1803. Thoughts on the Import and Export of Grain ^ id'c. i^li 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMER's MAGAZINE. 



Thoughts on the Import and Export of Graiuy and en the high 



Duties on Dijlillation. 

 Sir, 



On examlniriG: tlie accounts of exports and imports of grain 

 prefcnteci to rlie Houfc of Commons, as publiflied in trie 2d vol. 

 p. 327, of your Mai^azine, it appears that, during the fiift 50 

 years, the exports exceeded the imports, to the very large amount 

 of 29 256,573 quarters of grain of different forts; and that ia 

 the lafl. 48 years, fay from 175 « to 1799, the imports exceeded 

 the exports by 13,674,979 quarters. If v^^e add what has been 

 imported during thefe hift four years, I think you vi'ill find the 

 imports of grain little (hort of 20,000,000. You will obferve, 

 thefe imports confiiled of wheat, oats, rye, and peas *, while 

 there was a furplus of 3,738,300 quarters of barley, exported in 

 that time ; from which it appears, we have a large furplus 

 of barley, annually, more than is confumed at home. This 

 iliould be generally known, in order that farmers may learn the 

 real caufe of the frequent, and particularly of the prefent dc- 

 preflion of that article ; that they may provide againfl It, as far 

 as lies in their power, when the nature of the foil, and en- 

 gagements with their landlords will admit, to raife more wheat 

 and oats in its place. Indeed, from thefe accounts it appears, 

 that from the year 1790 to 1799, we imported a little bar- 

 ley ; but it is to be remembered, that, in that time, the duties 

 on the dillilleries were very fmall, in comparifon to what they 

 now are ; which, together with the high duty on malt, rruifl: make 

 barley every feafon a mod unfaleable article, fo long as the prefent 

 fyftcm continues •, and while it does, it muft be as heavy a pref- 

 fure on agricultural improvements, as the tithe fyftem in Eng- 

 land is, which you fo juftly reprobate. The Government are fo 

 fully occupied in watching and guarding againft the defigns of 

 an inveterate enemy, that they have little time to beftow on agri- 

 cultural improvements -, which, after all, I think fliould be the 

 firll objeft of every government, efpecially after what was felt 

 in 1800 and 1801. But if the landed intereft have any influ- 

 ence on the Legillature, I would think it might naturally occur to 

 them, that laying a duty on the diftilleries nearly equal to a pro- 

 hibition, mud tend to deprefs their tenantry, while it holds forth 

 a premium to the farmer abroad ; and the fmuggltr, who fupplies 

 the country as regularly with gin, that pays no duty, as our 

 home diililler could, if he were not under fuch reftri6lions. No 

 doubt, when fpirits were low-priced, the people made a bad ufe 

 of them ; but at that time, trade was profperous, wages high, 



and 



