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rage of the last few years, which may yet not be 

 the case. There is an equal chance, however, 

 that it will prove abundant as that it will fail. Its 

 failure is a contingency which we have no more 

 reason to reckon upon now than at any other 

 time. If that misfortune should come, we must 

 endeavour to palliate it, by retrenchment of every 

 kind, the best way we can (for, as Dr Smith ob- 

 serves, a real scarcity cannot be remedied, it 

 can only be palliated) ; and the rise of prices will 

 at once indicate the evil, and enforce the remedy. 

 The difference made by all the foreign supplies 

 which we ever did, or ever can receive, on a se- 

 rious deficiency, is very trifling, It is known 

 how little proportion the utmost importation of 

 1800 and 1801 bore to our demands. It is up- 

 on our domestic agriculture that we must mainly 

 depend ; and to tamper with it by closing its na- 

 tural vents, and deranging its system, when 

 called for by no visible need, is to stop its pro- 

 gre^sive increase, and lead to that real calamity 

 which now only exists in the imagination. 



Upon the state of produce in Ireland I have 

 said nothing, as I have not the means of ascer- 

 taining accurately the prices there for some years 

 back. It is, however, 1 believe, admitted, that 

 no general scarcity exists there at present, such 



