133 



covered with sails. When heaped up in a slanting form, when it 

 is on the land, the rain does not penetrate deep. Whatever por- 

 tion is affected by wet is carefully taken off, turned, and generally 

 sold separately. By this practice it is frequently greatly sprouted, 

 sometimes so much so, as to be quite green. 



Barley and Oats are seldom brought from Poland, even when 

 prices are good, at least not from the distant part, as they suffer 

 more than Wheat and Rye, when exposed to the weather. 



Of late years the Grain has been brought from the nearer parts 

 of Poland, mostly in covered craft, and some even from the 

 Vistula as far as Cracow. By this mode it arrives in much bet- 

 ter condition. To Konigsbergh the Grain from Lithuania is 

 brought in covered craft. 



Dantzic, (Signed) ALEX. GIBSON. 



the 23rd Aug. 1825. 



Appendix, No. 3. 



COMMUNICATION FROM MR. CONSUL GIBSON, 

 OF DANTZIC. 



The present state of wheat at Dantzic may be about 280,000 

 quarters, and at Elbing about 100,000*. It is not likely the 

 further supplies this year will be great, unless prices should rise 

 considerably, when a good deal might be brought from the nearer 

 parts. There are stocks in the country, but probably not very 

 large any where ; the production having been circumscribed "by 

 the decreasing demand. 



The present average price of Wheat, as paid to the Farmer, is 

 here at most 22s. per quarter. 



The price has not been so low for a great many years, and 

 may be considered unnatural, from there being no regular, and 

 at best but a very limited demand. 



The present price cannot, therefore, be called remunerating to 

 the Farmer, as not resulting from a natural relation between De- 

 mand and Supply in a free state of trade, by which the remune- 

 rating price is regulated ; but from a forced state of things, the 

 buyers having much risk to run in speculating, and the sellers 

 being, from necessity, compelled to sell for what they can obtain. 

 The producers of Wheat continue growing it, in hopes of a demand 



The error on the Stock of Wheat at Elbing is rectified by a letter of 

 the 2nd January, 1826. 



