fleeces as abound in hairs, however fine the wool itself may be in other respects, are rejected by the manufacturer, and bring a much smaller price than those which have no hairs among the wool. He will therefore in the same manner try to get rid of such sheep as produce coarse wool, or wool that is intermixed with hairs; and thus these kinds of sheep will gradually disappear in those regions. But in colder climates where the unmanufactured wool, unseparated from the skin, is made use of by the natives for clothing, fine clean wool will not be so valuable in many cases such as is coarser or more hairy. To them it is the quantity and strength rather than the fineness of the wool that constitutes its value. Accordingly we find that among the Russians and Finns they prefer to all others such fheep as produce coarse fhaggy wool resembling the hair of goats, as being warm, and more durable than they are. The natives therefore rear these coarse-wool-bearing sheep rather than any others.

Thus it happens that from the operation of moral causes alone, and not in the least from the physical effect of climate, coarse hairy wool may be expected to be found alike in the regions that are exposed to the extremes of heat, and of cold; though from the same causes, we can only expect to find fheep that carry very thin fleeces in the warmer parts of the globe.

The substances treated of in this essay, which spring from animal bodies, and which agree with vegetables VOL. Xviii.

I I

Dec. 18. in their gradual growth, in their want of animal sensation, and in their reproduction after they have been cut over, may be reducible to the following classes.

Horns, hoofs, nails or claws, &c. bristles, hair, wool, feathers, down, quills, like those of the porcupine and hedge-hog Of a doubtful nature, as being uncertain whether they possefs animal sensation or not, though they doubtlefs vegetate, are tusks of the elephant, walrus, &c. scales of some land animals, and most fishes, fins and fhells both of land animals and fishes. These last have somewhat the appearance of being excrementous concretions. Of a nature certainly pofs fsing animal sensation, though they in peculiar circumstances advance in size, as vegetables are, spurs, like those of the cock and some other animals, the combs of cocks, and several other fowls, wattles, spines of the sea urchin, sea egg, and many others, &c. It would be desirable to have the distinguishing characteristics of each of these accurately described, and their peculiar qualities ascertained.

An attempt has been made in this efsay to discriminate wool from hair, and to distinguish several kinds of hairs from each other, which may serve as a slight commencement of these disquisitions.

ON THE DELAYS INCIDENT TO THE COURT

OF SESSION.

Continued from p. 181.

To the Lord President of the Court of Session.

MY LORD,

LETTER XI.

BESIDES excluding suspensions on uninstructed counter-claims, other two points would be gained by the alterations proposed in my last. No time would be lost in finding caution.* And no second or third bills of suspension would be presented, either to gain time for reclaiming, or on new allegations in point of fact.

An exception would no doubt fall to be made as to second bills of suspension in some particular cases.For example I may be charged for a debt that was due by my ancestor or author, and may present a bill of suspension, on grounds of law, and after my bill has been refused, I may discover that the debt has been paid, and may even find a discharge of it. In such a case it ought surely to be competent to present a second bill of suspension, and to produce the discharge along with it.

I made mention to your Lordship of a difficulty about fixing a time for lodging answers to a bill of

* I have known a year consumed, before the caution was either received or a certificate issued that no caution w nd.

Dec. 18suspension. When a sist is intimated to the "charger, from thence forward, he may lay his account with lying out of his money probably for years. He cannot therefore be so very sollicitous to put in his answers without a moment's delay. moment's delay. On the other hand the suspender has no desire to push forward the matter, as his sist is deemed valid until his bill be refused.

I have even known it happen, that the suspender never thought of intimating his sist at all, but kept it about him to protect his person and property, while the charger was balancing in his own mind whether to proceed to ultimate diligence against him

or not.

Matters often ly over so long, sometimes after a sist, and sometimes when a bill is past and no caution found, that the creditor rather than take the trouble of tracing the former proceedings, follows the illegal mode of giving a new charge, so as to bring forward his debtor with a new bill of suspension.

There is nothing in effect to compel a suspender to intimate his sist within any given time; or indeed to intimate it at all, if his own situation can admit of the contrary; and consequently no time is laid down, within which, the charger must put in his answers.

*

If the sist were once intimated, a charger in any part of the kingdom, could lodge his answers within a month after the intimation, failing of which, the

* Although the deliverance upon a bill of suspension appoints intimation to be made, yet that, as explained by practice, means only that the bill shall not be passed without being intimated.

clerk might be ordained to get the bill passed, and have the caution received in absense.

The principal bill and sist are, by act of sederunt, kept under the power of the clerk to the bills, it being only a certified copy that is sent to the country for intimation. An injunction to the clerk would be punctually followed, as the contrary might affect his character and might induce an injured party to seek redrefs by an action against him.

He might also be ordained to have the bill refused in case no execution of intimation be reported to him, and no copy bespoke, within one month from the date of the sist. But if a copy is bespoke or answers lodged, that ought, as at present, to be held equal to an intimation. And the date of marking for a copy, ought to be distincly kept by the clerk, so as the time allowed for lodging answers, may run from that date.

When a bill of suspension is thus refused the clerk ought to be strictly prohibited from receiving a new bill against the same charge, or rather against any charge, for the same debt. And thus the suspender would very justly be left to pay under protest, and betake himself to the remedy of an acz tion of repetition.

A useful regulation might I think, be made for compelling a suspender to expede, execute, call, and inroll his letters, each within a reasonable space, and a similar regulation to expedite the executing calling and inrolling of summonses, under pain that the instance fhall perish. Whereas these matters are left at present with the pursuer of the suspension or