[ 123 1 
endeavouring to palliate, if we cannot re- 
medy. 
It here occurs to us to remark, that the 
excessive duty upon salt is one of the prin- 
cipal causes of the present high price of pro- 
visions. It is an insurmountable barrier 
against the improvement and extension of 
our fisheries, which otherwise would afford 
employment for the surplus of our popula- 
tion, driven from mtinufacfories by the recent 
use of machinery. See. and thus constantly 
provide a nursery for our Navy . With regard 
to the curing of pork and other meat, cheese, 
butter, &c. See. in seasons of tolerable plenty, 
as a provision against scarcity (in which the 
cottager is most materially interested) the 
price is so extremely high, that it amounts 
nearly to a prohibition of its use. This duty 
has a similar tendency to enhance the price 
of provisions in whatever way salt is employed 
in agriculture, whether as a manure, in tlie 
preservation of hay. Sec, See, 
