No. IV.

THE COUNT DE VILLELE'S SPEECH ON THE LIBERAL SYSTEM OF TRADE.

The whole free trade system, as every one is aware, rests upon a hypothesis, that it will effect a reciprocity of liberality in our neighbours. The boldest theorist has never contended, that we are to throw open our ports to the produce and manufactures of other countries, but with the expectation that sooner or later these countries must receive our produce or manufactures as freely in return. Upon what ground such an expectation can rest, will appear by the following extract from the late speech of the French Minister of Finance, delivered in the Chamber of Deputies :

"Two systems are actually at issue, the system of Restriction, and that of Liberality. Which of the two suits France? A country like France has much to furnish to foreign countries, but it has also many things to receive from them; and this is the point which must determine the system. Where ought a country to place itself when it has thirty millions of consumers, and so rich a soil? The first care of this country is to preserve to itself the supply of what it can offer to so extensive a consumption. Should we, in the name of agriculture, invoke the system of liberality? Could our agriculturists resist the importation into France of the corn of Odessa and other countries? Could the proprietors of our pasturages support a competition with other countries, who can raise cattle so much cheaper than ourselves? Could our wool trade be protected with this system? The importation of foreign cloths would completely ruin it in less than a year. The silk trade, which is the staple of France, would not even be secure. The importation of Indian silks would give a fatal blow to our manufactures at Lyons. Of all the branches of our agriculture, wines alone would not be injured by the plans proposed. The best answer to the adversaries of the system pursued by us, is in the solution of this question: Is France become poorer or richer? It is impossible that the balance of trade can be against her, if she is becoming richer. The administration is incessantly occupied with inquiring, amidst all the means, that which will be the most proper to furnish positive data to the Chambers. We are engaged at this moment in fresh valuations, because some of them have been demonstrated to be erroneous. Our irons ought necessarily to be protected by a temporary surcharge on account of the operations of our neighbours. The impulse given to this sort of industry, the capi

tals directed to it, will soon enable France to manufacture for herself as cheap as her neighbours. The system which it is wished to substitute, would have no other result than discouraging those who enter on this career, and deceiving those who have establishments in this branch. As to wines, England, it is said, would consume our wines, of which the qualities are known, as she consumes those of Portugal. But do you wish to know on what conditions she would consume them? You know what the conditions are which she has imposed on Portugal. On the same conditions you would sell your wines."

Next to our own country, France is now the most commercial, and has always been the most intelligent nation of Europe. The opinion of the French, upon a question of international, and particularly upon a question of commercial policy, may be taken as a favourable, if not a fair standard of the prevailing opinion in Europe. Now, the above extract tells us, that, upon principles of general and permanent operation, the French people are opposed to a system of free trade. Whether these principles are right or wrong is not the question; they are the principles upon which they will act; and it were mere madness to expect, in the teeth of such a declaration, that the attempt to force a free trade can end in any thing but calamity.

No. V.

EXTRACT OF A WORK, ENTITLED, LONDRES ET LES ANGLAIS. Par J. L. FERRI DE ST CONSTANT. Printed at Paris anno 12, vol. iii. chap. xxx. p. 225.

Société d'Agriculture.

Le dernier établissement fait à Londres pour encourager et accélérer les progrès des arts, et celui qui a pour objet le premier des

* Translation.

Extract from a work, entitled, "London and the English." By J. L. Ferri de St Constant. Printed at Paris in the year 1812, vol. iii. chap. 30. p. 225.

SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE.

The most recent establishment erected in London for encouraging and accelerating the progress of the arts, and that which has for its object the chief of all the arts, the Society of Agriculture, was established in 1793, according to the plan proposed by Sir John Sinclair, who was the first President. He ought to be regarded as the founder, because it was owing to his zeal, perseverance, and clear views on the subject, that every obstacle was overcome, and the approbation of

arts, la Société d'Agriculture, fut établi en 1793, d'après le plan de M. de Saint Clair, qui en a été le premier President. Il doit en être regardé comme le fondateur; car c'est à son zèle, à sa perseverance, et à ses lumières, qu'on dut l'applanissement de tous les obstacles, et la protection du Gouvernement. Le Parlement approuva l'etablissement de la société, et lui accorda L. 3000 pour ses depenses. L'objet du fondateur de cette société était, conformement aux vues de Bacon, de faire de l'agriculture une science, et d'en rendre les principes populaires. C'est vers ce grand but qu'il a dirigé tous les travaux de la société, et il est generalement reconnu qu'elle a eu la plus heureuse influence. Elle s'est occupé de tous les objets interessans de l'economie rurale, et specialement de ceux sur lesquels la pratique nationale était defectueuse. C'est à elle qu'on doit surtout le perfectionnement des races de moutons qui produisent de belles laines;

Government obtained. The Parliament also approved of the establishment of the Society, and voted it a grant of L.3000 to defray its expenses. The object of the founder of this Society was, in accordance with the views of Bacon, to make agriculture a science, and to render its principles popular. It was to this end that he directed all the efforts of the Society, and it is generally acknowledged to have had the happiest influence. The Society paid attention to all matters connected with rural economy, and especially those in which the national practice was defective. It is to it that we owe, in particular, the perfection of that race of sheep which produces the finest wool; and the custom recently introduced, of cultivating the ground with two instead of four horses, a custom of which kings themselves have set the example, in their estates at Windsor and Fitzhead, &c. The offer of premiums is the mode of encouragement which the Society has adopted. It has been blamed for having published a number of expensive works, which can only be of use to rich farmers, and for having neglected to distribute practical treatises over every corner of the world. But it would seem the Society prefers leaving to private persons the care of making the treatises generally read, reserving to itself to bestow approbation upon those who appear to merit the preference. It is thus the Society has acted in regard to the New Farmer's Calendar, which is now-a-days the manual of every labourer.

Sir John Sinclair being the founder of the Society, one would have thought that he would have always retained the Presidency; but to the great surprise of all the nation, a successor has been appointed, in the most illiberal manner. This is to be attributed to a spirit of paltry revenge on the part of the former Ministry, who expected to find in him a servile instrument of their views, and who could not pardon his political moderation and independence of opinion. Sir John Sinclair is one of the most enlightened political economists which England has produced. His History of the Public Revenue of Great Britain contains a crowd of facts unknown or forgotten, and great number of useful and profitable views. The Statistical Picture of Scotland will henceforth serve as a model to those who may write upon statistics. The rules there given at once lessen the labour and ensure precision.

l'usage, nouvellement introduit, de labourer les terres avec des bœufs au lieu de chevaux, pratiques dont le roi lui-même a donné l'exemple dans ses fermes de Windsor et de Fitzhead, &c. Les primes sont le mode d'encouragement que la société a adopté. On lui a reproché d'avoir publié nombre d'ouvrages coûteux, qui ne peuvent qu'être à l'usage de fermiers riches, et d'avoir negligé de repandre de traités pratiques à la porte de tout le monde; mais il parait que la société prefère de laisser aux particuliers le soin de faire des traités generaux, en se reservant de donner son approbation à ceux qui lui paraissent meriter la preference. C'est ce qu'elle a fait à l'égard du Nouveau Calendrier du Fermier, qui est aujourd'hui le manuel des laboureurs.

M. de Saint Clair étant le fondateur de la société, on croyait qu'il conserverait toujours la presidence; mais, à la grande surprise de toute la nation, on lui a donné tout à coup un successeur, de la manière la plus illiberale. Ce fut l'effet d'une basse vengeance des anciens ministres, qui avait cru trouver en lui un instrument servile de leurs vues, et qui ne peuvent lui pardonner sa moderation politique et sa manière de penser independante. M. de Saint Clair est un des hommes les plus eclairés en economie politique qu'ait produit l'Angleterre. Son Histoire du Revenu Publique de la Grande Bretagne contient une foule de faits, inconnus, ou oublies, etun grand nombre de vues utiles, dont a profité; et les tableaux statistiques de l'Ecosse serviront désormais de modele à ceux qui écriront sur la statistique. Les regles qu'il a données, en même temps qu'elles facilitent ce travail, en assurent l'exactitude.

No. VI.

STATISTICAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Paris, le 7th Messidor an 10.

L. J. P. Ballois, Redacteur des Annales de Statistique, à Monsieur John Sinclair, Chevalier Baronet, et Membre du Parlement de la Grande Bretagne.

MONSIEUR *,

Vous connaissez l'importance des recherches statistiques, et vos travaux dans cette science utile ont déjà beaucoup contribué aux ses pro

SIR,

* Translation.

Paris, 7th Messidor an. 10.

You are aware of the importance of statistical researches, and your labours

grès. Je puis donc espérer que vous voudrez bien agréer l'hom- . mage que j'ai l'honneur de vous faire des trois premières cahiers d'un ouvrage périodique que je publie à ce sujet sous les auspices de Gouvernement Français. Cet ouvrage est destiné spécialement à presenter le tableau réel de ma patrie, sous tous les rapports qu'embrasse la Statistique. A ce titre, Monsieur, je ne crois point indigne de quelque intérêt ; et le plus ardent de mes vœux seroit que vous en prissiez vousmême une opinion favorable.

J'ai inséré dans le dernier nombre votre Essai sur la Longévité, dont vous avez adressé des exemplaires au Ministre de l'Interieur. Cet écrit, qui seul suffiroit à l'eloge de votre cœur et de votre esprit, provoque des réponses justes et precises de la part des personnes qui s'occupent de la matière que vous traitez. Permettrez-vous, Monsieur, que ses réponses soient publiées par la voie de mon journal ? Trouverez-vous bon qu'il s'ouvre entre vous et moi une correspondance suivie à ce sujet ? 11 me semble que de telles communications peuvent conduire à des resultats eminemment utiles à l'humanité; et l'accord de la

in the cause of this useful science have already greatly contributed to its progress. I am therefore disposed to believe that you will receive with pleasure the three first sheets of a periodical work which I now do myself the honour of sending to you, and which I publish upon this subject under the auspices of the French Government. This work is especially intended to represent the real condition of this country, in every thing connected with statistics. In this respect, Sir, I do not think it undeserving of some attention; and my most ardent desire is, that you should form a favourable opinion of it.

I have inserted in the last number your Essay on Longevity, of which you sent copies to the Minister of the Interior. This production, which alone would justify the highest opinion both of your head and heart, has called forth candid and distinct answers from the persons acquainted with the matter of which you treat. Will you permit me, Sir, to publish these answers through the medium of my Journal? Will it be agreeable to you, that you and I should open a correspondence upon this subject? It appears to me that such communications would conduct to results eminently useful to mankind; and the union of philanthropy and patriotism ought always to form the honourable distinction of generous and liberal minds.

I take this opportunity of inclosing a letter written by the Minister, in answer to yours of the 24th of May. I also add some copies of your work, drawn up separately by order of the Minister, and circulated through every department of the republic. I am sincerely rejoiced at having it thus in my power to prove to you the esteem and veneration with which you have inspired my countrymen; and for myself in particular, I beg you will believe how deeply I am impressed with these sentiments.

L. J. S. BALLOIS.