105 



The rapid rate at which the enclosures increased in 

 each reign, shows the augmented demand for productive 

 land ; still, all this did not suffice to supply the increasing 

 wants of the community, and we have, ever since, been 

 gradually becoming an importing country. During the few 

 years preceding 1800, M'Culloch gives the average import 

 as one million of quarters of all sorts of Grain ; but this 

 included all the importations from Ireland. During the six 

 years ending 1845, according to the account affixed to Mr. 

 Baines's recent Pamphlet, our imports have averaged five 

 millions of quarters ; and this is exclusive of the supplies 

 from Ireland, which, on an average of years, have been equal 

 to 2,600,000 qrs. of Wheat, Oats, and Barley — making 

 England and Scotland import a quantity equal to 7,600,000 

 qrs. At the same time, we have been importing large quan- 

 tities of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Poultry, Eggs, and other 

 eatables from the Sister Country ; and last, not least, our 

 home production, owing to the improved modes of agricul- 

 ture, has been enormously on the advance. 



Before I conclude my reference to this part of the sub- 

 ject, I wish to call your attention, in detail, to the 

 rapid increase of the population of the country, under a 

 system of trade and commerce which gives such expectation 

 of employment, as a strong proof of what I have advanced 

 on the subject of our wants and requirements. In the first 

 instance, then, I shall take the 150 years preceding 1750: 



During the first 100 years, say from the year) g22 7f) g 



1600 to 1700, the increase was only J ' 



Or equal to the increase in the present 



times of 18 months only. 



In the 50 years, say from 1700 to 1750, it was... 905,168 



Or equal to about the present increase in 4 years. 



After the peace of Paris, 1763, as before stated, our com- 

 merce and manufactures extended rapidly ; and we have — in 

 spite of Wars and Famine, and also Emigration, to no small 

 o 



