512 CURSORY THOUGHTS

Cefars, the difpenfer of corn to the people; and thus to derange the whole fyftem of that domettic economy which ought ever to be preferved, like the apple of the eye, ina well regulated ftate. No man can have fuch a mean opinion of the ta- lents of the minifter, as to believe he did not per-

ceive this long before the period arrived, when fearing that the great drains upon the treafury, occafioned by this meafure, might afterw ards be produétive of difagreeable confequences to him, he obtained a 1 recommendation from the commit- tee of parliament not to interfere farther in the commerce of corn. Nor will it be credited but that many men of found underftanding in the houfe of commons, and of all parties who have

been emulous which fhould come moft forward in this firuggle of apparent humanity, did not per- ceive at ee moment, as well as other fenfible men did, that this conteft only tended to fruftrate the end it apparently aimed at, and to enhance the prices of corn to the poor, inftead of lower- ing them. The hiftory of the prefent period, if ever it fhall be developped with the neceffary de- gree of impartiality, intelligence, and precifion, will afford one of the moft interefting leffons to the political enquirer: for never before was the

power of imagination of men, in over-ruling the