-7;
 
 UNIVERSITY OFCALDFORNI 
 AT LOS ANGELES

 
 STATEMENTS 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE 
 
 POLICY AND PEOBABLE CONSEQUENCES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PROPOSED REPEAL OF THE EXISTING 
 
 CORN LAWS, 
 
 AKD 
 
 THE IMPOSITION IN THEIR STEAD 
 
 OF 
 
 A MODERATE FIXED DUTY ON FOREIGN CORN 
 
 WHEN ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION. 
 
 BY J. R. M<=CULLOCH, ESQ. 
 
 ^ixtf) <3!JtJitiOtt. 
 
 WITH A POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS. 
 1841.
 
 To prevent misconception, it may be as weW, perhaps, to state 
 that this tract has not been written with the knowledge or at the 
 desire of the government, or of any party or individual whatever. 
 The Author is alone responsible for its contents. 
 
 LoNDOK : 
 
 Printed by A. Spottiswoode, 
 New - Street- Square.
 
 HF 
 
 STATEMENTS, 
 
 &c. 
 
 The announcement that government has determined to 
 grapple with the question of the Corn Laws, and to pro- 
 pose placing them on the footing best calculated to 
 secure the rights and promote the interests of all classes, 
 should give universal satisfaction. It is obvious, indeed, 
 that the consideration of this great question could not have 
 been much longer delayed without great public in- 
 jury. Though it had not been taken up by ministers, 
 it would have been forced upon the attention of parlia- 
 ment by the petitions of the manufacturing population. 
 The opinions of the latter as to the injurious influ- 
 ence of the existing law are, no doubt, in many i-espects 
 extravagant and absurd ; still, however, there is enough of 
 substantial truth In their statements and complaints to 
 entitle them to the respectful and serious attention of the 
 legislature. The preservation of the wealth, power, and 
 prosperity of the empire depends essentially on our being 
 
 ^ able to maintain our manufacturing and commercial ascend- 
 
 ^ ... . . 
 
 "^ ancy; and it is difficult to imagine how any regulations 
 
 can be justified that are certainly opposed to the prosperity 
 
 H of manufactures and commerce, and are believed by many 
 
 ' to be pregnant with their ruin. In the situation of this 
 
 V country, a question involving such considerations is not one 
 \i that can be cither shirked or trifled with. The legislature 
 
 -,\^ consists principally of gentlemen connected with and depend- 
 
 w ent on the land; but this should make them cautious how thev 
 
 V . . . 
 
 c give any countenance by their proceedings to the connnon 
 
 ^ opinion that they are actuated on this question by selfish 
 considerations. The landed gentlemen in both houses would 
 
 A 2 
 
 4*^0798
 
 do well to remember that the majority of those for whom 
 they legislate have no interest in the soil, and no concern 
 with its culture : all that these persons desire is to obtain 
 its products at the cheapest rale; and those who would 
 avert farther changes, and arrest the growth of agitation, 
 must beware of disappointing this reasonable desire. 
 Burdens, how heavy soever, that press equally on all classes, 
 are submitted to with comparatively good will ; but it is not 
 to be imagined that any large class should submit to what 
 they believe to be oppressive burdens and privations, im- 
 posed for no object of public or general utility, but for the 
 interest of that particular class that happens to have the 
 ascendancy in the legislature. If the latter do not voluntarily 
 renounce this unfair and partial advantage, nothing re- 
 mains for the others but to endeavour to remodel the legis- 
 lature, so as to make it more impartial in its decisions. 
 The notion that it is useless to appeal to parliament on 
 the question of the Corn Laws has already been very 
 widely diffused, and is, in truth, the main source of Chart- 
 ism, and of the ultra-radical doctrines now afloat as to the 
 constitution of government and of society. The satisfac- 
 tory settlement of this question is, therefore, quite as de- 
 sirable in a constitutional as in an economical point of 
 view. That it will do much to improve and extend indus- 
 try is certain ; but it will do still more to allay irritation, 
 and to attach the bulk of the people to the institutions 
 under which they live. We are not sanguine enough to sup- 
 pose that anything that we can say should have any material 
 influence in bringing about so desirable a result; but 
 having on different occasions, and at distant periods, en- 
 deavoured to vindicate the policy which is now, we trust, 
 about to be adopted, we may be permitted briefly to re- 
 state the grounds which entitle it to the sanction of parlia- 
 ment and of the country.
 
 5 
 
 It cannot, however, be necessary that we should begin 
 this discussion by entering into any lengthened disqui- 
 sition to prove the advantage of being able to obtain 
 abundant supplies of coi'n and other raw products at a 
 low price. Instead of being publicly advantageous, high 
 prices are, in every instance, distinctly and completely the 
 reverse. The smaller the sacrifice for which any article 
 can be obtained so much the better. Every one engaged 
 in industrious undertakings is uniformly anxious to 
 find out means for facilitating production, and, conse- 
 quently, for making commodities cheaper and more easily 
 obtained ; and the merit of any invention in the useful 
 arts is principally determined by its influence in this 
 respect. Why are Brindley, Arkwright, Watt, Wedg- 
 wood, and otiier inventors, regarded as benefactors of 
 their species, and as having contributed, in no ordinary 
 degree, to the advancement of the country ? The answer 
 is obvious. Tiieir inventions, by facilitating the production 
 and conveyance of commodities, have increased their 
 quantity, and reduced their price, to an extent that could 
 hardly have been conceived possible; and have, by so 
 doing, added proportionally to the wealth and enjoyment 
 of all classes. It might not, perhaps, be good policy to 
 attempt, supposing it were practicable, to accelerate im- 
 provement by public premiums and encouragements ; but 
 it is very difficult to suppose that there can be any cir- 
 cumstances that would justify the legislature in interfering 
 to check invention ; or in upholding, by artificial regula- 
 tions, the price of any article, especially if it be one of 
 prime necessity. When, owing to the employment of im- 
 proved machinery, the discovery of new channels of com- 
 merce, or the breaking down of monopolies, the labour 
 required to produce, or the money required to purchase, 
 any article is diminished, it is as clear as the sun at
 
 noon-day that more labour or money must remain to pro- 
 duce or purchase otlier desirable articles ; and if any 
 considerable saving could be effected in the cost of so im- 
 portant a commodity as corn, the means of procuring other 
 necessaries, conveniences, and enjoyments, would be very 
 materially augmented. There can be no question, indeed, 
 that any regulation tending to enhance the cost of so in- 
 dispensable an article 'is, prima Jhcie, the most objectionable 
 that can be imagined. A number of articles might be 
 specified, the high or low price of which is of very trivial 
 consequence; but corn enters so largely into the con- 
 sumption of all classes, and fonrts so important a part of 
 the expenditure of the labouring class, that any artificial 
 increase of its price occasions privations, and withholds 
 enjoyments, in a tenfold gi'eater degree than would be 
 done by enhancing the cost of almost anything else. 
 
 There can, however, be no doubt, that the existing 
 regulations with respect to the corn trade have been 
 enacted in contradiction of these obvious principles. ITieir 
 object is not to lower but to enhance the price of corn ; 
 and there is no denying that their influence in this re- 
 spect has been considerable, though not, certainly, to the 
 extent that was anticipated. Every argument, indeed, 
 that can be alleged in favour of the existing restrictions 
 is bottomed on the assumption that they raise the price of 
 corn above what it would be were they repealed. If this 
 be not their effect, if they add nothing to the price of 
 corn, it is clear their repeal could entail no loss or incon- 
 venience of any kind on the landlords, the farmers, or any 
 one else. The greater, therefore, the tenacity with which 
 these laws are supported, the greater, it will be presumed 
 by the other classes, is their influence over prices, and the 
 greater, consequently, will be the efforts made to effect 
 their abolition.
 
 It must, however, be admitted, that this is a question 
 with respect to which a great deal of misapprehension 
 exists; and this, in fact, forms the principal difficulty to 
 be encountered in dealing with it. Exaggerated expect- 
 ations of advantage from the repeal or modification of 
 the existing laws prevail on the one hand, and the most 
 unreasonable and unfounded fears and apprehensions on 
 the other ; and it is principally in the view of showing 
 what are the facts of the case, and of ascertaining the 
 probable influence of the proposed measure over the in- 
 terests of the different classes of the community, that we 
 have presumed to intrude on the public on this occasion. 
 
 Notwithstanding the extraordinary improvement made 
 in agriculture during the last twenty years, the fact that 
 we have every now and then to import large quantities of 
 foreign corn, and that we rarely or never export, shows 
 conclusively that the home supply of corn is still, speaking 
 generally, inadequate to the consumption ; and that, con- 
 sequently, were there no restrictions on the corn trade, 
 we should pretty generally import some portion of our 
 supply. But it must not, therefore, be supposed, as is 
 generally done, that our prices would sink, in the absence 
 of restrictions, to the level of those on the continent; and 
 that, in whatever degree our present prices exceed those 
 of the great continental corn markets, that excess of price 
 is to be ascribed to the operation of the corn laws. 
 
 Corn is a bulky and heavy commodity, which cannot be 
 conveyed from place to place, and warehoused, except at a 
 considerable cost. It will be seen in the sequel that the 
 expense of conveying a quarter of corn from Dantzic, 
 Odessa, and the other great shipping ports, to London, 
 putting it into warehouse here, and selling it to the 
 baker, cannot be estimated, in ordinary years, at less than 
 
 A 4
 
 8 
 
 froin lOi'. to \'2s. a quarter; and hence it results that, so 
 long as wc continue to import foreign corn, so long will the 
 home price exceed the foreign price by about that amount. 
 This is a natural protection which the unparalleled pro- 
 gress of our manufactures and commerce, and the con- 
 sequent density of our population, has secured for the 
 British agriculturist, and of which it is impossible, even if 
 it were wished, to deprive him. 
 
 It appears from the official returns that the average 
 price of wheat in England and Wales, during the ten 
 years ending with 1840, was 565. 11 ^d. a quarter*, which 
 consequently may be regarded as its fair average price 
 under the existing regulations; and, therefore, to ascer- 
 tain the real influence of these regulations over prices, 
 we have to inquire whether, in ordinary years, corn 
 of the same quality as British corn could be imported 
 and sold under about 565. ll^d. a quarter. If it could 
 be sold at any less sum, the difference, whatever it may 
 be, must be ascribed to the influence of the corn laws, 
 and may be taken as the measure of their average effect 
 over the price of this great necessary of life. We are 
 not aware that any well-founded or solid objection can 
 be made to this method of putting the question ; and we 
 apprehend that it will be found, when rightly examined, 
 that the agriculturists would lose nothing from the ports 
 being constantly open to importation under a moderate 
 fixed duty ; and that, in fact, such an arrangement would, 
 by obviating injurious fluctuations of price, and giving 
 comparative security and stability to most sorts of indus- 
 trious undertakings, redound as much to their advantage 
 as to that of the community in general. 
 
 Dantzic is the port whence we have always been accus- 
 tomed to derive the greatest portion of our supplies of fo- 
 reign corn ; and it is most probable that she will continue 
 ♦ See Appendix, No. I.
 
 to enjoy that pre-eminence in future. It therefore be- 
 comes of the greatest importance, with a view to the clear- 
 ing up of this question, to ascertain what is the probable 
 price at which corn may be expected to be imported from 
 that great emporium. 
 
 It appears to be a current notion in this country, for 
 which, unhappily, there is but slender foundation, that 
 wheat may be obtained for next to nothing in Dantzic. 
 So far, however, from this being the case, it is seen, from 
 the accounts furnished by the native authorities, that, 
 at an average of the 49 years ending with 1819, the price 
 of wheat at Dantzic amounted to 455. 4d. a quarter ! and, 
 at an average of the 20 years ending with 1819, it was no 
 less than 57s. &d. a quarter ! It is plain, however, that this 
 average would not be a fair test of the price of wheat in 
 Dantzic under ordinary circumstances, as it was power- 
 fully influenced by the scarcity and high price in this 
 country in 1800 and 1801, and by the extreme high 
 prices that prevailed during the latter years of the war, and 
 the obstructions which it threw in the way of agriculture, 
 and of the conveyance of wheat to Dantzic. But the 
 prices of wheat at Dantzic during the last twenty years 
 have not been influenced by any cause tending to raise 
 them above what may be reckoned their average level : on 
 the contrary, it may be fairly presumed that they were 
 then unduly depressed, inasmuch as, for several years 
 during that period, there wei-e no shipments for England, 
 which had previously taken off' by far the largest portion 
 of her supplies. But, independently of all this, it appears 
 from a statement furnished by the British consul, that the 
 average price of wheat in Dantzic, during the 10 years 
 ending with 1831, was 33^. 5(1. a quarter"; and the 
 average price during the 22 years ending with 1838 was 
 * See Commercial Dictionary, p. 428.
 
 Id 
 
 34a'. 4J. a quarter.* In tlie last-mentioned year the 
 price exceeded 48s. a quarter. In 1839, 39,910 lasts, or 
 412,403 quarters, wheat were shipped from Dantzic, of 
 which 384,369 were destined for England ; and this wheat 
 cost the shippers from 45^. to 55^. a quarter ! 
 
 On the whole, therefore, we shall certainly be within 
 the mark in supposing that the price of wheat in Dantzic, 
 in ordinary years, would not, were our ports open, be 
 under 355. a quarter : and it is essential to bear in mind 
 that but very little wheat can be shipped at this price; 
 and that, whenever there is a demand from this country 
 for 150,000 or 200,000 quarters, the pi'ice uniformly rises 
 to 405. a quarter and upwards. But taking it at the 
 lowest limit, or 355., and adding to it IO5. or 125. for the 
 freight and other charges attending its conveyance to 
 England, and its sale to the consumer, it is obvious it 
 could not be sold here, even if there were no duty, for less 
 than from 455. to 475. a quarter ; and adding to this from 
 55. to Is. for duty, its price would be raised to 505. or 545. 
 a quarter, that is, to within from 35. to 65. of the ordinary 
 average price of wheat in England !f 
 
 We ax*e well satisfied that it is not possible successfully 
 to controvert any portion of this statement; and, such 
 being the case, we are entitled to say that nothing can be 
 more entirely unfounded than the prevalent opinions as 
 to the extreme low price of w heat in Dantzic. The truth 
 is, that no considerable quantity of corn can be derived 
 from her without resorting to Galicia and other provinces 
 
 * Wilson's Tract on the Corn Trade, p. 68. 
 
 f It will be seen from the statement in the Appendix, No. II., that 
 the cost of importing 100 quarters of wheat from Dantzic, putting it 
 into warehouse here, retaining it for three weeks, and delivering it to 
 the consumer, would, at this moment, amount, in all, to 45/. 13*. Sd., 
 or to 9s. lid. a quarter. But to this outlay has to be added at least 
 from 51. to 10/. for waste, and 3?. per quarter for profit, which would 
 raise the cost to above 135. a quarter.
 
 11 
 
 from 500 to 700 miles inland. The corn is thence 
 conveyed to the city in boats suited to the naviga- 
 tion of the rivers ; but, owing to the uncertain supply of 
 water in the latter, the communication is sometimes 
 entirely broken off, and it is always very tedious and 
 expensive. In proof of this, we may mention that, in 
 November, 1838, when wheat sold in Dantzic for 4ls.6d. 
 a quarter, it was selling in Lemberg, the principal corn 
 market of Galicia, for 15s.; the difference, amounting to 
 26s. 6d., being the measure of the cost and risk of con- 
 veyance from Lemberg to Dantzic ! It is really quite 
 nugatory to suppose that any large supplies should be 
 furnished by Dantzic, were the shipping price under 40s. 
 or 45s. But, supposing that the stimulus given to cul- 
 tivation in Poland, by the circumstance of our ports being 
 always open, were such that we could, in ordinary years, 
 ship large supplies at 34s. or 35s., still it is plain, as already 
 seen, that it could not be sold in London, under the low 
 duty of 5s. or 7s., for less than 50s. or 54s. a quarter. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be said, that the price of wheat in Dant- 
 zic is not a fair criterion of its price in other northern 
 ports, and that it may be bought cheaper in Rostock, 
 Kiel, Hamburg, &c. ; but there is no real room or ground 
 for any such statement. The lower price of wheat at 
 Hamburg and the other ports alluded to, as compared 
 with Dantzic, is wholly ascribable to its inferior quality. 
 Though small-grained, and not so heavy as several other 
 sorts, Dantzic wheat is remarkably thin-skinned, and yields 
 the finest flour. Some of the best white, or, as it is techni- 
 cally termed, " high mixed," Dantzic wheat is equal to the 
 very best English ; but the supply of this sort is compara- 
 tively limited, and the average quality of all that is ex- 
 ported from Dantzic is believed to approach very nearly to 
 the average quality of English wheat, or to be but little in-
 
 ferior. Now, it will be found, allowing for quality, that 
 wheat is, speaking generally, always cheaper in Dantzic 
 than in any of the continental ports nearer London. 
 There are but few seasons, indeed, in which Dantzic wheat 
 is not largely imported into both Hamburg and Amsterdam. 
 But it is quite impossible that such should be the case, un- 
 less, taking quality and other modifying circumstances into 
 account, it were really cheaper than the native and other 
 wheats met with in these markets. In fact, the market of 
 Hamburg is principally supplied with the coarse damp 
 wheats of Holstein and the Lower Elbe ; and such is 
 their inferiority that, whenever there is any considerable 
 importation into England, it is of everyday occurrence for 
 merchants, millers, &c., to order Dantzic wheat in prefer- 
 ence to that from Holstein, Hanover, &c., though the latter 
 might frequently be put into warehouse here for 15^. a 
 quarter less than the former. It is, therefore, quite indis- 
 pensable, in attempting to draw any inference as to the 
 compai'ative prices of corn in different countries, to make 
 the requisite allowances for differences of quality. Unless 
 this be done, whatever conclusions may be come to, they 
 can rarely be otherwise than false and misleading ; and, 
 when they happen to be right, they can be so only through 
 the merest accident. 
 
 Dantzic being by far the greatest exporting port for corn 
 in the north of Europe, its price may be assumed as the 
 general measure of the price in other shipping ports. At 
 all events, it is cei'tain that, when Dantzic is exporting, 
 wheat cannot be shipped, taking quality into account^ at a 
 cheaper rate from any other place. The importer invariably 
 resorts to what he believes to be, all things considered, the 
 cheapest market ; and it is a contradiction and an absurdity 
 to suppose that he should burden himself with a compara- 
 tively high freight and other chaiges for wheat in Dantzic,
 
 13 
 
 provided he could buy an equally good article, in so conve- 
 nient a port as Hamburg, for less money ! 
 
 If, therefore, we be right in estimating the minimum 
 price at which middling Dantzic wheat could be imported, 
 in ordinary years, under a duty of 5s. or 75., at 50s. or 545., 
 we may be assured that this is the lowest price at which 
 foreign wheat, of about the average quality of that of Eng- 
 land, can be imported. So long as Dantzic wheat is brought 
 to our markets, it shows conclusively that they cannot be 
 supplied at a lower rate from any other quarter. The 
 greater cheapness of the imports from other places must, 
 under such circumstances, be apparent only, and is sure to 
 be countervailed by a corresponding inferiority of quality. 
 
 /^ Odessa, on the Black Sea, is the only port of southern 
 I Europe from which we either have derived, or are at all 
 
 \likely to derive, any considerable quantity of foreign corn. 
 But the exports from Odessa are not nearly so extensive 
 as is generally supposed, and they cannot be materially 
 increased without a previous increase in the facilities of 
 conveying corn from the interior. At present it is almost 
 wholly brought to the town in carts drawn by oxen ; and 
 the supply of corn depends almost as much on the num- 
 ber of cattle that may be employed for this purpose as on 
 the productiveness of the harvests. It appears, from an au- 
 thentic statement sent us from Odessa, that the quantity of 
 corn brought to the town in the undermentioned years 
 has been — 
 
 1834 - 691,000 cl«;twerts*. 
 
 1833 - 378,700 
 
 1836 - 878,700 
 
 1837 - 950,498 
 
 During the last three years, or during 1838, 1839, and 
 1840, the average price of the best Odessa wheat, which, 
 however, is inferior to that of England, has been 34s. 6d. per 
 * A chetwert is about 6 bushels. 
 
 1838 - 1,241,000 chetwerts. 
 
 1839 - 1,150,000 
 
 1840 - 680,000
 
 14 
 
 quarter on the spot ; and owing to the length and tedious- 
 ness of the voyage from Odessa, and the risk of the grain 
 heating on the passage, the charges attending its im- 
 portation, inchiding insurance, &c., amount to from 15a-. 
 to \6s. a quarter. It is plain, therefore, that the Odessa 
 wheat brought to England during the last thi'ee years must, 
 speaking generally, have cost the importer about 50s. a 
 quarter exclusive of profit ; and, supposing its price in 
 Odessa to be reduced under a system of free intercourse 
 to 305. or even 27s. a quarter, still it is plain it could not 
 be sold in London, under a duty of 5s. or 7s. a quarter, 
 for less than from 47s. to 52s. a quarter ; that is, for less 
 than the price of Dantzic wheat, which is superior to it by 
 at least 5s. or 6s. a quarter. 
 
 It is needless to take up the reader's time by entering 
 into any lengthened details with respect to the corn trade 
 of the United States. It is abundantly certain that we 
 need not look to that quarter for any considerable sup- 
 plies. American wheat, though decidedly inferior to 
 British wheat, is seldom under 40s. a quarter in New 
 York, and is frequently much higher. Latterly, the cul- 
 ture of wheat has been decreasing in the United States, 
 and a material decrease has taken place in the exports of 
 flour. Indeed, every body acquainted with such matters 
 knows that within the last half dozen years considerable 
 quantities of flour have been shipped from Dantzic to other 
 European ports for America. 
 
 It appears from this lengthened survey that there is no 
 reason whatever for supposing, were the ports opened to 
 the importation of foreign corn under a fixed duty of 5s. 
 or 7s. a quarter, that any considerable supply could be 
 procured under from 50s. to 54s. a quarter. But we 
 have already seen that the price of corn in this country 
 during the decennial period ending with 1840 did not
 
 15 
 
 exceed 56s. ll^d., or that it has only been about os. 
 a quarter above its lowest probable future price with 
 open ports, and a low fixed duty of 55. or 7s. a quarter ! 
 It will be observed, too, that several crops during the last 
 decennial period were extremely deficient, and the im- 
 ports unusually large. Thus, in 1839, the price was no less 
 than 70s. &d. a quarter, while the entries of foreign corn for 
 home consumption during the course of that year amounted 
 to the prodigious quantity of 2,681,390 quarters ! Had 
 the crops throughout the whole ten years been of an aver- 
 age productiveness, the price would not have exceeded 
 50s. ; but, without insisting on this, it is quite ludicrous 
 to suppose that a fall of 5s. a quarter in the average 
 price of corn should have any disastrous, or, indeed, sen- 
 sible influence over agriculture. Improvements of all 
 sorts were never more vigorously prosecuted than in 1836 
 and 1837, and yet the average price of corn in those years 
 did not exceed 52s. 2(/. : that is, it did not exceed its pro- 
 bable futui'e price with open ports, and a fixed duty of 
 only 5s. a quarter ! 
 
 The price of wheat in England, at an average of the 
 ten years ending with 1820, was no less than 86s. Sd. a 
 quarter. Its average price has since, as we have just seen, 
 been reduced to 56s. 1 1 ^d. a quarter ; and j'et, notwithstand- 
 ing this tremendous fall, a most extraordinary improve- 
 ment has taken place in agriculture since 1820; so much 
 so that we now provide for an additional population of at 
 least SEVEN millions, not only without any increase, but 
 with a very considerable diminution, of importation. Con- 
 sidering the vast importance of agriculture, that nearly 
 half the population of the empire are directly and indi- 
 rectly dependent on it for employment and the means 
 of subsistence, a prudent statesman would pause before he 
 gave his sanction to any measure, however sound in prin-
 
 19 
 
 ciple, or beneficial to the mercantile and manufacturing 
 classes, that might endanger the prosperity of agriculture, 
 or check the rapid spread of improvement. But the 
 previous statements shew that the measure proposed by 
 government can have no such effect. The truth is, that 
 the agriculturists have nothing to fear even from the total 
 and unconditional repeal of the corn laws. Such a mea- 
 sure would, no doubt, be partial and unjust, and should 
 not, therefore, be entertained ; but it admits of demon- 
 stration that it could do them no real injury. It would 
 not throw an acre of land out of cultivation, nor sensibly 
 affect rent. The agriculture of the United Kingdom does 
 not depend on the miserable resource of custom-house re- 
 gulations : though these were swept away, the excellence 
 of our soil, the skill of our husbandmen, and the wealth 
 of the commercial and manufacturing classes, would ensure 
 its continued prosperity. 
 
 Those who investigate the matter will find that the 
 existing regulations respecting the corn trade are little 
 less injurious to the agriculturists than to the other classes. 
 The vice of the system is that it has nothing certain or 
 definite about it ; and that in consequence of the duty 
 varying with the price, increasing when the latter falls, 
 and falling when it rises, no one can ever predicate what 
 the state of the corn trade maybe six months hence — 
 whether foreign corn shall be pouring into the country at 
 a low duty, or be wholly excluded. 
 
 It may be supposed, perhaps, that the present law is 
 advantageous to the farmer, by its virtually prohibiting 
 importation when prices are low ; but this is an apparent, 
 merely, not a real advantage. The previous statements 
 have suflBciently shown that it is not possible, even though
 
 17 
 
 the ports were constantly open to the admission of foreign 
 corn free of duty, tliat any considerable quantity could 
 be imported for less than 50^. a quarter. In so far, there- 
 fore, as the existing Corn Law goes to prevent importation 
 when prices are under that limit, it is a mere work of 
 supererogation. Circumstances over which neither the 
 legislature of this, nor of any other country, has the 
 smallest influence have secured a monopoly of the Bri- 
 tish market to the British farmer till prices rise above 505. 
 This is a natural advantage of which he cannot be de- 
 prived, and which he would have enjoyed had the Corn 
 Laws never been heard of. 
 
 If, thei'efore, we would form a fair estimate of the 
 operation of the existing Corn Law^, we must consider 
 how it affects the agriculturists and the other classes, not 
 when there is abundance in the land, and prices are low, 
 but when a short crop is anticipated, and prices are 
 rising. In such a case the duty sinks till it be reduced to 
 next to nothing ; and not merely all the foreign corn that 
 may happen to be warehoused in the country, but every 
 contiguous foreign port, is swept of its supplies, which are 
 hurried off to England, and entered for consumption at 
 the low duty, whether the occasion require it or not. It 
 is hardly possible to exaggerate the pernicious conse- 
 quences of such proceedings. Surely it is unnecessary 
 to say, that it is of vital importance that the supply of coin 
 should be distributed according to tlie real wants and 
 necessities of the people, which it would be, were there 
 either no duty, or one that was fixed and invariable. But, 
 with a fluctuating scale, every bushel of corn that can be 
 procured is thrown upon the market when the duty hap- 
 pens for the moment to be low or nominal, not because 
 such corn is really required, but because, were if kept back 
 even for the shortest period, it might he impossihlo to 
 
 u
 
 18 
 
 tiikr it, except at :in oppressively high duty. In con- 
 sequence of this periodical overloading of the market, the 
 farmer is not only deprived of the fair advantage he would 
 have reaped from the rise of price occasioned by the ap- 
 prehended deficiency ; but in the event, whicii very fre- 
 quently occurs, of the apprehension of a deficient supply 
 being unfounded or exaggerated, the market is unduly 
 and unnaturally depressed by the quantity of foreign corn 
 that has been forced upon it. An inspection of the Table, 
 No. IV. in the Appendix, will serve to convince even the 
 most sceptical of the truth of what has now been stated. 
 The low prices of 1821 and 1822, and again of 1833, 
 1834, and 1835, were, no doubt, in part occasioned by the 
 excess of the foreign entries for consumption in the pre- 
 vious years. 
 
 But there are other considerations that must be attended 
 to in forming a fair estimate of the operation of the exist- 
 ing Corn Laws. Were our ports always open under a 
 moderate duty, nothing would be gained by pouring in 
 supplies at any particular moment; they would only be 
 furnished when necessary, and would be limited by the 
 necessity ; and when prices were low, or falling, a large 
 pi'oportion of the imports would be warehoused in anti- 
 cipation of a future rise. But at present there is no room 
 for consideration or combination ; everything must be 
 done on the moment, and by fits and starts; we may not 
 have brought a bushel of wheat from the Baltic for a year 
 or two; but prices having risen in this country, and, the 
 duty Laving fallen still more rapidly, we have now an 
 instantaneous demand for all the corn that can be had ! 
 Not being expected, no provision is made for meeting 
 such sudden and capricious demands ; and prices rise to 
 such a degfee as to make our presence in the foreign mar- 
 kets hateful to every one, except the few who may happen to
 
 19 
 
 have on hand stocks of corn. It is plain, too, that a com- 
 merce, if so we may call it, conducted in this way, cannot 
 be carried on by an interchange of goods for corn, as 
 it would be were the ports constantly open. We may 
 have a demand this year for ten times the quantity of 
 Polish corn that we required last year, but it is abundantly 
 certain that the Poles will not reciprocate by taking off 
 corresponding quantities of our cottons, woollens, or hard- 
 ware. Under ordinary circumstances, an increase of im- 
 ports is always accompanied by a corresponding increase 
 of exports; but, to bring this about, the increase must 
 neither be sudden nor excessive ; for, if so, the chances 
 are a thousand to one that the foreign demand for our 
 products will not increase to an equal extent. Corn is 
 the principal means which the Poles have of paying for 
 
 \ English goods; and, as we frequently shut it wholly out, 
 
 their imports from England are unavoidably below even 
 
 the average amount of their exports ; so that, when we 
 
 have an extraordinary demand for corn, the greater part 
 
 / of the excess must be paid for in bullion ; and, instead of 
 
 / being benefited by its occurrence, our commei"cial and 
 manufacturing interests are deeply injured. 
 
 But it is unnecessary to dwell on what is so well known. 
 Most fortunately, we did not require to import any foreign 
 corn in 1835 and 1836; but no one, cither in the Bank 
 of England or out of it, acquainted with the circum- 
 stances, can have the smallest doubt that, had it been 
 then necessary to make the same payments for foreign 
 corn we had to make in 1830 and 1831, and in 1838 and 
 1839, the Bank must have stopped payment; and a 
 shock would have been given to the credit and financial 
 interests of the country, from which tiiey might never 
 have recovered. The severe pressure on the money 
 market in 18.39 mainly originated in the same circnm- 
 
 n 2
 
 20 
 
 stances; and who can doubt that that pressure was pro- 
 ductive of incomparably greater loss and inconvenience to 
 the agriculturists than any advantage they gained by the 
 rise of prices in that year? 
 
 It is in these respects that the existing corn law is 
 most inimical to manufactures and commerce. The dis- 
 order occasioned by a sudden and extensive demand for 
 corn affects the prices of every article, and vitiates every 
 speculation. The mischief is sometimes ascribed to the 
 conduct of the directors of the Bank of England ; but 
 they have little or nothing to do in the matter ; they are 
 merely endeavouring to provide, as is their bounden duty, 
 for the safety of the Bank, which is suddenly called upon 
 to advance four, fi^^i or six millions of bullion, to be sent 
 abroad in payment of foreign corn ! It is plain that the 
 real origin of the pressure is to be found in that system 
 of commercial legislation that produces eveiy now and then 
 such sudden and heavy drains on the resouxxes of the 
 Bank and the country. 
 
 In every point of view, therefore, it is of the highest 
 importance that the regulations as to the corn trade 
 should be placed on such a footing that the supply may be 
 admitted according to our wants, and when it is really 
 required. In their present form, the Corn Laws are pro- 
 ductive of nothing but injury; and are hostile alike to 
 agriculture, commerce, and credit. 
 
 It must not, however, be supposed, from any thing now 
 said, that we mean to state or insinuate that it is possible 
 by any contrivance, or by the utmost possible degree of 
 freedom, to avert all fluctuations in the supply and price 
 of corn. Any such idea would be alike chimerical and ab- 
 surd. Variations of the harvests, in so rich and populous 
 a country as Great Britain, must always, and under any 
 circumstances, have a powerful influence over prices ; not
 
 21 
 
 only here, but also in those foreign markets whence we are 
 in the habit of drawing a portion of our supplies. But it 
 ^admits of demonstration, that the adoption of a system as 
 to importation, in which there shall be no fluctuation of 
 duties, is the best means by which to mitigate the influence 
 of variations of harvests, and to secure the greatest steadi- 
 ness of price. Under such a system, the merchants of 
 this and other countries would be able to form their plans 
 without the fear of their being overturned by accidental 
 or contingent circumstances ; and the fact that we everj 
 now and then require a large supply of foreign corn would 
 make capitalists here and elsewhere warehouse, in abun- 
 dant years, large supplies, in anticipation of the demand 
 when a deficiency occurs. The merchant would then have 
 to deal only with real wants and necessities ; and these it 
 is comparatively easy to provide against. In a matter of 
 this kind all restrictions and interferences are unalloyed 
 evils. Freedom is all that is required to place the trade 
 on the best possible footing. 
 
 To show the practical operation of the existing duty, let 
 it be supposed that, when prices in England are between 
 69s. and 70s. a quarter, a merchant orders a cargo of wheat 
 from Dantzic, or some other port, and that, in the interval 
 between the giving of the order and the arrival of the grain, 
 the price has sunk to 62s. In this case the wheat will sell 
 for 7s. or 8s. a quarter less than the importer expected , 
 and the duty on it will be 24s. Sd. ; whereas, when the order 
 was given, and prices were between 69s. and 7()s., the duty 
 was only 13s. 8c/. ; so that the merchant, besides having 
 to sell his wheat at 8s. below his estimate, will have to pay 
 on the article so reduced in price an additional duty of lis. 
 No wonder tliat the corn trade should have been so very 
 ruinous to those who have embarked in it of late years. 
 The risk attending it is, under any circumstances, pro- 
 
 b3
 
 22 
 
 verbially great ; but our legislation more than doubles that 
 risk; and is, in this respect, as contradictory to every 
 sound principle as can easily be imagined. 
 
 It may be said, perhaps, that though this graduated 
 scale of duties be injurious to the merchant when prices 
 are falling, and when importation is, therefore, either un- 
 necessary or of less advantage, it is equall}' for his advan- 
 tage when prices are rising, and the public interests require 
 that importation should be encouraged. But the prices in 
 the view of the mercliant when he gives an order are al- 
 ways such as he supposes will yield a fair profit; and if 
 they rise, the rise would, supposing the duty to be constant, 
 yield such an extra profit as would make him increase his 
 importations to the utmost. Were it possible to devise a 
 plan that should diminish the losses arising out of un- 
 favourable speculations, by making some deduction from 
 the extraordinary gains I'csulting from those that are un- 
 usually successful, something, perhaps, might be found to 
 say in its favour ; but the plan we have been considering 
 proceeds on quite opposite principles. Its effect is not to 
 diminish risks, but, to increase them. It adds to the loss 
 of an unsuccessful and to the profit of a successful specu- 
 lation ! 
 
 It is obvious, therefore, that a constant is decidedly 
 preferable to a graduated duty. When the duty is con- 
 stant, all classes, farmers as well as merchants, are aware 
 of its aiBount ; and can previously calculate the extent of 
 its influence and operation. But the effect of a duty that 
 fluctuates with the fluctuations of price can never be 
 appreciated before hand. Its magnitude depends on con- 
 tinfj^ent and accidental circumstances ; and it must, there- 
 fore, of necessity, occasion that uncertainty, and those sud- 
 den and capricious movements, that are so destructive of 
 the interests of all classes.
 
 23 
 
 But it may be inquired, — if you be really satisfied that 
 the agriculturists would sustain no injury from the free 
 importation of foreign corn, and if a free trade in corn be 
 so very desirable as you suppose, why do you recommend 
 any duty ? why not propose that the ports should be at once 
 thrown open to corn as they are to gold and silver? 
 
 In answer to this question, we have to state that we are 
 friendly to the imposition of a duty on foreign corn, not 
 because we think it is required to protect agriculture, or 
 that it will be of any material service to the agriculturists, 
 but because we are desirous to guard against the possibility 
 of any injurious shock being given to so important a bu- 
 siness as agriculture, and because the agriculturists have 
 a just right to demand it. We believe that land is more 
 heavily taxed than any other species of property in the 
 country ; and, if so, its owners are clearly entitled to 
 insist that a duty should be laid on foreign corn when 
 imported, suflBcient fully to countervail the excess of bur- 
 dens laid upon the land. Suppose, to illustrate this 
 principle, that hatters and glovers are equally taxed ; 
 under such circumstances, neither could complain that 
 they were unfairly dealt by were foreign hats and gloves 
 admitted under equal ad valorem duties. ]3ut suppose 
 that a tax of 5 or 10 per cent, is laid on the articles 
 produced by the hatter, or on his profits, from which 
 the glover is exempted ; in such a case, no one can doubt 
 that the hatter would be unjustly treated if the duty 
 on foreign hats were not inci'eased in a corresponding 
 ratio. Unless this were done, the peculiar dut}' with which 
 he was affected would place him in a comparatively disad- 
 vantageous situation ; and though he might not be en- 
 tirely driven from his business, his profits could hardly 
 fail of being reduced below the level of those of the 
 glovers. So long as taxation affc'cts all chisscs ((jualiy, 
 
 B 4
 
 24 
 
 none of them has any peculiar riglit to complain ; nor can 
 it, however heavy, justify any attempts to protect either 
 one or more classes from foreign competition. But when- 
 ever it ceases to be equal, whenever it presses more se- 
 verely on some than on others, that moment do those 
 that are most heavily taxed acquire a legitimate claim to 
 an equivalent protection. It is impossible to refuse them 
 this, without trampling on every principle of justice. Such 
 protection is not given them as a favour, but to keep 
 them where they have a right to be kept — on the same 
 level as the other classes of their countrymen. If they be 
 relieved from these peculiar burdens, the necessity for the 
 countervailing duties will of course cease, and they may, 
 and indeed should, be repealed forthwith; but the equalis- 
 ation of taxation at home must, in all cases, precede the 
 equalisation of the duties on importation from abroad. 
 
 It has, however, been doubted whether the agricultur- 
 ists be entitled to profit by this principle, or whether, in 
 point of fact, they are more heavily taxed than the other 
 classes. We do not, however, think that there is really 
 much room for doubt or hesitation on this point. Land 
 is a species of property that cannot be concealed ; it is vi- 
 sible to every one; and the fair presumption consequently 
 is that it will be more heavily taxed than the capital of the 
 manufacturer or merchant, which it is frequently very diffi- 
 cult to trace. Any one, indeed, who will compare the amount 
 of poor rate, county rates, and such like burdens paid by 
 the land, with that paid by other sorts of property, will be 
 satisfied that the former is charged far beyond its fair 
 proportion. The metaphysical disquisitions with respect 
 to the incidence of tithe would be wholly out of place in 
 such a tract as this ; it is sufficient to state, that there can 
 be no question that Adam Smith is, in part at least, in 
 the right in his view of their operation ; and that, in 
 
 L'^
 
 25 
 
 point of fact, they fall partly and principally on the land. 
 It would savour more of pedantry than of any thing else 
 _to attempt to estimate, with precision, the excess of the 
 burdens that are thus throw'n on the soil. It would not, 
 however, be difficult to show that they cannot, in any view 
 of the matter, be reckoned at so high a rate as to require 
 for their equalisation a countervailing duty on foreign 
 corn of above 5^. a quarter. It is true, that in a case of 
 this sort, the error, if there be any, should rather be on 
 the side of too much protection than of too little. But 
 if the duty were fixed at a high rate, at &s. or 10s., for 
 example, it would certainly be very considerably beyond 
 what the justice of the case requires ; and the probability 
 is, that it would serve as a handle for further agitation ; 
 that the measure would not satisfy those who complain of 
 the existing laws ; and that it would not be productive of 
 that security that is so essential. 
 
 But whatever amount of duty may be laid on foreign 
 corn, for the equitable purpose of countervailing peculiar 
 burdens laid on the corn raised at home, an equivalent 
 drawback should be allowed on exportation. Mr. Ricardo 
 has given his unqualified assent to this proposal. " In al- 
 lowing," says he, " this drawback, we are merely returning 
 to the farmer a tax which he has already paid, and which 
 he must have to place him in a fair state of competition 
 in the foreign market, not only with the foreign producer, 
 but with his own countrymen who are producing other 
 commodities. It is essentially difierent from a bounty on 
 exportation, in the sense in which the word bounty is usu- 
 ally understood ; for by a bounty is generally meant a tax 
 levied on the people for the purpose of rendering corn ini- 
 naturally cheap to the foreign consumer : whereas what I 
 propose is, to sell our corn at the price at which we can 
 really affbi'd to produce it; and not to add to its price a
 
 26 
 
 tax which shall induce the foreigner rather to purchase it 
 from some other country, and deprive us of a trade which, 
 under a system of free competition, we migiit have se- 
 lected." [Protection to Agriculture^ p. 33.) 
 
 We are firmly persuaded that nothing would do so much 
 to promote and secure the interests of agriculture as the 
 opening of the ports, under such a duty as has been sug- 
 gested, accompanied by an equal drawback. The granting 
 of the latter is of incomparably more importance than is 
 commonly supposed. We have already seen that our prices, 
 generally speaking, must, in ordinary years, in the present 
 state of agriculture, be from 10^. to 12s. a quarter above 
 those of the great continental shipping ports. But, thanks 
 to the spread of agricultural improvement ! we now grow, 
 in moderately favourable years, nearly as much corn as 
 ^ is sufficient for our supply at this average price ; and in 
 j unusually productive years, as in 1822 and 1833, the home 
 supply is so very abundant, that the market is overloaded. 
 This abundance is, however, under the peculiar circum- 
 stances of the case, a serious loss to the farmer ; for, 
 owing to our ordinary or average prices being above those 
 of the continent, the market cannot be relieved by export- 
 ation till they have fallen to a ruinously low level. Nine- 
 tenths of that agricultural distress, of which we have heard 
 so much at different periods since the peace, originated in 
 the way now mentioned. Such revulsions would, however, 
 be in a great measure obviated by the granting of a draw- 
 back of 5s. or 65. a quarter, inasmuch as it would, by faci- 
 litating exportation in unusually plentiful years, hinder 
 prices from then falling to the extent they now necessarily 
 do, Sucli a plan would, by checking all tendency to ex- 
 tremes, I'ender agriculture and commerce comparatively- 
 secure ; and would, in this way, provide for the continued 
 prosperity of both.
 
 27 
 
 It is thusj we think, sufficiently established, that the 
 substitution of a moderate fixed duty on corn, accompanied 
 by an equal drawback, would be at once just and advan- 
 tageous to all classes. It will, on the one hand, be ad- 
 vantageous to the manufacturing and commercial classes, 
 by giving greater steadiness to prices, and obviating the 
 necessity for sudden importations of corn, and the conse- 
 ( quent heavy drains for bullion, and that disorder of all 
 sorts of commercial speculations they invariably occasion. 
 And it will, on the other hand, be advantageous to the 
 agriculturists, by preventing the overloading of the home- 
 markets with foreign corn in the anticipation of an 
 increase of duty, and by preventing prices falling to a 
 ruinously low level, in abundant years, by facilitating the 
 exportation of a portion of the surplus crop. It will be 
 singular if a measure, fitted to bring about such results, 
 and to allay the ill-founded jealousies that now prevail 
 among the different classes, should fail of success. 
 
 It may be alleged, perhaps, that it is impolitic and im- 
 proper to lay a tax on corn, or on the food of the people ; 
 but the existing scale is as liable to this objection as 
 the one that is proposed to be adopted. The duty on 
 the wheat imported since the present fluctuating scale was 
 enacted in 1828, amounts, at an average of the whole pe- 
 riod, to 5s. 9d. a quarter*, being quite as much as it 
 should be under a fixed scale. We doubt, however, 
 whether there be any valid objection to a moderate tax 
 being laid on corn for fiscal purposes. The })resent law 
 is not objectionable because it imposes duties, but because 
 these duties are not imposed on any fixed principle, and 
 that it is impossible to foretell what may be their amount at 
 any future period. Provided, however, that the tax laid 
 on foreign corn were fixed, and not oppressive in amount, 
 
 * See Appendix, No. V.
 
 ♦28 
 
 we have yet to learn what good objection could be made to 
 it. A large amount of I'evenue must, coute qui coiite, be 
 raised ; and, disguise it as you will, a very large amount of 
 that reveime must be paid by the labouring classes. But it 
 is needless to dwell on this point — we are not proposing 
 the imposition of a duty on foreign corn for the sake of 
 revenue. The duty we have recommended is required as a 
 measure of justice to the agriculturists, without regard to 
 any considerations as to revenue. 
 
 We may remark, by the way, that those who suppose 
 that any change which it is possible to effect in the Corn 
 
 \ Laws will have any sensible influence over wages, have 
 reckoned without their host, and will be disappointed. 
 No such change can sensibly affect average prices; and 
 cannot, therefore, either now or in the long run, affect 
 
 ^ wages. It will be advantageous to the manufacturers by 
 
 ' lessening the frequency and intensity of revulsions, and by 
 extending and promoting trade ; but if they expect that 
 
 i it will enable them to buy labour at a lower rate, they 
 will find themselves most egregiously mistaken. We 
 doubt whether labour, that is, whether the return paid for 
 the quantity of work done, be higher here than in most 
 parts of the continent; but, if it be, it is not a conse- 
 quence of the Corn Laws, but of the comparatively higher 
 standard of comfort in this country, and the heaviness of 
 taxation. If our labourers lived on rye-bread, and were 
 as meanly clothed and lodged as the bulk of the conti- 
 nental labourers, their wages would most probably be also 
 as low. But it is devoutly to be wished that no such de- 
 gradation of their habits may ever take place; and that 
 they may continue to be honourably distinguished by 
 their superior comforts and enjoyments. 
 
 We have thus briefly endeavoured to state what appear 
 to be the principal considerations to be attended to by 
 those who would arrive at a satisfactory and unprejudiced
 
 29 
 
 conclusion as to this great question. It has been esta- 
 blished, we think, that the agriculturists have nothing to 
 fear even from the unconditional abolition of the corn laws ; 
 and that it will conduce materially to their interests, as 
 well as to those of the other classes, to have the present 
 fluctuating scale of duties abolished, and a fixed duty, 
 accompanied by a drawback, substituted in its stead. 
 
 There are but few landed gentlemen, one should think, 
 but must be anxious to get rid of the perpetual discussion 
 of this question, and of the misrepresentation and agitation 
 of which it is the convenient handle. They will, no doubt, 
 treat with contempt any efforts that may be made to 
 coerce or bully them into measures of which they dis- 
 approve ; but we would fain hope that they may, notwith- 
 standing, see the expediency and advantage of concurring 
 in some such measure as that of which we have endea- 
 voured to trace the outline. Having by far the largest 
 \ stake in the country, they are the most deeply interested 
 in its tranquillity and prosperity, which would certainly 
 be promoted, in no common degree, by the settlement of 
 this much agitated question, on a fair and equitable 
 basis. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Since the foregoing pages were published. Lord John 
 Russell has intimated the fixed duties which he proposes 
 should be imposed, instead of the present fluctuating duties, 
 on foreign corn when entered for consumption : they are 
 8s. per quarter on wheat, 4s. 6d. on barley, Ss. 4d. on oats, 
 and 5s. on rye, peas, and beans. We have previously en- 
 deavoured to show, that a duty of 5s. per quarter on wheat 
 would more tlian cover the excess of the peculiar taxes 
 falling on the land, so that the additional .'l.v. a quarter
 
 so 
 
 may be rei^ardod as a protoclion in favour of the agricul- 
 turists. Aiul though they do not certainly require any 
 sucli protection, it was probably the more expedient course, 
 considering the prevalent notions as to the extreme low 
 price of corn abroad, to fix the duty, at the outset of the 
 new system, at a higher rate than might, under other 
 circumstances, have been proper. At all events, with 
 such a duty, the idea that it is the intention of Govern- 
 ment to " swamp," as it has been termed, the agricul- 
 ture of the United Kingdom by admitting unlimited 
 importations of foreign corn, is too absurd to deserve any 
 lengthened notice. The only good objection that can be 
 made to the ministerial project, is not that it gives too 
 little, but that it gives too much protection. It has been 
 already seen that it is impossible to purchase in any foreign 
 port any considerable quantity of wheat, of the average 
 quality of that produced in Britain, for less than 35s. a 
 quarter; and adding to this lO.s. for the expense of im- 
 portation, 8s. for duty, and 3s. for profit, it is clear that 
 such wheat cannot be sold in England under 56s. a quar- 
 ter, which is only llgc?. less than the average price of 
 English wheat during the 10 j'ears ending with 1840 ! If 
 the agriculturists be not satisfied with an arrano-ement of 
 this sort, it is difficult to divine what would satisfy them. 
 
 The truth is, that, under the scale proposed by Lord 
 John Russell, the duties would be higher than they have 
 proved to be under the present law. Subjoined is a state- 
 ment of the duties as proposed by the noble lord, and 
 of those that have actually been paid on the whole quan- 
 tities of corn imported under the existing fluctuating 
 scale, down to the 5th of June, 1 840 : —
 
 31 
 
 Proposed Rates of Duty. 
 
 
 
 Per Quarter. 
 
 
 
 Ter Quarter 
 
 Wheat - 
 
 . 
 
 - Ss. Od. 
 
 Wheat 
 
 . 
 
 - 5s. 9d. 
 
 Barley - 
 
 - 
 
 - 4 6 
 
 Barley 
 
 - 
 
 ■ 5 
 
 Oats 
 
 - 
 
 - 3 4 
 
 Oats - 
 
 - 
 
 - 6 11 
 
 Rye 
 
 - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Rye - 
 
 . 
 
 - 3 
 
 Peas 
 
 - 
 
 - 5 
 
 Peas - 
 
 . 
 
 - G 8 
 
 Beans - 
 
 - 
 
 - 3 
 
 Beans 
 
 - 
 
 - 8 8 
 
 Rates of Duty that have actually 
 been paid on the Corn imported 
 under the Act 9 Geo. IV., cap. 60. 
 
 It is seen from this comparative statement, that the duty 
 Lord John Russell proposes to lay on wheat exceeds the 
 duty (55. Qd.) that has actually been paid on it under 
 the existing law by no less than 2s. Sd. a quarter, or very 
 near 40 per cent. It farther appears, from the table in 
 the Appendix, No. V., that no fewer than 9,299,114 quar- 
 ters of wheat were imported under the existing law down 
 to the 5th of January, 1840, the gross duty received on 
 which amounted to 2,670,812/. ; but had this corn been 
 charged with the proposed duty of 8^., it would have pro- 
 duced no less than 3,719,645/., being 1,048,833/. more tlian 
 it did produce under the present fluctuating scale ! It is 
 obvious, therefore, that, under the proposed plan, the agri- 
 culturists will have a much higher pecuniary protection 
 than they have had under the existing law. Truly, if mi- 
 nisters intend, as has been charitably alfirmed, to swamp 
 the agriculture of England, they have taken an odd method 
 of effecting their object. 
 
 The duty on barley proposed by Lord John is sixpence 
 less than the duty it has actually paid under the existing 
 law; while the duty which he proposes to impose on rye is 
 25. a quarter above the duly it has paid. The only 
 material reduction is in the proposed duty on oats, which 
 is 35. Ad. a quarter; whereas the oats imported under 
 the graduated scale have paid 6.?. \\d. duty. If, how- 
 ever, the proposed duty on oats should, on examination, 
 be deemed too low, as we are inclined lo think is the case,
 
 r 
 
 3-2 
 
 it may be increased without difficulty, and without affecting 
 the principle of the measure. It should be borne in mind 
 that the imports of oats and barley do not together amount 
 to half the quantity of the imports of wheat, nor to a third 
 part of the value of the latter. The grand object, conse- 
 quently, is to have the duty on wheat fixed at a proper 
 limit: provided this be done, a little error, whether of 
 excess or defect, in the duties on the other varieties of 
 corn, is of comparatively little importance. 
 
 We regret that Lord John Russell gave no intimation 
 of the intentions of Government as to the granting of a 
 drawback on the exportation of corn. This, in our ap- 
 prehension, is justly due to the farmers, and is indispen- 
 sable to the proper working of the measure ; and the great 
 importance of a right understanding of this part of the 
 subject may, perhaps, apologise for our submitting a few 
 additional remarks respecting it. 
 
 The proposed duty on foreign corn is to be imposed, 
 partly because the land has to sustain peculiar bui'dens 
 not laid on other departments of industry, and partly to 
 prevent any sudden or injurious shock being given to 
 agriculture by excessive importations of foreign corn. 
 But, in so far as the duty is to be regarded as an indem- 
 nification to the agriculturists for peculiar burdens affect- 
 ing them, its imposition is not a matter of grace or favour, 
 but of justice ; and, being so, the agriculturists are entitled 
 to demand, and, if they correctly appreciate their own 
 interests, they will not fail to insist upon, receiving an 
 equal drawback. And with respect to that part (perhaps 
 3s. or 45.) of the proposed duty, that should be regarded 
 in the light of a protection to agriculture, the expediency 
 of allowing a corresponding drawback is equally obvious. 
 
 As this country does not in ordinary years grow quite 
 a sufficiency, though it comes very near it, of corn for the
 
 :33 
 
 home demand, our average prices must, under any system, 
 whether of duties or of absolutely free trade, be from 10*. to 
 12s. a quarter above those of the surrounding continental 
 states. When, therefore, an unusually abundant harvest 
 occurs, as was the case in 1822, 1834, and 1835, and the 
 produce of the crop is more than adequate to the con- 
 sumption, the excess of produce is thrown wholly on the 
 home market, which cannot be relieved by exportation till 
 the price has sunk to a ruinously low level. This is the 
 peculiar hazard to which the farmer is exposed, and from 
 which, if from any thing, he should be protected. Agri- 
 cultural distress was at its height in 1822 and 1823; and 
 yet, during these years, not so much as a solitary bushel 
 of foreign corn was entered for consumption ! It is, in 
 truth, impossible to point out a single instance of the 
 tarmer sustaining any injury from importation : that which 
 he really has to fear, and which he frequently suffers from, 
 is his inability to export when the home market is over- 
 loaded. This is a state of things that has, over and over 
 again, involved him in ruin ; and it is one that would be 
 obviated under the plan we have ventured to propose : but 
 the existing law affords him no protection against it; 
 nor does it tend in any way to mitigate or avert its in- 
 jurious influence. 
 
 Though almost no foreign corn had been imported 
 during the two previous years, the price of wheat fell, in 
 1835, to 39s. 4c/., being no less than 16s. Qd. under its pro- 
 bable future price, with a fixed duty of 8s. This price 
 was so low, that several cargoes of British flour were sent 
 to the West Indies, Lisbon, and elsewhere. Now, when 
 such was the case, it admits of demonstration, that had 
 there been a drawback of 8s. on the export of corn, the 
 price would certainly have been raised to 44s. or 45s., and 
 instead of a trifling there would have been a large export- 
 
 c
 
 34 
 
 aiioii of British corn. The granting of a drawback, cor 
 responding to the duty, is, therefore, of the very last 
 importance as respects the agriculturists. Neither could 
 it be objected to, on reasonable grounds, by the manufac- 
 turing and commercial classes. It is needless to say, that 
 whatever tends to give security and stability to agriculture, 
 that is, to a business on which fully half the population 
 of the empire are dependent, must be highly conducive 
 to the interests of those who supply them with clothes 
 and all manner of luxuries and conveniences. 
 
 The adoption of a drawback would be peculiarly advan- 
 tageous to Ireland. A large proportion of the wheat pro- 
 duced in the latter is very inferior, and when brought to 
 Liverpool, and other English markets, fetches a compara- 
 ratively low price, and cannot, in fact, be used till it be 
 mixed with fine English or foreign wheat. But we have 
 been assured, by the highest practical authorities, that 
 were a drawback of 8s. a quarter allowed on exportation, 
 Dantzic wheat would be imported into Ireland for mixing 
 with the Irish wheat ; and that it would be more profit- 
 able for the Irish growers and millers to export flour to 
 the West Indies with the drawback, than to send it, 
 without this advantage, to London or Liverpool. We have 
 no doubt, indeed, that, under the proposed plan, Ireland 
 would, at no distant period, engross the greater part of the 
 supply of the West Indian islands. But suppose she only 
 sent them a million quarters of corn, or rather a million 
 quarters converted into flour, that would, besides its 
 influence over agriculture, afford employment to at least 
 25,000 tons of shipping, and occasion the building of an 
 infinite number of new mills. 
 
 It has been objected to the proposal for granting a 
 drawback, that it would necessarily lead to fraud, and be 
 attended with a great deal of trouble and inconvenience.
 
 35 
 
 But though this be ft-equently true of drawbacks, that 
 which we have been considering would have no such con- 
 sequences. All the foreign corn entered for consumption, 
 in the United Kingdom is to pay a certain duty, and all 
 that leaves it, whether native or foreign (unless shipped 
 from a bonded warehouse), is to be entitled to an equal 
 drawback. There is here no room for fraud. No indi- 
 vidual could gain any thing by shipping corn, under the 
 drawback, in order to re-import, as he could not sell it 
 for consumption without its being liable to the duty. The 
 objection to the proposed drawback, on account of its 
 leading to fraud, is, therefore, in all respects, futile and un- 
 founded, and was hardly, indeed, worth notice. 
 
 It is greatly to be regretted, that Sir Robert Peel 
 should have expressed himself so strongly as he is reported 
 to have done in favour of a graduated scale of duties. 
 But, though he may prolong for a while the existence of 
 the present system, even his great talents and influence 
 will be insufficient for its effectual support. We have 
 already seen that there can be nothing steady or continuous 
 under a fluctuating scale; that its influence can never be 
 previously appreciated ; that it every now and then forces 
 importation far beyond the quantity I'eally required by the 
 wants of the country ; and that by preventing any thing 
 like a regular trade in corn, it obliges the imports to be 
 paid principally in bullion, and thus periodically lays the 
 Bank of England, and the commercial classes, under the 
 greatest possible difficulties. Sir Robert Peel may be 
 assured that the people of England will not continue to 
 tolerate any system of commercial policy productive of 
 such results. At all events, the first really bad harvest 
 that occurs under the existing Corn Laws will certainly 
 make an end of them. But the probability unhappily is, 
 that it will do more than this ; and that it will, at the 
 
 c 2
 
 36 
 
 same tiino, rodiice tlie Hank of Enghxml to the greatest 
 straiu, and >proa(l bankruptcy and ruin tliroughout the 
 couritry. 
 
 Sir Robert Peel objects to the proposal for a fixed duty, 
 oil the ground tliat it would be impossible to collect it in 
 dear years: but though we admit the alleged impossi- 
 bility, we take leave to deny that it affords any ground for 
 preferring a sliding to a fixed scale. The contingency sup- 
 posed by Sir Robert Peel is barely possible. We have 
 already seen that it may be concluded, on unassailable 
 grounds, that were the ports always open under a moderate 
 fixed duty, with an equivalent drawback, extreme fluc- 
 tuations of price would be very rare. And supposing it 
 were enacted that the duty should cease when the home 
 price rose to 70i'. or 75s. a quarter, we believe we run 
 little risk in affirming the clause would not come into 
 operation once in seven years; and those who object that 
 it is not fair to the farmers to deprive them of the full 
 advantage to be obtained from the highest prices, should 
 bear in mind that, in matters of this sort, it is not always 
 possible, or, if possible, prudent, to carry the soundest 
 principles to an extreme; and that, speaking generally, 
 the public interests will be better consulted by guarding 
 against scarcity and dearth, than by attempting to secure, 
 at all hazards, a trifling though just advantage to a 
 particular class. 
 
 Those who are anxious that this great question should 
 be settled on fair and equitable principles, would do well 
 not to neglect the present opportunity. One so favourable 
 may not speedily recur. It is only when prices are mode- 
 rate, and there is every prospect of a good crop, that this 
 question can be properly treated. It is at once unsafe and 
 unwise to trust too much to the public forbearance and 
 judgment. The longer a reform of any abuse or griev
 
 37 
 
 ance is delayed, the more sweeping it becomes in the end. 
 Few persons, we believe, suppose, after what has recently 
 occurred, that the Corn Laws can continue for any very 
 considerable length of time on their present footing ; and 
 the fair presumption is, that if not properly reformed 
 and amended, they will be abolished altogether. 
 
 420798
 
 89 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 I. 
 
 Account of the Average Prices of British Cum per Winchester Quarter, in 
 England and Wales, since ISOO, as ascertained by the Receiver of Corn 
 Returns. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Kye. Barley. 1 Oats. j Beans. 
 
 Peas. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d.\£ 
 
 5. d: £ s. 
 
 d. ' £ s. d. 
 
 £ s. d. 1 £ s. d. 
 
 1800 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 
 7 3 
 
 16 11 3 
 
 0, 1 19 10 
 
 3 9 3 
 
 3 7 3 
 
 1801 
 
 5 
 
 18 
 
 3 3 
 
 19 9 3 7 
 
 9 1 16 6 
 
 3 2 8 
 
 3 7 8 
 
 1802 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 3 3 1 13 
 
 110 7 
 
 1115 4 
 
 1 19 6 
 
 1803 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 16 11 
 
 1 4 
 
 10 1 1 3 
 
 ' 1 14 8 
 
 1 18 6 
 
 1804 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 17 1 
 
 1 10 
 
 4 13 9 
 
 1 18 7 
 
 2 10 
 
 1805 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 14 4'2 4 
 
 8 18 
 
 '2 7 5 
 
 2 8 4 
 
 1806 
 
 3 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 7 4| 1 18 
 
 6! 1 5 8 
 
 2 3 9 
 
 2 3 6 
 
 1807 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 3i 2 
 
 7 6 1 18 
 
 4 18 1 
 
 2 7 3 
 
 2 13 11 
 
 1808 
 
 3 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 12 4|2 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 13 8 
 
 3 8 
 
 3 6 7 
 
 1809 
 
 4 
 
 15 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 9 2 7 
 
 3 
 
 1 12 8 
 
 3 9 
 
 3 2 
 
 1810 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 2 2 
 
 19 2 7 
 
 11 
 
 1 9 4 
 
 2 13 7 
 
 2 13 9 
 
 1811 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 6, 2 
 
 9 112 1 
 
 10 1 7 11 
 
 2 7 10 
 
 2 11 6 
 
 1812 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 13 11 3 6 
 
 6 2 4 
 
 3 12 8 
 
 3 13 7 
 
 1813 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 10 7 1 2 18 
 
 4 
 
 1 19 5 
 
 3 16 5 
 
 3 18 6 
 
 1814 
 
 3 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 4 6! 1 17 
 
 4 
 
 1 6 6 
 
 2 6 7 
 
 2 10 
 
 1813 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 17 10 1 10 
 
 3 
 
 1 3 10 
 
 1 16 1 
 
 1 18 10 
 
 1816 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 3 2 1 13 
 
 3 
 
 1 ,3 6 
 
 1 18 4 
 
 1 18 4 
 
 1817 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 16 6 2 8 
 
 3 
 
 1 12 1 
 
 2 12 
 
 2 113 
 
 1818 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 1 2 
 
 14 1012 13 
 
 6 
 
 1 12 11 
 
 3 3 1 
 
 2 19 11 
 
 1819 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 2 6 
 
 8 
 
 1 9 4 
 
 2 15 5 
 
 2 16 
 
 1820 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 11 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 13 
 
 10 1 4 9 
 
 2 3 4 
 
 2 3 11 
 
 1821 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 2 1 
 
 12 1 
 
 1 
 
 19 6 
 
 1 10 11 
 
 I 12 9 
 
 1822 • 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 7 1 
 
 11 
 
 1 1 
 
 11 
 
 18 2 
 
 1 4 6 
 
 1 6 3 
 
 1823 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 5 1 
 
 11 11 
 
 1 11 
 
 7 
 
 1 2 11 
 
 1 13 1 
 
 1 13 
 
 1824 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 I 3j 1 16 
 
 5 
 
 1 4 10 
 
 2 1 
 
 2 8 
 
 1825 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 7 2 
 
 2 4l 2 
 
 1 
 
 I 5 8 
 
 2 2 10 
 
 2 3 3 
 
 1826 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 9 2 
 
 1 2 1 14 
 
 5 
 
 1 6 9 
 
 2 4 3 
 
 2 7 8 
 
 1827 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 9 1 
 
 19 1 16 
 
 6 
 
 1 7 4 
 
 2 7 6 
 
 2 7 7 
 
 1828 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3l 1 
 
 14 2 
 
 1 12 
 
 10 1 2 6 
 
 1 18 4 
 
 2 6 
 
 1829 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 3 1 
 
 14 10 
 
 1 12 
 
 6 12 9 
 
 1 16 8 
 
 1 16 8 
 
 1830 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3i 1 
 
 13 10 
 
 1 I' 
 
 7 
 
 1 4 3 
 
 1 16 1 
 
 1 19 2 
 
 1831 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 4; 2 
 
 
 
 1 18 
 
 
 
 1 3 4 
 
 I 19 10 
 
 2 1 11 
 
 1832 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 8 
 
 
 14 7 
 
 1 13 
 
 J 
 
 1 5 
 
 1 15 4 
 
 1 17 
 
 1833 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 _ 
 
 12 11 
 
 1 9 
 
 6 
 
 18 5 
 
 1 13 2 
 
 1 16 3 
 
 1834 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 12 9 
 
 I 7 
 
 
 
 1 11 
 
 1 15 3 
 
 1 19 4 
 
 1833 
 
 1 
 
 19 
 
 4 
 
 
 10 4 
 
 1 9 
 
 11 1 2 
 
 1 16 12 
 
 1 16 6 
 
 1836 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 
 13 4 
 
 1 12 
 
 10 1 3 1 
 
 1 19 1 
 
 1 18 4 
 
 1837 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 10 
 
 
 14 9 
 
 1 10 
 
 4 13 1 
 
 1 18 7 
 
 1 17 6 
 
 1838 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 
 15 1 
 
 1 11 
 
 3 1 2 3 
 
 1 17 2 
 
 1 16 8 
 
 1839 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 19 
 
 G 1 3 11 
 
 2 1 3 
 
 2 1 2 
 
 1840 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 1 16 
 
 3 13 8 
 
 2 3 5 
 
 2 2 6 
 
 c 4
 
 40 
 
 II. 
 
 Cost of Importing Com from Dantzic. 
 
 Account of the Ordvutri/ Charges on 100 Quarters of Wheat, shipped from 
 Dantzic on Consignment, and landed imder Bond in London. — (Pari. 
 Paper, No. 333. Sess. 1827. p. 28.) 
 
 
 £ 
 
 *. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ 
 
 s. d. 
 
 One hundred quarters, supposed cost at 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dantzic, free on board, 30*. 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 150 
 
 
 
 Freight at bs. per quarter, and 10 per cent. 
 Metage ex ship, &c., 65. (id. per last 
 
 27 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Lighterage and landing, 9d. per quarter 
 Insurance on 180/., including 10 per cent. 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 imaginary profit, at BO*, per cent. ; policy 
 5*. per cent. - - - - 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 Granary rent and insurance for one week - 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Turning and trimming, about 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 Delivering from granary, .3rf. per quarter - 
 Metage, &c. ex granary, 2s. per last 
 Commission on sale, 1*. per quarter 
 Del credere, 1 per cent, on, suppose, 40*. - 
 
 Total cost to importer if sol 
 
 1 
 1 
 5 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 51 
 
 16 
 
 Jin 
 
 )ond - 
 
 201 
 
 16 
 
 Imaginary profit 10 per cent 
 Would produce, at 44*. 4r/. 
 
 per quarter 
 
 20 
 
 3 6 
 
 221 
 
 19 6 
 
 221 
 
 13 4 
 
 N. B. — Loss on remeasuring not considered. 
 
 Freight and insurance are taken in this statement at an average, 
 being sometimes higher and sometimes lower. 
 
 Mr. Wilson, in his valuable tract on the Corn Laws (p. 73.), esti- 
 mates the cost of importing wheat from Dantzic, warehousing it here, 
 and keeping it six months till sold, including insurance, but without 
 profit, at 18*. 3d. a quarter. 
 
 *** It having been stated that we had overrated the expense of 
 importing corn from Dantzic, we applied to an eminent corn factor 
 for a note of the various charges now payable on the importation of 
 one hundred quarters fine Dantzic wheat, and have received the 
 following statement. It shows that the expense of its importation, its
 
 41 
 
 landing, its retention for three weeks, and its delivery to tiie buyer, 
 would amount to 45/. 13s. 8r/. But in this account no allowance is 
 made for waste, which would raise the cost to 50/. : and to this the 
 profit of the importer has to be added. 
 
 Account of Charges on Wheat inijmr ted from Dantzic,for Sale on Consign- 
 ment in London, in May, 1841. 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 £ s. 
 
 d. 
 
 One hundred quarters fine high mixed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 wheat, weighing about 61 lbs. per bushel. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 would cost by the latest advices 40*. per 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 quartei" _ _ . - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 Sound dues, 6c?. per quarter 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Freight, at present, 3s. 3d., but, on an 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 average, supposed 'is. 6d. 
 
 22 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 Insurance 125.6rf. per cent., but, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 on an average, 20*. - £2 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Policy, 2s. 6d. - - 7 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 Metage and dues ex ship, 6s. 8d. per ten 
 
 
 
 
 
 quarters . . . _ 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 Lighterage and landing, 9d. 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 Granary rent and fire insurance for three 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 weeks, at 5*. per one hundred quarters 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 per week _ . . - 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 Turning and trimming, same period 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 Seller's metage ex granary, 2*. per ten 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 quarters . . _ - 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Delivering from granary, 3d. 
 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Commission or factorage on sale. Is. per 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 quarter . _ _ _ 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Del credere, 1 per cent, (on 555.), 275/. - 
 
 2 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 45 13 
 
 8 
 
 
 245 13 
 
 8
 
 A-1 
 
 in. 
 
 Account of the Quantities of Grain, including Flour and Meal, of the 
 Growth of Ireland, imported into Great Britain from Ireland, in each 
 Year, from 1800 to 1839 inclusive. 
 
 
 Wheat I Barley, 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 and : including 
 Wheat Bear or 
 
 OaU and 1 
 Oatmeal. 
 
 Rye. 
 
 Peas. 
 
 Beans. 
 
 Malt. 
 
 ToUl. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Flour. Bigg, j 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ; QuarU-rs. Quarten.. 
 
 Quarters. \ 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 . Quarters. 
 
 1800. 749 78 
 
 2,411 
 
 . . 
 
 - - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 3,238 
 
 1801 1 150 - 
 
 375 
 
 . . 
 
 . . 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 525 
 
 1802 108,7511 7,116 
 
 341,151 
 
 282 
 
 113 
 
 1,655 
 
 2,303 
 
 461,371 
 
 1803; 
 
 61,267, 12,879} 
 
 266,359 
 
 753 
 
 611 
 
 1,653 
 
 25 
 
 343,547 
 
 1804! 
 
 70,071 2,521 ! 
 
 240,022 
 
 206 
 
 1,078 
 
 3,060 
 
 - - 
 
 316,958 
 
 1805! 
 
 84,087 15,656\ 
 
 203,302, 
 
 235 
 
 1,634 
 
 2,010 
 
 - 
 
 306,924 
 
 1806 
 
 102,276 3,237 
 
 357,077 
 
 330 
 
 1,389 
 
 2,361 
 
 - 
 
 466,760 
 
 1807 
 
 44,900, 23,048 
 
 389,649 
 
 431 
 
 1,390 
 
 3,777 
 
 - 
 
 463,195 
 
 1808 
 
 43,497 30,586 
 
 579,974 
 
 573 
 
 75 
 
 2,065 
 
 - 
 
 656,770 
 
 1809 
 
 66,944 16,619 
 
 845,783 
 
 425 
 
 38 
 
 2,669 
 
 - 
 
 932,478 
 
 1810 
 
 126,388 8,321 
 
 492,741 
 
 20 
 
 216 
 
 3,541 
 
 - 
 
 631,227 
 
 1811 
 
 147,245 2,713 
 
 275,757 
 
 21 
 
 50 
 
 4,081 
 
 - 
 
 429,869 
 
 1812 
 
 158,3521 43,138 
 
 390,629 
 
 178 
 
 51 
 
 5,008 
 
 - 
 
 597,356 
 
 1813 
 
 217,154! 63,560 
 
 691,498 
 
 420 
 
 77 
 
 4,455 
 
 - 
 
 977,164 
 
 1814 
 
 225,478, 16,779 
 
 564,010 
 
 4 
 
 460 
 
 5,731 
 
 - 
 
 812,462 
 
 1815 
 
 189,544, 27,108 
 
 597,537 
 
 207 
 
 425 
 
 6,371 
 
 - 
 
 821,192 
 
 1816 
 
 121,631 62,254 
 
 683,714 
 
 43 
 
 239 
 
 5,984 
 
 - - 
 
 873,865 
 
 1817 
 
 55,48 1| 26,766 
 
 611,117 
 
 . . 
 
 12 
 
 2,275 
 
 - 
 
 695,651 
 
 18)8 
 
 105,179 25,387 
 
 1,069,385 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 4,768 
 
 - - 
 
 1,204,733 
 
 1819 
 
 153,850 20,311 
 
 789,613 
 
 2 
 
 - - 
 
 3,904 
 
 - 
 
 967,680 
 
 il820 
 
 403,407 87,095 
 
 916,251 
 
 134 
 
 439 
 
 8,396 
 
 
 1,415,722 
 
 1821 
 
 569,700 82,884 
 
 1,162,249 
 
 550 
 
 2,474 
 
 4,959 
 
 
 1,822,816 
 
 1822 
 
 463,004 22,532 
 
 569,237 
 
 353 
 
 728 
 
 7,235 
 
 • - 
 
 1,063,089 
 
 1823 
 
 400,068; 19,274 
 
 1,102,487 
 
 198 
 
 586 
 
 5,540 
 
 - 
 
 1,528,153 
 
 1824 
 
 356,384 44,699 
 
 1,225,085 
 
 112 
 
 756 
 
 5,791 
 
 1,173 
 
 1,634,000 
 
 1825 
 
 396,018 154,256 
 
 1,629,856 
 
 220 
 
 1,431 
 
 11,355 
 
 10,826 
 
 2,203,962 
 
 1826 
 
 314,85 1| 64,885 
 
 1,303,704 
 
 77 
 
 1,452 
 
 7,190 
 
 1,203 
 
 1,693,392 
 
 1827 
 
 405,255 67,791 
 
 1,343,267 
 
 256 
 
 1,282 
 
 10,037 
 
 572 
 
 1,828,460 
 
 1828 
 
 652,584 84,204 
 
 2,075,631 
 
 1,424 
 
 4,«26 
 
 7,068 
 
 853 
 
 2,826,-690 
 
 1829 
 
 519,017 97,140 
 
 1,673,628 
 
 568 
 
 4,435 
 
 10,445 
 
 2,011 
 
 2,307,244 
 
 1830 
 
 1529,717 
 
 189,745 
 
 1,471,252 
 
 414 
 
 2,520 
 
 19,053 
 
 2,820 
 
 2,215,521 
 
 1831 
 
 557,498 
 
 185,409 
 
 1,655,701 
 
 515 
 
 4,142 
 
 15,029 
 
 10,888 
 
 2,429,182 
 
 1832 
 
 790,293 
 
 123,639 
 
 2,051,867 
 
 294 
 
 1,915 
 
 ' 14,530 
 
 8,229 
 
 2,990,767 
 
 1833 
 
 844,211 
 
 101,767 
 
 1,762,520 
 
 166 
 
 2,646 
 
 19,114 
 
 7,017 
 
 2,737,441 
 
 1834 
 
 779,505 
 
 217,885 
 
 1,769,503 
 
 983 
 
 2,176 
 
 , 18,771 
 
 3,865 
 
 2,792,658 
 
 1835 
 
 661,776 
 
 156,242 
 
 1,822,767 
 
 614 
 
 3,447 
 
 24,235 
 
 10,357 
 
 ' 2,679,438 
 
 1836 
 
 598,757 
 
 184,156 
 
 2,132,138 
 
 483 
 
 2,92C 
 
 17,604 
 
 22,214 
 
 2,958,272 
 
 1837 
 
 534,465 
 
 187,473 
 
 2,274,675 
 
 1,016 
 
 1 60 
 
 25,630 
 
 , 4,174 
 
 3,030,293 
 
 1838 
 
 ' 542,583 
 
 156,467 
 
 2,742,807 
 
 628 
 
 ■ 5,232 
 
 21,584 
 
 5,001 
 
 3,474,302 
 
 1839 
 
 258,331 
 
 61,676 
 
 1,904,933 
 
 2,331 
 
 i 1.48'3 
 
 I 11,535 
 
 2,861 
 
 2,243,151
 
 43 
 
 IV. 
 
 An Account of the Average Price of Wheat in Great Britain, and of I he 
 Total Quantities of Wheat and Wheat-Flour, distinguishing Foreign 
 from Colonial, imported info, and entei-ed for Home Consumption, in 
 Great Britain, in each Year from 1815 to 1839. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Average Price. 
 
 Quantities imported. 
 
 Quantities 
 entered for 
 Home Con- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Foreign. 
 
 Colonial. 
 
 Total. 
 
 sumption. 
 
 
 s. d. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Qis. 
 
 1815 
 
 63 8 
 
 191,607 
 
 25 
 
 191,632 
 
 116,382 
 
 1816 
 
 76 2 
 
 209,652 
 
 3 
 
 209,655 
 
 225,263 
 
 1817 
 
 94 
 
 1,033,931 
 
 30,100 
 
 1,064,031 
 
 1,053,942 
 
 1818 
 
 83 8 
 
 1,538,165 
 
 55,654 
 
 1,593,819 
 
 1,606,280 
 
 1819 
 
 72 3 
 
 460,897 
 
 11,306 
 
 472,203 
 
 124,858 
 
 1820 
 
 65 10 
 
 544,646 
 
 40,779 
 
 585,425 
 
 34,275 
 
 1821 
 
 54 5 
 
 88,992 
 
 40,620 
 
 129,612 
 
 9 
 
 1822 
 
 43 3 
 
 19,849 
 
 23,264 
 
 43,113 
 
 2 
 
 1823 
 
 51 9 
 
 15,536 
 
 210 
 
 15,746 
 
 12,188 
 
 1824 
 
 62 
 
 81,776 
 
 891 
 
 82,667 
 
 16,692 
 
 1825 
 
 66 6 
 
 290,399 
 
 94,204 
 
 384,603 
 
 527,007 
 
 1826 
 
 56 11 
 
 549,544 
 
 27,344 
 
 576,888 
 
 316,638 
 
 1827 
 
 56 9 
 
 247,116 
 
 57,090 
 
 304,206 
 
 576,707 
 
 1828 
 
 60 5 
 
 722,459 
 
 18,655 
 
 741,114 
 
 841,947 
 
 1829 
 
 66 3 
 
 1,652,181 
 
 11,160 
 
 1,663,-341 
 
 1,364,340 
 
 1830 
 
 64 3 
 
 1,584,562 
 
 77,285 
 
 1,661,847 
 
 1,702,437 
 
 1831 
 
 66 4 
 
 2,079,128 
 
 224,846 
 
 2,303,974 
 
 1,494,266 
 
 1832 
 
 58 8 
 
 332,417 
 
 114,684 
 
 447,101 
 
 375,789 
 
 1833 
 
 52 11 
 
 183,230 
 
 114,335 
 
 297,565 
 
 83,714 
 
 1834 
 
 46 2 
 
 109,735 
 
 66,586 
 
 176,321 
 
 64,552 
 
 1835 
 
 39 4 
 
 43,800 
 
 23,105 
 
 66,905 
 
 27,527 
 
 1836 
 
 48 6 
 
 234,503 
 
 7,239 
 
 241,742 
 
 30,096 
 
 1837 
 
 55 10 
 
 544,150 
 
 15,793 
 
 559,943 
 
 244,086 
 
 1838 
 
 64 7 
 
 1,355,314 
 
 16,643 
 
 1,371,957 
 
 1,834,453 
 
 1839 
 
 70 8 
 
 2,862,680 
 
 12,747 
 
 2,875,427 
 
 2,681,390 
 
 Account of the Prices of the different sorts of British Com, and of 
 the Quantities of Foreign Corn entered for consumption in 1840. 
 
 
 Prices in 
 
 Entered for Con- 
 
 
 1810. 
 
 sumption in 1H40. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 Qrs. 
 
 Wheat 
 
 66 4 
 
 2,024,848 
 
 Barley 
 
 36 5 
 
 619,801 
 
 Oats 
 
 25 8 
 
 510,071 
 
 Rye 
 
 37 
 
 1,857 
 
 Bean.s 
 
 43 5 
 
 159,457 
 
 Peas 
 
 42 5 
 
 129,374 
 
 
 CwU. 
 
 Wheat-meal and Flour 
 
 
 1,317,815 
 
 Oatmeal 
 
 - - 
 
 6,601
 
 44 
 
 V. 
 
 An Account of the Total Quantity of Foreign and Colonial Wheat, and 
 other Grain and Pulse, Entered for Home Co7isumption in the United 
 Kingdom, from the Time that the Act 9 Geo. IV. cap. 60. came into 
 operation to the 5th day of January, 1840; the Total Amount of Duty 
 received thereon, and showing tvhat that Duty was equal toper Jm2^erial 
 Quarter on the Aggregate Average of the whole Period. 
 
 Description. 
 
 Foreign Corn, Meal, and Flour. 
 
 Com, Meal, and Flour, the Produce of, 
 
 and Imported from, British Possessions 
 
 out of Europe. 
 
 Quantities 
 
 charged with 
 
 Duty for Home 
 
 Consumption, 
 
 under Act 
 
 9 Geo. IV. 
 
 cap. CO., from 
 
 the passing of 
 
 the Act, l.Sth 
 
 July, 1828, to 
 
 5th Jan. 1840. 
 
 Amount 
 of Duty 
 received 
 thereon. 
 
 Rates of 
 Duty taken 
 
 on the 
 
 Average of 
 
 the whole 
 
 Period. 
 
 Quantities 
 
 charged with 
 
 Duty for Home 
 
 Consumption, 
 
 under Act 
 
 9 Geo. IV. 
 
 cap. 60., from 
 
 the passing of 
 
 the Act, 15th 
 
 July, 1828, to 
 
 5th Jan. 1840. 
 
 Amount 
 of Duty 
 received 
 thereon. 
 
 Rates of 
 Duty taken 
 
 on the 
 
 Average of 
 
 the whole 
 
 Period. 
 
 Wheat 
 
 Barley 
 
 Oats 
 
 Rye 
 
 Peas 
 
 Beans 
 
 Indian corn 
 
 Buck-wheat 
 
 Wheat-meal 
 
 and flour - 
 
 Oatmeal - 
 
 Quarters. 
 
 9,299,114 
 
 1,984,283 
 
 3,001,009 
 
 317,467 
 
 643,913 
 
 674,212 
 
 1 14,883 
 
 39,277 
 
 £. 
 
 2,670,812 
 
 492,837 
 
 1,043,423 
 
 47,796 
 
 214,816 
 
 291,728 
 
 20,763 
 
 12,243 
 
 Per Quar. 
 3s. 9d. 
 3 
 6 11 
 3 
 6 8 
 8 8 
 3 7 
 6 3 
 
 Quarters. 
 319,363 
 314 
 8,977 
 
 6,872 
 
 7,839 
 
 £. 
 98,122 
 23 
 293 
 
 643 
 
 443 
 
 Per Quar. 
 
 3*. 9d. 
 1 6 
 
 8 
 
 1 11 
 1 2 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 2,836,248 
 636 
 
 £. 
 
 243,971 
 133 
 
 Per Cwt. 
 
 1 9 
 4 9 
 
 Cwts. 
 
 640,227 
 1,938 
 
 £. 
 
 42,013 
 101 
 
 Per Cwt. 
 
 1 4 
 1 
 
 VI. 
 
 Table of Duties laid by the Act 9 Geo. IV. cap. 60. on Foreign and 
 Colonial Com, when entered for Home Comumption in the United 
 Kingdom. 
 
 Foreign Corn. 
 
 Wheat: — According to the average price of wheat, made 
 up and published in manner required by law ; videlicet. 
 Whenever such price shall be 62*. and under 63*. the 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter 
 
 Duty. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 1 4 8
 
 45 
 
 Duty. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 Whenever such price shall be 63s. and under 64^. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 1 3 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 64*. and under 65*. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - I 2 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 65*. and under 66s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 1 1 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 66s. and under 67s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 1 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 67s. and under 68s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 18 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 68s, and under 69s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 16 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 69s. and under 70s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 13 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 70s. and under 71s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 10 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 71s. and under 72s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 6 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be 72s. and under 73s. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 2 8 
 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 73s., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 1 
 
 Whenever such price shall be under 62s. and not under 
 
 61s., the duty shall be for every quarter - - 1 5 8 
 
 And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part of each 
 
 integral shilling by which such price shall be under 61s., 
 
 such duty shall be increased by Is. 
 Barley : — Whenever the average price of barley, made up and 
 
 published in manner required by law, shall be 33s. and 
 
 under 34s. the quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter 12 4 
 And in respect of every integral shilling by which such 
 
 price shall be above 33s., such duty shall be decreased 
 
 by Is. 6^., until such price shall be 41s. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 41s., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 1 
 
 Whenever such price shall be under 33s. and not under 
 
 32s., the duty shall be for every quarter - - 13 10 
 
 And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part of each 
 
 integral shilling by which such price shall be under 32s., 
 
 such duty shall be increased by Is. Gd. 
 Oats: — Whenever the average price of oats, made up and 
 
 published in manner required by law, shall be 25.i. and
 
 46 
 
 Duty. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 uiuler 2Gs. tlie quarter, tijc duty shall be for every 
 
 quarter - - - - - -093 
 
 And in respect of every integral shilling by which such 
 
 price shall be above 25s., such duty shall be de* 
 
 creased by \s. Gd., until such price shall be 31s. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 31*., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 1 
 
 Whenever such price shall be under 25s. and not under 
 
 245., the duty shall be for every quarter - - 10 9 
 
 And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part of 
 
 each integral shilling, by which such price shall be 
 
 under 2is., such duty shall be increased by I*. 6d. 
 Rye, Peas, and Beans : — Whenever the average price of 
 
 rye, or of peas, or of beans, made up and published in 
 
 manner required by law, shall be 36^. and under Sis. the 
 
 quarter, the duty shall be for every quarter - - 15 6 
 
 And in respect of every integral shilling by which such 
 
 price shall be above 36.?., such duty shall be decreased 
 
 by 1*. Qd., until such price shall be 46*. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 465., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 1 
 
 Whenever such price shall be under 365. and not under 
 
 355., the duty shall be for every quarter - - 16 9 
 
 And in respect of each integral shilling, or any part of 
 
 each integral shilling, by which such price shall be under 
 
 355., such duty shall be increased by l5. Gd. 
 Wheat, Meal, and Flour .- — For every barrel, being 196 lbs., 
 
 a duty equal in amount to the duty payable on 38^ 
 
 gallons of wheat. 
 Oatmeal : — For every quantity of 181 J lbs., a duty equal in 
 
 amount to the duty payable on a quarter of oats. 
 Maize or Indian Corn, Buck-Wheat, Bear, or Bigg : — For 
 
 every quarter, a duty equal in amount to the duty pay- 
 able on a quarter of barley. 
 
 Colonial Corn, or Corn the Produce of and imported from any British PoS' 
 session in North America, or elsewhere out of Europe. 
 
 Wheat : — For every quarter - - - -050 
 
 Until the price of British wheat, made up and published 
 in manner required by law, shall be 675. per quarter.
 
 D 
 
 UTY, 
 
 
 £ 
 
 s. 
 
 d. 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 47 
 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 67s., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter . . - - 
 
 Barley: — For every quarter - . . . 
 
 Until the price of British barley, made up and published 
 
 in manner required by law, shall be 345. per quarter. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 34*., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 6 
 
 Oats: — For every quarter - - - - 2 6 
 
 Until the price of British oats, made up and published in 
 
 manner required by law, shall be 25s. per quarter. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 25s., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 6 
 
 Rye, Peas, and Beans : — For every quarter - - 3 
 
 Until the price of British rye, or of peas, or of beans, 
 made up and published in manner required by law, shall 
 be 41s. 
 Whenever such price shall be at or above 41s., the duty 
 
 shall be for every quarter - - - - 6 
 
 Wheat Meal and Flour: — For every barrel, being 19G lbs., 
 a duty equal in amount to the duty payable on 38^ gal- 
 lons of wheat. 
 Oatmeal: — For every quantity of 181^ lbs., a duty equal in 
 
 amount to the duty payable on a quarter of oats. 
 Maize or Indian Corn, Buck-Wheat, Bear, or Bigg: — For 
 every quarter, a duty equal m amount to the duty pay- 
 able on a quarter of barley. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 London : 
 
 Printed by A. Spottiswoode, 
 
 New- Street- Square.
 
 Just Published, Price 2$. 
 
 GROUNDS AND OBJECTS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE BUDGET. 
 
 Reprinted fpom No. 148. 
 
 OF 
 
 THE EDINBURGH REVIEW. 
 
 1. Speech of the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, March 12, 1841. 
 
 2. Speech of the Right Hon. Lord John Russell, May 7, 1841. 
 
 3. Speech of the Right Hon. Sir Robert Peel, May 18, 1841. 
 
 4. Speech of the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, May 10, 1841. 
 
 5. Speech of the Right Hon. Francis Baring, May 17, 1841. 
 
 6. Speech of the Right Hon.^Viscount Palmerston, May 27, 1841. 
 
 7. Common- Sense View of the Sugar Question. London. 8vo, 1841.
 
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