208 Plan for establishing a Company for the Cultivation 
It cannot be too much inculeated in favour of any plan for em- 
ploying the poor in husbandry, that there is this essential distine- 
tion between it and every other mode of occupying them; that by 
cultivating the soil, Foop, the great object of human labour, is 
directly obtained ; while, by industry of any other kind, it can 
only be procured indirectly, and by means of exchange. 
In regard to the minutiz of the plan;—the district where the 
land is to be rented or purchased ;—the buildings necessary to 
accommodate the labourers ;—the manner in which they are to 
be paid or maintained ;—the nature of the crops to be cultivated ; 
—the manner in which the produce is to be disposed of, and 
other minute particulars, it would be in vain to attempt to en- 
large upon them at this time, as they must depend on such a va- 
riety of circumstances, and can be safely confided to those who 
are placed in the direction. 
Conclusion.—There néver was a period when such an institu» 
tion was so loudly called for, nor when‘ there was so favourable 
an opportunity for carrying it into effect. In fact, unless some 
great measure be undertaken, to furnish the unemployed poor with 
a means of subsistence, by their own labour, the other classes of 
the community will not long be able to maintain them, and some 
fatal convulsion must be the necessary consequence: whereas, if 
this plan were adopted, an example of successful improvement 
would be exhibited, which would soon be imitated in every other 
part of the kingdom, and it would probably spread with a ra- 
pidity of which there is no example in history. Its success, how- 
ever, depends on the skilful application of a large capital; for, 
in many cases, if only 5/. per acre is expended, the money may 
be lost; whereas, by laying out 15/. per acre, the whole expense 
may be repaid in the course of one year. 
On the whole, there is every reason to hope, if no other ad- 
vantage were to result from the proposed plan, this object, at 
least, might be obtained; that the poor would soon be enabled to ~ 
raise provisions for their own sustenance, and no importation of 
foreign grain would in future be necessary ;—even that would be 
an inestimable advantage. But, if the plan does succeed to the 
extent that may be expected, a foundation will be laid for improv- 
ing every. acre in the kingdom, capable of yielding any valuable 
production ; and all that floating capital which might otherwise 
remain either unemployed at home, or might be sent to foreign 
countries, from the difficulty of placing it out to advantage, might 
thus be laid out in promoting the cultivation of our own country, 
and in ameliorating the condition of its inhabitants. 
Ormly-Lodge, Ham Common, Surrey, Joun SINCLAIR. 
January 12, 1819. 
APPEN- 
