a89 



Sect. 2. 

 072 the Abundance of FrovifionSi and Agriculture. 



I cannot forbear recommending, in the ftrongeft terms, the encou- 

 ragement of agriculture, as one of the means, of encouraging and pro- 

 moting all the manufaftures of the country. In the firft place, it is 

 a prime objeft, to fecure to the manufa£turer, an abundance of the 

 beft provilions, on the cheapcft terms ; and, for the attainment of this 

 end, we muft look to agriculture. Were I to enlarge on this topic, 

 as its importance deferves, I fliould far exceed the bounds allotted to 

 this paper. In the next place, it is to be obferved ; that we muft 

 look to the hufbandman, and the fliepherd, for the raw materials of 

 our moft important manufaftures. The former fupplies us with flax and 

 hemp ; the latter with wool. An abundant fupply of food, for our ma- 

 nufafturers, is alfo offered by fiflieries, which may be carried on, with 

 great advantage, from all the fliores of this kingdom. Every encou- 

 ragement, therefore, which is given direftly, to agriculture and fiflie- 

 ries, by encreafing . the fupply, and diminilhing the price of food, is 

 indireftly an encouragement to every branch of manufafture. 



The alarming profpefts of famine, to which this, and the neigh- 

 bouring country, were lately expofed ; fliould lead us, to the adoption 

 of fome meafures, which might, if poffible, deliver us from the ap- 

 prehenfions of fuch a national vifitation, in foture. Might it not be 

 prudent, to eftablifli public granaries, one in each county ; where grain 

 of all kinds might be ftored up, when the market price fliould be low, 

 for the purpofe of being fold out to the poor, in times of fcarcity ; 

 at a rate fomewhat enhanced, fo as to pay the intereft of the firft 

 coft;, and the charge of management. Thefe depots might be fo re- 



VoL. IX. ( O o ) gulated. 



