502 On the Means of Improving a Country. 



the soil, (and the facts are established beyond contradic- 

 tion), what source, either of domestic industry, or of 

 foreign commerce, can in any respect be put in competition 

 with such a mine of wealth, when extended over a great 

 empire ( 6 )? 



2. But the prosperity of a nation, as already observed, 

 depends not only on having a great marketable surplus, but 

 also on its disposable produce, fetching such a price, as to 

 encourage reproduction. This was the case during the last 

 war ; and hence the nation was enabled, to persevere in it 

 for so many years, and finally to bring it to a successful 

 conclusion. By means of a great surplus of agricultural 

 productions, sold at a high price, the farmer and his land- 

 lord were placed in a condition to pay very heavy taxes to 

 government ; to engage in improvements of every descrip- 

 tion ; to furnish employment to a numerous body of labour- 

 ers, to whom the price of bread was of little consequence, 

 while work was always to be had, at wages proportioned to 

 the price of corn ; and to consume immense quantities of 

 merchandize, and articles of manufacture, by means of which, 

 those two branches of national industry were supported, 

 when they were in a great measure deprived of foreign mar- 

 kets. History does not furnish an example of a nation, 

 which abroad, made such incredible exertions, while at home, 

 so many millions of people, enjoyed all the necessaries, 

 the comforts, and most of them the luxuries of life ; the 

 whole originating in prosperous agriculture, without which, 

 our manufacturing industry, our commercial relations, or 

 the necessary operations of our finances, could not have 

 been carried on. 



3. Nor is it alone sufficient, that the farmer should have 

 a price adequate to promote reproduction : he should like- 

 wise have such a command of capital, (arid if it must be bor- 

 rowed, to be attainable at a moderate rate of interest), as 

 will enable him to carry on his business with energy. In- 

 deed, where capital or credit is joined to skill in agriculture, 

 it lays the foundation of general prosperity. It will not be 

 disputed, that a hundred persons may be put to the greatest 

 inconvenience, because one individual at the head of a chain 

 of circulation, cannot pay one hundred pounds. Enable 

 him to pay that sum, and progressively, those connected 

 with him are relieved, " But it is the farmer who is the first 

 " link, in the great chain of national circulation." When 

 he is supplied with money, he is enabled to pay his rent re- 

 gularly ; his landlord is thus enabled, not only to employ 



