WOOL.

In consequence of petitions from the woollen manufacturers of
Westmoreland and Yorkshire, two bills were brought in, and passed
through both houses, by which the ports of Lancaster and Great Yarmouth
were opened for the importation of wool and woollen yarn from Ireland;
but why this privilege was not extended to all the frequented ports
of the kingdom it is not easy to conceive, without supposing a little
national jealousy on one hand, and a great deal of grievous restraint on
the other. Over and above these new laws, some unsuccessful endeavours
were used in behalf of commerce and police. A bill was offered for
laying further restrictions on pawnbrokers and brokers, that they might
no longer suck the blood of the poor, and act as the accessaries of
theft and robbery, which was canvassed, debated, and made its way
through the lower house; but the lords rejected it as a crude scheme,
which they could not amend, because it was a money-bill, not cognizable
by their house, without engaging in a dispute with the commons. Another
bill was prepared, for giving power to change the punishment of felony,
in certain cases, to confinement and hard labour in dockyards or
garrisons. It was the opinion of many who wished well to their country,
and were properly qualified to prosecute such inquiries, that the
practice of consigning such a number of wretches to the hands of the
executioner, served only, by its frequency, to defeat the purpose of
the law, in robbing death of all its terror, and the public of many
subjects, who might, notwithstanding their delinquency, be in some
measure rendered useful to society. Such was the motive that influenced
the promoters of this bill; by which it was proposed, in imitation of
that economy practised in other countries, to confine felons convicted
under certain circumstances to hard labour upon the public works of the
kingdom. The scheme was adopted by the lower house, but rejected by the
lords, who seemed apprehensive of its bringing such discredit upon
his majesty's dock-yards, as would discourage persons who valued their
reputation from engaging in such employment. Of still greater importance
to the nation was the next measure proposed, in a bill for making the
militia of England more useful, presented by Mr. Thornton, a gentleman
of Yorkshire, who had distinguished himself by his loyalty and
patriotism. It was canvassed in a committee of the whole house, and
underwent divers amendments;