defeated its own end ; not merely did not pro- 5 

 mote the cheapness, and advance the industry 

 which he favoured ; bwt was probably greatly in- 

 jurious to it He snatched at a hasty advan- 

 tage by sacrificing the spring which was to 

 prolong and augment it. The character of his 

 policy (to use the illustration of Montesquieu on 

 another subject) resembled the eagerness of 

 the savage who, to get at the fruit, cuts down 

 the tree, 



The analogy between the above policy and 

 that of prohibiting distillation from corn, is 

 obvious and complete. The distillery af- 

 fords the farmer a steady, convenient, and 

 profitable market for his produce, exactly in 

 the same way as export. It is also indefi- 

 nite in extent ; and if the vent which it fur- 

 nishes be in general more limited than that 

 of export, it is nearer, more sure, and not de- 

 pendent, like the other, on the demand of 

 other states, or our connection with them. 

 Like the former, it encourages a considerably 

 larger produce than it actually consumes * 



* This opinion is distinctly expressed by that very intelligent 

 cultivator Mr Wakefield, in his evidence before, the Commit- 

 tee, App. to Rep. p. 109-111. The operation of even a very 

 limited vent in encouraging produce is described by Mr A. Young, 

 in his evidence before the Committee. See note (B.) The quan- 

 tity of grain used in the distilleries of the united kingdom, is stat- 



