ps. 208

1804.] Observations on tlie Act,&c. 175

ent years produce very different quantities of commodities, The Same number of Spinners and. weavers will every year produce nearly the Same quantity ot linen and woollen cloth; but. the varieties of Seas00,, and the accidents of. vegetable growth, will 9ccasion the Same number of. Jabourers im hus- bandry to produce in different years very different quantities of corn;' vot only therefore the profits of.ithe farmer are zubject to this uncertainty, but the SubsiStance of the country, and the immediate object of the bounty is to Insure Suck an exclusive produce as Shall be always suflicient for the actual demand.

The effect of the bounty, is to open the markets of Europe to our pröduce, aud the natural consequence of increasing the buyers, is to enhance the price. But the less agreeable effect is, that while it facilitates the Sale of the article to rhe farmer, it increases the rate of the Substantial commodity of life to the natives of this country, and Some complaint has been reasonably made, that we are Supplying bread to the poor of the continent by exportation at a cheaper rate,- than we are affording it to the indigent of our own ISland« An answer to this it may-be Said, that the statute is only a tetporary regulation, and tbat when the produce of corn be rendered Sufficiently abundant by this extraordinary encouragement, it may be withdrawn, and then the commo?» dity will be restored to its level. The fable of the old man and the treasure which he leſt to his Sons concealed in the ground, is perhaps revived by this example of State policy, the extensive cultivation which the children of the state will promote by abis inducement, will extract that hidden treasure, from which the descendants oft the old man derived such abundant advantages.

The chimera of agriculture is to endeavour to make nature produce more tban her womb will Sustain, as a woman to bring forth ten) children at a birth; but we are very far in- deed removed from Such an enterprize, and when we-con- Sider that one-fourth'of the country 15 in a conditian of abso- Jute infertility, we need not be under any apprehensions of zuch extravagant Speculations.;

It must be obvious to every one accustomed 1o political rescarch, that whether this be a temporary or permanent regulation, with respect to this State, the benefit is merely temporary with regard to the farmer. He posSesses only 2 Short interest in the land he occupies, it will Svon devolve to he landed proprietor, and when the latter renews his leases, the rent.;he will require will be increased in proportion to the new advantages that ar2 to be derived from this bounty, Some idea maybe tormed of the extent of emolument to tlie land owner, from be consideration of the quantity of bread