ON DRAUGHT OXLN. 1 25 



their intcrpofition ? and anon, during an ex- 

 ceffive plenty of corn, and large flock of pigs, 

 will not they be fo juft as to acknowledge the 

 general obligation to their old antagonills, for 

 their alTiftance in relieving the markets by dif- 

 perling the furplus? Thefe regulating gentle- 

 men might^confer much greater benefits upon 

 our commerce^ than ever fuch have done, by 

 opening offices for the fale of bladders of fair 

 wind to the induflrious mariner ; in a fcheme 

 of that laudable and rational nature, their 

 negative merit might be confiderable, fince 

 their utmoft a6livity could do no mifchief, 

 even though they {liould rival in reputation 

 xht femines fages of Lapland! 



But this is a fubje6l which, in truth, joking 

 does not befit, and gentlemen ought ferioufly 

 to refleft on the nature and tendency of oeco- 

 nomical regulations, which may affe6l indivi- 

 dual and general property in fo confiderable a 

 degree, previoufly to an attempt to faften them 

 upon the country. Befides, this is to touch a 

 firing, which unfortunately feems deRined 

 never to vibrate but to the tune of barbarous 

 and vulgar prejudice. Not only are farmers 

 and dealers in corn and cattle exclufively to be 

 condemned to arbitrary reilriclion, in their 

 liberty and property, but they are made refpon- 

 fible even for the goodnefs of the feafons. 

 Does a wheat crop rife light ? Oh, it is nothing 

 4 but 



