Dr. Davenant, correcting Sir William’s calculation, makes the inhabitants 5,545,000. These, according to Sir William’s prices and proportions, would consume to the amount of 8,872,000_l._ sterling; but the Dr. carries it, with reason, a little higher, and states it at 9,075,000_l._ sterling; the difference, however, is inconsiderable. From this he concludes, the gross produce of the corn fields to be about 9,075,000_l._ sterling. I make no criticism upon this computation. Next, as to the value of other lands; I find Sir William reckons the gross produce of them in butter, cheese, milk, wool, horses yearly bred, flesh for food, tallow, hides, hay, and timber, to amount to 12,000,000_l._ sterling: The amount therefore of the gross produce of all the lands in England must be equal to these two sums added together, that is to 21,075,000_l._ sterling. From these data, the Dr. values the yearly rent of corn lands at two millions sterling, and those of pasture, &c. at seven millions, in all nine millions. From this it appears, that the land rents of England are to the gross produce, as nine is to twenty one, or thereabouts. Let me now examine some other proportions. The rents of the corn lands are to the gross produce of them, as two is to nine; those of pasture, as seven to twelve. Now it is very certain, that all rents are in a pretty just proportion to the gross produce, after deducting three principal articles. 1. The nourishment of the farmer, his family and servants. 2. The necessary expences of his family, for manufactures, and instruments for cultivating the ground. 3. His reasonable profits, according to the custom of every country. Of these three articles, let us distinguish what part implies the direct consumption of the pure produce, from what does not. Of the first sort are the nourishment of men and cattle, wool and flax for cloathing, firing, and other smaller articles. Of the second are all manufactures bought, servants wages, the hire of labourers occasionally, and profits, either spent in luxury, (that is superfluity) lent, or laid up. The three articles above mentioned (which we have distributed under two heads) being deduced from the gross produce, the remaining value shews the land rent. This being the case, I am next to examine the cause of the great disproportion between the rents of corn lands, and those of pasture, when compared with the gross produce, in order to draw some conclusion, which may lead to the solution of the question here proposed.