146 Corn and Corn Products Trades 



received their pay.^ The effects of sales by sample were noted in 

 Oxford market for instance, where it was said a load of com was 

 rarely seen, whereas fifteen years earlier it was difficult to find room 

 for the corn wagons.- Thus there was arising a differentiation in the 

 market between the place of selling and the place of handling and 

 shipping. 



But this device at once became a means of forestalling and spec- 

 ulation.^ The actual corn was kept from the market, and the volume 

 of corn ready to come to the market or by sample already on the 

 market could only be guessed by a view of the samples and the 

 amount represented by each. But if the display of samples were 

 intrusted to agents or representatives at the market, the way was 

 open to manipulation, for the agents needed only to display what 

 samples and as many samples as they cared to. The apparent volume 

 of corn on the market was subject to the varying touch of manipu- 

 lators whose deceptions brought them profits. The actual working 

 of this speculation will be treated later, but it is here mentioned to 

 show it an active principle in disintegrating the market system. 



Another weakness in this system of licensed buyers was in the 

 execution of the law. The license was issued by the Justices of the 

 Peace, and they were also the ones who cared for the punishments of 

 its violations. But these Justices were burdened with a variety of 

 other affairs and could not question and supervise every sale or con- 

 tract made in their jurisdictions. Unless information was lodged 

 against a buyer, a thing not at all likely since it was only known to 

 two persons both of whom profited by the sale and purchase, many 

 an unlawful purchase passed uncaught. Besides, the Justices them- 

 selves were very Hkely the wealthier men of the districts and the most 

 Hkely buyers. As a critic said: 



Because the information and prosecution upon those laws have been left at 

 large, and to every one's discretion it must follow, that unless a particular set of 

 men be especially enabled and empowered to enquire into, detect, pursue, and 

 effectually suppress the offenders in every one of these kinds, the remedy must fall 

 short of the distemper.^ 



During the seventeenth century the economic function of corn- 

 buyers found occasional recognition. In the clothing districts of 



1 Defoe, Com. Eng. Tr., II, 181. 



"- V. C. H., Oxford, II, 203. 



3 Defoe, Com. Eng. Tr., II, 182. 



^ "Essay against Forestallers,"' ,S0-1. 



