1828.] Monthly Agricultural Report. 103 



at large, as an able, enlightened, and active statesman, who means well, and is really capable 

 of serving the general interests of his country, of which, the commercial must not be 

 neglected, as our grand dependance, and the support of our greatness as a nation. Much 

 has been said of the present distresses, of our farmers ; but surely nothing of this kind can be 

 predicated of those farmers possessing capital ; or from the present improved and improving 

 state of the country, and its immense stocks of every species of provision. That the 

 labouring lower classes, particularly the agricultural, cannot obtain their just and due share, is 

 the thing to be remedied ; and the first step towards a remedy, is the dissolution of a 

 monopoly, which has long merited dissolution, on that and other grounds. In the mean 

 time, every well-wisher to his country, must also be a well-wisher to its agriculture, and 

 equally to those engaged in it, who not only ought to live, but whose industry, equally with 

 the industry of other classes, ought, in due time, to be rewarded with opulence. We wish 

 them equally liberal sentiments towards their labourers, the indspensable promoters of their 

 well-being and success. These, however, have been always neglected, too often wronged 

 and oppressed. Modern light has, indeed, redeemed them from the law of the maximum on 

 their wages, but their number has been too great to admit of their receiving any benefit from 

 that source. The conduct towards those miserables has been neither politic nor charitable, 

 and has proved the dire occasion of an almost general demoralization among them. Most 

 farms would profitably have admitted of the assistance of an additional number of hands, which, 

 at the foot of the account, would not have amounted to more than the charge of additional 

 poor's-rates. Happily, late accounts from various parts, state an improvement in this most 

 important respect. The number of the unemployed is decreasing, and wages have ad- 

 vanced ; females, particularly young servants, are said to be in request at advanced 

 wages. 



Smithfield (Christmas Market) Beef, 3s. 8d. to 5s. 8d Mutton, 4s. to 5s. 4d. 



Veal, 5s. 4d. to 6s. 6d Pork, 5s. 2d. to 6s. 2d Dairy, 6s. 8d. to 7s Raw fat, 2s. 8d. 



Corn Exchange Wheat, 40s. to 65s Barley, 25s. to 36s -Oats, 17s. to 34s. 

 Bread, 9d. the 4 Ib. loaf. Hay, 70s. to 100s. Clover ditto, 90s. to 120s. Straw, 

 27s. to 36s. 



Coals in the Pool, 32s. to 40s. 6d. per chaldron. 

 Middlesex, December 24, 1827- 



MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 



Sugar The Sugar market was heavy last week, and several determined sellers appeared, 



and they disposed of their Sugars at a further decline of Is. per cwt. There were no sales 

 reported ; the stock of Sugar is now 10,504 hogsheads less than at this time last year. 

 The Refined market was in a very depressed state, all last week ; the only demand was for 

 some small parcels for export. Good Lumps offered for 84s. 6d. and low at 83s. In fine 

 goods, few or no sales were lately reported. Molasses are heavy, and lower. 



Indigo There are no purchases to report. 



Oils. The price of Oil is fully supported, and there is no more business doing. 



Cotton. The Cotton market here is steady. 



Coffee There were no sales of Coffee last week, the demand by private contract was 



confined to small parcels of British plantation. 



Rum, Brandy, and Hollands The sales of Rum are quite inconsiderable ; the market 

 has rather a heavy appearance. Brandy continues to be offered on low terms. In Geneva, 

 there is no alteration. 



Hemp, Flax, and Tallow. Tallow appears steadily advancing ; the prices are 6d. higher 

 than on Tuesday last. In Hemp, there is little alteration. Flax is quoted higher. 

 - The Sale of Tea.- Congou finished yesterday ; the following were the prices :-r- 



Common 2s. Id. to 2s. IJd. Middling 2s. Id. to 2s. 2d. Good 2s. 6d. to 3s. 3d. per Ib. 



Course of Foreign Exchange. Amsterdam, 12.3. Rotterdam, 12. 3. Antwerp, 

 12. 3. Hamburgh,^ 36. 6. Altona, 36. 6. Paris, 25. 25. -^ Bordeaux, 25. 60. 

 Frankfort, 151. Petersburg, 10J. rouble. Vienna, 10. 2. Madrid, 351. Bilboa, 35.- 

 Barcelorm, 34. Seville, 34i. Malaga, 3-Ji. Cadiz, 354 Gibraltar, 341.- Lisbon, 471. 



Oporto, 471 Leghorn, "48 ^. Genoa, 40. Venice, per 6 Austrian iivres per cent. 



Dublin and Cork, 1. 



Bullion per Oz. Portugal Gold in Coin, 0. Os. Od. In bars, 3. 17s. 6d. New 

 Doubloons, 3/. 14s. Nev Dollars, 4s. 10. Silver in bars, standard, 6*. 



Premiums on Shares and Canals, and Joint-Stock Companies, at the Office of WOLFE 

 BROTHERS, 23, Change A '.ley, Cornhill. Birmingham CANAL, 303 /.Coventry, 1220/. 



