THEORY OF THE PRICE OF CORN. 81 



Average required for 



76 years, from 1689 to 1764... 37 6 



29 years, from 1765 to 1793... 49 4 



27 years, from 1794 to 1820... 87 



12 years, from 1809 to 1820... 97 



Average of lengthened Periods. 



d. . si d. 

 Average paid for 



76 years, from 1689 to 1764... 37 9 



29 years, from 1765 to 1793... 49 5 



27 years, from 1794 to 1820... 87 10 



12 years, from 1809 to 1820... 98 9 



The entire difference, 2s. lid., averaging about 9rf. ; difference of 132 

 years, Is. 2d., averaging not quite 5rf." 



I make no apology for the length of the previous quotations. To 

 abridge, would have been to mutilate them. There stand the facts 

 on which Mr. Taylor's theory rests. Whether the inference he has 

 drawn be correct and legitimate or not, I presume not to determine. 

 That a coincidence in the totals and a series of coincidences in de- 

 tail, should have proved so undeviating through a period of upwards 

 of 130 years in all the various states of peace and war, good and 

 bad seasons, plenty and scarcity, restriction and free importation, 

 &c. &c, without some intimate connection of cause and effect, is an 

 astonishing, almost miraculous circumstance, scarcely to be paral- 

 lelled. Should they be the result of mere chance, it may be asked, 

 through what duration of time must a regular order of concurrent 

 events pass, which shall warrant the unquestionable conclusion of 

 their being connected as cause and effect ? On the other hand, in 

 this case, it may be asked, are there any discrepancies in that ex- 

 tended period sufficient to counterbalance the concordances herein 

 stated, or to impeach the correctness of the deduction ? These I 

 confess are moot points that appear to be worthy of the strictest in- 

 vestigation. Strong as the presumption is in favour of the theory, 

 and much as it may be wished to be true, still it may be unsubstan- 

 tial. Its truth or fallacy ought to be ascertained beyond a doubt. 

 If it be established it will confirm, above all dispute, the propriety 

 of holding to a quarter of Wheat as the most steady standard of 

 value. Would that we could obtain a measure of value equally in- 

 flexible. This appears to be a desideratum, but is it attainable ? 

 And, if attained might it not help to put an end to those periodical 

 visitations of panic which occasionally convulse the mercantile 

 world ? If such would be the result what efforts ought not to be 

 perseveringly pursued, until the benefit be secured. Agriculturists, 

 manufacturers, merchants, are all equally interested in so desirable 

 an acquisition. 



Stedfast and uniform as the mutual increase continued during 

 130 years, it has been for some years and is now very seriously dis- 



VOL VIII., NO. XXIII. 12 



