Review of Literature. 
sphere of our attention: for, in strictness, 
it is no part of our plan to notice a any pub- 
lications that are not sent tous, or do not, 
by some, other means, fall in our way im- 
mediately on their publication ; and, Mr. 
Rooke’s'»:‘ Inquiry” had. been. several 
months before:the public before it came into 
our hands. Considering it, however, from 
the rapid survey we were then able to take 
of it, as aawork abounding with valuable 
reaterials for occasional illustration of such 
questions of political economy, as might 
occasionally demand attention, we have 
kept it constantly in our view; and are now 
happy» in, the opportunity aiforded us of 
saying) a few words concerning it in 
this its proper department. The ‘‘ Claim’ 
(which may serve the purpose of a 
brief analysis of the subject-matter of the 
book) asserts the title of Mr. R. to the 
original promulgation of seyeral of the doe- 
trines now in highest estimation among 
that small but highly respectable knot of 
writers, lecturers, and agitators, of such 
topics, in and out of Parliament, generally 
designated by the title of “The Political 
Economists :” such as the opinions— 
«« That the annual price of agricultural labour is 
the. best criterion by which we can ascertain the 
value of money in different periods of time;—that 
the rent.of land is the surplus of the price of the 
labour, and the due profit of the capital employed 
in the cultivation; —that the average price of corn is 
regulated by the cost of producing it on the worst 
class of soils which the demand brings under til- 
‘lage, &c.” 
And the’ claim is thus made out. 
“* Tcommenced, in The Farmers’ Journal, in July 
1814, a course of Essays, immediately connected 
with Questions on Political Economy. These essays 
are upwards of fifty in number, and contain the sub- 
stance of my work on National Wealth: many of 
them occupy more than a page of closely printed 
‘matter in that Journal; in some instances as much 
“as two pages, and allof them bearing the impress of 
those views whicli I have recently published in a 
raore arranged and connected form. The first of 
these Essays, published July 4th 1814, entitled, ‘An 
Examination of the Cause of the Rise in the Price 
of Corn,’ was intended to shew that the price of 
agricultural Jabour is ultimately regulated by the 
rate at which foreign trade brings money into the 
‘eountry, and that the expenses incurred in the va- 
rious processes of raising corn (and which constitute 
‘the cost of production) ultimately regulate the 
‘price of that corn... Thesecond and third Essays are 
‘a further illustration of this doctrine; and the latter 
‘of them, written in October 1814, published February 
14th 1815, contains a laborious table, by which I at- 
tempted to prove this part of the subject, by shewing 
that the price of Jabour, and that of corn, on an 
average of years, usually bear a proportionate rate to 
each other. The fourth Essay, written in November 
‘1814, published February 20th, and (in continuation) 
“March 20th following, ' contains the outline of the 
‘doctrine on rent, in which I described, ‘ rental as the 
overplus produce, after deducting the expenses of hus- 
-bandry and a due return for the employment, of capi- 
tal.’ This proposition however is somewhat modified, 
aud more fully examined in my late work.’ In this s- 
say, it is also said, that * population, and our limited 
supply of Jand, require that’ oily should be ¢culti- 
» ficial ‘Palate, invented by the Author. 
635 
vated which are capable only of returning the ex- 
pense of cultivation and the remuneration of capital.’ 
The fifth Essay, addressed to Arthur Young, Esq., 
proposed agricultural labour as the most correct and 
fair standard by which the annual rent of land could 
be regulated,—entering in full into all the matter of 
that doctrine, which was expounded eight years 
afterwards by Mr. Malthus, in his ingenious pamph- 
let, ‘On the Measure of Value.’—Having had these 
Essays inserted in the newspaper already alluded to, 
without interruption, I- proceeded to enter upon 
other topics of more general inquiry, and took part 
in various controversies then carried on; and, finally, 
in these Essays, left scarcely any point, contained 
in my work ‘ On National Wealth,’ unexamined.— 
My work was published October Ist 1824; and a 
copy of it was transmitted to Mr. M‘Culloch, in 
Edinburgh, without loss of time.” 
Of the work itself, the ‘ Inquiry,’’, we 
recommend to the especial attention of the 
landed interest chapter the fourth, in parti- 
cular,—wherein the author lays down and 
illustrates the following propositions on the 
effects of the corn laws. 
‘© Prohibitory regulations against the importation 
of the corn, and other farm produce of foreign coun- 
tries, into countries that have a natural demand for 
such produce, have the following effects :—Ist, 
They restrain and keep down population below its 
natural limits. 2d, They restrain the natural expor- 
tation of merchandize, and disable the people of 
those countries which naturally export corn from 
purchasing the productions which would be received 
in exchange for corn. 3d, In consequence of 'check- 
ing the division of labour, and of obstructing co- 
operative industry, they are opposed to the accumu- 
lation of national wealth, and to the more efficient 
powers of production. 4th, As a consequence, they 
prevent individual labour from exchanging for so 
much of the metals of coinage as it would otherwise 
do, and force down the prices of every commodity 
of which labour forms a component part of the pro- 
ductive cost; and they diminish, therefore, the price 
of corn, and all other farm produce. 5th, The rent 
of land is uniformly raised in price and value by the 
importation of foreign corn; and  restrictions’are, 
therefore, very detrimental to the landed interests. 
Gth, As the importation of foreign corn has a, ten- 
dency to advance the price of labour, together with 
the price of corn, so prohibitory regulations of this 
description are only favourable to the annuitant and 
monied classes of the country.” 
If the facts and arguments advanced oy 
the author in support of these propositions, 
can bring conviction to the bosoms. of the 
Janded proprietors and agriculturists, fare- 
well to all opposition, even. of narrow- 
minded self-love and arrogant cupidity, to 
the repeal of the homicidal Corn Laws. 
Practical Directions for Preserving. the 
Teeth: with an Account of the most modern 
and improved Method of supplying» their 
Loss ; and a Notice of an improved Arti- 
JL 
lustrated by Plates. By Anvraw Crank, 
Dentist. 8vo.—This is one of those books 
written by a professional man upon’a’ pro- 
fessional subject, which, as it evidently _pre- 
sents the results of some experience, may be 
yead with profit by all those who haye most 
cause to feel an’ interest in the subject ; 
but it is also, and for the very same reason 
4M 2 (i.e. 
