78 



THEORY OF THE PRICE OF CORN. 



attempt to condense, in a plain and practical, but still popular, form, 

 the results of observation on the treatment of Mental Derangement, 

 for the specific and avowed purpose of demanding from society an 

 associated effort to fulfil this duty, so distinctly enjoined by the divine 

 ordinances of reason and religion. The purity and disinterestedness 

 of his motives are evident upon every page of his volume : and they 

 evince clearly that, in conducting a very careful and candid examina- 

 tion of his subject, he has been actuated by a profound sympathy for 

 the misfortunes of the insane, and with a keen feeling of indignation 

 that these misfortunes should often be multiplied through the apathy, 

 or the ignorance, or the cruelty of those who have it in their power 

 to become benefactors in the noblest cause that can arouse a virtuous 

 emulation. 



THEORY OF THE PRICE OF CORN. 



I assume that it is the great and beneficial purpose of periodical 

 works, which profess to be devoted to the dhTusion of knowledge, 

 that they should not only be employed in the publication of esta- 

 blished facts and new discoveries, but that they should, under suit- 

 able restrictions, be made the vehicles of speculation, the media of 

 liberal controversy where opinions may be adverse or disputable. 



Under this assumption, I venture to solicit a space for the follow- 

 ing communication, to which I wish to call the special attention of 

 political economists, and still more especially that of the enlightened 

 portion of agriculturists. I am happy to observe that this class of 

 the community is increasing, and that they must shortly occupy 

 that intellectual position which their primary importance requires : 

 not that I think the statement here advanced of exclusive import to 

 these classes, but that it will be found worthy of the regard of all 

 ranks and interests. 



Mr. John Taylor, an acute, sober, original, speculative writer, 

 has, in a small work entitled A Catechism of the Currency, intro- 

 duced a chapter On the Theory of the Price of Corn, which contains 

 the following (to me) novel facts. 



In this work it appears that there is a steady fixed natural price 

 of wheat, which, in reference to the precious metals, did for a 



