i<o4- Agrit'iihural InlcIUgenet, 47 7 



.poli3 as in the country tli(lri<fls. Whetlicr matters liave reached 

 their level it would be dillicult to L\y^ though there is realbn to 

 believe that they have not yet gone To f-ir. The new corn bill 

 has been confidered as partly caufing a rife ; but, in our humble 

 opinion, without the fmailed foundation. The bill is not yet 

 come into action, therefore cannot l)ave itopped the importation 

 of a fingle bulhel. Perhaps the profpe^l of its operation rather 

 .quickened importation, by caufmg orders to be fent out which 

 might otherwife have been pollponed. The prices of wheat, bar- 

 ley and oats are greatly above the rates fixed on by the new bill, 

 therefore it is plain that the like advance would have happened, 

 even had the Legiflature rejecled it. We are none of thofe 

 who place much dependence upon corn laws for reojulatinj^ the 

 market *, indeed their utility and efFe6t are both problematical clr- 

 cumilances, the markets being entirely regulated by the goodneis 

 or badnefs of the crop. We have always contended for protect- 

 ing duties in favour of Britiilr hulhandmen, fo as they might not 

 be underfold in their own market by foreigners ; and had duties 

 been impofed upon importation equal to the difference betwixt 

 the value of labour and amount of taxes in Britain and thofe of 

 foreign countries, in our opinion no injury would have been receiv- 

 ed from a total abrogation of the corn laws. Exportation of grain 

 from Britain is now out of the queilion. We have conlumpt at 

 home for every difpofeable bulhel ; and, according to our views^ 

 M^ere a furplus to remain, it would afford fure proof that the 

 profperity of the country was on the wane — that trade was de- 

 creafing, and that population was either reduced, or the people 

 left without the means of enjoying their ufual comlorts. 



The butcher market has continued nearly in an equable (late 

 through the quarter, any little difference being on the fide of de- 

 clenfion. Lean (lock, efpecially flieep. feemed at one time to be 

 on the fall ; but, of late, prices appear to be more (lationary. 

 Mutton has, for feveral months, been from 10 to 15 per cent, 

 cheaper than beef, occafioned, in a great meafure. by the im- 

 menfe crop of lambs brought to market laft furnmer. Iligli as 

 grain may be reckoned, butcher meat, if we fake the old ftandard 

 as a rule, is ilill higher. It is more than twice the price of bread, 

 and at this time there is fmall profpe£l: that prices will bear great- 

 er affinity. 



So far as we can learn, every exertion is making by hufband- 

 men in the wheat diftriiSls, to increafe the culture of that valua- 

 ble grain ; and no obje6l more deferves their attention, wlie- 

 ther confidered in a pubhc or private point of view. The public 

 have now got fo largely into the ufe of wheat bread, that an ex- 

 tended culture of 0ie raw article is becoming every day more nc- 



a:ffary.; 



