lyp;. parliament. Corn bill. \y^ 



in life, have no opportunity of examining matters of this 

 kind with their own eyes, and who, from the stations in 

 government they occupy, must be supposed to be under 

 the fascinating innuence of artful men, who, witli a view 

 to promote their own emolument, may find a temptation to 

 represent facts in such a light, as may best suit their pur- 

 pose. Without derogating, therefore, from the abilities 

 of these gentlemen, or attributing to them any sinister 

 motives, for giving the report they gave, we may freely 

 investigate their opinion \ and from the facts that have beea 

 afiigned by them, examine how far it is properly founded. 

 The only fact they have alleged as a foundation for these mo- 

 mentous conclusions is, that Britain does not at present pro- 

 duce food enough for Its inhabitants, commiinibus annis. Now, 

 without stopping to inquire if tills fact be sufficiently au- 

 thenticated, it requires but a very small degree of know- 

 ledge in rural oeconoraics, to perceive that no such infe- 

 rence can be drawn from it, although it were true ; and 

 a very slender knowledge of history will be sufficient to 

 prove its fallaclousnefs from experience. The following 

 plain fact, that can be sufficiently authenticated by thou- 

 sands of witnefses now alive, will clearly prove, that 

 though a nation iliould not at present be capable of main- 

 taining one hundredth part of Its people, by its own pro- 

 duce, yet, in a very few years, by judicious management, 

 it may be pofsible to produce enough for all its ov,a 

 people, and much to spare to afsist others who have occa- 

 sion for it. The fact is this : 



Not a great many years ago, many hundreds of acres of 

 ground, in the neighbourhood of the tov»n of Aberdeen 

 in Scotland, were in such a deplorable state of barrenncfs, 

 that they could not have been let at the rate of one Ihil- 

 ling an acre. While in this state, the produce of an hun- 

 dred acres coulll scarcely have been sufficient to sustain 

 Cine person for a year. 'I'he same laud has been so much 

 improved of late, as now to yield a rent at the rate of 

 from three to six pounds Sterling an acre *. It was for- 

 merly a barren waste only, consisting of stones and bog:;, 

 with scarce a pile of giafs upon it. It now carries tiic 

 most luxuriant crops of corn ; so that, on many occasion;!, 

 the produce of one acre, would be sufficient to sustuia. 



• Obitrvc, it is the Scots acre that is meant,4ofwliich are nearly v(^\ji 

 to 5 Eni;l'.iTi, ind neither tihca nur poor's races •.ir- p.: J o'Jt ofiu 



