Monthly Review of Literature. 425 



refer to many other points of improvement that speak volumes in favour not 

 only of the bill, but of the commissioners appointed under it to watch and 

 superintend its operation. The book before us is full of valuable and highly 

 practical details, and shows that its editors are labouring with most laudable 



^diligence in furtherance of the objects contemplated by the King's present 



'government. 



Report of the Cambridgeshire Farmers on the State of Agriculture. 

 Feb. 20, 1837. Hall. Cambridge. 



THIS report professes to be an examination of the evidence given before the 

 Agricultural Committee of the Commons in 1836 ; and it is drawn up by the 

 Committee of the Cambridge Farmers' Association. We know not whether 

 the farmers of other counties are to be measured by the standard of Cam- 

 bridge : but we do know that some of the latter are very shrewdly-thinking 

 and clever men, as their Report indubitably proves. The Committee 

 found all their conclusions on extensive statistical calculations selected chiefly 

 from the Evidence, bat in part also from other sources, private as well as 

 public. The chief evil complained of, as unfavourably affecting Agriculture by 

 causing a fluctuation in prices so great as to render the accurate calculation 

 of profits and losses absolutely impracticable, is the fluctuating value of the 

 Monetary standard. Our readers will recollect, that in the last number we 

 very briefly stated our own views with respect to the consequences of Peel's 

 bill ; and as those views coincide in the main points with the conclusions of 

 the Report, we are of course inclined to speak in its favour. We regret, 

 however, that it does not go far enough, does not at once take the bull by 

 the horns and show the progressively ruinous system on which we have been 

 proceeding for the last eighteen years. Mr. Clay may try as he did the 

 other night in his speech on the Corn Laws to prove the fallacy of the argu- 

 ments of paper-currency advocates, by combating their notion that prices 

 should be advanced so as to make them what they are not now fair taxa- 

 tion prices over and above the expense of production. Of the injustice that 

 was done to the agricultural interest by depressing the price of corn much 

 lower than the corresponding decrease of taxation since the peace, it would 

 be useless to say one word to Mr. Clay : but we do hope that he is not blind 

 to the troubles and vexations brought on all classes manufacturers, traders, 

 and agriculturists by the continuance of a fluctuating standard of value ; 

 and he cannot be quite ignorant of a fact, that has been more than once sa- 

 tisfactorily established, namely, that according to the present system, all 

 our foreign transactions to which the political economists appeal so tri- 

 umphantly are performed without gain at a loss of some twenty millions 

 per annum. 



The Cambridgeshire farmers will do well to prosecute their labours and 

 proceed to the proof of what the economists are not very willing to be con- 

 vinced, that without a regular supply of circulating medium, in quantity 

 sufficient to facilitate that rise in prices which is necessary for the support of 

 the producer, it is impossible that affairs can go on and prosper. 



FICTION AND POETRY. 

 Crichton. By W. H. AINSWOBTH. 3 vols. Bentley. 



THE " Quarterly" has said of its author, " We expect much from this 

 writer. He evidently possesses, in no slight degree, the materials of success 

 a fresh and stirring fancy. His story is one that never flags." Now we 

 certainly think that no opinion respecting a romancist was ever more ill- 

 starred, more incorrect. 



