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price of grain too high, above one year. Bui 

 whenever the corn crop is fo fcanty, as to be 

 able only to fupply the prefent demand, thci> 

 the merchant, by {hipping it from one port 

 to another, may raife the price very high ^ 

 and the more fo, when a very large quantity 

 is bought up until the prices rife : And thus 

 a number of rich merchants, by combining 

 together, may caufe an artificial dearth for 

 fome time. 



Another reafon of the increafed price of 

 provifions is, The great increafe of money, 

 particularly paper currency. 



Befides the money in the hands of noble- 

 men, gentlemen, merchants, and manufac- 

 turers, the bank and bankers of England, 

 and thofe of Scotland, deal annually to an 

 immenfe fum, producing an artificial circu- 

 lation, greatly above the real wealth of the 

 inhabitants. This money is rnoftly given to 

 merchants and manufacturers ; a very fmaft 

 part being laid out on improvement of farms, 

 which of itfelf is enough to raife the price of 

 provifions. The effect of this fictitious wealth 

 is, that luxury has arrived at a very high 

 pitch, and all ranks of people live in a mere 

 expenfivc manner than fbrmer: 



Thr 



