298 THE WEDGWOODS. 



can be introduced into the market, it is vain to expect that the 

 prices can become low. The benefit of this measure has already 

 been felt in several parts of the kingdom, and will unavoidably 

 reach us in a little time ; but ours being one of the most inland 

 counties, we cannot so soon receive all the advantages of it as 

 those who are situated near the ports. An impatience natural to 

 people under any immediate distress, induces them to think that 

 the relief which does not come in the moment will never reach 

 them. Accordingly, I do not wonder to hear it asked, ' What shall 

 we le benefited by the importation of corn ? The dealers will still 

 contrive to keep up the price, and starve the poor.'' I should be sorry 

 indeed if this was likely to be the case; but you may depend 

 upon the contrary. Nor is it in their power to do it. Provisions 

 will rise and fall in their price according to their quality (either 

 from our own crop, or imported from foreign parts) as naturally as 

 water finds its level. And though this price or market value may 

 be disturbed for awhile by combination where the dealers are too few, 

 yet experience our surest guide has shown that this cannot be 

 lasting : the riok and expense are too great. Eor if corn is kept in 

 large quantities together, it requires to be frequently turned and 

 aired, or it will soon be spoil'd ; now, the expense of doing this, the 

 interest of money lying dead, and the risk of fresh importations 

 rendering the market still lower, whilst the dealer is hoarding up 

 to make it higher, must always prevent the corn from being thus 

 kept up to any considerable degree. Some, indeed, have formerly 

 attempted this iniquitous measure ; but they suffered severely by 

 it, and will take care how they burn their fingers again. 



" The system of canal navigation which runs through the mid- 

 land part of the country, and completes a communication by water 

 between the four capital seaports of this kingdom, must be of great 

 service in keeping provisions at a less price than they otherwise 

 would be in a situation like ours, where corn is not grown sufficient 

 for the consumption ; this it does by conveying corn from the ports 

 or other places, where it is plentiful, to those parts where there 

 is a scarcity, at one-fourth of the price of land carriage, besides 

 lessening the number of horses so greatly, for upon the canal one 

 horse will draw as many tons as forty can do by land, and each 

 horse consumes as much provisions as would maintain six men, I 

 believe more, but I cannot just now find the calculation made upon 

 another occasion; so that each boat upon the canal, reckoned at 

 one-half its burden only, saves to the public daily the provisions 

 of twenty horses, or one hundred and twenty men, and this must 



