EN OO CLR

INTO

DIPE CORN PA WS,&e

CET ASP.

Of the General State of Nations, with respeët to the alimentary sup- port of Mankind; and more especially that of Great Britain.

IHE ftrength and power of nations being limited, or extended, according to the number and induftry of their inhabitants, the attention of their refpective go- vernments ought to be direéted to fuch meafures as have an

immediate tendency to encourage agriculture; thereby giving

rife to an ufeful population, and enlarging that bafis which aflords the moft folid fupport to wanufaëlures and commerce.

On reverting to the ftate of mankind, in the different ftages of fociety, we find that the inhabitants of a country, who fubfift by hunting, can aflociate only in fmall numbers, on account

of the great extent of land which the chace requires to fup- A

CHAP. I.