288

ON THE RURAL ECONOMY, &C.

tish market to those foreigners, who, it is well known, canraise all sorts of grain, wheat in particular, at from one-halfto two-thirds of the expence that must be incurred by theBritish farmer. In a few years, indeed, the high price ofgrain, which has been the experienced result of this dangerousdependence, may tempt the British farmer again to use theplough, but from which he will soon be compelled to returnto grazing;—as must be the case at the present moment, un-less the importation rates are advanced nearly 50 per cent .;or a countervailing duty imposed on foreign grain, wheneverthe price of British grain is insufficient to replace the ex-pences of production.