20 Decr 1801

Maximum

Ulteriora

Bounty &c […?]

Magazines

1

11

I have heard of a plan for ordering /an intention so to order/ matters that /an

arrangement by which/ the price of wheat shall be made or at least permitted to

rise as high as 10s a bushel, I suppose by restraint on importation till it has

arrived at that mark: and I have heard that price admitted to be sufficient,

though not more than sufficient, but the means insufficient, unless a bounty on

export be of the number.

If what is above observed respecting the want of land be just, that or any still

higher price with or without the /a/ bounty will be inadequate, and if a bounty

be given, the amount of it will be so much thrown away. The quantity of

cultivated land not being augmented, or at least not being augmented in

proportion to the existing deficiency of corn /agricultural produce/, added to

the growing superflux of population, whatever quantity is added to corn will be

so much taken from other produce. As to the bounty so much as it amounts

/amounted/ to , by so much would the scarcity and price of the aggregate of all

agricultural produce taken together be enhanced. So much more corn as was

produced in consequence so much less of other agricultural produce would be

producible by the same land: and of the extra quantity of corn produced, a part

at least is proposed to be and by the supposition must be, exported /sent/ out

of the country. What part and what proportion it may bear to the whole

extra