43 

 84; that of Mav 1805, from 80 to 100. Yet 



if 



on none of those occasions was there any idea 

 of stopping distillation, though the prices were 

 often a good deal higher than at present. In 

 short, the prices are at this moment lower 

 than they have been, at an average, for some 

 years past, and have not risen materially since 

 last harvest. There is at present rather an 

 abundance than a scarcity in the country *. 



It is no doubt true, that oats and barley are 

 comparatively at high prices, but this is obvi- 

 ously nothing to the purpose in the view of 

 scarcity ; and is besides owing to temporary 

 causes, which cannot be expected to influence 

 another crop. In the view of scarcity, it is not 

 the relative abundance or price of particular 

 kinds of produce; still less of the smaller 

 and less important; but the actual amount of N/ 

 the whole consumable produce in the country, 

 or the standard price of bread-corn, that is the 



* See a Statement of the Prices of Corn for some years past, 

 Note (E.). The abundance of the last crop of wheat, the pre- 

 sent moderate state of prices, the small import, and the sufficiency 

 of this country to supply itself, are also stated by Mr Wakcfteld, 

 App. to Rep. p. 110. Mr Claud Scott, p. 116-17. Mr Kent, 

 p. 121. Mr Mackenzie, p. 122-3-4. By far the best proof, 

 howevar, of the present comparative plenty, is the state of prices, 

 for several years past, given in the Note. The prices are given for 

 two months in each year, October, when the crop recently 

 gathered may be supposed to have produced its full effect, and 

 May, which corresponds \rith the present time. 



