Xiv INTRODUCTION. 



is clearly the hS: ; for it is demonfirable by argument, and 

 abundantly confirmed by experience, that fiich lands, when 

 inclofed and improved, (and great improvement is the con- 

 fequence of inclofure) will yield abundantly more produce 

 per acre in grafs, and abundantly more value in corn, and 

 other intervening crops, than they ever did, or could do, in 

 their open and neglected ftate. This is a facl too evident 

 to be denied. And if a greater quantity of food be pro- 

 duced, is it produced to be eaten or deflroyed ? To be 

 eaten mofl certainly; and that chiefly for the fubfiftence of 

 man, immediately or remotely: tliat is, partly for imme- 

 diate confumption as human food ; and partly for the fub- 

 fiftcnce of a greater number of cows, to produce milk, 

 butter, and chcefe; and for feeding a greater number of 

 horned cattle, (heep, and fwine, for the general confumption 

 of the country. 1 he greater the number raifed and fed, 

 the greater mufl: be the number brought to market — and in 

 proportion to fuch a fupply at market, will be the general 

 reduclion of prices for all the different articles : juft as the 

 plenty of manufactured goods, brought to market, or 

 brought into the general ftock, will tend to keep down the 

 prices refpe^tivcjy, be the manufaclure what it will. The 

 manufactures of Manchefier and other great towns may 

 ferve as a proof of this, notvvithftanding the prodigious ex- 

 portation of thofe commodities. This argument from fadl 

 will appear the more conclufive to our purpofe, when it is 

 confidered, that the different articles of corn are pofitively 

 prohibited from exportation, till the price falls to a certain 

 (landard, which is generally conlidered as fufficientiy low. 

 Whenever the price rifes again above the ftandard, expor- 

 tation ceafes by the a£l of Parliament. The language of 

 complaint, indeed, is not uncommon, in dear times, that, 



notwithftanding 



