AN ADDRESS, &c. 



Persuaded of the utility of annually laying before our 

 Society, a condensed view of the progress of Agriculture at 

 home and abroad, and other subjects connected with the ob- 

 jects for which our association was formed; with such cir- 

 cumstances and events as may tend to improve them, that are 

 likely to prove injurious, or that may furnish hints for obvi- 

 ating their effects in future years, I determined to address 

 you on the present occasion* 



Permit me previously to treating on domestic affairs, 

 to notice the extraordinary change that has taken place 

 with respect to the state of agriculture in Europe, in the 

 course of the last year. During the continuance of a war 

 unexampled in the annals of the ancient or modern world, 

 for the number of the victims that have fallen, for the 

 extent of the measures taken, the means employed to 

 carry it on, and for the change of policy in those who have 

 at various times been engaged in it; the extra demand for 

 every species of food, especially of a vegetable nature, oc- 

 casioned by the fair consumption of man and beast, and the 

 unavoidable waste that takes place in armies and navies, 

 necessarily caused a ready sale, high prices, and sometimes 

 great scarcity, especially in England, which notwithstand- 

 ing its justly boasted Agriculture, seldom raises enough ve* 

 getable food for her internal consumption:* but still, the 



* See Appendix A„ 



