Conclusion. Appendix , No. 2. 419
exceeding the value of the sum laid out, with compound interestat the rate of 6 per cent.
III. Profit to the Public.
There is no institution that could be better entitled -to publicsupport. By increasing the capital, as might be necessary,(which might easily be done in time of peace, when money ischeap and abundant), every acre in the kingdom would eitherbecome covered with wood, or loaded with agricultural produc-tions ; and all that floating capital, which might otherwise remaineither unemployed at home, or might be sent to foreign coun-tries from the difficulty of placing it out to advantage, wouldthus be laid out in promoting our domestic improvement, andrendering the whole kingdom one uninterrupted scene of indus-try and cultivation.
Conclusion. App. No. S.
Hints regarding the Corn Laws.
After all that has been written on the subject of the Corn'Laws, the real question at issue may be brought within a verymoderate compass.
1. The first object must be, “ To procure an independent sup-ply ; ’’ for a nation ought not to trust to its enemies, or thosewho may become so, for the means of its subsistence. Muchhave we suffered by following a different system. Within theshort period of twenty years, we have exported little short ofsixty millions Sterling for grain ; “ exhausting, for articles thatmight have been raised at home, our metallic currency ; stimu-lating the agriculture of hostile nations, and swelling their finan-cial resources, for our destruction.’' Whereas if the lands, nowin culture, had been rendered more productive, and the wastelands of the kingdom had been improved, a large proportion ofthat immense treasure might have been retained at home. Butthe fact is, that it is impossible to increase the produce of thelands already in cultivation, or to improve our wastes, but at agreat expense. Hence arises the necessity of high prices. Theproduce of our fertile lands, which can be cultivated at a mode-rate expense, would not feed one half of our population. Themore barren lands cannot be cultivated at the same rate. Itwould be perfectly unequitable, however, to permit the produceof the barren lands of this country, more especially in unfavour-able seasons, to be put in competition with the produce of the
fertile fields of other countries.
2. The next object is, “ To have grain at a steady price, ”