The matters for consideration now are, not what 

 reductions may be made hereafter, at some remote 

 and uncertain period, in the elements of pro- 

 duction ; to alter the Corn Laws, to settle the 

 question on such a contingency, would be about 

 as wise as to build upon sand. 



Before Ministers enter upon the consideration of 

 this question, with a view to an alteration in the 

 spirit of the Corn Laws, they must first remove 

 from the landed interests a part of those incum- 

 brances which bear so unequally upon it. To 

 make any change in the laws which would have 

 the effect of lowering the price of corn still more, 

 without first reducing the outgoings on land, would 

 be precipitate and unsafe. The primary inquiries 

 now should be, the nature and extent of the re- 

 ductions which can be immediately made in the 

 outgoings of the tenant. We will consider the 

 matter, first, in reference to those outgoings which 

 the law imposes. 



With respect to the highway rate, this may 

 admit of some reduction, but whether a reduction 

 will be any advantage to the farmar, will depend 

 upon how far the labour withdrawn from the 

 highways can be, beneficially, employed in other 

 directions. The expense of maintaining the roads 

 presses unfairly severe on the occupiers of land ; 

 as they are for general use and convenience they 

 ought not to be supported so exclusively at their 

 expense. 



With respect to the county rate, this is an out- 



