produce of Tines can scarcely be turned to human food, so that, 

 on occasional scarcity, the quantity of that produce usually raised 

 affords no resource ; whereas, the corn raised for consumption in 

 our breweries and distilleries may, in such times, be turned to- 

 wards human sustenance. This is an advantage, even if all the 

 vines were raised on soils unfit for the production of corn, as fur- 

 nishing an additional vent to superfluous consumption ; but it is 

 still more so if, as appears from Mr Young, some of the best com 

 soils in France are turned to the vine culture. From this, I 

 would not infer (as some of the economists did) that in countries 

 fit for producing vines, that produce should be discouraged, for 

 the purpose of making the people raise corn, and drink beer. Mr 

 Young's remarks on the impolicy of such attempts are perfectly 

 just; I only urge the consideration, to shew that our inability to 

 raise vines in Britain possesses this advantage, that more corn in 

 proportion to the population is grown and consumed, and of 

 course a greater security is preserved against scarcity. Travels in 

 France, Vol. I. c. 10, Vol. II. c. 10. 



The same sentiments he expresses in another place : a In the 

 *' arrangement of courses, that conduct which is suitable to an 

 <( individual is proper for a nation. It rarely answers to a man 

 a to change his purpose in the cultivation of his farm, on account 

 " of some transitory expectation of a price. He ought to sow 

 u his ground with the plant best adapted to his general vieAvs, and 

 " to the state of his land, and not swerve from his purpose on 

 " the speculation of any particular view. And, in like manner, 

 u it will always be for the national benefit that the lands should 

 " be sown with whatever crop is most suitable to them, and whose 

 4< product will pay best when valued in money. A populous 

 *' and rich country can never want bread to eat, but from the 

 *' fault of its government attempting to regulate and encourage 

 a what can flourish by absolute freedom only. The inhabitants 

 *' of such a country will always command wheat, because they 

 " can afford to pay for it ; and her own farmers will never fail of 

 t( raising that, or any other produce, in any quantity demanded, 

 *' provided they are not impeded by injudicious laws and restric- 

 4 ' tions. In these principles, it is necessary to consider all pro- 

 a ducts as equally beneficial, provided they may be equally con. 

 (l Terted into money." Travels iu France, Vol. I. p. 359. 



