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sincere and unfeigned tribute of respect, and permit me the honour of subscribing myself,

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PREFACE.

A MORE rapid revolution of public opinion has seldom taken place, than has been observed in Great Britain within these few last years, in the increased estimation and importance attached to Agriculture.-But a short period since, it was received by the greater proportion of the community as a mere mechanical operation, requiring scarcely more intellect to direct than to perform, and in which he who guided the plough was reduced nearly on a level with his beast. Nor were the political axioms adopted at the commencement of this reign favourable to the interests of Agriculture, or calculated to raise it in the opinion of the country. The fashionable political doctrine of the day asserted it to be more advantageous for Great Britain to import grain than to grow it. The changes made in the system of the Corn Laws in 1766, founded on these opinions, operated to the depressing of Agriculture, and to the aggrandizement of Commerce. From that moment the export of

grain almost entirely ceased, and we became ourselves importers, with a deficit increasing annually, and that to a most alarming degree.

To what extent our dependence on foreign countries might have proceeded, it is difficult to determine; in proportion as our demand for grain annually increased, so did the export of our manufactures, and with them the number of unproductive hands. Thus our national prosperity had the appearance of being in a most flourishing state of advancement. The years of scarcity, however, taught us a very important truth, (one which we unhappily purchased with much misery, and which the predilection for commerce had induced the nation entirely to overlook)-that whilst we were manufacturers for all the world, we were in the utmost danger of being starved at home for want of bread. The wise measures adopted by Parliament in consequence of the sufferings of the country, together with other causes, have excited a spirit of improve. ment that bids fair not only to produce a supply of grain equal to our present wants, but to provide likewise for a great increase of population.

I should

I should contend, that in every well-regulated state, Agriculture ought to form the basis of its greatness, and Commerce merely the superstructure; and that the first and principal object of consideration should be, to provide victual necessary for the maintenance of the whole community: this accomplished, whatever portion of the population remained without employment, would fairly measure the extent to which manufactures could be carried on with safety and advantage.

A sufficiency of food being once secured for the present population, a surplus of the necessaries of life would ere long accrue ; and thence a spirit of external trade and commercial enterprise be excited with the best-founded expectations of permanent advantage.

It appears consonant to the wisdom of Providence, that the productions of the earth should be greatly diversified, as a motive and stimulus of human exertion; and that, in the commonwealth of kingdoms, the most distant nations should be reciprocally dependent upon each other for what is ne cessary, convenient, or useful to the greater enjoyment of human existence; and doubt

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