89 



could be grown for. The government hnd no more 

 power to raise the price of wheat in Mark Lane for the 

 benefit of farmers, than it had to raise or fall the tide out of 

 its usual course at London Bridge for the benefit of mer- 

 chants. 



I do not pretend to understand the Currency question ; 

 but, whether Peel's Bill, at the time, was a wise or unwise 

 measure, it must be quite out of the question to thinlc of 

 going- back again to a paper circulation. It would perhaps 

 raise the price of agricultural produce, but probably with- 

 out raising its real value. There is also this important con- 

 sideration ; the present protection from importation would 

 not, with a paper currency, be high enough ; a higher, 

 under any circumstances whatever, can never be expected. 



I hope, when the finances of the country will 

 admit of it, that the tax on malt will be taken oft', and an 

 additional duty laid on gin to prevent its being cheaper 

 than it is at present. It would be worth some little sacrifice 

 of revenue to keep the agricultural population from becom- 

 ing so lamentably demoralized as a great part of the popula- 

 tion of most manufacturing towns are. It has perhaps been 

 too long the system of the government to do all in its power 

 to collect a large amount of excise, without considering, or 

 at least attending to, the pernicious consequences arising 

 from th lower orders consuming, to great excess, ardent 

 spirits. Many farmers, who were advocates for the malt-tax 

 being taken off, became not so ; they wanted great relief 

 this they thought would afford them but little. In my 

 opinion they underrate the relief it would afford ; for, it is 

 not only the sum they would save in payment of duty, but 

 there is no doubt that there would be much more private 

 brewing, a greater quantity of malt consumed, and conse- 

 quently an increased demand for barley. Small brewhouses 

 might then be fitted up in villages, to be let out for brewing, 

 at so much per bushel of malt. Provident labourers might 

 then be enabled to enjoy the great comfort of having, at a 

 moderate cost, a little good wholesome beer at home, and 

 thus be kept from that demoralizing influence that is always 

 going on in beer - shops. Beer drunk at home by a 

 labouring man, ought to be considered a necessary, 

 and ought not to be taxed ; nor the beer which 



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