37 



by the infallible provisions of nature. The rise 

 of prices, which must happen on a scarcity, will 

 force the rich, in spite of themselves, to re- 

 trench their superfluities; and it is in the ad- 

 mitting of this retrenchment that the habitual 

 existence of a superfluity is so useful. The de- 

 licacies of the table must be retrenched, the 

 maintenance of all inferior animals must be re- 

 duced, and the number of those merely kept 

 for luxury or convenience must be lessened, 

 through all classes of the community, (except, 

 perhaps, among a small number of the most 

 affluent) by the natural pressure of scarcity and 

 high prices, however ill disposed individuals 

 may be to such retrenchments ; and the food 

 raised to supply the luxurious consumption, will 

 necessarily be turned to the use of man*. 

 4. The export to foreign countries, when 



* The above considerations (as already hinted) may relieve the 

 fears of certain well meaning people, as to the political evils at 

 least (contradistinguished from the moral evils) of excessive lux- 

 ury. The greater the general luxurious consumption of a coun- 

 try, the better is it secured against the risk, of scarcity ; nor 

 can it go to a further extreme in this respect, than will be for its 

 its own advantage. 



Neither can I help taking notice of the amusing inconsistency 

 of certain reasoners, who in oe breath lament the luxury and cor- 

 ruption of the times, and the next exclaim against the load of 

 taxes. Now it is very apparent, that the more we are relieved 

 of taxes, the more luxurious, and (as far as it depends on lux- 

 nry) the mere corrupted we shall become. 



