"They built him of ftones gather'd up An urchin both vigorous and hale; And fo without fcruple they call'd him Ralph Jones. Now Ralph is renown'd for the length of his bones; The Magog of Legberthwaite dale. "Juft half a week after the wind fallied forth, And, in anger or merriment, out of the North Conting on with a terrible pother, very next day They went and they built up another. "Some little I've feen of blind boifterous works 1 In Paris and London, 'mong Christians or Turks, Spirits busy to do and undo: At remembrance whereof my blood fometimes will flag.. Then, light-hearted boys, to the top of the crag! ment of pecuniary Aid-By Importation-By fuitable Agencies established throughout the Kingdom-By a proper Plan of economical Confumption By Growth of Crops for fupplying Food during the enfuing Spring and Summer By Meafures, which, though compulfory, will be highly advantageous, and even neceffary in certain Cafes of Emergency-V.The Increase of Population, and additional Numbers to be maintained by the Produce of the Kingdom, a Caufe. of Scarcity, and how this may be most effectually obviated.-VI. Exceffive Burdens, impofed particularly upon agricultural Industry, a Caufe of Scarcity, and how this may bę most effectually obviated.-VII. The too great Prevalence of Speculation, in regard to the Neceffaries of Life, a Caufe of Scarcity, and how it may be most effectually obviated.-VIIÍ. The defective or inadequate State of the Agriculture of the Kingdom, a Caufe of Scarcity, and how it may be moft effectually obviated--By the Advancement of Agriculture, as a practical Science, and removing Obftacles in the Way of its ProgrefsBy exciting greater agricultural Spirit X. Radical Means of counteracting the throughout the Kingdom-By enprefent Scarcity, and preventing Fa- cofing Lands held in common-By mine in future; including the Pro-limiting the Number of Stock kept upon Waftes--By improving the pofal of a Maximum, founded on ordinary Agriculture of the Kingdom a new Principle. To which is -By meliorating the old enclosed prefixed, an Addrefs to the Legifla Lands of inferior Quality throughout ture, on a Plan for meliorating the the Kingdom-By Farms of proper Condition of Society at large. By Sizes. IX. The exorbitant Prices of GEORGE EDWARDS, Efq. 8vo. Commodities in general, a' Caufe of PP. 153. 35. 6d. Folinjen. Scarcity, and how this may be most effectually obviated--By removing Taxes from the Neceffaries and effential Comforts of Life-By leffening, at the public Expenfe, the high Price of Corn to the lower Orders-By meliorating the Condition of the lower Orders.-X. The practical Application of Agriculture for the Benefit of the wealthy, a Caufe of Scarcity, and how this may be most effectually obviated-By growing a fufficient Quantity of Wheat and Rye By preventing the Interference of And I'll build up a giant with you." P. 163. CONTENTS. I. THE Author's MotiveII. The Engagements of Society, in refpect of fapplying the Community with Provition and the Neceffaries of Life. III. Heads of the different Caufes of the prefent Scarcity.-IV. Real Scarcity of the Neceffaries of Life, arifing from Caufes which human Precaution cannot prevent; and how it may be moft effectually palliated or removed-By the Advance Grazing Grazing with the Corn Syftem--By life. Certainly it ought to be spared fubftituting, fo far as is proper, Oxen for Horfes.-XI. The Combination of both real and artificial Scarcity, with Excefs of Competition among the Buyers, a Caufe of Scarcity, and how this may be moft effectually obviated. -XII. The Propofal of a Maximum upon a new Principle; and all Objections made to a Maximum ftu dioully collected, and fully answered. XIII. Remarks upon the Meafures of Relief adopted by the Legiflature. EXTRACTS. EXCESSIVE BURDENS ON AGRICUL TURAL INDUSTRY, A CAUSE OF SCARCITY. "EXCESSIVE burdens impofed upon the agricultural industry of the kingdom, are certainly a very material caufe in preventing the adequate fupply of phyfical fuftenance and proper neceffaries for the support of the community. "Such burdens must be repaid from the produce of land; and the farmer, unwilling to discharge them from his own profits, will confequently lay them upon the public, and advance the price of the different articles in which he deals. The general advance of the prices of commodities; the great in. creafe of the old ceffes, and the new taxes, laid within thefe few years immediately upon the farmer; the great rife of rents, for which the gentlemen, oppressed by the additional weight of taxes, cannot properly be blamed; and the tithes, which are continually advancing, are powerful incitements to raife the price of provifion. Farmers will not gain lefs, but more money, than they have done; for, goaded forwards by fuch incentives, they are no longer able to keep within moderate bounds. Hence the numerous neceffaries of life, which agriculture fupplies, come at laft to be fo much increafed in price, that the abilities of the lower claffes are no longer able to purchase them. "The reafon fhould be seriously investigated, why landed property is burdened fo grievously as it is at prefent; when through its channel, the community is fupplied with infinitely the greater part of the neceffaries of in future. May it not be afferted, that, according to the old ftanding policy of lands one fifth is fet apart for the landthis country, of the annual value of tax, another for parochial ceffes and repairs wanted upon the farm, one for tithes, one for the landlord, and another for the tenant; and that the prefent expenfive war muft leave the landlord and the tenant only one of these parts, or lefs than one, between them, unlefs agricultural produce is raifed to an enormously high price? Why do the poor-rates and various other parish ceffes reft upon landed property? On what principle of finance can it be juft, for a tax to be impofed upon land exclufively? Why, though it can fupport very great burdens, is the maintenance of the established church to be impofed upon its fhoulders? The latter query may certainly be refolved with propriety by an abfurd answer: it is impofed on land purposely to advance the prices of the neceffaries of life, and produce absolute scarcity and famine. The tithes prevent effectually the melioration of an immense quantity of old enclosed ground in the kingdom, capable of the highest improvements, under the most favourable circumftances; and the spirited cultivation of numerous tracts of land, lying in a neglected and unenclosed state. They are incompatible with the em ployment of large capitals in thefe views; for money will never be laid out, where others befide the proprietors must be admitted, to partake largely of the returns and advantages expected from it. They are an effectual ftoppage to all future hopes of plenty and abundance in the kingdom; for they prevent that further advancement and perfection of agriculture, upon which these happy prospects actually depend. They have always been inftrumental in preventing farmers and their landlords from freely beftowing their induftry, ingenuity, and money, upon the improvement of their land; and muft continue to be fo, unless commuted, or by fome means removed from agriculture, a, they readily may in the most unexceptionable manner. Hence the public will lofe that ample produce, and thofe increased stores of fertility, which it has a right to expect from fuch improvements. 66 Tithes must always impede the advance advance of cultivation. Increase of rent is not rarely a ftrong incitement to fpirited management, and the adoption of more productive modes of huf bandry; therefore on particular occafions is the means of procuring a greater produce of the neceffaries of life. The value of landed property ought to increase with that of all other commodities, and agricultural produce to fetch its juft proportional price; yet fuch additional value and price may be much more advantageously fought in the increafe of produce, by the improvement of ground and fuperior cultivation. Taxes immediately impofed upon agriculture may very readily become injurious, as difcouraging cultivation, and hence advancing the prices of the neceffaries of life. Thus, I am very credibly informed, that the late affeffed taxes, by inducing the cultivators of small farms to part with all the horfes they could fpare, had the effect of greatly diminishing the produce of fuch farms; for they could not afford afterwards to buy oats at the late high prices for their reduced number of horfes, which required to be much better fed than they were before. Hence the proprietors were not able to till their ground properly, and carry a due quantity of manure, fuch as lime, to it: this was a fact, at leaft in fome countries. Taxes will in general have the greateft influence upon fmall farmers, and prevent them in particular from laying out money in the fpirited management of their land. "The too great prevalence of fpeculation in regard to the neceffaries of life, certainly may very materially prevent the adequate fupply of phyfical fuftenance, and proper neceffaries of life for the fupport of the community. It is capable of raifing their prices to a very extraordinary height throughout the nation at large: and has no doubt confiderably augmented the evil of the prefent fearcity. The fpirit of commerce, fo largely diffufed through the kingdom, is naturally difpofed to give a very extenfive and powerful effect to fpeculation in the neceffaries of life; and it is not furprising that it should have laid its grafp upon provifion, as the means of making a fortune at the prefent period, or that it should continue to keep up the prefent high prices. The paper credit of the king dom is a powerful weapon in its hands, and enables the fpeculator to accomplish all his projects. The merchants having the corn trade under their command, muft have too great influence upon the market; and due juftice can hardly be expected from them, in general, when it is contrary to their interefs. I have been informed that forty or fifty fhips brought cargoes of corn and flour into a certain northern port during the period of the prefent fcarcity, and that thefe were fold immediately for country bank-notes, iffued for the purpofe, at fufficiently reduced prices, but the articles themfelves continued, in the town and neighbourhood, to fell by retail at the fame high price as before. Befide fpeculators, what are called middle-men are very numerous at the prefent time, and certainly, not feldom, have raifed the price of provifion confiderably to the confumers. These, as saving the time of others, and expert in their refpective bufineffes, may be of great fervice; yet if it be poffible, or if they be not duly obferved by the public, they will feek to take unfair advantages: if too few in number, they can fix what price they pleafe upon the commodities in which they deal; or if very numerous, they will rather live and thrive upon the public, than break, or starve. "The partial application of agriculture for the benefit of the wealthy, to the injury of the indigent part of the community, has been announced as the feventh caufe which impedes the adequate fupply of phyfical fuftenance, and proper neceffaries for the support of the community. The growth of wheat and rye has for many years greatly decreased in the kingdom; and the confequent fcarcity being augmented by the increase of population and greater consumption, occafioned by the prefent war. The principal purpofes, on account of which agriculture has been diverted from the cultivation of grain beft adapted for human food, are thofe of fattening ftock, and keeping a greater number of horses. Of each of these it is proper here to take fome notice. "Chiefly in order to fupply the fham bles, the old triennial rotation of fallow, winter, and fpring corn, has, in many countries, given way to a crop of turnips, and two of fpring corn, or to a quadrennial courfe of turnips, barley, clo ver, ver, and wheat; in confequence, the quantity of wheat and rye cultivated in this country is confiderably diminished, and other agricultural produce increased in proportion. Nay, in fome parts, in order to grow more turnips, thefe and a fingle fpring crop are continued in conftant alternation. Even far fewer milch cattle are kept, and much lefs cheese and butter made, in order to fatten a greater number of ftock; nay, often fewer fstock, in order to make thefe more completely fat. The quantity of meadow land is greater in many countries than is neceffary for the dairy, and its after-grafs is employed to finish off flock that has been fummer-grazed. This laft is indeed a remnant of the old practice of supplying the winter confumption with hung meat, flaughtered in the end of autumn. As perhaps both this mode, and that of fupplying the winter market with fresh meat, are not requifite, more corn might be grown by abandoning the practice here mentioned, fhould this be neceffary. "The demand for animal food is very confiderable in this kingdom; an infinitely greater quantity of it is now confumed by the community at large than was a few years ago. The increafe of commercial wealth has materially contributed to augment its confumption, and yearly extends the demand for it; for even the price of it has greatly advanced of late years in the northern counties of England, in consequence of the fat ftock fent into manufacturing diftricts farther fouth. The quantity of land in corn has leffened upon another account; arable land is in general unmercifully scourged, to ufe the common term on this occafion, or ill-treated under corn, and at last laid to grafs in an exhaufted condition: alfo when improved it is frequently converted into grafs, and kept in this ftate that it may not be expofed again to fuch devaftations. Grafs land alfo lets higher than corn land, and for both reafons often is not permitted to be converted into arable. "There are means, which deferve attention, for the removal, or rather the prevention of the evil, explained under the prefent head; and to which perfons of landed property can give proper effect. They may permit a fufficiently extenfive growth of corn in fuitable countries; may peremptorily infift upon a due proportion of wheat and rye in the rotation of crops; and can readily obtain from the legiflature fuch regulations as would prevent the frequent abufe of arable lands. Upon tracts of inferior land, long enclofed, but lying generally in unfavourable climates, the agricultural improve ment of which has been neglected, but has been recommended at length under the fifth of the preceding heads, a greater quantity of corn may certainly be fown with more advantage than is at prefent, yet they are more fuitable in grafs. The kind fuperintendence of government, pointing out the quantity of corn neceflary for the known popu lation of the kingdom, may be very inftrumental in promoting a fufficient growth of it. If thefe views fail, if the propofed national improvement of agriculture be not adopted, and if money be not advanced for fupplying the community with corn at fufficiently reduced prices, the due proportion of arable land, and of rye and wheat to be grown thereon, must be fixed by law for a fufficient quantity of corn muft at any rate be produced for the confumption of the lower orders. "A large proportion of the agricultural produce of the kingdom is confumed in the fupport of horses: hence there must be a confiderably lefs quantity of the neceffaries of life for the ufe of the human fpecies. The number of horses in the kingdom admits of a twofold divifion: first, such as are bred upon farms, and employed in the farming bufinefs; and fecondly, fuch as are used for the general purpofes of the community, amongst which are to be classed the horses kept for pleasure. Thofe of the fecond clafs, and more especially pleasure horfes, are very numerous, and greatly encroach upon the food deftined for the fupport of the lower and middling orders. On this account it is a very important object to reduce their numbers. However, it is not feriously intended to perfuade gentlemen that muscular exercife of the body is the moft wholesome, that the heroes of ancient times were agile in the race during the decline of life, and that their own ftables and dog-kennels deprive the poor of valuable means of fubfiftence; yet the ex-. ceffive number of horses kept for racing, fox-hunting, and pleasure in general, is at the prefent time an intolerable evil. Horfes employed for carriages on the roads, and often for commercial purpofes, purposes, it would feem, cannot be difpenfed with: though their number might be much reduced by the frequency of inland navigation; and oxen, in fome countries abroad, are principally used for the purpose of carriages." P. 110. A XI. Strictures on the true Caufe of the EXTRACTS. MUCH has been imputed to the expensive war we are at prefent engaged in, and to which our calamitous dearths have by many been afcribed; but on a candid and impartial inveftigation it will be found that the war has rather been the pretext for, than the cause of, the prefent high price of every article of fubfiftence. We muft not form our judgment of the political and fifcal circumftances of nations by the rules of appreciating the occurrences of private life. It may with mathematical precifion be demonftrated, that our increafed expenfes have been the natural refult of additional refources pouring in upon us from every quarter; nay, I will undertake to prove, that a large proportion of the fubfidies paid to our allies, as well as of the immenfe contributions our inveterate foes have levied on them, have found their way to our coffers! Britain ftands a political phenomenon on the face of the globe! and pofterity will, in her hiftory, contemplate with admiration the noble ftruggle the has I made under circumftances of depreffion that muft have appalled the strongeft minds! Pofterity will know how to appreciate the merits of those who, in the day of nerveless defpondence and paralyfed horror, placed themselves in the breach, with a fortitude unparalleled, and a magnanimity unrivalled, in the annals of nations! Pofterity will exult in the noble and impofing attitude the affumed when the reft of Europe were crouching at the feet of the monftrous chimera, and when the greatest potentates that attempted to tame her were panic-ftruck by a bare look from her Corfican keeper!" P. 2. "A wide diftinction certainly exists in laying reftraints on articles of prime neceffity, or on commodities peculiarly denominated mercantile articles.The one is effential to our existence, the other rather miniftering to our luxury than fatisfying our natural wants; yet to meddle with either, in a free commercial ftate, is, I confefs, very dangerous. It cannot be denied, however, that the axiom fo generally adopted of every fpecies of trade, whether in articles of the first neceffity or thofe of luxury, finding their own level, has been practically proved fallacious, and lefs folid than we could possibly conceive, from the fplendid talents of thofe who laid it down as an incontro vertible poftulatum. However impolitic or anti-commercial it may be to lay reftraints on manufactures and trading commodities, it will never be denied that the articles effential to the exiftence of every individual in the state ought not, nay cannot, come within the general rule of finding their own level. The practice of our ancestors invalidates the pofition, and our ftatutebooks bear indubitable teftimony against the practicability of fo erroneous a maxiin. "In this age of politeness, or, we may with more truth write, in this age of licentioufnefs, when no other scale of merit or virtue exifts but the depth or breadth of the purfe, empty praife has little efficacy, and applaufe without profit operates but coldly on the human mind! Probitas laudatur, et alget. The only emulation now prevailing is, not who fhall confer moft benefit on, but who fhall become the richest man in his country! Thofe whofe heads and hearts would otherwife reflect ho nour |