79 



of actual abundance, and without any certain 

 prospect of future deficiency. I doubt if she 

 ever did so for the mere convenience of her 

 colonial proprietors, without w r ant being either 

 felt or reasonably expected at home. 



Within the last forty years, it appears, that 

 the distilling of corn has been suspended only 

 twice before this time * : The suspensions, I 

 am sorry to observe, are both lately. The re- 

 lief obtained by the public, on those occasions, 

 was probably trifling ; but the discouragement 

 to agriculture, from the frequency of the mea- 

 sure, may be both important and permanent. 

 On those occasions, however, there was some 

 apology for it, from the public necessities actu- 

 ally felt, and the market of the distillery na- 

 turally declining of itself. At present, there is 

 no such excuse; and the evils of the fluctuating 

 system are continued and augmented f . 



* From 10th July 1795 to 1st Feb. 1797, and from 8th Dec. 

 1800 to 1st Jan. 1802. App. to Rep. p. 205. 



+ The following observations of Mr Young, when speaking 

 of the vine culture in France, are equally just and important : 

 " There are two reasons why vines are so often found in rich 

 '< plains ; the first is, the export of wheat being either prohibited 

 " or allowed with such irregularity, that the farmer i.s never sure 

 " of a price ; but the export of wine and brandy has never been 

 " stopped' for a moment. The effect of such a contrast in policj- 

 *'" must have been considerable, and I sa^r its influence in every 



