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The above argument, however, though it may be used against 

 Mr Young personally, has no force against the cause which he 

 espouses. It affords no ground for stopping the distilleries, with 

 those who equally disapprove of that measure, and of the vaiu 

 attempt of forcing production ; and who are sensible, that so far 

 from any deficiency, there is at present rather an abundance in 

 the country, and no certain prospect of want for a future season. 

 For my own part, I neither think the failure of foreign supplies 

 likely to happen, nor, if it did happen, that it would be attended 

 with serious inconvenience to us. But Mr Young, considering such 

 failure both important, and likely to be immediate, and urging 

 strong measures to supply the deficiency, must, I think, find it 

 Tery difficult to shew any objection to the present measure of 

 stopping the distillery, which will not equally apply to his own. 

 Indeed it is clear, that as a sudden temporary resource, (if that 

 were now wanted) the stoppage of the distillery, as being a much 

 more effectual measure than the other, would afford an immediate 

 supply much more surely. Its being so effectual, however, is, in 

 another view, the grand objection to it. 



But Mr Young may say, his plan is not calculated for an imme- 

 diate, but for a progressive and future effect. This plea is not 

 very consistent with the urgency of the occasion, as he has him 

 self represented it. I am willing, however, to allow, that for a 

 course of time it is less objectionable than a continued suspension 

 of a vent to produce ; and that, for two reasons, 1st, Because, 

 as above mentioned, the one cannot be carried into effect, where- 

 as the other can. The encouragement is ineffectual, and there- 

 fore only useless ; the restraint is effectual, and therefore noxi- 

 ous. 2dly, Because, even if the culture of wastes could be for- 

 ced a certain length, although the former tillage will assuredly 

 suffer as far as the new is forced, it will suffer little further, and 

 the average supplies will remain nearly the same. The place of 

 growth will be only changed, the amount not. diminished. Where- 

 as, by the suspension of distilleries, a certain quantity of produce 

 is forced from the face of the earth, and in case of a bad season, 

 there is less resource for retrenchment. The operation of Mr 

 Young's plan would be similar to the exclusive introduction of co- 

 lonial grain into our distillery instead of sugar ; with this differ- 

 ence, that in the one case the grain would be raised at home, in the 

 other raised at a distance. In the question of scarcity, the plan 



the population I fully subscribe to, but the decreased use of malt is indeed 

 hardly credible. Tlie estimate is founded on the Excise duties, which, no 

 doubt, seem to establish the fact. But I cannot help suspecting that $ome 

 error from evasions or other causes must lurk in the calculation. 



