,# Discourse on Agriculture. xv 



Modern times fully display the truth of ancient positions. 

 In European countries enjoying the greatest share of free- 

 dom; in that particularly from whence our ancestors emi- 

 grated, and brought with them many of our best principles of 

 liberty and law; agriculture is in a high state of perfection. 

 And it is fortunate for the people of that country, that such is 

 their knowledge in this art, that they are enabled to substitute 

 other esculents in place of wheat, or, as they term it corn, 

 both for men and domestic animals. For it appears, that ow- 

 ing to ceaseless wars, over-manufacturing, tithes, poor-rates 

 and difficulties in obtaining the right to enclose and cultivate 

 their wastes and romnioiiB, they had, in twelve years prece- 

 dent to 1814. necessarily imported 700,000 quarters of wheat, 

 annually; valued, for the twelve years, at 30,000,000 of 

 pounds sterling, for their own consumption. What additions 

 to their importations have since occurred, I Ikivc not recent- 

 ly examined. To encourage their agriculturists, at the ex- 

 pense of the consumers, they are now compelled to enact re- 

 strictive laws, regulating the import; having by precedent 

 laws regulated the export of corn. Whether these are salu- 

 tary, or not, great differences of opinion exist among them. 

 Such laws do not often reach, but generally defeat their own 

 objects ; and, by recent accounts, it appears, that the British 

 corn laws verify this observation. Buonaparte, who aimed at 

 a lead in every thing, destroyed his project for filling France 

 with Merino sheep, by forbidding their exportation ; whilst 

 no such prohibition is there imposed on agricultural pro- 

 ducts.* 



France also exhibits an additional instance, that even par- 

 tial freedom and agricultural prosperity go hand in hand. For 

 although she has been, by wicked and visionary political em- 



* A restriction upon the exportation of corn, after it rises to 29 shillings 

 (British sterling) per quarter, has lately been established in France. The policy 

 of this measure is yet to be tested. It is agreed, even b\ advocates for restrictions, 

 that free interchanges would be best. But temporary circumstances, and fears 

 of dependence on each other, have introduced restrictions, In countries which 

 for ages past have been jealousandconflictingrivals. National jealousy is blood- 

 less warfare. 



