440

CONCLUSION.

sufficient extent of surface, and can, by any exertion, pro-duce food for itself, would act wisely, to allow itself to be de-pendent on others for subsistence.

The equitable principle, therefore, is, to impose a prohibi-tory duty, on all foreign agricultural productions, until theirprice be at least as high, as that at which they can be raisedin Britain , in seasons of moderate fertility ; and gradually todiminish that duty, as prices rise, but still giving a decidedpreference to the produce of the agriculture of the unitedkingdoms. Let us take one species of corn as an example.Some soils and climates are peculiarly adapted for the cultureof wheat, where it can be raised at little expence, is not liableto disease, and is rarely injured during harvest. Such grainmay always be procured at a lower rate, unless in very pecu-liar seasons, notwithstanding superior skill, industry, and ca-pital, than wheat can be raised at in Britain , where heavytaxes are imposed, where the rate of labour is high, whererents are considerable, where the climate is unfavourable,and where the grain is liable to various disorders. If uni-versal competition were admitted, and consequently the freeimportation of wheat were sanctioned by law, active and in-telligent merchants, would discover where it would be procur-ed the cheapest, and would bring it to the British market, tothe injury of domestic cultivation. The free exportation andimportation of grain, therefore, in justness and equity, canonly take place between nations, where the value of money isthe same, where they are subject to the same taxes, are simi-larly situated in regard to soil and climate, and live in amitywith each other.

3. To encourage the exportation of any surplus produce.

It is likewise essential, to promote the exportation of do-mestic produce, if there be any redundancy, after supplyingthe demand at home. It is not sufficient to permit the ex-portation ; it is farther necessary, for the encouragement ofdomestic cultivation, and in order that the articles grown at