246 on manufactures and agriculture. Dec. 1g. 
and stablity of the state, much mote effectually thaa | 
by the other plan of conduct? ’ 
No one will deny that it is the number of the active 
and industrious inhabitants of a state, that in all cases 
form the truest criterion of its resources and strength; 
and it will be readily admitted that if the same num- 
ber of men can be supported in the operations of a= 
griculture, and the arts of internal economy depend- 
ing upon it, as in manufactures, the’ first will be 
more uncorrupted in their morals, more regular in 
their conduct, and more steady in their industrious 
exertions, than the latter. It follows, then, that the _ 
more the agricultural clafs of citizens can be increased, 
the better it will be for the state ; and of course we 
ought toconclude, that this increase fhould suffer ne 
bounds to be set to it, but that of the pofsible pro= 
ductions of the country. 
Nothing can be more certain than that the produc-= 
tions of a country can be augmented by human ex-. 
ertions ; and that this increase of produce can, by 
judicious management, be gradually augmented, in a 
in a country which admits of being cultivated, al- 
most without any lhimitation*. If these facts be. 
admitted, it will follow, that by due attention to cars 
. ry forward improvements in agriculture, the popu» 
lation of a country may be gradually increased to an 
indefinite degree, and the people still find abundant — 
subsistence from the productions of their own fields}. 
* These positions it is supposed will not be denied by any one who 
has meade this subject a particular study. Should they be disputed, the: ” 
writer will endeavour to support them when it fhall seem necefsary, 
