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the double purpose of an indefinite vent and 

 encouragement to increased production in com- 

 mon years; and of a security against scarcity, 

 both by repressing the over-increase of popula- 

 tion in common years, and by yielding, in bad 

 seasons, for the food of man, the supplies which 

 were raised for their market. 



1 . The first of these methods of disposing of 

 surplus produce, the storing up in public gra- 

 naries, is by far the worst of the whole ; and 

 never need be resorted to in any country where 

 impolitic restrictions do not impede the natural 

 operation of the rest. When such a system of 

 public storing is adopted, it can only be carried 

 into effect by means of a tax on the people ; 

 and we may be sure that the fund so raised will 

 be expended under the direction of Govern- 

 ment, with much less judgment and economy, 

 and the grain purchased will be much worse 

 preserved, and more improperly applied, than 

 if the same end were pursued by individuals 

 engaged in the commerce of grain, under the 

 free protection of the law. Their own interest 

 will direct such men when and how far to pur- 

 chase and store up, and when and how far to 

 sell, in the manner best for the interest of the 

 community. Accordingly, in most of the ci- 

 vilized nations of the world, the duty of storing 

 up has been pretty much relinquished by go- 



