4 22 Mr. Wimpy on the Impropriety of allowing 
The farmer ftands on the fame ground as the 
manufacturer : every article of his farm ftands 
him in a certain price; and, if he cannot fell it 
for a profit, lufficient to maintain himfelf and 
family, in time he muft wafte his capital, and 
come to ruin. Suppofe he cannot grow wheat 
under four {hillings a bulhel, which is about the 
average coft: it is evident, he muft fell it for 
more than four {hillings, or he lofes by that 
article. Now, if the bounty (as the advocates 
for it maintain) lowers the price, is it poftible to 
conceive, that it fhould encourage the farmer to 
extend its culture ? Or rather, is it not felf- 
evident, that it would not only difcourage 
his fowing corn, but neceftitate him to difcon- 
tinue the practice, to fave himfelf from ruin ? 
Put a fimilar queftion to any Gentleman here, 
who is verfed in manufactures of any kind. 
Suppofe a Velveret ftands him in four {hillings 
a yard : fo long as he can fell it for four {hillings 
and fix-pence, or five {hillings, he will be 
encouraged to make as much as he can : but let 
any meafure be adopted which falls the price to 
three {hillings and fixpence, would he not 
immediately relinquifti that branch, and betake 
himfelf to fomething elle ? Surely he would. 
And, why Ihould not the farmer, for the very 
fame reafon, abandon the planting of wheat, 
when the bounty has lowered the price fo, that a 
buftiel, which ftands him in four {hillings, he can 
only 
