XVm IKTRODUCTION. 



" rialfy^le/Ien the growtli of corn, to the very great injury of 

 " the community ; and that late experience of the high 

 " price of grain proves, that the country cannot fpare any 

 *' part of its arable." 



On the ftrength or fuppofed ftrength of this objeflion, 

 feveiai gcnilemen adually rcfufed figning the petition to 

 Parl'iuaiPnt from this Society, for a general Inclofure 1 ill. 

 Narrow and inconclufive reafoning! J.et us appeal to the 

 cominon fenfe of mankind in general, and to the recollec- 

 tion of the aforefaid gentlemen in particular, IVhy at any 

 time has the fanner changed his arable into permanent pajlure? 

 ** Becaufe," fay they themfelvcs, " he can make more of it, 

 *' tithes being IciUcned, — and the demand for tlie produce of 

 " pafiure is fuppofed to be increafed." For the prefent, we 

 will wave the confideration of tithes^ that we may mention 

 them more difdncStly by and by, and combat here the ge- 

 neral reafoning, " becaufe he can make rnore of his land in 

 ^ f.aflnre" And is not this very reafon a clear proof that 

 the country wants fucli additional pafture ? Had there been 

 no fuch ward^ no fuch fupcrior doiicnd^ for that kind of 

 produce, the land would not yield the fuperior profit. The 

 demand at maiket proves the want, and juOifies the change — 

 and a progrefTive change too, till the profits become more 

 crjual. And it is moft certain that fuch a change will be con- 

 tinued, fo long as the ftimulus of greater profit lafls. High 

 as the price of corn has been, our argument fuppofes, and 

 it is notorious, that the produce of pafture lands, in milk, 

 butter, checfe, and meat, has been high alio,— has advanced to 

 a ferious and alarming height, — calliiig aloud for an addition 

 to that fort of land, in order to increafe the quantity of its 

 produce. The prices of thofe articles now, on a comparifon 

 with thofe of corn, might fupply the place of all argument 



on 



