we supplied ourselves ; the question comes to 

 be, Is the operation of distilleries favourable or 

 unfavourable towards diminishing importation, 

 and attaining this end ? 



In the former section I endeavoured to shew, 

 that the effect of every indefinite vent for 

 home produce was progressively to increase 

 that produce, and that in a larger proportion 

 than the vent actually consumed : and, on 

 the other hand, that the forcible stoppage of 

 any vent, not merely diminished the produce 

 to the amount thereby consumed, but much 

 further. The vent of free export, when u 

 country yields a surplus for that purpose, cre- 

 ates an additional supply, -much larger than 

 the surplus actually exported ; and, on the 

 other hand, when this vent is shut up (as was 

 done by Colbert) it will probably diminish pro- 

 duce, not merely to the amount which had 

 been usually exported, but much further. 



Exactly the same principle applies to dis- 

 tilleries, and that whether thq country where 

 they are permitted possess also a surplus to 

 export, or whether, like this country, it need 

 imported supplies, The distilleries yield an in- 

 definite vent to home produce, and. probably 

 create a much further production than they 

 consume themselves ; and, on the other hand, 

 the stoppage of this vent will occasion a grcatr 



