90 



The question of the Corn Laws should be set at 

 rest ; it should be considered and announced by Go- 

 vernment as a settled measure, settled so long as 

 the landed interest continues under similar circum- 

 stances. When these circumstances are improved 

 by an extensive removal of incumbrances will be the 

 time to consider whether any change ought to be 

 made. This is the line of policy which Government 

 ought to pursue with respect to the Corn Trade. 

 Then the apprehensions of the owners and occupiers 

 of the soil would cease ; the light of hope would 

 dispel the gloomy forebodings of fear ; confidence 

 would be restored ; and capital and labour would be 

 employed in the work of improved cultivation. But 

 if the growth of grain be discouraged at home, and 

 we are supplied from independent foreign countries, 

 and war, unpropitious seasons, or any other causes, 

 prevent us obtaining those supplies on which we 

 depend, and the bread of the people be withheld from 

 them, we should be driven to an extremity of suffer- 

 ing. Notwithstanding the author of " England and 

 America," a work devoted to the consideration of 

 free trade and colonization, says that it is idle to an- 

 ticipate such an occurrence, that it is a fallacy which 

 has been thoroughly exposed. Yet the danger has 

 been apprehended by higher authorities than those 

 who have attempted to expose the opinion and by 

 authorities who will not be accused of being friends 



o 



to restriction. *" To depend," says Dr. Chalmers, 



" ill part on other countries for enjoyment, is but a 



* Dr. Chalmers, page 224. 



