138 BRITAIN FOR THE BRITON 



Bread Dearer for Thirty Years after Free-trade than 



BEFORE 



The following table brings the matter more up to modern 

 times : — 



" Taking decennial periods the average prices for the same articles 

 work out as follows : — 



The " Hungry Forties." 



1840-49 1850-59 1860-69 1870-79 1880-89 1890-99 



Wheat per Quarter . . 54/1 53/3 51/8 51/4 3G/11 28/9 



Bread per Quartern Loaf 7|rf. T^d. 8cL 8h'l Id. 5^d. 



"This table shows that for thirty years after the beginning of 

 free imports, the average price of bread was higher than it was 

 during the " hungry forties " ; and for fifty years after free imports 

 (including the years when wheat was specially low) the average 

 price was only about one farthing a loaf lower. Moreover, in the 

 earlier years the weight of the loaf was 4 lb. 5| oz. It was afterwards 

 lowered to 4 lb. ; and in comparing prices this difference in weight 

 should be reckoned." * 



Bringing this important question still more up-to-date, 

 Mr. CoUings says — 



"Even in September of the present year (1905), with wheat 

 about 30s. per quarter, the mean price of bread throughout Great 

 Britain was 5"43^/. (say o^d.) for the 41b, loaf, while in 1867 and 

 1868, when wheat averaged 64.s'. 7d. per quarter, or just double, 

 the price was only 7f^. in London, and no doubt less throughout 

 the country. In Edinburgh, in March of the present year, the 

 price was 6^d. per quartern loaf, as against 6^d. (or about the 

 same) in the bad year of 1843, when wheat was 50s. per quarter." f 



Speaking of the " Bread Eiots " of the " Hungry Forties," 

 Mr. Ceilings is fortunate enough to be able to quote from his 

 own personal experience, which naturally adds value to the 

 testimony. 



" The writer was in daily association with the poorer classes 

 during the ' hungry forties.' He witnessed one or two of the 

 bread 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." J 



" Land Eeform " is indeed full of valuable information on this 

 little understood subject, but space forbids further reference to 

 this single work. 



* " Land Reform," the Eight Hon. Jesse Ceilings, p. 339. 

 t Ibid., p. 340. + Ibid., pp. 337, 338. 



