J 800. The Rural Inquirer, 245' 



augmentation of produce arifing from a fuperior cuItlvatioHj 

 which may fafely be calculated at the fame extent, it will 

 appear that Britain now produces one fourth more food for 

 man and beaft, than it did fifty years ago. 



Now, if thefe improvements, fo much complained of by 

 the Noble Lord in queftion, had not been made, what would 

 have been the inevitable confequences ? Precifely thefe : ei- 

 ther one fourth of the inhabitants would have been obliged to 

 emigrate, or a quantity of provifions, equal to what is gained 

 from the modern improvements, mud have been imported 

 from other countries, at an expence greater than the balance 

 of trade in favour of Britain could poffibly defray, and which 

 in time would have impoverifhed the country. Under pre- 

 fent circumftances, it is obvious, that a ftill greater portion 

 of wafte land ought to be brought into a (late of cultivation, 

 to meet the progrefs of trade, luxury, and population : and 

 we venture, without fear of contradiction, to affirm, that 

 whenever this extent of improvement accomplifhes a depre- 

 ciation of rents, or reduces the price of provifions below their 

 ordinary level, that then the profperity of Britain is on the 

 decline; that trade and manufactures have met with a check; 

 and that population is decreafing, from a want of employment 

 to the ufual inhabitants. 



We have, in this Number, deviated from the line marked 

 out in our firft Paper ; but before we defcribed the different 

 modern improvements, we thought it abfolutely neceffary to 

 afcertain, whether or not thefe improvements contributed to 

 promote the real welfare and profperity of the country with 

 which we are conneded. R. 



FOR THE farmer's MAGAZINE. 



j4 Rural Sketch of the County cf Lancaf.er. 

 " Tempus in agrorum cuitu confumere dulce est. " Ovid. 



It is eafier to fubmit to the toil of travelling, than to 

 turn travels to folid advantage. An intelligent, induftrious 

 mind, can never be a lofer by a change of place and circum- 

 ^.ances. Much individual profit may be reaped, yet httle 



A a^ may 



