supplying Milk for the Poor. i on 



ably refuted by a noble Lord (Lord Sheffield) at the time. Experience has since 

 fully proved the folly and impolicy of the system founded on this theory. Much 

 praise is due to all those who contributed to the establishment of that venerable 

 code which, for the space of eighty years, proved such a source of weahh and in- 

 ternal comfort to the nation. The Minister (Mr. Pitt) had great merit in resisting 

 the clamour raised against the alterations in the corn laws, in the last sessions of 

 Parliament. It was most satisfactorily and clearly proved, that those alterations 

 had no influence in raising the prices of grain. They might, and I believe did, en- 

 courage a more extended growth of corn ; and, by so much as they increased the 

 quantity, contributed to keep down the price, and diminish the effects of a failing 

 crop. What reason can there be to doubt, that a recurrence to the same measures, 

 would be productive of the same effects? During the seventeenth century, and at 

 almost every period of our history (previous to the establishment of the system of 

 bounties on exportation) the prices of wheat were subject to great variation, and 

 the average extremely high. For forty years previous to 1700, the average price 

 of wheat was £"3. os. iid. per' quarter; prior to 1650, £6. Ss. lod. From the 

 period that the corn laws were finally settled in 1700 or 1706, the prices became 

 steady. And for forty years prior to 1750 wheat was at^*!. 165. per quarter: in 

 the next forty years to 1790 the average was £"2. 9*. 50?.; and for the last ten years 

 £^. 6s. exclusive of bounties. 



In the course of the last forty years the balance between the agricultural and 

 commercial systems has been destroyed. The latter now clearly preponderates, and 

 its excess is likely to became ruinous. The increase of wealth operating upon a 

 decreasing supply of corn has greatly tended to aid in raising the price of labour 

 to the injury of agriculture. The reduction of the price of labour cannot be effected, 

 without a general abatement of all the objects which have been affected by it. The 

 only means to prevent the ruin of our agriculture is to advance the price of grain. 

 The same causes have not yet operated in the North of Europe and America ; and 

 they are besides exempted from our heavy taxation, which exacts so much from 

 each individual ; and appears an almost invincible barrier to our receding. 

 These combined causes enable the North of Europe and America to furnish grain 

 cheaper than we can grow it extensively. There are indeed many millions of acres 

 in Great Britain that would produce wheat, was the price sufficient; but on which 



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