42 



remission of these duties upon the consumer, there could 

 not be any difficulty ; — the relief would be general and 

 efTectual. 



The ulterior effect in the reduction of the price of 

 agricultural productions, requires to be met with some 

 caution, and the regulation of the importation of Foreign 

 grain appears to present adequate means for this purpose. 



If the relation of supply and demand immediately regu- 

 late price, the ititroduction of Foreign corn to the British 

 market admits of being so guarded, as to assure to the 

 British grower a high and beneficial price, provided the 

 costs of production be not excessive. 



To this end it would be necessary that the standard of 

 price which now governs the importation of Foreign grain, 

 should not be lowered until the costs of British production 

 should be considerably lowered; until crops produced at the 

 higher costs of production should have been consumed, and 

 replaced by crops produced at costs clearly and distinctly 

 admitting the competition of Foreign coin, at a rale some- 

 what lower than the present regulation admits ; and in like 

 manner, as the costs of production should still more sub- 

 side, the regulation price of the importation of Foreign 

 grain might be lowered from time to time, until a proper 

 level should have been ascertained and fixed. By which 

 order of proceeding, the price of corn might be sufficiently 

 maintained to cover the costs of production and with the 

 probable effect of affording a decided advantage, where every 

 consideration, both individual and national, requires that the 

 advantage should be given, namely to the landlord and 



hands of dealers whereon duty has been paid, and the return of 

 duty could therefore be easily regulated. 

 The Board of Customs does not keep a similar check. 



