290 Of the Checks to Population Bk. ii. 



hospitals of France, which have the same object, 

 may create a doubt whether even such establish- 

 ments are universally to be recommended. Lying- 

 in hospitals, as far a? they have an effect, are pro- 

 bably rather prejudicial than otherwise; as, ac- 

 cording to the principle on which they are gene- 

 rally conducted, their tendency is certainly to 

 encourage vice. Foundling hospitals, whether 

 they attain their professed and immediate object 

 or not, are in every view hurtful to the state; but 

 the mode in which they operate I shall have oc- 

 casion to discuss more particularly in another 

 chapter. 



The Swedish government, however, has not 

 been exclusively employed in measures of this 

 nature. By an edict in 1776, the commerce of 

 grain was rendered completely free throughout 

 the whole interior of the country ; and with re- 

 gard to the province of Scania, which grows more 

 than its consumption, exportation free of every 

 duty was allowed.* Till this period the agricul- 

 ture of the southern provinces had been checked 

 by the want of vent for their grain, on account of 

 the difficulty of transport, and the absolute pro- 

 hibition of selling it to foreigners at any price. 

 The northern provinces are still under some dif- 

 ficulties in this respect ; though, as they never 

 grow a quantity sufficient for their consumption, 

 these difficulties are not so much felt.f It may 



* Memoires du Royaunie de Suede, ch. vi. p. 204. 

 t Id. ibid. 



