XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
principles of political ceconomy are intimately connected with 
the landed intereft of the ftate. The more fuch topics are 
confidered, the better they will be underftood; and the more 
the publick mind is enlightened on thefe effential fubjects, 
the better will individuals, who have the power of acting 
fpontaneoufly, be qualified to difcharge their _publick and 
private duties, as members of the commonwealth. ‘The 
larger the aggregate is: of fuch private political wifdom, the 
greater will its weight and importance be found, in aid of 
the general adminiftration of government; the lefs will be 
neceffarily committed to the hazard of publick fpeculation— 
the lefs to the poffibilities, to which every period is liable— 
the uncertain and unftable theories of inexperienced ftatefmen. 
A radical knowledge of the true principles of general 
_ plenty, population, and content, in the country diftricts 
through the nation, will beft qualify country gentlemen to 
a&t in parliament with fuccefs; and to maintain that impor- 
tant dignity to which they have the moft natural and proper 
right. Their language in the fenate will affume a propor- 
tionate tone of rational authority, founded in knowledge 
and experience; and prove the grand counterpoife of mere 
academical and theoretic elocution. The confidence of the 
nation may, under fuch aufpicious circumftances, be ex- 
pected to reft, on a large fcale, with fuch experienced men; 
and the happy increafe of their number through the nation, 
would render the tafk infinitely more difficult than hereto- 
fote for adventurous perfons, little known but in the circles 
of trading monopoly, and wealth, to fupplant them in the 
important periods of parliamentary election:—a fource of 
danger this to the real interefts of a great agricultural, as 
well as trading, country, from which it is to be feared many 
difadvantages have long been felt to arife, without the 
means of an adequate remedy !—But to return to obferva- 
| tions 
