77 



as the author just referred to, that free trade, (*) " if 

 gradual, would be injurious to farmers and landlords," 

 and ( 2 ) " would not improve the condition of either 

 capitalists or labourers;" some, and the greater 

 number, that an immediate and instantaneous free 

 trade would be fraught with the greatest mischief, 

 would occasion the transfer of landed property, 

 would ruin the present race of landlords and tenants, 

 throw the great mass of agricultural labourers out of 

 employment, change the relations of society, and 

 convulse the whole country. Thus, as we see, that 

 the advocates of a free corn trade differ so widely 

 in their opinions as to the effects it would produce, 

 we had better adopt one part of the advice of the 

 author of " England and America," and ( 3 ) " leave 

 the Corn Laws untouched for twenty years;" and 

 then, if the circumstances of the country should be 

 different, and it should be more evident, than it now is, 

 " that it is the reformation that draweth on the change 

 and not the desire of change that pretendeth the refor- 

 mation/' let them be repealed " at one blow." But 

 it is said, too, that any restriction upon a free trade in 

 corn is inconsistent with our present rule of commer- 

 cial policy : but restriction in this case, under existing 



circumstances, is a necessary exception. 



To the manufacturer the markets of the world 



would be opened, and he can successfully contend 

 against foreign competition, and triumph over it. To 

 the agriculturist only the home market would be acces- 

 sible, and in which he would not be able to stand 



Page 1 2W, 2 243, 3 244. 



