INTRODUCTION. XIX 



on this fubjeft. The prices of corn are again very confider- 

 ably reduced — far more fo, in proportion, than the prices of 

 pafture produce. How has this fuddenly happened ? — plainly 

 becaufe, high as pafture produce v/as, ihe call for corn had 

 become more loud and alarming, and the good fenfe of the 

 farmer prompted him immediately to give an aciditiunal quan- 

 tity of his land and labour to the increafe of corn. He 

 fuppofed, with reafon, that fuch a change would, in its turn, 

 pay him better. Much, undoubtedly, is due to the laudable 

 exertions of government, in offering liberal bounties for the 

 importation of corn and rice, which produced by anticipa- 

 tion a confiderable check in the prices, and afterwards a 

 moft feafonable fupply; the enterprifing fpirit of our mer- 

 chants, quickened by the alarm in the nation, lo far feconded 

 the exertions of government, as to effedt importations from 

 countries where grain and rice were high — for indeed they 

 were no where cheap, — and inftead of gain, much partial 

 lofs muft have fallen on many importers. Thus the 

 general reafoning of farmers, and the fpeculation of mer- 

 chants, concurred to the fame end. 



Whether a general fcarcity in moft ether countries, 

 (where the popular complaint of large farms, and over- 

 grown farmers, cannot be affumed as the caul'e) has 

 arifen from the wafte of warfare in turope, from uniliilful 

 farming, from the too fmall quantity of land in tillage, 

 or from a combination of moft of ihofe caufes, the con- 

 fidcration is ftill ferious, and demands all pofl'ible attention. 

 But let it be remembered, as a maxim moft found and 

 general, that fcarcity of grain has not been^ cannot hjve been^ 

 occafioncd by a culpable negleil of individuals to cultivate the 

 growth of grain, in preference to pajlure. Such could not 

 pofliblj' have been the fa6l, unlefs ideas of compenfation 



can 



