EXPORTS OF PORK. 



Export of pork per annum, from 1771 to 1777, 

 55,240 barrels, at 2\. 6s. 6d. per barrel, 



Bacon, 19,125 at 155. ~ 



Lard, 2356 cwt. at il. per cwt. 



Bread,- 10,062 cwt. at los. per cwt. 



Hogs, 624, at 155. a piece 



Average exports of the laft feven years, 150,631 

 Increafe in the lad feven years, 4 2 2 55 



The data are now very completely before the reader, from 

 -which the merit of this extraordinary meafure may be eftimat- 

 ed. I will not affert that any cuftom-houfe accounts are ab- 

 folutely authentic ; I know the common objections to them, 

 and that there is a foundation for thofe objections ; but the 

 point of confequence in the prefent enquiry does not depend 

 on their abfolute, but comparative accuracy; that is to fay, if 

 the errors objected to them exift, they will be found as great 

 in one period as in another, confequently their authority is 

 perfectly competent for the companion of different ones. Who- 

 ever will examine the entries with a minute attention, and 

 compare them with a variety of other circumftances, will ge- 

 nerally be able to diftinguifh the fufpicious articles. In the 

 prefent enquiry I will venture to aflert that they fpeak truth, 

 for they correfpond exactly (as I fhall by and by (hew) with 

 many other caiiles which could hardly have failed without a. 

 miracle of producing the effects they difplay. I fhould fur- 

 ther add, that or the greateft number of the articles inferred 

 in the preceding tables, there are duties paid on the export 

 \vhich exempt them from the common objection to the entries. 

 But to reafon againft the accuracy of luch accounts is per- 

 fectly ufelefs, while minifters in defence of their meafures, 

 and patriots in oppofition to them found their arguments on 

 them alone. Whoever attends either the Englifh or Irifli 

 houfe of commons will prefently Tee this in a multiplicity 

 of inftances. All who come to the bar of thofe houfes de- 

 pend on thefe accounts ; committees of parliament rely on 

 them, and the beft political writers of every period, from 

 Child and Davenant to Campbell and Whitworth, have agreed, 

 in the lame conduct, knowing the errors to which they are 

 liable ; but knowing alfo that there is no better authority, and 

 that they are perfectly competent to companions. 



Having thus clofed my authorities, I fhall now draw them 

 into one view, by Rating the account of the inland carriage 

 bounty, t)ebtor and Creditor. 



