92 



vernment, and left to individual dealers. In 

 the despotic and barbarous nations of the East, 

 however, where agriculture labours under so 

 many oppressions, the practice is still adhered 

 to from necessity. In China, where an un- 

 wieldy government, and absurd prejudices a- 

 mong the people, combine to fetter internal in- 

 dustry, and forbid the export of corn, the prac- 

 tice of storing up grain for the public is carried 

 to a considerable length ; and, at the same 

 time, we learn its inefficacy to relieve the fre- 

 quent scarcities which occur in that country. 

 We are told, that when a scarcity occurs, and 

 the emperor's granaries are ordered to be open- 

 ed, they are often found nearly empty, from 

 the knavery of those having charge of them. 

 Many difficulties are thrown in the way of 

 transporting the grain, and the poor people are 

 allowed to die in such numbers, as to reduce 

 them within the limits of the subsistence which 

 they can procure for themselves*. These evils, 

 though, perhaps, aggravated from the bad go- 

 vernment of China, are inherent in all such 

 schemes of preserving a public supply. As al- 

 ready said, such schemes can never be needed 



* See Barrow's Account of China, and Life of Lord Macart- 

 ney. 



