On the Corn Laws. 159 



There never was any plan of a corn law, that seems to unite so 

 many important advantages. 



It is now generally believed, that as soon as the new Parliament 

 assembles, a great exertion will be made, on the part of the manufac- 

 turing interest, to get the corn laws altogether abolished, and to put 

 an end, even to that scanty protection which the landed and farming 

 interests now enjoy. There never was such infatuation ; for it can be 

 proved, that these ungrateful manufacturers, chiefly depend, for the sale 

 of their goods, on the home market ; and that it is from the purchase of 

 their fabrics, by British subjects, that their prosperity chiefly arises. 

 It is, in a very inferior degree indeed, that they are benefited by foreign 

 demand. 



In order however, to prevent the ruinous consequences that would 

 necessarily result, from the unlimited admission of foreign grain, the 

 following resolutions, are submitted to the consideration of those, who 

 are anxious to maintain an opposite system. 



Resolved, 



1 . That it is in the highest degree unjust, and even absurd to expect, 

 that the rents and profits derived from British agriculture, shall be 

 expended in the purchase of goods produced from foreign materials, 

 while the manufacturers of those goods, resolve to encourage the con- 

 sumption of foreign agricultural produce, and insist on the repeal of 

 those laws, which have been enacted for the protection of domestic agri- 

 culture. 



2. That those manufacturers, on inquiry, must be convinced, that 

 the home market is therr best resource : That the destruction of British 

 agriculture, would be ruinous to themselves ; and that a dependence 

 on foreigners for their food, is the most hazardous of all speculations. 



3. That all shopkeepers, and dealers in manufactured goods, be in- 

 formed, that it is incumbent upon them, to point out to the manufac- 

 turers with whom they deal, the ruinous effects, that would necessarily 

 result, from the conduct they propose to adopt : That if these manu- 

 facturers are successful in their attempts to destroy British agricul- 

 ture, it would terminate in their own ruin ; and that the manufacturers 

 of Great Britain, are never in so prosperous a state, as when its agri- 

 culture flourishes. 



4. That if any attempt is made, in the approaching Parliament, to 

 destroy, or even to diminish, the protection which the agricultural in- 

 terests of Great Britain and Ireland now enjoy, the agricultural classes 

 of the empire must unite, in counteracting it ; and that petitions ought 

 to be presented to Parliament, from every parish in the united king- 

 dom, against any attempt to destroy, or materially to impair that pro- 

 tection, which British agriculture ought to enjoy : And, 



5. For the purpose of preventing the purchasing of goods, manufnc- 

 tured by those who apply to Parliament, for enacting measures so 

 ruinous to the general interests of the empire, that those shopkeepers, 

 who promote so destructive a system, shall no longer be dealt with by 

 any friend to agriculture. 



