198 History of the English Landed hiterest. 



But it is now time to revert to the commencement of this 

 series of Acts increasing the powers of English exporters, and 

 to compare their effects on the statistics of the markets. In 

 1553 the average price per quarter of wheat was 10s. 



From 1550 to 1560 it was 15.s. ^\d. 



Up to 1660 the importation of corn had been prevented by 

 the natural laws of supply and demand ; now, however, these 

 laws were from artificial causes, which we shall shortly ex- 

 amine, operating in a contrary direction. Importation had to 

 be restricted by the imposition of a prohibitory duty so long 

 as the home price was below 53s. 4c?., and with a duty of 8s. 

 when it was above that price and below 80s.^ At the close of 

 the seventeenth century, in spite of increased demands and 

 enhanced prices at home, small quantities of wheat continued 

 to be exported annually."* But from the beginning of the fol- 

 lowing century the amount sent abroad rapidly rose, until, in 

 1725, over 200,000 quarters left the country. 



For the causes of these phenomena, we must search not only 

 the Statute Book, but also the pages of history. In the first 

 place there is no doubt that before the death of Charles II., 

 corn dealers were widely evading the last remnants of the 



* Agriculture and Prices. T. Eogers, vol. iv. p. 292. 



2 Id. Ihid., vol. V. p. 276. » 22 Car. II. c. 13. 



* In 1697, 14,699 quarters of wheat and Hour were exported. In 1699 

 only 557 ; in 1700,49,056. In the ten following years it was never under 

 74,000. Craig and McFarlane, History of England, 'Book IX. ch. iv. 



