1782, NORFOLK. 103 



barley is eight Ihillings, wheat twenty-two fhil- 58, 



lings, and beef four (hillings to four fhillings FARMERS. 

 and fixpence ; yet, in thofe days, farmers had 

 plenty of money, and actually increafed in 

 riches -, whereas, now, they are moneylefs, 

 and arc every year finking in poverty. 



To explain this paradox feemed difficult ; 

 the price of day-labour is fomewhat decreafed ; 

 fervants wages the fame, now, as then ; houfe- 

 keeping fomewhat more expenfive, as to the 

 price of its particular articles ; but, upon the 

 whole, it is not more fo ; for farmers, principal 

 farmers, now keep lefs company than they did 

 in thofe times. One of them obferved, that he 

 pays the fame price for a coat, and the fame 

 for a fhirt, he did formerly ; and as to market 

 and other perfonal expences, he is .clear that 

 among capital farmers they are lefs now than 

 they were then. The poor's rate, it is true, falls 

 heavy at prefent; but he fays that he pays only 

 fourteen pounds now for what he then paid ten 

 pounds : this therefore is not of material confe- 

 quence ; and this excellent hufbandman, fenfi- 

 ble and well-informed as he is, feemed willing 

 to affign the caufe to fome inexplicable hid- 

 den myftcry. 



H 4 At 



