bad feafons, the large farmer has it often in his power to take advantage of any gleam of favourable weather, and can turn his whole ftrength of men and hories to the attainment of any important object. 66 The following quotations, from the jaftly celebrated Dr Smith's Wealth of Nations, furnith the frongest arguments in favour of large farms: In Book 2. chap. 5. he proves that "the capital employed in agricul"ture, not only puts into motion a "greater quantity of productive la "bour than any equal capital erployed in manufactures, but in proportion toq, to the quantity of productive labour that it employs. it έτ adds a much greater value to the an. "nual produce of the land and labour "of the country, to the real wealth "and revenue of its inhabitants;" and he adds, "Of all the ways in which a capital can be employed, it is by far the most advantageous to fociety." And in book 3. chap. 2. he obferves, Though more ftocks go, perhaps, in Great Britain than any other country, from other profeffions, to the improvement of land in the way of farming, yet "from the condition of the farmers, or yeomanry, even there the great flocks which are employed in farming have generally been ac પ quired by farming; the trade, perhaps, in which, of all others, flock is commonly acquired most flowly. After mall proprietors, however, rich and great, farmers are in every country the principal improvers:" page 479, quarto edition. Now it is only the accumulation of farms to a fufficient extent, that will induce any perfon poffeffed of a confiderable capital to employ it in farming. ແ . Smith is of opinion, that "The im"poffibility of making fo complete and entire a feparation of all the "different branches of labour em"ployed in agriculture, is, perhaps, "the reafon why the improvement " of the productive powers of labour, in this art, does not always keep pace with their improve"ment in manufactures:" book I. chap. I. page 8. But it is only in a large farm that a proper divifion of labour can take place in any degree; and fo far as it takes place, it leffens the expence, and confequently augments the furplus value of the annual produce of the land. The large farmer can employ part of his men and horfes almost conftantly in ploughing, others in driving manure, &c. others in draining, making and repairing fençes, &c. whereas the fmall farmer must of neceffity have all the various employments about his poffeffion performed, perhaps, by the fame hands; and it is impoffible, that ei ther man or horfe can acquire fuch dexterity and perfection in their work, as when their whole attention is conftantly directed to the fame employment. Often, too, the horfes of the fmall farmer must be kept idle, when the perfon who drives them is neceffarily taken off to perform fome other piece of labour in which they are not required. In the tall feeding of cattle with turnips, &c. the advantage is well known, of being enabled to keep one man conftantly employed in this bufinefs alone. The poffeffor of a fmall farm cannot have as many feeding cattle, perhaps, as are fufficient to keep one man thus conftantly employed; and, as to feed them properly requires very clafe attendance and minute attention, much time is not on The division of labour is the great hafs of the numerous and aftonishly loft, in this man's going from one ing improvements which have kind of work to another, but the brought manufactures to their pre- cattle, befides, are not fo properly fed. fent pitch of profperity. And Dr The owner of the flock which em ploys plays a number of labourers, necef farily endeavours to make fuch a divifion and diftribution of employment as may be most advantageous to him, and turns his attention to the procuring machinery to facilitate their operations. A greater improvement has not, perhaps,taken place in agricultural la bour than the introduction of threshing machines; which are not only a great faving of labour, but, by doing their work more completely, fave a confiderable quantity of grain, which is allowed to remain upon the straw in the common method of threshing. Confiderable farmers alone will erect thefe machines, as fmall ones have not fo much employment for them as to induce them to be at the necef. fary expence. "An improved farm," fays the Author of the Wealth of Nations, " may justly be regarded in the fame light as thofe ufeful machines which facilitate and abridge labour, and by means "of which an equal circulating capital can afford a much greater revenue to its employer:" book 2, chap. I. page 335. 66 When the large farmer poffeffes fuch numerous advantages over the fmaller one, it is impoffible that the affertion of Mr A. Q. Q. L. that 1000 acres produces leis grain by one-fixth, than the fame land divided amongst nine or ten farmers," can be true; nay, the reverfe mult cer. tainly be the fact. His other affertion, that "large farms employ a much smaller number of labourers in proportion is equally falfe." As it is only the large and wealthy farmer that either can, or will improve his land to most advantage, fo, in doing fo, he muft employ a greater number of labourers; for the improved modes of agriculture neceffarily require a greater number than the old fyftem did. How many more perfons, for inftance, are now almoft conftantly employed through the whole fummer, in weeding and cleaning our numerous fields of turnips, than could poffibly be employed when there was not a fingle turnip cultivated in the field? How many more muft the improver of his land employ in repairing and cleaning his fences, in making drains and communications; than he, who too often allows furface-water to ftagnate upon his lands, his fences to go to ruin, and the roads to his fields to remain in a condition frequently fcarcely paffable? He That large farms have not the effect of leffening population in the nation at large, or even in the country, George Buchan Hepburn, Efq. in his Agricultural Report of Eaft-Lothian, clearly demonstrates. there fhews, that the population upon a farm of 500 acres in tillage, will amount to 10 families, 3 unmarried fervants, with 14 horfes and 8 cows: if divided among five tenants, there will be 8 families, 5 unmarried fervants, 20 horfes, and 15 cows: if di vided amongst 10 occupiers, there will be 10 families, 20 horfes, and 29 cows. From this, it appears, that 500 acres in poffeffion of one perfon, tends more to encourage population; whilft, at the fame time, it fends more food to market, than the fame extent of ground would do, if divided in any other way. Can any unprejudiced perfon believe, that that fyftem of letting farms, which fo much tends to augment the annual produce of the land, can,by furnishing an additional quantity of food, difccur age population? It must certainly very much encourage it. How often do we hear effayifts of the day lament, in pathetic trains, the depopulation of the country, and the growing monopolization of farms; nay, even join in imploring the Legislature to interpofe and fave the country from ruin? But let every real friend of his country rejoice, that their cries have been ineffectual, and join in the the wish, that the Legislature may by means of entails, they would de long continue to allow free and unbounded liberty in the letting of land. Any fuch interpofition would neceffarily be attended with the fame baneful effects, which would arife from an attempt to fix the price of the raw materials of any of our extenfive manufactures. The fize of farms, like their value, will necef farily find its own level; for as that fize of a farm which produces the greatest annual value, at the leaft poffible expence, is certainly the fize which is most beneficial to the nation at large; fo is it neceffarily the fize which can afford to pay the highest rent. So long, therefore, as land shall be able to pay more rent, while occupied by one farmer, than when divided amongst many, fo long mult it continue to be most beneficial to fociety, that it fhould be poffeffed as one farm. And should land be fo monopolized as to leffen its annual produce, confequently its rent, the proprietor would immediately find his advantage in letting it out in fuch portions as would be moft beneficial, both to himself and the pub. lic. a much more effential fervice to the nation. For though large farmers are fo very much fuperior to fmall ones in improving their land, yet they are ftill almost always outdone by the fmall proprietor. I am not at all furprized to find your correfpondent join in the prefent fashionable and popular outcry against monopolization of grain, for fuch is the prefent rage against all practices of that kind, that it requires no fmall degree of boldness to ftand forwards in their defence. I, however, beg leave to direct the attention of thofe who would acquire a juft opinion on this fubject, to the following able and conclufive rea foning of Dr Smith, in his book 4. chap. 5. "The intereft of the inland "dealer in grain, and that of the "great body of the people, how op pofite foever they may at first fight appear, are even, in years of the greateft fcarcity, exactly the fame, "It is his intereft to raife the price "of his corn as high as the real "fcarcity of the feafon requires, and "it can never be his intereft to raise it higher. By raising the price I am forry to observe, that Mr A. "he difcourages the confumption, 22. 4. fhews a mean and difinge" and puts every body, more or lefs, nuous pride, in his illiberal reflection" but particularly the inferior ranks upon the private life of a farmer," of people, upon thrift and good when he fays, that "he rides round his management. If by raifing it too grounds, whilst at home his wife and high he difcourages the confumpdaughters ftudy fashions and read "tion fo much that the fupply of novels!" Why fhould a farmer, who "the feafon is likely to go beyond has faved money by his profeffion, "the confumption of the feafon, and be debarred from any of the plea to last for fome time after the next fures of fociety, which are allowed crop begins to come in, he runs to the rich manufacturer or mer- "the hazard not only of lofing a chaut ? or why should his landlord "confiderable part of his corn by regret that his farmer fhould ap- "natural caufes, but of being obligproach him in rank, as much as the "ed to fell what remains of it for fuccefsful trader? If the legislature," much less than what he might inftead of interpofing to leparate far- "have had for it feveral months be ther the proprietor and tenant, by "fore. If by not raising the price reftraining the monopolization of "high enough he difcourages the confarms, would take measures to pre- "fumption fo little, that the fupply vent the monopolization of eftates "of the feafon is likely to fall fhort " "of 1 "of the confumption of the feafon, he not only lofes a part of the profit which he might have made, "but he expofes the people to fuffer "before the end of the feafon, inftead of the hardship of a dearth, "the dreadful horrors of a famine. "It is the intereft of the people, that "their daily, weekly, and monthly "confumption, fhould be propor"tioned as exactly as poffible to the "fupply of the feafon. The intereft "of the inland corn dealer is the fame; without intending the intereft of "the people, he is neceffarily led, "by a regard to his own intereft, to "treat them, even in years of fcar"city, pretty much in the fame 66 manner as the prudent master of a "veffel is fometimes obliged to treat "his crew; when he forefees that "provifions are likely to run fhort, "he puts them upon fhort allow 66 ance. The unlimited, unrestrained, freedomt of the corn trade, as it "is the only effectual preventative "of the miseries of a famine, so it is "the best palliative of the inconve"niences of a dearth; for the incon"veniencies of a real fcarcity can"not be remedied, they can only be palliated. No trade deferves more "the full protection of the law, and ports that of the manufacturer. "The popular fears of engroffing and foreftalling may be compared to "the popular terrors and fufpicions "of witchcraft. The law, which "fhould restore entire freedom to the "inland trade of corn, would pro "bably prove effectual to put an "end to thefe popular fears." Until I fee the above reafoning refuted, I must ftill, therefore, be of opinion, that though the rich and large farmer is enabled to monopopolize and withhold grain from the market, yet large farms are not, on that account, lefs beneficial to the public at large. In all preceding times of fcarcity of grain in this country, it will be found, I believe, that the high price of food uniformly occafioned a great diminution in the price or wages of labour; but during the prefent fcarcity, the wages of labourers have arifen to a rate quite beyond all former example. Does not this imply an increased demand for them? And may not agricultural improvements be allowed their fhare, among other caufes, of the merit of occafionisg this demand, which cannot but effentially tend to encourage population? Though the farmer of the prefent day, no doubt, has arisen greatly above the ftation he held in the fcale of rank a century or two ago, it is the natural effect of the increafing profperity of the nation. And fhould farms be fliced down and parcelled out amongst a number of indigent occupiers; a mortal blow would be given to our manufactures, Our commerce, to all that has raised Britain to her prefent confpicuous ftation among the nations of the world. If this attempt to refute the arguments of your correfpondent A. Q 2. L. fhould induce any abler hand to take up the pen in defence of the prefent fyftem of large farms, or fhould occafion a fuller and more impartial difcuffion of the fubject, the well-meant intentions would be fully anfwered, and the wishes gratified of, Sir, Your obedient, Humble Servant, SOME 8 SOME ACCOUNT OF DR TOBIAS SMOLLETT. THE celebrated Dr Tobias Smollett was born in the old houfe of Dalquhurn, contiguous to the village of Rentoun, in the parish of Cardross, county of Dumbarton. He was the grandfon of Sir James Smollett of Bonhill, Bart. a gentleman of confiderable property in that county, a member of the last Scotch Parliament, and a commiffioner in framing the Union. The father of Tobias being a younger fon, received, according to the cuftom of his country, only a small fhare of Sir James's fortune, and, dying at an early age, left his family, confifting of two fons and a daughter, in circumftances not the most affluent. The two brothers received the rudiments of their education in the school of Dumbarton. The elder, whofe name was James, was bred a foldier, and amongst his acquaintance was diftinguished for his addrefs, and thofe talents of wit and humour which afterwards characterised Tobias. A premature death robbed the world of those talents, which, if ripened by time and ftudy, might have shone forth with diftinguished luftre. Tobias, the younger, was educated in the medical line, ferved an apprenticeship to a furgeon in Glasgow, and foon after acted as mate aboard a man of war. In this capacity he was prefent at the fiege of Carthagena, the particulars of which he defcribes in Roderick Randon with fo much life. He was a man of the most polished manners, DESCRIPTION THE family feat of Sir James Colquhoun, of Lufs, Bart. is fituated about 3 miles fouth of the parifh of Lufs, at Rofedoe, or Rofdow, i. e. the Black Promontory or headland; a name which is not now very applicable to it, as it is finely wooded, and the black mofs moftly converted into meadow. It is an excellent modern houfe, and commands fome noble and fineft addrefs, talents which feldom fail to recommend the phyfician; but with these he poffeffed a pride which counteracted their influence. His mind was chiefly turned to the ftudy of life and manners, in delineating which he is, perhaps, fur paffed by few. In this particular, as a painter of life and character, he has reflected the highest honour upon the place of his nativity, and muft ever be confidered by his country among the first of her fons in literary reputation. As a historian, he may be inferior to Hume and Robert fon in refinement of thought, and political obfervation; but when the fubject leads to defcription, or to the delineation of character, his powers appear unrivalled. To the greatest genius, he joined the most unremitting application. One proof of this cannot fail to be noticed, which is, that in less than 14 months he collected materials, composed, and prepared for the prefs, his whole Hiftory of England: an effort to which his narrow and ftraitened circumftances might have directed him, but to which nothing but the moft diftinguifhed abilities, and the mot vigorous application, could have been equal. He married a Jamaica lady, and by her had an only daughter, who was cut off in the bloom of youth. After a life che quered by a variety of incidents, he died at Leghorn, whither he had gone for the recovery of his health, in 1771, in the 51st year of his age. OF THE VIEW. views of Lochlomond. It was built by the late Sir James Colquhoun, who refided in the parish for many years; the influence of whofe autho rity and example, in checking all tendency to diforder, and in promoting the interefts of virtue and reli gion, is ftill fenfibly felt, and his me mory, therefore, much and justly ref pected. NARRA. |