iSoo. ^he Rin'al Inquirer > 243 



To a perfon in the leaft degree acquainted with the ftate 

 of Britain in former times, the great difference in the mode 

 of living among the majority of the people, would be a fatif- 

 fa£lory inftance, that a much greater extent of produce is 

 now required to fupport an equal population, than what was 

 neceffary even within the fliort period of our remembrance. 

 In the f.TJ} place, The demand for butcher meat is at leaft 

 twice as great as it was twenty years ago : this is confirnaed, 

 not only by general obfervation, but by the fales in the dif- 

 ferent markets, as well as the fuperior weight of the animals 

 therein expofed. This increafed demand has occafioned a 

 greater quantity of land to be thrown into pafture than for- 

 merly ; under which fyftem it is evident, that a given fpace 

 of land will not maintain one half fo many people, as when 

 employed in producing corn crops, and efculent roots, idly. 

 The increafed number of pleafure horfes, and thofe employ- 

 ed in hired carriages, arifing from the growing profperity of 

 the country, occafions a confumption of much grain j which 

 in former times, would have gone to the fupport of the 

 people. 



Hence it appears, that a greater fpace of ground is now 

 required, not only for fupporting the number of cattle and 

 flieep adequate to the fupply of the markets, but alfo for 

 producing corn, fo as the crops may be equal to the average- 

 demand. Had luxury arrived at its prefent height, without 

 being preceded by an increafe of culture, it is demonftrable, 

 that the produce of the country, even in the beft years, 

 could not have fupplied three fourths of the prefent extenfive 

 demand. 



An increafed population is the fecond caufe which has pre- 

 vented improvements from reducing the price of provifions. 

 Upon this point, we are well aware, that feveral political 

 writers entertain fentiments unfavourable to this opinion i and 

 that it is fcarcely poflible to remove their obje6lions, with- 

 out an actual numeration. This has already taken place in 

 Scotland, though perhaps not fo correctly, in many indances, 

 as could be wifhed •, and the refult fully confirms the ge- 

 neral ideas formed by us upon the fubje6l. But, to fpeak to 

 the population of Britain. To whatever quarter we turn 

 our eyes, we fee an increafe of trade, an increafe of manu- 

 factures, and an increafe of fliipping for carrying on the 

 coafling trade, and tranfporting our commodities to foreign 

 markets. We difcern public works of every kind going brifk- 

 h forward, while a greater number of failars and foldiers are 



A a 2 employed 



