proposed? And what is to be said of those financiers who have given their sanction to our perseverance in the long perverted use of the Suspension act, so as to reduce us to the necessity of resorting to a measure which, even at best, must be attended with violation of property?

In order however, in some degree, to mitigate this violation of the property of those creditors, either public or private, who have contracted for the payment of their money before the depreciation commenced, might not an office be devised, whose business it would be to calculate the respective sums due to such creditors, according to the dates of their respective contracts? By the assistance of the tables given by Lord Lauderdale, the thing appears to us quite possible in theory; and although the calculations might in many cases be very intricate, yet as the principle is simple, it might be realized in many cases. For instance, a creditor who contracted in 1797, and proportionally to the rates of depreciation in the different years since, would, by such an office, be found entitled to a corresponding additional per cent. of the money of the new standard: And if the fixed revenues of the different functionaries in the state, ecclesiastical, civil, military, and naval, were correspondingly augmented, we do not see that there can be any objection to our adoption of reduced coins. Perfect justice would be done by it at home, and our foreign trade would be in the same predicament as at present.

We entreat our readers, in now taking leave of them, seriously to consider this subject; for it has an important application to the case of every person. The less it is attended to by the public, it is the more likely to be neglected by the Legislature; and the longer we persevere in the present monetary system, the more difficult will be its correction : -however high, or however far we soar on its 'Dedalean wings,' the more dangerous will be our descent. No measure concerning it ought, doubtless, to be adopted, without the utmost deliberation. Men of science and talents,' to use the words of Lord Liverpool, must ⚫ certainly be employed in the conduct of a business of this nature: in the reign of King William III., Mr Locke, Sir Isaac Newton, and Dr Halley, persons of great eminence, were on this account brought into the service of the public. In the similar situation of our currency, in the reign of George III., we trust that the services of the noble author of the tracts before us, in his place in Parliament, will not be unavailing ;-that he will not forget the promise with which he has enhanced the obligation under which he has brought his countrymen by the publication of them, contained in the words with which he has concluded, that he will be at all times ready to give every aid in his power towards carrying into effect what he conceives to be so necessary for the welfare of individuals, as well as for the credit and pros perity of his country.'

6

BRANCH III.

AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE great fall of snow during the last month, accompanied, with but little interruption, by a more intense frost than has been experienced for a great many years, has completely suspended the regular operations of the season for several weeks past; and the continued severity of the weather gives reason to fear, that unusual exertions will be required in the spring months. Fortunately, the weather was favourable till towards the end of December, and labour in a forward state at that time in several counties, though it does not appear to have been so generally.

Besides the usual employment in frosty weather, of carting dung from the straw-yards, a great deal of labour and expense has been rendered necessary, owing to the depth of the snow, in providing eattle and sheep with turnips. A great waste of these roots is always the consequence; and at the same time, fattening stock seems to have improved very little since the commencement of the storm. The mountain flocks, which fortunately were then in good condition, have suffered severely since. There is also much reason to fear, that both Turnips and Potatoes have been materially injured by frost, unless where the former were deeply covered with snow, and uncommon attention paid to the preservation of the latter.

There has been a good demand for fat stock, at prices which are understood to have left the feeder a fair profit; and it is probable that they will be much higher a few weeks hence. Cheviot wool has been sold at 20 per cent. above its price in July, owing to the happy restoration of commercial intercourse with the Continent of Europe.

With the comfortable assurance of a store of provisions obtained from our own soil, more than adequate to the demands of its population, amidst the triumphs of successful warfare over an inveterate and hitherto victorious enemy,-and with the near prospects of an honourable and lasting peace,-it is painful to intermingle expressions of just alarm, and to urge the redress of intolerable grievances. Nothing can be more certain, than that, without the interference of the Legislature, a great proportion of British farmers must be ruined by an event, which is so well calculated to bring prosperity to all the other classes of society. The landholder, on the one hand, and the labourer on the other, in the first instance-and, at no distant period, the great body of the nation-will participate in their distresses, and reprobate that unwise policy which repressed the exertions of indus try, at the very moment when they had rendered Britain independent of all other nations, for the first time these forty years; and secured an adequate supply of the means of subsistence, by extensive

and improved cultivation. The interest of the landholder, whose revenue is so heavily burdened with the necessary contributions to the public expenditure; of the farmer, whose capital is in part irrecoverably vested in the improvement of the soil; and of a numerous body of labourers about to be augmented by the return of peace, powerfully solicit the interposition of the Legislature. For almost half a century, the nation at large has experienced the bad consequences of listening to ingenious theory, and of yielding to that interested and preponderating influence, which would form Britain into one great work-shop, and render her inhabitants dependent both for food and employment, on the caprice of foreigners.

Our readers will readily perceive, that we allude to the present low prices of grain, and the continuance of importation from foreign parts. Neither of these, separately, can be a just subject of general complaint, however much the interest of many individuals may be affected. It is not because the price of grain has fallen below the expense of raising it, in consequence of a season of perhaps more than ordinary fertility, that the landed interest claim relief. They do not ask a bounty from Parliament to enable them to export their manufacture to other countries; but they require, and are entitled to expect, that these prices shall not be further reduced, by the competition of the foreign farmer in the British market. Until the price of British grain is such as to cover the expenses of cultivation, taxes direct and indirect, and the fair profits of capital and industry, they have a right to call upon Parliament to protect them against the injurious operations of a few commercial men, whose gains are realized at their cost, and whose interests, at such a time, are opposed to those of the whole community.

The policy of Great Britain in regard to the export and import of grain, has been reprobated by men who agreed in almost nothing else, and but very seldom defended by any. The great body of manufacturers and merchants have very generally censured every restriction on importation, and have gladly availed themselves of the assistance of some writers of eminence, with whom they differed on every other topic. Others again, looking at the immense wastes which disgrace the island-fortified by the experience of 70 years previous to the present system of corn-laws, and deeply impressed with a conviction of the insecurity of a reliance on foreign nations for the first necessaries of life, have contended, that importations should be always prohibited except in seasons of extreme scarcity. Some writers, however, have taken a sort of middle course, which in this case seems to be in every respect worthy of preference. only object within the reach of regulation is, to counterbalance the difference between the expenses of production in this country, and in the other growing countries. '* The obvious means of effecting this, would be to impose duties on foreign grain, which should

Comber on National Subsistence, p. 247.

The

increase with the decline of the average below that sum at which the British farmer can afford to raise it. This sum, whatever it may be, must vary according to the progress of cultivation, the fertility or barrenness of different seasons, the weight of taxation, and the gradual depreciation of money, which is always taking place in a prosperous country like Britain, in a much greater degree than in the exporting countries. It is from the want of some principle that would accommodate itself to such variations, that it has been necessary to raise the importation rates so often since the present system was introduced; and the same variations must occasion similar changes in future. What is now considered a high enough rate, may be either too high or too low a few years hence.

That the present prices of grain are much below this average, cannot be doubted by those who are at all acquainted with the subject. For the four weeks ending 15th January, the average prices of Bri, tish corn in Scotland were-Wheat, 61s. 7d.; Rye, 43s. 7d.; Barley, 39s. 1d.; Oats, 25s. 4d.; Beans, 41s. 1d.; Peas, 40s. 10d.; and Bear, or Big, 36s. 8d. per quarter. The average price of all these different kinds of grain, omitting Rye, which is very partially cultivated in Scotland, was therefore 40s. 9d.; and omitting also Big and Peas, which do not enter regularly into the best rotations on good soils, it was 41s. 94d.

The expenses of cultivating every English acre of grain, in rotations of four and of six years, according to the practice of the best cultivated counties of Scotland, with all the economy of twohorse ploughs and thrashing machines, and without any charge for taxes, tithes, and poor-rates, amounts to upwards of six pounds. Let the average produce of Wheat, Barley, Oats and Beans be taken at 3 quarters per English acre,

Hence 41s. 94d. x 34 L. 7 6 2 6 0 0

Deduct expenses of cultivation

L. 1 6 2

-This balance is all that remains for rent to the proprietor, profit to the farmer, and for parochial, provincial, and public taxes.

We are well aware, that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to exhibit any estimate of the expenses of cultivation that will apply to every farm of even a single county; but we venture to assert, with some confidence, after a careful examination of several calculations, that six pounds an acre is not above a fair average in the Lo thians and Border counties of Scotland. It was intended to have specified the particulars, if our limits had admitted of such explana tory remarks as must necessarily have accompanied them.

Our readers, will find, in our Second Branch, a review of Lord Lauderdale's late publications on the Currency of Great Britain, to which we beg leave to solicit their attention. The subject is not less interesting to farmers than to other classes of society; and those who have lately taken land at high rents, will, we fear, find it difficult to

fulfil their engagements if cash payments are resumed, without some such arrangements as have been suggested by the noble author.

Since the date of our last Number, a sécond edition of SIR JOHN SINCLAIR'S Husbandry of Scotland has been published, with very considerable improvements. Some things have been omitted, and others altered, much for the better. A new Section has been added, on the quantity of straw produced by different crops, with an account of its uses and value; and several new and interesting articles are given in the Appendix. Taking it altogether, it is an excellent compendium of Scottish Agriculture.

SCOTLAND.

Aberdeenshire Quarterly Report.

Since the crop came into the stack-yards, it fully justifies the reports formerly given of its abundance, as under the flail it proves very productive, and of excellent quality.

The price of every kind of grain has yielded very much; and the demand, farther than to supply the immediate wants of the district, has been quite trifling. The prices at which the merchants have been inclined to speculate, have been so low, that the farmers have been averse to comply with them, in consequence of which, little or no grain has gone to market, except Barley, for which there was an early demand, and of which more than the usual quantity at this season, is marketed.

However much such an extravagant price for the common necessaries of life, as was occasioned by a partial failure of the two last crops, is to be lamented, still a certain remuneration is absolutely necessary for the cultivators of the soil, otherwise agriculture will languish, and we shall again become dependent on foreigners for the principal article of our sustenance. A dependence, which a few years ago drained the kingdom of its speeie, to be used in attempts to enslave us, will undoubtedly draw the attention of the Legislature, who, in their wisdom, will take effectual measures to prevent it.

The weather, until the 27th of December was mild and open, and all kinds of agricultural operations were far advanced for the season. On that day the frost set in with unusual severity, and continu ed a week, when the snow came on, and it has since increased so much, that it has not only put a complete stop to all operations in the field, but has also effectually blocked up the roads, and put a stop to almost all communication.

The mills having been stopped for three weeks, and the roads impassable from the depth of the storm, the towns and villages have got bare of Meal, which has caused a rise in grain, in favour of those in their immediate vicinity, previous to which, the price of Oatmeal was 18s. to 21s., Oats 16s. to 23s., Wheat 28s. to 35s., at Aberdeen; and Bear and Barley from 25s. to 30s.

A larger breadth of Wheat than usual, was laid down early in the autumn, and the blade looked uncommonly well.