Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/53

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

[ 41 ]

" The goods brought into this port coastwise arc also very considerable; but it is almost impractica- ble to give any account or statement thereof, as they consist of all the various articles of English mauu- factory, and general merchandize, required for the use and consumption of the neighbouring country.

" The advantages resulting from the trade of this port are numerous and important. The article of eggs is a curious and lucrative branch of trade here. They are brought from all parts of the country on both sides of the Tweed in carts and in panniers. Great numbers are brought from about Hawick, Selkirk, and all the adjacent country. Most of the money received by egglers is spent in the town for groceries and other articles. The grocer who deals in eggs has often a double advantage by this traffic; for first he has a profit on his groceries, and secondly on his eggs. He no sooner ships his eggs, and writes to his merchant in London, than lie draws upon him, and receives his cash at the bank. The sum paid yearly for eggs in this town may, on an average, be estimated ;it 2o,oool. The number of chests of eggs sent from hence to Lon- don, from October 1797 to October 1798, was 5254 chests; and ^8,396 quarters of corn.

" We are much disappointed that we have noi obtained an account of the quantity of grain ex-

�� �