fion would be ftronger ftill: if, finally, attended with great advantages and great difadvantages refpecting the grand object of enquiry, the encrease of our people; but that fill it was not abfolutely certain andfree from all poffibility of controverfy, which of the two, in the vast number of Enclosures which had taken place in this kingdom, during the laft 20 or 30 years, had been moft numerous and prevalent. Probability, indeed, feemed firong ly on the favourable fide. I thought, however, that I fhould be much more clear in this point, if I could procure the annual regifters of baptifms in the parishes re-es, omitting however the counties of cently inclofed during the laft 20 years. If thefe parishes, when taken in the aggregate, were not materially decreafed, it would be a ftrong prefumption that Enclosures had advanced our total Population; (because it was an undoubted fact that in fome few places, where open cultivated fields had been converted into paftures, the number of Inhabitants on thofe particular fpots had been greatly leflened): If they were actually not at all diminished but even very much increafed, the conclu Nottingham. York, and Lancafter, becaufe Dr. Price himfelf acknowledged thofe to be greatly encreased. Of those 500 letters I have been favoured with anfwers to hardly a hundred. Small however as this proportion is, yet coming from all quarters indifferently, and without any previous motive for choice or felection, their evidence may fairly be confidered as fatisfactory and decifive. What this evidence is the reader may fee in the following table : The number of Baptifins during two periods of five years each, the first beginning with 1760, the fecond with 1775, in a great number of recently enclofed parishes, from different counties, together with the Baptifms in other parifies not recently enclosed, in the fame counties refpectively. Obfervations on the City of Tunis, and the adjacent Country; with TUNIS, the capital of the kingdom fo called, is fituated on a rifing ground, befide a lake of the fame name, and is about four miles in circuit, containing three hundred thousand inhabitants. The fireets are narrow, as in moft hot countries, and, not being paved, dirty in winter, and dufty in fummer. The hou fes in general low. Most of the houfes have a porch or gateway with benches on eith fide covered with mats, where the mafter of the houfe tranfacts his business, and receives his friends, no perfons, except en forme extraordinary occations, baving any further admiffion. In the how fes of the Coafuls, this porch ferves by way of exchange, for the merchants, captains of reffels, brokers, &c. to meet, and tranfect their benefs. Beyond this is an open court paved with marble, fost, of glazed tiles, according to the ability of the owner, covered ower and thehered from the fun and weather, by a frong cotton or linen cloth, which is fxed to the wall, and by pullies, may be folded or unfolded a pleafure: when enter takzments are given, the company meat in the court, which is always kept very nice and clean. When the book has ovo fioris, there is fometimes a cloister in the avers, and a gallery over it; the rooms are the whole length of the court and galleries, but very feldom communicate, the Grins going up from the porch er count. It is common wo for a whole family diving together in one chamber.. Among people of diffinities the walk are hung withe Elk, hargings half way down, contrived to, hoak on and change st pleafors according the fealing, they are alß furnished with mata for the foulders to lean againit.. Bioft of the water used in this cix in main water, praderved in tanks or huge eifferns, which hold fufficient rokavo die families five on fix monate. The nuolat the houses being the and nicely raraztea, en the art appearance of sin, the cum duits are fropped up prevent its dirzandi füh running into the cifterns,, when tay and the roofs steam, the pipes are opted, and the water runa iny. Almoh examy Put. Mag. Vol. X. Juba, 175. ciftern has the bafe of a marble column hollowed out to cover the mouth, thou fands of them being put to this use all over the country, the remaining parts of the columns have been broke and ufed indifcriminately with other common ftones in their buildings. The count of the great Molque at Tunis, is adorned with many beautiful columns of different orders. I was informed feveral very fire are within the Mosque, but as the Moors are more fuperfirious than the Turks, no Chriftian is fuffered to enter. Tunis is furtounded by a wall, bor too weak to refift the regular attack of an enemy. The ar is whalelome and mech improvid by the great quantities of wild rolimery, maftick, and other aromaticks ofed in hearing the ovens and bagnins. The markets are photfully fopplied with all the necefries of life beef and murton a a pewny per pound, poultry in great abundance, wore a specially pigrons, the large and inch lere for. The prople of that commis being grat bread-racers, this sal wrelt is uncommenly shrap and good, and the mode by the French bikar for the uhi af stat faftory, the beads of Coadah, ane bẹ bener Sone of Chatikan, is the bed and festa peitoys ʼn da work, Great out fi of disudare keld in the mackao plaers,, obo proper aduım ekogo xtra to shaft the wagho noi entuze ate qualry, on fadagà Bom, mae år wrely appy de tatouch so de kla, kaswing je muli be his fanih in not being his bosadi full wage. The montatu be comny, wood, charcoal, A. Host evch their nfuciuc quests,, võen dufipuis is sarmad on with gaat ngulmily, anà Indhed by nine in to nozying thương the Summer BeNR.. 12 The Conful's drogoman affured me his family, confifting of himself, his wife, his wife's mother and a maid, all expences included, amounted to no more than twenty-five pounds fterling per annum. A book formerly belonging to Mr. Laurence, British Conful in the year 1722, which contains an account of his expences, make the amount fixty-four pounds fterling, for the yearly maintenance of ten or twelve perfons in family; provifions are confiderably raifed fince that time. The expences for the family of the present Conful, then confifting of 14 perfons, amounted to two hundred pounds fterling per ann. The Bazar or receptacle for merchandize where the different crafts carry on their trade, is of great extent, divided into quarters, covered over to fhelter them from the fun and rain. Each trade in general works by itself, as taylors, fhoe-makers, &c. The Jews, who have the whole of the filver bufinefs in their hands, make a large affortment of articles for this place, and the inland country, all very coarfely fabricated, these have their diftinct Bazar. Iufed frequently to vifit their quarter, to buy medals; as moft of the gold and filver medals fall into their hands, being brought by the country people, who fell them for the intrinfic value of the metal. Great numbers of medals are found in this country, particularly after the heavy rains in October, fome of them worthy the attention of the curious. Mr. Molinari, late Swedish Conful, had a fine cabinet of medals and engraved ftones, many years collecting by the family of his lady. I am informed, fince his death, they have been purchased by the King of Sweeden. The inhabitants of this country, who are true Iconoclaftes,, mutilate and deftroy every noble remnant of antiquity. When they find a medal, their method is to fpit upon, and fcour it with fand, and thereby commonly deface both the figure and legend. The Jews are very numerous at Tunis, being computed at thirty thousand; they have their fynagogues, and are governed by two Alcaids, chofen from among themfelves, and approved by the Bey, The fame cuftom prevails here as in the Levant, that no bufinefs is tranfacted without their meditation, they being the general brokers. They are, however, for the most part poor, and ill treated by the Moors, whom they dare not offend. Such among them as have property, make but little appearance with it, The market for black flaves is held on Friday in the Bazar, on a place like a ftage, raifed about three feet with benches round, and a platform in the middie, to walk them up and down and fhew their limbs to the purchasers: no Chriftian is allowed to buy a black flave. I have feen many among them, of both fexes, with fine regular features, very different from the Guinea blacks. These people are brought to Tunis from the interior parts of Africa, by caravans which come regularly once a year, but from what part I could never learn. I was informed by a merchant, that they were five months on their journey, bringing oftrich feathers, gold duft, flaves, gums, and a variety of other articles, which they fell and exchange for goods proper to carry back. The bagnios both for men and women are numerous and much crowded, frequent washings being an effential-article of the Mahometan religion. The expence of the bath each time is at the moderate price of two afpers. The coffee-houfes are chiefly kept by Greeks; the coffee ufed by them is from the french iflands; and the price, an afper a dish. The houfes of the European Confuls, all fituated near the Eaft or Sea Gate, are comfortable good dwellings, The Fenduc or Factory of the French nation, confifting of feveral commercial houfes, is inclofed within their own walls, and governed by a Conful and Vice Conful, appointed by the King, under controul of the Chamber of Commerce at Marfeilles. As I am on this subject, I beg leave to make fome few remarks refpecting their trade. In almost every port of the Mediterranean and Levant to which a veffel can approach, or where there is a probability of trade; the French have a Conful or Vice Conful. Ships of war are cruizing to protect their veffels from pirates, which are common on thofe feas. The Conful has a code of laws for his rule, and merchants and captains of veffels are under his controul. The port fees are moderate, confequently not burthenfome to trade. The difference between this method of acting and that of the British Confuls, caufed a very intelligent perfon to remark, that it appeared to him, the French Confuls were fent out for the protection of trade, and the British Confuls for its oppreffion. The French Conful and Vice Conful are appointed with falaries fufficient to fupport their rank and dignity, but not permitted to trade on any pretext pretext whatever: confequently they act with more impartiality between the mer chants and natives. The Vice Conful is a check upon the Conful, and if his behaviour is liable to reproach, it is his indifpenfible duty to inform the Chamber of Commerce, The reverse is practifed by the English. -Confuls are fent out with fmall falaries, and fome without any. They are permitted to trade; their office gives them creHit, and protects their perfons from arreft; they are liable, by misfortunes in bufiness, and often, by mifconduct, to become bankrupts. This hurts the dignity of the nation, and makes it a reproach in foreign countries. In the course of very few years feveral British Confuls have become bankrupts, and, making most fhameful dividends to their creditors, have been pointed at, as they went through the streets, with there goes the bankrupt Conful." The English Conful appoints his Vice Conful, who has a very poor pittance arifing from perquifites and other fmall fees of office; and as he is liable to be difmiffed by his fuperior on the moft trifling occafion, can be no manner of check on the Conful. As an Englishman, jealous of my country's honour, I fhould be happy to fee thefe matters under fome better regulation, being perfuaded if they are not, the little trade remaining to us in the Mediterranean and Levant, will, in a fhort time be loft. The British nation formerly poffeffed a great fhare of this trade, but it is now dwindled to a fhadow; and, I may venture to say, by bad management alone. On my return to England I was extremely concerned to find the board of trade abolifhed; an inftitution, if well directed, effentially neceffary to a country like ours: 1 am of opinion if it was again established, and proper perfons, well acquainted with commerce, to prefide, it would be attended with great advantages, particularly at this time, when new fyftems of trade are forming, which will in a great meafure change the face of commercial affairs, not only in the eaft, but in many other parts of the world. I beg leave to add, for the information of fuch of my readers who have not vifited Marfeilles, that from eight hundred to one thousand veffels are employed from this port, in the Mediterranean and Levant trade, making feveral voyages in the year. It is imagined that France gains more by this trade than by any other branch of her commerce; the quantities of woollen cloth fhipped from Marfeilles are fcarcely credible, the whole Levant being clothed by the French. Their local fituation, it must be confeffed, gives them very great advantages over the English; but these have been ftrengthened by proper attentions paid to their articles, particularly to the colours of their cloths, which are in great esteem among the Turks. They import to Tunis, Spanish wool, coffee, fugar, fpices, cloths, linens, and a great variety of other goods: Exporting corn, oil, wax, hides, filk, and other commodities the produce of the country. I am forry to fay, that there is not an English commercial houfe, of any degree of note, from Algiers to Alexandria in Egypt. The Spanish wool is worked up into Berretti, or small fcull caps, by the Tunis cap makers, who fupply the whole Levant with this article; which indeed makes one of their principal staple manufactures: the blankets, hykes, burnooles, and other woollens, being chiefly made at Sufa, Sfax, and along the eastern coaft. There are looms for filks, velvets, &c. but as thefe articles are not made in fufficient quantities for their own confumption they are chiefly supplied from France. The kingdom of Tunis is fuppofed to be one hundred and eighty miles in length, and two hundred and fifty in breadth, fituated in a fine whole fome air and fertile foil, faturated with faline particles of fo loose a contexture, that very little labour is required in the cultivation of it; a yoke of oxen being fufficient to plough an acre in a day. It produces corn of all kinds, except oats, in the greatest abundance. After the firft rains, which generally fall about the tenth of October, and continue, with great violence, for eight or ten days, they begin to fow wheat, and barley a month later; the harveft falling the latter end of May, or the beginning of June. If it rains for two or three days in the beginning of April, the crops are generally fecure, and the harveft plentiful; but failing of fuch fefonable fhowers, which fometimes happens for two or three years together, great diftrefs enfues; no magazines of any kind being provided. The entire fubmiffion which they pay to the will of God, and their firm reliance on his providence, make them imagine fuch 3 Pa pre The Conful's drogoman affured me his family, confifting of himself, his wife, his wife's mother and a maid, all expences included, amounted to no more than twenty-five pounds fterling per annum. A book formerly belonging to Mr. Laurence, British Conful in the year 1722, which contains an account of his expences, make the amount fixty-four pounds sterling, for the yearly maintenance of ten or twelve perfons in family; provifions are confiderably raifed fince that time. The expences for the family of the prefent Conful, then confifting of 14 perfons, amounted to two hundred pounds fterling per ann. The Bazar or receptacle for merchandize where the different crafts carry on their trade, is of great extent, divided into quarters, covered over to fhelter them from the fun and rain. Each trade in general works by itself, as taylors, fhoe-makers, &c. The Jews, who have the whole of the filver bufinefs in their hands, make a large affortment of articles for this place, and the inland country, all very coarfely fabricated, these have their diftinct Bazar. Iufed frequently to vifit their quarter, to buy medals; as moft of the gold and filver medals fall into their hands, being brought by the country people, who fell them for the intrinfic value of the metal. Great numbers of medals are found in this country, particularly after the heavy rains in October, some of them worthy the attention of the curious. Mr. Molinari, late Swedish Conful, had a fine cabinet of medals and engraved ftones, many years collecting by the family of his lady. I am informed, fince his death, they have been purchafed by the King of Sweeden. The inhabitants of this country, who are true Iconoclaftes,, mutilate and deftroy every noble remnant of antiquity. When they find a medal, their method is to fpit upon, and fcour it with fand, and thereby commonly deface both the figure and legend. The Jews are very numerous at Tunis, being computed at thirty thousand; they have their fynagogues, and are governed by two Alcaids, chofen from among themfelves, and approved by the Bey, The fame cuftom prevails here as in the Levant, that no bufinefs is tranfacted without their meditation, they being the general brokers. They are, however, for the most part poor, and ill treated by the Moors, whom they dare not offend. Such among them as have property, make but little appearance with it, The market for black flaves is held on Friday in the Bazar, on a place like a ftage, raifed about three feet with benches round, and a platform in the middie, to walk them up and down and fhew their limbs to the purchasers: no Christian is allowed to buy a black flave. I have feen many among them, of both fexes, with fine regular features, very different from the Guinea blacks. Thele people are brought to Tunis from the interior parts of Africa, by caravans which come regularly once a year, but from what part I could never learn. I was informed by a merchant, that they were five months on their journey, bringing oftrich feathers, gold duft, flaves, gums, and a variety of other articles, which they fell and exchange for goods proper to carry back. The bagnios both for men and women are numerous and much crowded, frequent wathings being an effential-article of the Mahometan religion. The expence of the bath each time is at the moderate price of two afpers. The coffee-houfes are chiefy kept by Greeks; the coffee ufed by them is from the french iflands; and the price, an afper a dish. The houses of the European Confuls, all fituated near the Eaft or Sea Gate, are comfortable good dwellings, The Fenduc or Factory of the French nation, confifting of feveral commercial houfes, is inclofed within their own walls, and governed by a Conful and Vice Conful, appointed by the King, under controul of the Chamber of Commerce at Marseilles. As I am on this fubject, I beg leave to make fome few remarks refpecting their trade. In almost every port of the Mediterranean and Levant to which a veifel can approach, or where there is a probability of trade; the French have a Conful or Vice Conful. Ships of war are cruizing to protect their veffels from pirates, which are common on thofe feas. The Conful has a code of laws for his rule, and merchants and captains of veffels are under his controul. The port fees are moderate, confequently not burthenfome to trade. The difference between this method of acting and that of the British Confuls, caufed a very intelligent perfon to remark, that it appeared to him, the French Confuls were fent out for the protection of trade, and the British Confuls for its oppreffion. The French Conful and Vice Conful are appointed with falaries fufficient to fupport their rank and dignity, but not permitted to trade on any pretext |