334 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



tinually intermingling themselves in the affairs of nations, as 

 well as of individuals, which defy equally man s sagacity to 

 understand, and his power to control ! 



3. MORAL VIEWS OF THE QUESTION. Having stated, with 

 what impartiality I am able, the principal commercial and 

 financial arguments in the case, on both sides, I feel that there 

 are views of this subject, of a moral character, to which I may 

 without impropriety refer. The question is considered by many 

 as a great question of humanity, which I shall endeavor to look 

 at in the light of a calm philosophy, if I may make any preten 

 sions and I am certain they must be of the most humble char 

 acter to such a lofty gift. I hope my readers, even among the 

 parties most deeply interested, will approach it in the same spirit. 

 I believe, from my personal knowledge of many of them, that 

 there is as ample a share of real benevolence for the poor, among 

 the advocates of the corn laws, as among their opponents ; and 

 men of this high character will listen with patience and with 

 eagerness to any discussions of the subject which may serve to 

 correct wrong impressions, if wrong impressions exist, or to make 

 the path of duty more plain, if at present it is in any degree mis 

 understood or overshadowed. 



4. PATRIOTISM AND PHILANTHROPY. It may be supposed 

 that, as the citizen of a comparatively young and growing 

 country, anxious to extend its profitable commercial relations 

 in all directions, and spurred on with an eager and breathless 

 avarice. stimulated, by an enterprise every where left free to be 

 exerted, and by natural and social advantages of an extraordinary 

 character, to enrich itself by the wide disposal of the products of 

 its industry and its virgin soil, I should be most anxious for the 

 admission of these products into England under the most favor 

 able circumstances, and should be the strenuous advocate of 

 free trade, certainly on the English side of the water, which is 

 about as far as any man s impartiality may be expected to go. 

 I plead guilty to a strong attachment to my own country, and a 

 most ardent desire for her prosperity ; neither of which senti 

 ments has suffered the slightest abatement by my protracted 

 absence, and my familiarity with other countries and other 

 institutions. But I am not conscious of any interested views 



