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THE scenes I have described in Loch Erne were those I viewed. I have been told of other parts of that lake equally beautiful, and that Lord Erne possesses several islands of wood, which exhibit many delicious scenes: The annexed plate represents some of them, particularly Mary's island in front, Rabbit island with a turret; next the isle of Ennisandra, and on the other side Carlat, and two others. I am obliged, for the drawing, to the very elegant pencil oí Lady E. Forster. [Drawing appears here] IDLENESS. La sociedad economica de Dublin ha levantado enteramente de nuevo las lencerias de Irelanda; cuyos habitantes estaban poseidos de gran indolencia.
Han extendido su agricultura, en lugar que antes vivian de ganados y pastos, como los tartaros. See the Appendice a la Educacion Popular.
Parte Quarta, p. 35. Madrid 1777, by Campomanes. ITINERARY. HAVING in the preceding sheets, mentioned much distress being felt in England from the great fall in the price of all products, I think I may be pardoned one or two observations in defence of opinions I have formerly held, and which then subjected me to much censure from the pens of a variety of pamphleteers. FROM the conclusion of the last peace in 1762, to 1775 inclusive, the prices of all the products of the earth were at so high a price, that complaints were innumerable. I have a shelf in my study almost full of publications on the subject, and parliament itself was employed more than once in enquiring into the causes. Th suppositions of the public were endless, there was scarcely an object in the kingdom, which was not mentioned as a cause, jobbers, regrators, forestallers, sample selling, export, bounty, post horses, stage coaches, hounds, &c. &c.—but some respectable complainants fixed on great farms and enclosures. During that period I more than once endeavoured to persuade the public, that the complaint itself was not well founded, that prices were not comparatively so high as had been asserted; that the rise was not owing to any one of the causes mentioned, and that a considerable increase of national wealth was fully sufficient to account for it. IN the years 1776, 1777, and 1778, prices fell considerably; and in 1779 so low, that very general complaints have been heard of ruined farmers and distressed landlords, and at the time I am now writing the fact holds, that there is a very considerable fall in all products, and great numbers of farmers ruined. I have the prices of wool now for forty years before me, and that which from 1758 to 1767 was from 18s. to 21s. a ton, is for 1779 only 12s. and was in 1778 but 14s. We must go back to 1754. to find a year so low as the last. Wheat and all sorts of grain are greatly fallen.1
IN addition to these facts let me observe, that great farmland enclosures are now as prevalent as ever. If they were the occasion of high prices before, how come they not to have the same effect now? But it is quite unnecessary to dwell upon a fact, which at the first blush brings with it the most complete conviction. AFTER the peace of 1762, there was a very great influx of wealth into this kingdom, which had the effect of nominally raising all prices, not of corn and cattle only, but of land itself; prices have declined in 1776, 1777 and 1778, but greatly in 1779. I am very apt to believe, that as the former dearness
, as we called it, was owing to PLENTY of money, the present cheapness
is owing to SCARCITY; not to a scarcity, generally speaking, because there is a proof that the specie of the kingdom was never greater than at present, but to a scarcity in those innumerable channels, which like the smaller veins and ramifications of the human body, carry the blood to the least of the extremities. There is no scarcity of money in London, as I am informed by several very considerable bankers and merchants. But why is it so plentiful there? In order to be applied at seven or eight per cent. interest in public loans. This circumstance it is which collects it from every part of the country, from every branch of national industry, and which occasions the effect now so generally complained of, a fall in all prices. The reason why the farmers are ruined, which is really the case with numbers, is their having taken tenures of their lands at a rent proportioned to high prices; nor is this the only circumstance, labour ought to fall with other commodities, but government having four hundred thousand men in pay, and consequently to be recruited, bids high in the market against the farmer. Poor rates also ought to fall, but there is so much folly, knavery, and infatuation, in every part of that abominable administration, that I am not at all surprised at seeing them rise, which is the fact. These three circumstances easily account for the distress of the farmer. WE may in future, I apprehend, expect to see more accurate ideas of what has been called dear
and cheap
rates of products, and never more to hear of great farms, engrossers of farms, commanding and monopolizing markets, or enclosures condemned for doing that which we now find them so utterly incapable of doing, that the farmers are ruined and in gaol for want of the power to effect matters, for which they were before so execrated. We at least gain something, if the present experience gives the lie direct to all that folly, nonsense and absurdity, with which the public was so repeatedly pestered. And there is the more reason for this, because if such a peace succeeds the present war, as leaves us a wealthy and prosperous people, prices will assuredly rise, when that folly might again be met with, if not at present displayed in the true colours. I know there are persons, who attribute both the former high, and the present low prices, to difference of crops, speaking much of plentiful and scarce years; I have been uniformly of opinion, that the difference of product, upon an average of all soils, to be extremely small, so small as not to operate upon price; and even upon particular spots the difference is not nearly so great, as to account for any considerable rise or fall. If this was a proper place I could offer many reasons and facts for this opinion; but if we accept the idea, then there is at once an end to great farms and enclosures as the cause of the rise, which are the two circumstances the most insisted on. "I have lately received an account of a large common field in Leicestershire, which used to produce annually 800 qrs. of corn, besides maintaining 200 cattle, but which now in consequence of being inclosed and getting into few bands
, produces little or no corn; and maintains no more cattle than before, though the rents are considerably advanced." Dr. Price's Supp. to Obs. on Rev. Pay
, p. 388. "In Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, enclosing has greatly prevailed, and most of the new enclosed lordships are turned into pasturage, in consequence of which many lordships have not now 50 acres ploughed yearly, in which 1500, or at least 1000 were ploughed formerly; and scarce an ear of corn is now to be seen in some that bore hundreds of qrs. and so severely are the effects of this felt, that more wheat had been lately sold in these counties, on an average, at 7s. and 7s. 6d. the Winchester bushel, than used to be sold at 3s. 6d." Rev. Mr. Addingtin's reasons against enclosing open fields.
As enclosures have since proceeded as rapidly as ever—Pray, why is wheat down at 3s. 6d. again, if it was enclosing that raised it to 7s. 6d.? 1
THE comparison in general must stand thus:APPENDIX.
FALL IN THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS OF LAND.
Wheat, 3s. to 3s. 6d.
which 5 years ago was
6s. to 7s.
Barley, 2s.
ditto
3s. 6d.
Oats, 2s.
ditto
2s. 6d.
Beans, 2s. 10d. to 3s.
ditto
3s. 6d.
Wool, 12s. to 15s.
ditto
16s. to 21s.
Lambs, 6s.
ditto
12s.
2 year old wethers 10s.
which were
20s.
Cows, £5 to £6
£7 to £9
Hogs, 20s.
26s.
4 year old steers, £3 10s. to £5
£7 to £10
Oak timber, £3 to £4
£3 10s. to £4 10s.
Ash ditto, £2 to £2 5s.
£2 10s. to £3
Arthur Young, A Tour in Ireland, made in the years 1776, 1777, and 1778 (London: T. Cadell, 1780)