38 



the state of our produce admits of it, affords 

 no doubt a very useful vent. In as far, 

 therefore, as perfect freedom of export goes, 

 this vent ought to be encouraged ; but, 

 it is less to be relied on than those which 

 exist within the country. For, in the first 

 place, it depends for its continuance on the 

 state of supplies in the foreign importing 

 countries ; and should their agricultural pro- 

 duce increase, so as to equal their demands, 

 our market with them must gradually be clos- 

 ed. The plan of persisting to force a market 

 by a bounty on export, has been recommended 

 by very able men * ; yet I cannot but think it 

 a vain and frivolous attempt, useless, if our pro- 

 duce be so abundant as naturally to yield a sur- 

 plus for export, and ineffectual, if it be not. 

 Secondly, not only is the vent of export subject 

 to this gradual stoppage, by the natural rise in 

 the prosperity of the foreign countries ; but if 

 on a scarcity at home this exported surplus be 

 retained for our own necessities, the import- 

 ing nations whom we used to supply, on find- 

 ing that we withdraw this supply occasionally 

 for our own relief, will suffer so much that they 

 will cease to depend on it, and use every exer- 

 tion to increase their home growth, or seek for 

 their supplies elsewhere. Thirdly, a year of 



* Malthns, Essay 011 Pop. B. 3. c. 710. 



