210 LARGE FARMS AND CAPITALIST FARMERS 



The period from 1780 to 1813 was one of exceptional activity 

 in agricultural progress. Apart from the flowing tide of enthusiasm, 

 landlords and farmers were spurred to fresh exertions and a great 

 outlay of capital and labour by the large returns on their expendi- 

 ture. All over the country new facilities of transport and com- 

 munication began to bring markets to the gates of farmers ; new 

 tracts of land were reclaimed ; open arable farms and pasture 

 commons were broken up, enclosed, and brought into more pro- 

 fitable cultivation ; vast sums of money were spent on buildings 

 and improvement. In spite of increased production, prices rose 

 higher and higher, and carried rents with them. " Corn," says 

 Ricardo, " is not high because a rent is paid ; but a rent is paid 

 because corn is high." In certain circumstances if the State is 

 landlord, or if landowners could combine for the purpose rents 

 might raise prices. But the general truth of Ricardo's view was 

 illustrated during the French War. From 1790 to 1813, rente rose 

 with the rise in prices, until over a great part of Great Britain they 

 were probably doubled. Even the larger yield from the land 

 under improved methods of cultivation did not cheapen produce, 

 reduce prices, and so cause lower rente. On the contrary, prices 

 were not only maintained, but continued to rise. 



This continuously upward tendency in prices was unprecedented. 

 It cannot be attributed to the operation of the Corn Laws. 1 Down 

 to 1815 that legislation had scarcely affected prices at all, and 

 therefore could not influence rents. The rise was rather due to a 

 variety of causes, some of which were exceptional and temporary. 

 A series of unprosperous seasons prevailed over the whole available 

 corn-area of Northern Europe. In England deficient harvests, 

 though the shortage was to some extent mitigated by the increased 

 breadth under corn, reduced the home supply at a time when the 

 growth of an artisan population increased the demand. The country 

 throughout these years either stood, or thought that it stood, on 

 the verge of famine. Prices were raised by panic-stricken com- 

 petition. As the area of the war extended, foreign supplies became 

 less and less available. The enormous increase in the war-charges 

 for freight and insurance made Great Britain more and more 

 dependent on her own produce. Necessity compelled the full 

 development of her existing resources, as well as the resort to 

 inferior land. Larger supplies of home-grown corn could only be 



1 See chapter xii. 



