34 



tion, and preserves the supplies from absolute 

 failure before the ensuing crop. Any interfe- 

 rence with this operation by the law must, as 

 far as it goes, produce mischief to the public as 

 well as to him *. 



3. The vent of a luxurious home consump- 

 tion in the food of man, and the inferior ani- 

 mals, is probably in all countries the most im- 

 portant resource in seasons of scarcity. It is 

 both the greatest in extent, and has the singu- 

 lar advantage of being less liable to interrup- 

 tion than the rest from the interference of go- 

 vernments. The degree of waste in the pre- 

 paration of food by the richer orders of society ; 

 the maintenance of a number of horses, and 

 other animals, for luxury ; as well as the over 

 abundant feeding of those which are necessary ; 

 all occasion a vast consumption of corn, and of 

 herbage, from land that may be turned to corn, 

 which in common years disposes of a large sur- 

 plus, beyond the necessary consumption of man ; 

 in so far represses the population in those 

 years ; and affords an important supply to be 

 set free for the use of man in times of scarcity. 

 Those well meaning persons who lament the 

 waste of luxury, and the number of useless ani- 



* Sec Smith's Wealth of Nations, B. 4. c. 5. 



