1828.] Monthly Agricultural Report. 103 
ant in keep, are understocked ; either from want of money, or wariness in purchasing, from 
former errors. As in last month’s Report, stores of all kinds return a profitable price to the 
breeders, whilst fat meat has declined, though with respect to the London markets, it 
cannot be deemed cheap. But for the great, indeed, unexpected abundance of winter 
provision, the feeders would have been in a sad dilemma. During years past, breeders 
seem to have united in a general determination that milch cows and pigs should bear a 
good price. Even Ireland begins to falter in her supply of pigs. Cart horses we continue 
to import from the opposite Continent in great numbers, at a duty of £1. a head. The 
horse market generally, in its old course; the ordinary sorts in sufficient plenty, good 
ones, wherever found, commanding whatever price may be asked for them. Fruit and 
garden stuff, thus far, in vast plenty, mal/gré the late blasting influence of the N. E. winds, 
and did we need a title of distinction for 1628, we might well style it the CAULIFLOWER 
Year; for never were those flowers in finer bloom, or of more substantial quality. 
Tn looking over two or three late Quarterly Reviews, we observe the critic has opportunely 
introduced the Corn Question, during the abeyance of the bill. Perhaps he is not quite 
so much at home, on this peculiar topic, as upon those of classical and general literature : 
placing a necessary and somewhat implicit dependence on authors who, from various 
motives, strenuously advocate one side of the question. In an enthusiastic attachment 
to agriculture and to its best interests, we will yield to no man or body of men; but we 
cannot carry our natural or early prejudice to the height of an abandonment of the para- 
mount interest of the nation. 
On the vital consequence of the culture of the earth to every people, there can be no 
question ; but in a great and opulent commercial and manufacturing state, where public 
debts and taxes are of such enormous amount, and public credit such an immense and 
fearful stake, the commercial interest must be the great national dependence. Did ever 
any nation upon earth, purely agricultural, arrive at that height of power, of opulence and 
splendour, of superiority in all the arts, and profusion of all the goods and conveniencies 
of life, which distinguish, in so super-eminent a degree, this most prosperous and envied 
of all countries? It is, however, a melancholy truth, which cannot be concealed, that 
excess of prosperity in a state, is too generally accompanied by extreme misery in those 
classes, which have been the laborious operatives-in its creation. The reasonings adopted 
by the Westminster, are by no means definitive or conclusive against the present Corn 
Bill, or against free trade in corn, under fair and equitable regulations ; far less against 
the national or universal right in the case. The decisive arguments on that side, and 
materially one great motive or inducement, seem not to have been within the reviewer’s 
contemplation. He places great stress on the small average quantity of corn imported, as 
not being of any consequential interest to the public, considering the immensity of their 
consumption , overlooking the converse of the proposition. Ample allowance is made to 
the home-grower, in the scale of duties on corn imported. After all which has been said 
on our great powers of production, we have, during along period, been an importing 
country ; and from the regular and unfailing increase of population, it appears probable 
we shall continue in that predicament, by no means an unprofitable one, for a country so 
entirely dependent on commerce. It is not corn alone which we import, but horses, seeds, 
cheese, butter, eggs, poultry, and other common articles of subsistence. In fine, the public 
must be fed—must pay a living price to the producers of their daily bread ; and there is, 
and we trust ever will be, a monied aristocracy in our farmers of good land, able to hold 
up their commodity to that price. The farmers of poor land will certainly not be hurt by 
the bill, which imposes an equal duty upon the lowest, as upon the highest quality of 
imported corn. 
Smithfield.— Beef, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 4d.— Mutton, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 8d.—Veal, 4s. 4d. to 5s. 2d. 
—Pork, 4s. 4d. to 6s. Od.—Raw fat, 2s. 2d. 
Corn Exchange.—Wheat, 46s. to 72s.—Barley, 26s. to 36s.—Oats, 17s. to 30s. 
—Bread, 94d. the 4 Ib. fine loaf. — Hay, 70s. to 105s. — Clover ditto, 80s. to 115s. — 
Straw, 30s. to 38s. ‘ 
Coals in the Pool, 27s. to 38s. per chaldron. 
Middlesex, June 27, 1828. 
MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 
Sugar.—The transactions in Muscovadoes have been on the most extensive scale this 
week ; and as the holders haye been nearly as anxious to effect sales as the buyers to 
— there has been little variation in the currency. The sales are estimated at 5,200 
gsheads and tierces during the week. ‘To-day the sales of Muscovadoes are on a more 
confined scale than usual, owing to the few good New Sugars left on sale. Refined Sugars 
of every description are very scarce. 
Coffee.—The public sales of Coffee this week have consisted chiefly of British Planta- 
tion descriptions, which have sold freely and at rather high prices. 
_ Rum, Brandy, and Hollands. —The orders for Rum appear extensive ; but the buyers 
expect to purchase on lower terms when the supplies become more abundant. Fine Rums 
are at 2s. 2d. per gallon; Brandy is heavy ; Geneva is in demand. 
