1^6^. Agricultural tnteWgencs, ^4^ 



advanced. If a cultivation fuperlor to that of former times had 

 not been generally introduced, and the produce of a given fpot 

 of ground confiderably augmented, it is obvious that the great 

 body of ngriculturifts would inevitably have been ruined by the 

 circumilano*'s condefcended upon. 



Cattle and (lieep, of all defciiptions, continue to maintain high 

 prices ; and it is probable that a greater rile will ftill take place 

 in the market value of thefe articles. Under this head, it may 

 be remarked, that the value of buteher meat bears a greater af- 

 finity to the value of money, than other articles of farm pro- 

 duce ; which is a circumftance that feems to deferve invefliga- 

 tion. Were we difpofed to hazard an obfervation upon the 

 caufes which have depreffed grain below its value, we would put 

 a confiderable weight upon the tendency and operation of our 

 corn laws, which, though apparently calculated to keep prices 

 from finking, do, in reality, prevent a fair and equitable rife. 

 The limits, which we devote to this branch of our work, do 

 not fufFer us, however, to enter upon fuch an inveftigation, though 

 it may afterwards be taken up. We may only add, that, when 

 the reftricSlion againft importing cattle from Ireland was remov- 

 ed, the molt of Englifii graziers thought the breeding trade of 

 England would be annihilated, as rents and every other thing 

 were lower in the former country. No fuch event however has 

 taken place •, and, in like manner, it is highly probable that a 

 Tree corn trade would be attended with beneficial confequences. 

 We are hoftile to every rellraint upon trade, uniefs fo far as the 

 public revenue is concerned ; and believe, the alone way to make 

 any trade flourifh, is not to interfere with, or flop its progrefs 

 hy fifcal regulations. 



We obferve, with a good deal of fatisfa6tion, that Govern- 

 ment are now difpofed to confider the internal improvement ot 

 the country as an object of importance j and, affuredly, the fcenc 

 fmgled out for their firll operations, is judicioufly chofen. The 

 Highlands of Scotland cannot be improved by ordinary exertions ; 

 and no private fortune is equal to the great and itupendous under- 

 takings that are in contemplation. AVithout extraordinary alTift- 

 ance, the Highlands, in the courie of a few years, w^ould have 

 been reduced to a mere ilieep wafle ; but by the meafures now go- 

 ing to be fet about, the moll beneficial meliorations may, in pro- 

 cefs of time, be accompllihed. By making roads, building brldgeSj. 

 and, in fa6l, rendering the country acceifible, a door is opened 

 for the introduction of trade and manufa<L'lures ; and, at ail c- 

 vents, employment is in the mean time provided for the defti- 

 tute inhabitants. We confider the Caledonian Canal as the 

 mod ufeful and public-fpirited work ever undertaken in Britain ; 

 and venture to predial, that it will be regarded, by future hif- 

 toriansj as the moft promineT^t meafu.re of the prefent reign. 



X/^wio 



