18 



for the sake of the interests of the poor, and, in- 

 deed, of society generally, (for the peace, har- 

 mony, and prosperity of the community depend 

 very much on the conduct of the lower orders,) 

 the price of labour should be kept up, even at this 

 sacrifice. 



Let us suppose, then, for the sake of argument, 

 that the only relief which will arise, is a reduction 

 of rent ; what proportion of rent must be taken 

 off? I maintain, and I feel confident that every 

 practical man will agree with me, that rents gene- 

 rally have not yet fallen in proportion to the fall 

 in the price of grain, in proportion to the fall 

 from 80s. a quarter, the Parliamentary standard 

 of 1815, to 63s. a quarter, the Parliamentary 

 standard of 1828. The distresses of a large por- 

 tion of the tenantry subsequent to 1821, 1822, and 

 1823, years of extreme low prices,, even from 

 1824 to 1832, during which time wheat averaged 

 62s. a quarter, prove that something or other has 

 operated against them ; either rents have been 

 too high, or the seasons during this period have 

 been unusually unfavourable and unpropitious ; 

 or, as is the truth, both have interfered to prevent 

 farming capital receiving its " fair return." Grant 

 then, what is very probable what is all but cer- 

 tain, that wheat, with the present Corn Laws, and 

 without any increased importation of colonial corn, 

 would not average more than 54s. a quarter say 

 15 per cent, lower than the protecting price of the 

 existing law; we may ascertain, by a few exam- 



