430 



and we must all endeavour to make a right use of these 

 afflictions. To the farmer this reads a lesson peculiarly 

 applicable. It is undoubtedly his province to provide food 

 for the country ; and he is amenable to the moral obligation 

 to use every available endeavour once more to spread smiling 

 plenty over the land. I confidently apply to the position of 

 the nation at large the foregoing doctrine of the beneficial 

 efibcts of afflictive dispensations ; and cannot but trust that 

 the ultimate results will be to stimulate our agriculturists to 

 renewed and increased exertion; to urge them forward in 

 attempts to discover new and improved modes of culture ; and 

 will be the means of introducing from other countries, and 

 acclimating in our own, plants and esculents suitable for the 

 sustenance of men and animals, which are not only more pro- 

 lific in their increase, but will produce a greater quantum 

 of nutriment per acre. Thus literally fulfilling the idea of 

 the poet before quoted, — deducing from " partial evil,'* 

 " universal good," — or, as he elsewhere expresses it, " From 

 seeming evil, still educing good." 



But the main object of my introducing these reflections, 

 is to pursue this train of reasoning, and to make a few 

 observations upon the eff'ects of what may be considered 

 as a national afflictive dispensation of a similar nature : I 

 mean the partial failure of the cotton crop in America, 

 and the consequent great enhancement of price of the raw 

 material of a most important branch of our national manu- 

 facture, and one which provides employment for so large a 

 portion of our operative classes. I believe it may be con- 

 sidered as an axiom, that the increase of price of any article 

 of consumption has the effiect of limiting the demand ; and 

 that if any substitute can be introduced which will be as 

 eff'ective at a lower price, or more effective at the^ same cost, 

 the substituted article will gain the ascendancy, provided the 

 former should retain its high price. 



