306 THE BEE, OR Ftb. 23, 



average price of that comtnodity, as nearly the fame as 

 poflible, and as low as clrcumftances can permit. The 

 regulations which tend in the moil effectual manner to 

 do thefe things, are without doubt the beft ; and it is 

 fuch a fyllem alone that ihould obtain the fupport of 

 every patriotic member of the community. As to the 

 plan calculated to keep the prices of grain permanently 

 higher than they rriight otherwife be, if ever fuch a 

 plan was devifed, it ought to be reprobated with horror 

 by every honeft man ; or if it could be carried into pracr 

 tice, it ihould be guarded againil with the molf anxious 

 folicitude. The attempt, however, I tliink, would be 

 equally vain, as impolitic and villainous. 



Agriculture is a manufadlure, and muf}, like other 

 manufaftures, be carried on at a certain expence of 

 Hock and labour ; which expence, muft be repaid by the 

 price of the produce, otherwife the bufinels cannot be 

 carried on. The fame reafoning, therefore, that will 

 apply to manufactures in general, will alfo apply to 

 agriculture in this refpecl. 



There is perhaps no pofition lefs generally liable to 

 exception than this : " That the furefl way of bringing 

 any branch of manufacture to the very lowed price th&t 

 it can poiribly be afforded for, is to provide fuch a 

 inai'ket for that article as can never be overftocked ; fo 

 that manufacturers, however numerous, flnall be. always 

 certain of getting money at the time they find it ne- 

 ceilary^ without being obliged to let the goods lie long 

 on hand, or to fell them greatly below prime coft." The 

 reafon for this is plain. When a manufacturer finds a 

 conilant ready market for his goods, he Is at liberty to 

 extend his bufinefs as far as he finds it convenient, and 

 to ad'ipt every contrivance for diminifhing the expence, 

 that ingenuity, aided by a fuitable capital, can devife ; 

 and f'.i the riik in this ca(e is inconfiderable, he is con- 

 ten's.;;'. w!th a much frraller fliare of profit, than would 

 be nectlTary to ir.duce him to engage in any branch of 



