520 Permanent and Substantial Improvements. 



twenty years, and no less a sum than twelve millions, in one 

 year, to procure food for its inhabitants ! 



The celebrated Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, has most 

 ably explained the advantages to be derived by agriculture, 

 from such public encouragement, in the following words : 

 " The agricultural improvements which have hitherto taken 

 place amongst us, have been by the expenditure of private 

 wealth ; but the country cannot be brought to that perfection 

 of cultivation, of which it is capable, unless individual efforts, 

 are aided and accelerated, by public wisdom and munificence. 

 I boast not of any particular patriotism, but I would willingly 

 pay my share of twenty or thirty millions of public money, 

 to be appropriated by the legislature, to the agricultural 

 improvement of Great Britain and Ireland. This appears 

 to me, to be an object, of far nearer concern to our inde- 

 pendence as a nation ( 33 ), than any extension of commerce, 

 or any acquisition of distant territory ever can be. If the 

 time had fully come, when an unproductive acre of land 

 could not be found in either of these, our fortunate islands, 

 we shall then have food within ourselves, for the annual 

 sustenance, of at least thirty millions of people ; and with a 

 population of thirty millions, what power in Europe, or 

 what combination of powers, will dare to attempt our sub- 

 jugation ( 34 )?" 



May these considerations be listened to by those, who 

 take an active part, in conducting the government of this 

 great empire ; and may some effectual steps be taken, by 

 encouraging cultivation and improvement, in the manner 

 above suggested, or by such other means as may be judged 

 most useful, not only to prevent, what is justly accounted 

 the greatest of all possible calamities, scarcity or famine, but 

 also to promote the future permanent welfare and happiness 

 of the people ! 



JOHN SINCLAIR, 



In the 79th year of his age. 



133. George Street, 



Edinburgh, 

 1st October 1832. 



