130] ANNUAL R E G I S T E K, 1800. 



convenience to their trade would 

 arise from the adopting this regu- 

 lation. 



" The committee had heard, vvitli 

 very great concern, that, from the 

 mistaken application of the charity 

 of individuals, in some parts of the 

 country, flour and bread had been 

 delivered to the poor at a reduced 

 pi-ice; a practice which might con- 

 tribute very considerably to increase 

 the inconveniences arising from tlie 

 deiiciency of the last crop. And they 

 recommended that all charity and 

 parochial relief should be given, as 

 far as was practicable, in any other 

 articles except bread, flour, and 

 money; and that the part of it 

 which was necessary for the suste- 

 nance of the poor, should be distri- 

 buted in soups, rice, potatoes, or 

 other substitutes. They were of 

 opinion, that, if this regulation were 

 generally adopted, it would not only, 

 in a very great degree, contribute 

 to economize, at that time, the con- 

 sumption of flour, but that it might 

 have the effect of gradually intro- 

 ducing into use a more wholesome 

 and nutritious species of food than 

 that to which the poor were at pre- 

 sent accustomed. The committee 

 thought it also Important to state, be- 

 fore they concluded their report, 

 that government, in conformity to 

 the declaration of the chancellor of 

 the exchequer in last session of par- 

 liament, had abstained from all in- 

 terference in the purchases of corn 

 in the foreign markets; and, as 

 they conceived that the speculations 

 of individuals were more likely to 

 produce an adequate supply of fo- 

 reign wheat, at the present crisis, 

 than any other measures that could 

 be adopted, the policy of the go- 

 vernment, in that respect, met with 

 their decided approbation." 



The house went again into a com- 

 mittee, on the subject of the present 

 scarcity, and bread-corn, on the 

 eighteenth of February. 



Lord Hawkesbury stated, chiefly 

 from the calculationsof Mr. Arthur 

 Young, that the crop, in general, 

 in this country, was not sufficient 

 for the supply of the inhabitants ; 

 and that, when this and the ordi- 

 nary importation failed, the best 

 method that could be adopted was, 

 the use of substitutes. The habits 

 and the prejudices of the people 

 would, at first, oppose their intro- 

 dtiction. It was difficult to change 

 old habits; but, for such a purpose, 

 as introducing substitutes for bread, 

 the attempt should be persevered 

 in. Were this plan adopted, this 

 country would be found to contain 

 in itself the means of feeding its in- 

 habitants; at present, the mode of 

 feeding it was not the most econo- 

 mical. Great economy might be 

 introduced, and every one would 

 rejoice, that, by the efforts of count 

 Kumford, and other individuals fol- 

 lowing his methods, this economy 

 was already reduced by many to 

 practice. It appeared by the noble 

 count's calculations and statements, 

 that one-third more sustenance 

 might be derived from many articles 

 of provision without abridging the 

 luxuries of the rich, than was usually 

 drawn from them. The use of sub- 

 stitutes, as suggested by the com- 

 mittee, was particularly to be re- 

 commended in charities, and in pa- 

 rochial relief. This introduction 

 might not be effected at once; yet, 

 it must be recollected, that this was 

 not the first year of scarcity, and 

 that it would not be the last. With- 

 in these five years, it was the second 

 time that a scarcity had occurred. 

 Thus, it appeared, that, though in- 



