52 



In articles of consumption primarily ne- 

 cessary, a reduction of prices in a great 

 measure, if not entirely proportionate to the 

 certain reduction of income, has, as we have 

 seen, already taken place: the attention of 

 every man, who has his country's good at heart, 

 should now be applied to promote and expedite 

 the reduction of articles of secondary necessity, 

 and of mere convenience and of habitual and 

 general use, to the lowest scale of charge which 

 will reasonably compensate for their production. 



The individual acting alone can do but 

 little: the exertions of individuals acting in 

 concert, and impelled by public motives, may 

 do much ; but if the Sovereign of these realms, 

 in whose breast benignity has a constant abode, 

 prompted by the suggestions of his own capa- 

 cious and penetrating mind, were to direct those 

 entitled to his confidence, to survey and exa- 

 mine, with the assistance of competent persons, 

 possessing practical knowledge and upright 

 minds, the details of his personal expenditure, 

 in order to select and correct those items which 

 would admit of reduction of charge without 

 imputed insufficiency of compensation, whether 

 in wages or in rate of payment for articles of 

 consumption or use ; the opportunity which he 

 would thus acquire, of aiding the operation of 



