enemy. Traders, who by their bufinefs are promoting the common good of mankind, as well as farmers and fishermen who labour for the subsistence of all, fhould never be interrupted, or molefted in their bufinefs; but enjoy the protection of all in the time of war, as well as in time of peace.

This policy, thofe we are pleafed to call Barbarians, have, in a great measure, adopted; for the trading fubjects of any power, with whom the Emperor of Morocco may be at war, are not liable to capture, when within fight of his land, going or coming; and have otherwife free liberty to trade and refide in his dominions.

As a maritime power, we presume it is not thought right, that Great Britain fhould grant fuch freedom, except partially; as in the case of war with France, when tobacco is allowed to be fent thither under the fanction of paffports.

[§ 8. Exchanges in Trade may be gainful to each Party.]

In transactions of trade, it is not to be supposed, that like gaming, what one party gains the other muft neceffarily lofe. The gain to each may be equal. If A has more corn than he can confume, but wants cattle; and B has more cattle, but wants corn, exchange is gain to each: hereby the common stock of comforts in life is increased.

[ $ 9. Of

[$9. Of Paper Credit.]

It is impoffible for government to circumfcribe, or fix the extent of paper credit, which muft of courfe fluctuate. Government Government may as well pretend to lay down rules for the operations, or the confidence of every individual in the course of his trade. Any feeming temporary evil arifing, must naturally work its own cure *.

The reader will fee Dr. Franklin's fentiments on paper currencies in the fequel of this work. E.]

On

I

On the Price of Corn, and Management of

the PooR *.

To Mefieurs the PUBLIC.

AM one of that clafs of people that feeds you all, and at prefent is abused by you all ;—in fhort, I am a farmer.

By your news-papers we are told, that God had fent a very short harvest to some other countries of Europe. I thought this might be in favour of Old England; and that now we should get a good price for our grain, which would bring millions among us, and make us flow in money: that to be fure is fcarce enough.

[* The following extracts of a letter figned Columella, and addreffed to the editors of the Repofitory for felect papers on Agriculture, Arts, and Manufactures, (See Vol. I. p. 352.) will again ferve the purpose of preparing those who read it, for entering upon this paper.

GENTLEMEN,

THERE is now publishing in France a periodical work, called Ephemeridis du Citoyen, in which feveral points interefting to those concerned in agriculture, are from time to time difcuffed by fome able hands. In looking over one of the volumes of this work a ⚫ few days ago, I found a little piece written by one of our countrymen, and which our vigilant neighbours had taken from the London Chronicle in 1766. The author is a gentleman well known to every man of letters in Europe, and perhaps there is none, in this age, to whom mankind in general are more indebted.

That this piece may not be loft to our own country, I beg you will give it a place in your Repofitory: it was written in favor of the farmers, when they fuffered fo much in our public papers, and were also plundered by the mob in many places.

The principles on which this piece is grounded, are given more at large in the Political Fragments, art. 2. fee p. 49. E.]

I

But

But the wisdom of government forbad the exportation *.

Well, fays I, then we must be content with the market-price at home.

No, fay my Lords the mob, you sha'n't have that. Bring your corn to market if you dare ;we'll fell it for you, for less money, or take it for nothing.

Being thus attacked by both ends of the conftitution, the head and the tail of government, what am I to do?

Muft I keep my corn in the barn to feed, and increase the breed of rats?-be it fo;-they cannot be less thankful, than thofe I have been used to feed.

Are we farmers the only people to be grudged the profits of our honeft labour?-And why? One of the late fcribblers against us, gives a bill of fare of the provifions at my daughter's wedding, and proclaims to all the world, that we had the infolence to eat beef and pudding!Has he not read the precept in the good book, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn; or does he think us lefs worthy of good living than our oxen ?

O, but the manufacturers! the manufacturers ! they are to be favoured, and they must have bread at a cheap rate!

[It is not neceffary to repeat in what degree Dr. Franklin respected the minifters, to whom he alludes.-The embargo upon corn was but a fingle measure: which, it is enough to fay, an hoft of politicians thought well-advised, but ill-defended. Of the great and honourable fervices of the Earl of Chatham to his country, Dr. Franklin has borne the ampleft teftimony. E.]

Hark

ye, Mr. Oaf ;-The farmers live fplendidly, you fay. And pray, would you have them hoard the money they get? Their fine clothes and furniture, do they make them themfelves or for one another, and fo keep the money among them? Or, do they employ thefe your darling manufacturers, and fo fcatter it again all over the nation?

The wool would produce me a better price, if it were suffered to go to foreign markets; but that, Meffieurs the Public, your laws will not permit. It must be kept all at home, that our dear manufacturers may have it the cheaper. And then, having yourselves thus leffened our encouragement for raifing fheep, you curse us for the scarcity of mutton!

I have heard my grandfather fay, that the farmers fubmitted to the prohibition on the exportation of wool, being made to expect and believe that when the manufacturer bought his wool cheaper, they should also have their cloth cheaper. But the deuce a bit. It has been growing dearer and dearer from that day to this. How fo? Why, truly, the cloth is exported; and that keeps up the price.

Now if it be a good principle, that the exportation of a commodity is to be reftrained, that fo our people at home may have it the cheaper; ftick to that principle, and go thorough stitch with it. Prohibit the exportation of your cloth, your leather, and fhoes, your ironware, and your manufactures of all forts, to I 2

make