106 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



probability that the accounts befi)re 

 stated respecting tlie produce of the 

 last harvest may be I'athcr l)elovv 

 than above the truth ; yet the ex- 

 hausted state of the old stock, and 

 the unusually early period at which 

 the late crop came into consump- 

 tiouj make it not only highly advis- 

 able, but indispensably necessary, as 

 the most effectual means of securing 

 an adequate supply at a reasonable 

 rate, to have recourse to the great- 

 est economy, in every part of the 

 country, in the use of those articles 

 of grain upon which the subsistence 

 of each respective district princi- 

 pally depends. 



Your committee entertain the 

 strongest expectation, that a recom- 

 mendation Irom the highest autho- 

 rity, pointing out the advantages 

 which would be derived, under the 

 present circumstances, from tlie 

 gcireral practice of economy and 

 frugality in these articles, could not 

 fail to produce extensive and bene- 

 ficial effects. In order to give the 

 greatest weight and solemnity to 

 such a recommendation, your com- 

 mittee submit to the house whether 

 it may not be proper to desire the 

 concurrence of the other house of 

 parliament in an humble address to 

 his majesty, requesting that his ma- 

 jesty would be graciously pleased 

 to issue a proclamation for this pur- 

 pose. The effect of such a procla- 

 mation might undoubtedly be ex- 

 tended by tlie universal circulation 

 which might be given to it through 

 the magistracy and clergy, in every 

 district and in every parish ; and 

 associations might be entered into 

 by every description of persons to 

 whom it might be addressed, for 

 carrying it into execution in their 

 respective neighbourhoods. The 

 general adoption of such a measure. 



by diminishing the consumption of 

 grain, and particularly of wheat, 

 amongst those v>'ho are able to pro- 

 cure other articles of food, would 

 leave for the use of those who are 

 unable to procure themalargcr pro- 

 portion of what is necessary for their 

 support ; by decreasing the demand 

 the price would probably be re- 

 duced, and it may well be expected 

 from the past conduct of the more 

 opulent classes, that much of what 

 might be saved by the reduction of 

 their own consumption, would be 

 applied to the relief of their indi- 



gent neighbours. 



having thus 



Your committee 

 suggested the means by which they 

 conceive that a great reduction in 

 the consumption of corn, and par- 

 ticularly of wheat, may be produ- 

 ced by the practice of economy 

 among a large proportion of the 

 community, proceed to call the at- 

 tention of the house to another 

 measure, by which a similar eflect 

 may be produced, to a great extent, 

 among the laborious classes, with- 

 out in any degree diminishing their 

 necessary subsistence ; for which, on 

 the contrary, it is the great object 

 of the plans proposed effectually to 

 provide. It is evident that, under 

 the present high price, a very large 

 proportion of the poorer classes 

 derive, from parish relief, a con- 

 siderable part of the subsistence ne- 

 cessary for their families ; extraor- 

 dinary relief, under such circum- 

 stances to a great amount, is in- 

 dispensable : and it is hoped that it 

 hasbeen generally extended through 

 most parts of the kingdom, on the 

 most liberal principle, in due pro- 

 portion to the extra cost of food, to 

 the number of a family, the quan- 

 tity necessary for their subsistence, 

 and the fair amount of their earu- 



