5 ON... THE CORN. LAWS... 503 import. ple and deprefsthe agriculture of the nation: that rlooked under the pretext of attempting to lower the price ns they of corn, they really enhance it beyond what it ith my ought to have been, and give occafion for the in- 5 Be Ann 7 RP 11 7 ara oy p ag fubjod terference of government in innumerable cafes, lots where that interference can only prove hurtful to biti the public at large, with fome other evils, which ane it would be tirefome here to enumerate. m, ce I am far, however, from agreeing with the in- enn genious author of the inquiry into the caufes of the wealth of nations, in thinking that no corn ave, pers‘ laws at all are neceffary: on the contrary,[believe_ ent O¢Cas Saat 2 a judicious fyftem of corn laws would contribute, pa more than almoft any other political regulation, fons tha

ieee to promote the tranquility and internal profpe- a view oe Se-< rity of this nation. This opinion of Dr. Smith I

we of Its combated foon after the publication of his book. mclutons[ Obfervations on Natural Induftry, LetterXII. P.S.] this{ub-

He at one time declared, that he did intend to

+ nd:.. t Britany, anfwer it, and took fteps to afcertain faéts. re-

nadequate{petting that fubject; but afterwards laid the de-

t the pr: fien afide. Moft of the fa¢ts that he enquired

le can be after are now brought forward by the very inge-

is they at nious writers of the treatife above quoted; and ave Weel thefe facts, in the moft decifive manner, overturn

culated t0 his theory. I therefore hold it as a point proved,

s innumer that, in this particular, the judgment. of Dr.

+ the iter Kk 4

fs the pe