about them, where they have not totally banished the poor from their neighbourhood. It would be a pleafure to every humane perfon to give them employment, and the yarn could be more eafily brought to market than the wool. The Lorn Furnace Company, with the laudable view of furnithing employment to the wives and daughters of their workmen, and to the industrious poor around them, were for many years in the use of buying wool, and giving the one half of it for spinning the other into coarfe yarn, which they fent to England. How eafily might storemafters, by the fame plan, furnish employment to the poor, encourage manufactures, and benefit the country? Were this plan generally followed, and our wool made into cloth b ourselves, every stone of it, instead of 6s. or 75. might bring into the county fix or seven

* See Stat Acc. (of Inveraray), V. 297.

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times that fum, and procure to thousands the means of comfort and independence. It would also contribute to improve lands, and raise their value, by that increase of riches and pulation which are the natural confequences of manufactures, Wool is our staple commodity, and it is of the utmost importance to us that we fhould manufacture it ourselves. This could eafily be done, if land-owners encouraged the poor, instead of banishing them, as many do, from their eftates. To fuch it is idle to talk of humanity and charity; but it might be expected that they would at least attend to felf-intereft, and obferve that the value of eftates must always rife in proportion to the numbers of the people, and increase of manufactures and of commerce. The progreffive improvement of the Duke of Argyll's lands, and fome others, under tenants of moderate poffeffions, contrasted with the stationary or retrograde ftate of thofe lands which are parcelled out in immenfe tracts to ftoremafters, will show this clearly to any eye that will look at both.

In fome parts of the county the poor have of late begun to buy parcels of wool, which they spin, and fell in yarn to dealers, or at the country fairs. This fpecies of industry ought to be greatly encouraged. It is the first step towards a general introduction of the woollen manufactures. It is hoped that more factories than that at Inveraray will foon be amply fupplied in this manner. Where the hands are few, carding and fpinning machines might be introduced *. Every thing should be done to prevent the exportation of our wool in its raw state.

*The manufactory at Inveraray employs one carding, and two spinning machines. A fubfcription was set on foot a few years ago for erecting a carding machine (to be drawn by a horfe), and some spinning jennies, at Oban; but the war, and other circumstances, have hitherto prevented the fcheme from taking place. A great number of weavers in Campbelton and its neighbourhood have been employed for fome time in working cottons from Glasgow, which may lead to the introduction of this manufacture into the county.