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well persuaded that the Legislature may remedy the evil completely.

Let us then first inquire into the degree of this scarcity.

And here I must make one previous observa- tion, which I think has been greatly neglected. Inquiries hitherto have gone too much into the proportion of the crop, and too little attention paid to the price; it should seem as if men would be pretty well satisfied, provided they could prove the deficiency to amount only to a fourth or a fifth, forgetting that the people are suffering a very heavy distress, whatever that proportion may turn out: of what account to them your fine speculations in arithmetic, while they pay five pounds a quarter? What an insult to common sense is it, to hear that the crop has been so mo- derately failing, that measures are rejected when proposed, om that account; as uf a price beyond the faculties of the poor was not motive sufficient for exerting every nerve to remedy it; for listening with patience to every proposition; for executing with vigour whatever measures promise relief.— When in conversation I have mentioned certain plans which I thought would be beneficial, I have been answered by many very respectable persons, << Upon my word, Mr. Youn, I believe the scarcity is much exaggerated; my Steward, or Mr. Such-a- ene, Says the crop was not so bad.’ A quartern jcaf is the best answer to such gentlemen.

Grant