Other illuftrations of this might be given; but, in this short abftract, it is prefumed, what has been faid, will be fufficient to prove the beneficial effects of the regulation proposed.

tion rate.

I fhall only observe, that nothing could be better calculated, than this fimple and obvious measure for checking thofe abufes that have been fo prevalent, where particular markets were to regulate the importaAn individual, in confequence of particular manoeuvres or connivance, may, in many cafes, influence a particular market. Here fo many markets are concerned, that no one individual could have influence, in any cafe, to a fenfible degree on the average price. The operations go fteadily on like the laws of nature; and no human finifter influence can over-rule them.

By making the gazette prices the rule for regulating the cuftom-house operations in every place, no undue advantage could be taken of accidental and temporary rifes or depreffions of price. The rate of the bounty allowed, fhould always be regulated by the rate of the laft gazette that is in the hands of the custom-house officer of every port, at the time the grain was fhipped. If a variation of price took place during the time a cargo was loading, the bounty fhould vary alfo, on the different parcels fhipped under each of the prices*:But a provision should be made, that if a fhip had begun to load, while the prices were fo low, as to admit

* E. g. Suppose a fhip began to load, when the rate of bounty was 5 s. per quarter, and proceeded to load at that rate till she had got an hundred bolls on board. The price during this time, we fhall fuppofe, rifes, fo as to reduce the rate of bounty to 4 s. the owner of the cargo would, in this inftance, draw 5 s. bounty for an hundred bolls, Any other cafe, from and 4 s, bounty for the remainder of the cargo. this example, may be exactly understood. Thus would philofophical precision be attained; but perhaps it would be more agreeable to the parties, as being more fimple, to decree, that the rate of bounty, allowable at the time the cargo begins to be loaded, should continue till the whole cargo was completed; and this could make no fenfible difference to the public.

of exportation, that veffel should be permitted to compleat her loading, even, if during the time of fhipping it, the prices fhould rife above the exportation rate, as no harm of any confequeuce could refult from this fmall indulgence; and with this regulation, it does not appear, that ever a cafe could occur that would give room for dispute, or that could operate as a hardship on any class of men, or individual whatever.

From the forgoing induction we are led to perceive, that nothing can tend fo much to make the corn laws produce their falutary influence in the highest degree, as to give the fulleft fcope to the internal traffic in grain through the country itself; and with that view, not only fhould every restraint be removed from the shipping and transporting of corn coaft-wife on all occafions, but also encouragement fhould be given for opening canals, and making roads in every proper cafe. It is in this way only, that the fuperfluous produce af one district, can find its way to another where it is more wanted, so as to confer upon it a perpetual abundance. It is by the affistance alfo of canals and good roads alone, that the inhabitants of barren districts can be, enabled in many cases, to avail themselves of the natural advantages of their fituation to the fullest extent, fo as to be able to afford with ease, the small advance of price in the grain that they must pay. No man can fully compute the benefits that refult to a community from this circumstance, and it is to be regretted, that the legislature, and the community at large, never seem as yet to have viewed it as of one tenth part of the confequence it really is. The time approaches, when men's eyes fhall begin to be opened a little to this object. When it comes to be fully understood, the state of this country will then be fo much meliorated as to exceed belief *.

*In every inquiry on the corn laws that I have feen, the corn trade of the United Provinces has been mentioned, and general inferences drawn from peculiar facts refpecting it, that could be by no means VOL. II.

H

The foregoing obfervations are general, and ferve to eftablish fundamental maxims on this branch of civil polity, that may be applied in every cafe. In our future difquifitions on this fubject, we fhall find it neceffary to take notice of circumstances that are more local, and though perhaps as interefting to individuals, not fo generally applicable to the whole. Dr Anderson

To the Editor of the Bee.

Letter from Dr. Coventry, Professor of Agriculture in Edinburgh, on the Swedish Turnip.

SIR,

I was honoured yesterday with your note; I reckon my felf particularly unfortunate in never having received your letter, with Sir Thomas Beevor's, from the penny-poft. The lofs of your obliging communication gives me the more regret, because, while you entertained the idea of its having reached me, and at the fame time received no due return, you would be ready to think me unpardonably negligent.

I conclude from the extract at the end of the first number of the BEE, that you meant to let me know, that Sir Thomas had referred to me for information, refpecting the ftate in which I found the remains of his crop of Swedish turnip at Hethel, about the beginning applicable to other countries.-None of these writers have fufficiently adverted to two circumstances, that render the commerce of corn in Holland very different from that of every other European country.— The first is the unequalled facility of tranfporting grain from every part of the country to another, by means of its canals.-The other is the great facility with which the country can be supplied with corn, on one hand from the fea, in common with every other maritime country, and on the other hand, from the countries behind, by means of the large rivers that pass through her territories. When one of thefe fources of fupply is accidentally ftopped, the other remains open, so that it is scarcely posfible for her to experience the fame rifk from untoward circumstances as other maritime powers. Were it not for this circumstance, what would become of Holland, if a maritime power of fuperior ftrength fhould block up for years together the entry of the Texel, fuppofing no other entry were open?

of September laft. Indeed, on the fuppofition that. fome additional information might be expected from me, I once intended to tranfmit to you a few thoughts on the culture and economical application. of these turnips, which feem to be only a variety of Sir Thomas's old favourites, the turnip-rooted cabbages. However, as the accurate ftatement by Sir. Thomas, could not acquire more influence from any thing that I could fay, and as my time was entirely filled up by another bufinefs, I delayed troubling you with any obfervations. It will give me much pleafure at all times, to give any affiftance in my power, to extend information, or to excite to inquiry refpecting any useful point; and if, in my prefent fituation, I can be of the smallest use to you, you may freely command my fervices.

..

In confequence of what you mention. refpecting the Swedish turnip in the Bee, feveral people have inquired at me of the duration of the plant. Some have been apt to think, that the frehnefs of the bulbs, after the feed has been perfected on the stems, was fuch, as to leave them fit for the food of cattle.But should any perfon let the crop remain in the ground till the feed was collected, and then think of ufing the roots in this way, they would undoubtedly be disappointed. Sir Thomas Beavor, indeed, and your other friend, found fome of them fo fresh that they could be prepared and brought to table, and I ate a part of what I faw with the former of these gentlemen, near Norwich. Yet the skins were generally múch fhrivelled, and the fibrous part of the bulbs, immediately under the rhind, had become very hard, so that I scarcely think cattle would eat them with any advantage. The only objection against the use of this variety of the turnip-rooted cabbage, is the hardness of the roots, and I apprehend, that were the skins wi thered at the fame time, cattle would not relish them, The proper conclufion which farmers fhould draw from the information which you give them in the Bee, is

+

་་

moft, it will only be a fhort ruffel between them; for it is impoffible a man of his fenfe can let fuch an idle whim the better of the affection I know he has get for his wife: But fure there is fome magic in the handkerchief; for I think my lago was as much out of his fenfes about it, as the Moor himfelf: I fhall take better care how I touch any thing that does not belong to me for the future. But when, by her difcourse withthe Moor, after the death of her miftrefs, all Iago's black defigns were unravelled to her, and the faw he had made her his accomplice in the murther of a mistress The tenderly loved, her juft refentment gots the better of all her prudential reafons; for what honeft perfon would not lend a hand to bring such a wretch to the punishment he deserved, without any regard to rela-i tionship? Now, what is unnatural in all this, I can fee nothing but what is very natural in Shakespear's character of Emilia: but Shakespear plainly couches two moral reflections under his characters of Emilia and Iago. In the first, that honeft people fhould beware of every appearance of evil; for they know not what confequences a fault, that feems little, may lead to: And in the other, that dishonest people should beware how they trust themselves to the devil's guardfhip; (and that every perfon does, who feeks to gain their ends by unlawful means); for he will lead them farther than they intended, and always brings his hogs to a poor market at laft. Iam,

Yours, &c, 5
CRITICUS *.

+We hope the writer of this article will forgive us for cutting off fome intruductory obfervations that we judged might be spared, with out any prejudice to his reputation. Edit.