"HIGH PRICE OF MEAT. This alarming circumstance is not owing to any real scarcity of oxen, sheep, or hogs, but, partly, to a combination among the carcass-butchers in the wholesale markets, and the salesmen in Smithfield, who fix the prices, and who regulate what quantity of cattle shall come to town: and, partly, to a very shameful practice among the retail butchers, especially where a contract is made to supply a family at so much per pound for the year. When the butcher has made his contract at 5d., 5-1/2d., or 6d., he can make a very great profit, although, as is now the case, he can purchase a carcass at 7-1/2d. in the wholesale markets: and the mode by which he does this, is in defrauding his customers of the due weight, to which the person, who attends to see the meat weighed, too often connives at, for a Christmas present, or an Easter gift. The weight, no doubt is in the scale, at the time of weighing: but when the meat is put by, in order to be sent home, a considerable part is purloined: and it is a well known fact, that, in these large lots, the same leg of beef(?) has been weighed to, perhaps, ten or twelve families, in the same day, and not sent to any of them. The leg is considered as the most convenient for this theft, because it is so large, and is, when weighed with the lot, hung on the end of the beam of the scales, from whence it is taken down, and thrown, not where it ought, with the meat, but to another part of the shop. If this was not the case, how is it possible that a butcher can make a livelihood, when he buys 2d. per pound dearer than he sells? The fact speaks for itself. The mode which all families should adopt, is to weigh their meat when it is sent home."--(_Times, July 3, 1795._) * * * * * "A few days ago, 11 acres of growing wheat, belonging to the Duke of Hamilton, in Scotland, were sold at £20 per acre. This species of forestalling, we fear, is now too generally attempted, which is evidently most injurious to the community, viz., 'to buy corn growing in the fields.' This practice, surely, has a direct, and apparent, tendency to enhance the present price of corn: also, that of 'selling corn in the sheaf.' We think it expedient, however, to notify, that both these practices are deemed highly criminal by the 'common law of England,' and for which the offenders may be indicted, and punished, as they deserve, with great severity, viz., by fines, pillory, and imprisonment. See _Inst. 197_: also _Hawk_ c. 30."--(_Times, Aug. 19, 1795._) * * * * *