the Second Letter of Inquiry. 1 1 g 



America (which appears likely to increase); and probably shuulJ no restriction in- 

 terfere, our growth will be superseded by foreign. The importation has hitherto 

 been, I understand, under a regular duty of 6s. per cwt. Should you think. Sir, 

 that the growth o^ clover seed is, upon tlie whole, a benefit to the several coun- 

 ties you are acquainted with and interested for, I would beg to submit, ivhether 

 our increasing the provision for seeding, and to circulate pa;/ or all of the money 

 we send (wholly from our agriculture) to a foreign market, among the tillers of 

 our own soil, might not be a national benefit ; it would certainly be profit to our 

 farming. In consequence of the representation tliat has been made to him, Mr. 

 Western, M. P. for Maldon (who is one of the Corn Committee) has moved in 

 the House of Commons for a return of seed imported, &c. for seven years past, 

 (which you have probably observed) as a foundation for further proceedings on 

 this question, and perhaps so favourable a time may never offer for the proper 

 investigation of it, should the present be passed over. There is no doubt but ob- 

 jections and queries will arise to any measure of this sort, more especially as I 

 apprehend this has hitherto in general been little thought of, and questions of va- 

 rious descriptions will be started, on the policy of restrictions by any altered duty. 



" Possibly it may turn out not to be right; but it is much to be wished that the 

 first appearance of objection should not be yielded to, as many very fair arguments 

 have been advanced, and, as far as common observation goes, there seems a balance 

 decidedly in favour of restricting duties, made to vary according to the corn du- 

 ties ; to be regulated by the prices of our market. 



" It is essential to the proper issue of this subject, that an extended interest should 

 be discovered in it, from every county concerned in growing clover, could it be 

 possible; (but how difficult this is to obtain on any matter whatever from my bro- 

 ther farmers in general, I need not observe to you, I am sure) and unless some 

 superior description of attention to that of farmers in general can be excited, I 

 feel but little hope to see much. It is with a view to the furtherance of this, that 

 I venture to give you the trouble of this. I know of no notice, except from Hert- 

 ford, Suffolk, part of Norfolk, and this, where all I have heard of has been but 

 merely private correspondence of this description. 



" Thus much appears, however, pretty clear; if there was a good reason for the 

 legislature fixing a duty of 6s. per cwt. many years since, on importation, the same 

 rate oj charge cannot now apply. The only fear I feel, is from a want ot proper and 

 respectable recommendation to the Corn Committee, to get its lair investigation." 



