6 AN INQUIRY INTO

CHAP-T an average yearly, for bread, beer, fpirits,&c. and of courfe the confumption of 8 millions of people, will be 16 millions

of quarters of the feveral kinds of grain over-head yearly.

It will be afcertained that, for many years, Great Britain exported about 850,000 quarters of grain yearly; and we may therefore conclude, that, in thofe years of profperity, corn fuflicient was raifed to fupport the inhabitants for near[4 months, befide the feed to be fown, at the rate of fomewhat more than 1,300,000 quarters monthly; for it may be admit- ted, that at leait one month’s provifion muft be kept on hand to bring in the new crop.

But even in fuch years, the produce is fo nearly balanced by the confumpt at home, that, independent of bad feafons,

if by any miftake, or mifapplication of the laws, the hand of labour fhould, in a fmall degree, be withdrawn from agricul- ture, the confequences would be dreadful.: From the ftrength

E re erYrEe 7 10} ip KT S A so ba}] XT fo e ne of our commerce, we might ward of the blow for a fhort time, by the importation of foreign grain; but while that would impoverifh us by the payment of the price, it would increafe our wants, by trenching upon the remains of our

own agriculture.

Yet 1f the people can be plentifully and cheaply fupported, and even the exportation mentioned kept up, it would be a vaft addition to the wealth and refources of the kingdom; but if, by any encouragement that the law can give, corn could

be yearly raïfed fuflicient for 15 months provifon to the in-

eme E ù€ Se Re ÉCREA——__

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