338 LAND REFORM 



Twelve years later, and after seven years' experi- 

 ence of free imports, Cobden describes the miserable 

 condition of the labourers at Midhurst "with bread 

 at 2jd. per lb.," that is, lod. per quartern, or just 

 double the price quoted at Aylesbury in the time of 

 protection. (Letter to Mr. H. Ashworth, 19 Decem- 

 ber, 1855.) 



Fortunately, however, there exists a continuous 

 yearly record of the price of bread in the city of 

 Edinburgh from 1824 to the present time. No doubt 

 the prices given in this record are considerably higher 

 than those which ruled in the country districts. But 

 the special value of the Edinburgh tables is that the 

 fluctuations of prices, for the same quality of bread 

 (the best quality), can be readily traced continuously 

 through a long series of years. If we analyse these 

 Edinburgh prices of bread and the official prices of 

 wheat during corresponding years and periods, the 

 actual fluctuations in prices of both articles will be seen 

 at a glance. The following table shows the relative 

 average prices of wheat and bread for a period of 

 years immediately preceding and directly following 

 the beginning of free imports : — wheat Best quality 



per quarter. Bread per loaf. 

 Average price for 7 years, 1842-48 ... 54/io| ... ygd. 

 1850-56 ... 55/6f ... jid. 



This comparison shows a very slight increase in 

 prices during the second period named. But during 

 the year when distress was the greatest (1843), the 

 prices of wheat and bread were actually lower than 



riots and raids on bakers' shops ; but he cannot remember a single 

 occasion when the price of bread was the subject of complaint. The 

 cause of the distress was not the price of the loaf, but the want of money 

 wherewith to buy it. 



