To The Editor Of The Time...
The Times, 1824-02-21T00:00:00

Sir,-ln imv frnrmer lctter I statel the comparative result (upon a general average) of the two modes of purchmaing coals-by "pool meiasure," or " whIarf measure ;" and that upon fair re-r ncasure- inet, the latter wvouldl be foundi deficient in one-tenth part of the quantity annually sold in Lonlon. I ain quite certain thi8 btate- mimemit is not overcharged. i have also stated that coals arc ronic- times deliveret froni the ship " bRTe," that is, without the legal in. rain. This pract cc is not however, so comnion as in the case of iouarkecpcra (contradistingutim.hcd to great consuniers, sichi ast brewerrs, distillers, or retailers) ordermng "4 ponl miieasure" coals, wshen it is culstomary with snor coal-merch7ants or dealers to (direct five or six sacks, more or less, to he taken ftom each room according to its quiantity, at some favourable opportunity, and apply them to their own uie, and titen deliver the remaining quantity as and for " pool mneasure." This abuse prevails frequently where it is; little suspected, and of coure rmeders the vender liable to an infor- mmmtion from the mlen who are empl6yMd in this nefarious transac- tion, and who are generally, on such occasions, requited with an allowance of beer; but asbuld any one of them institAte pyoceed. ingi, the insatter is generally coimpounded, anid the inan din- charged from the wvharf wvhere the transaction occurred, branded with the name of informer, and his conduct exposed and circulatedf among the trade. It will no iwbe proper to make a fe vobservations on the practices of the " retailers," and to whom the poorer dasses must necessarily apply for their daily or weekly consumption. believe there is no law that determines the height of the heap of any measure of )es-s dimensions than a bushel, and as the opportutnity for fraudl increascs in proportion as the measure diminishies from the vat to the peck or half peck, al of wlhich are mathemnatically and relatively correct up to the rimn (and must receive the legal stamp before they are usCe), the inalpractices that prevail aniong thc retail dealers fall with mucreased effect upon the labouring and poorer classes of the comrninity, without tihe liope of detection or remedy.. An inmmense proportion of the nunual iuportation into the port of London is consumed by the lower classcs, and I will ven. tursto say that they are defrauded to the extent of one sixth part of their consurmption at least. A retailer w6ho purchases Si chaldrons of " pool measure" coals, will frequently eke them out to seven chal- drons, by buthels, pecks, or halt.pecksa I have made many expe- timents from csal-sheds and am certain of the fact. This is eertainly I a great evil. What should we think of being defrauded to the extent I of onesixth part of our annual consumption of meat, bread, or beer, and of baving no law to detect or punish the malpeactices of thioas who supply us with these necessaries of life ? But witl re- sopct to eog!st purchased in small quantities, whIich are as esFentia] to the existente and cometfort of a poor man as the former, there is ro redress for fraud. Your intellient correspondent Ce earbo" has anticipated me in his remarks on tbie improper advantage sluch the proprietors of some of tbe collieries have taken of the nowinisal dis. tinction of" WMall's.end coals." Fornerly there was but one sart of coala dcsignated " Wall's.end." Thes;e having proved the mnost va. luable the owners of other mines have christoncd their coal* "Wall's.end," with only the distinction and addition of their sur. namesc. The object of this device is transparent enough; but, the most lamentable consquience is, that it opens another door"for fraud in quality, in addition to quwIntity, and of wlich hun- dreds of unprincipled venders avail themselves. How oftin do we see the 'est " Wall's-end" coals advertised for de- livety at a less price than 'they caim le purchased at the caal, sisaricet- It is ridiculous to suPPdee that any municipal reI ltior cart suppress tlis abe Some Jeghlativz enactment shoula nne. diately alter this t"it3 4VD, u lusO dlitkt. to the interest of the publie, and ftbt-Wthe ovmsers I theorinal "'WaIl'sl enid" colliery; andVroAi;9tAi?erett eoals,from.beig sold in future under similar names, at'(ie .iuket or elsewhere. I will now notice the renmark f *2baksr scortrepondent, that. " in. pssing over -o..e of the bridges, i'b teer uvw therbushel used in filliag the.sckie from tire barges " ' The bushe is of16 more uAe in det r_ta g the iiuntity of coal#, than the ftbL on a bihdih 1rnow wrte, andt tC e chxrge of metage altogether nw ibsurd imposition; for it is dailv b2aid in hbndreds of inatances dhiere the bushel has not been used. The tnen wlisl business it is to fill it, lknowttbat the sack will deter- mine the quantitylquiteas welt,andthat its usemerely occasions therm more trouble without aey coasenuent advantage to the purchaser, constatitly throw it asidk, tahen l hy ,auppoee themselves to be ua observed or tbwen the metex is -lictigent or om'shore. It is only serviceab}e, a a shield or covring- for fraud,.toan unprincipled vender; thc known probity of a coalmcrchlri1t iroisid be a :smueb better dependete e,aind the dinmensions of the 64k 4uits as good a crt -tt Iasinct-give better rioofin:ilOst-titiOiithisB fAc than. cnthe ibug.xtret ron the 9M& tagoe ofthe cQ ?47th Geo is hietebltuthosieei sd '1 4 dli' Iesd1ng oitlse acks of 8,~ ' snlmtuch kot: ela1tae an aafItnf?~ of all o any of suchsaAt *S, used ina udi loading, before such -mk shall be fille or 1kad I. "Or in ase it shall appear to such me- tert according to tie bat of *auch ncter'% judgnment, that any sack br used lilloadngan suchcosls door.donot contain,wbenloaded, sh the o,undty, of three buhels of coeils) it shall and may be lawful to and for iacblneter ep refd&itox.aunteraign the ticket or dickets by this stctdirect&d.jb bc, delj -', &c. Here the &d pre' ta,r,ues,,a,nd a^T that ih ' elf affici.nt- to contaihr=an un-iemter's 3U2ul t ~~ h nty oT hre~ busbels o,f coh,r ~hi IfI -in e wapcL-mk. I a- X'wepjined eed~~ ofll~~~e ~ keoiT&de', 'all of wMhi~ ~~~ 4 ~ ~ ~~~~ Prme,tbiistince ot .5 t ortlierc is t 'one. Wtierc le'one4 a tid fiuiddit,' IffebI.:b4vIe2 ~. 'nhd it." AlLD 7COGALMERCHANT, * Feb. 19,124 M ' TO TIHE EDITOR OF TUE TIIE .