NOTES. 8!> 



23 There is an ingenious Essay on this subject, by Dr W. Richardson, in the 

 Philosophical Magazine, vol. xlviii. p. 262. 



24 Public lectures on agriculture, if discreetly composed, and intelligibly de- 

 livered, doubtless possess, among others, the following advantages : They are 

 calculated to abridge the labours of the attentive inquirer, and to direct the ge- 

 neral course of his researches, so that it shall be more easy, and more successful 

 than otherwise ; to solicit his attention, not only to what is confessedly of im- 

 portance, and generally studied, but likewise to many new discoveries and im- 

 provements as they rise ; and likewise to direct his thoughts to other particulars, 

 which, though they may have hitherto obtained little, if any regard, are never- 

 theless of material consequence. Lectures also have a tendency to enliven the 

 mind, to afford some relief from the tedious irksomeness of solitary study, and 

 to fix more strongly in the memory, both the principles of agriculture, or rather 

 husbandry, as a science, and its rules as a practical profession. Coventry' '$ Dis- 

 courses, p. 3. 



25 It may certainly appear at first .sight extremely hard, that a large propor- 

 tion of the community should be obliged to pay a price for the first necessary of 

 life, so much above that at which it can be imported from other countries. But 

 we must take into consideration the ruinous consequences which would result 

 from a free trade in grain ; for when individuals are left at liberty to pursue a 

 gainful commerce, the general interest of the community operates little on their 

 proceedings. Thousands would be deprived of work, the distresses of our po- 

 pulation would be fearfully augmented, and whilst bread might be cheaper, the 

 many, from want of labour and adequate wages, would have it less in their 

 power to become purchasers. To shut out foreign grain, may be an evil, I 

 mean not to question ; yet much as I deplore the necessity for importation, I 

 verily believe, that it is against the general interests of the working classes, to 

 suffer foreign corn to come into the country, below the average price at which 

 it can be raised in Britain. CurwerCs 'Report, p. 7. 



26 In the 8th Report of the Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges, 

 ordered to be printed in March 1817, there is an abstract of the proceedings of 

 these Commissioners, since the year 1803, a period of about 14 years. During 

 all that time, they have only expended about L. 200,000 of public money, the 

 rest arising from private contributions, with which they have made, about 950 

 miles of road, and 1 100 bridges. That includes L. 42, 175 for surveys, and ex- 

 pense of management. This is only at the rate of about L. 1 4,285 per annum. 

 How any one can question the policy of continuing so trifling an expenditure, 

 while required in any part of the united kingdom, can hardly be credited. Fre- 

 derick the Great, from the moderate income which Prussia afforded in his time, 

 laid out no less a sum than L.300,000 per annum, in promoting such public im- 

 provements. What then ought not to be done with such a revenue as Great 

 Britain furnishes? 



27 These suggestions have been fortunately adopted, an Act having been 

 passed in June 1817, " To authorise the issue of Exchequer bills, and the ad- 

 " vance of money, to a limited amount (L. 1,500,000), for carrying on Public 

 " Works and Fisheries in the United Kingdom," &c. which, there is no doubt, 

 under proper management, will be attended wi'.h the most advantageous conse- 

 quences. 



28 The Harbour Commissioners have received in all, from the balances aris- 

 ing from the forfeited estates in Scotland, L.25,153. With only L. 20,010 of 

 that sum, they have already, either made, or improved ten harbours and a canal, 

 the remaining expense being paid by subscription. Is it possible to lay out pu- 

 blic money more advantageously ? and why should not so useful an expenditure 

 be continued ? 



29 The Bedford Level Corporation is an example of that sort in England. 



30 Cromwell followed the same system. To promote agricultural improve- 

 ment, he gave L. 10O per annum, (a large sum in those days), to a farmer of 

 the name of Howe, in Hertfordshire, to encourage him to introduce turnips and 

 clover into that county. Herts Ite]>ort, p. 55. 



h 



