504 [ASSEMBLT 



April 21st, 1846. 

 INTRODUCTION OF INDIAN CORN INTO GREAT BRITAIN. 



We find that the introduction of this great American staple as an 

 article of food is exciting considerable attention. The distress aris- 

 ing from the failure of the potato crops, the principal article of sus- 

 tenance of the laboring classes, has rendered a substitute necessary. 

 In point of cheapness and nutritiA^e qualities, the preference has been 

 given to the Indian Corn, 



Too much praise cannot be awarded to Mr. Cowdin for the deep 

 interest he has taken in this subject. Invitations were lately extend- 

 ed by him to a large number of gentlemen to an entertainment, for 

 the purpose of bringing under their notice bread made in a variety of 

 ways from Indian Corn or Maize. After a few prefatory remarks 

 by the chairman, in which he argued the expediency of introducing 

 that article as tending to increase and strengthen the intercourse be- 

 tween the two nations, Mr. Cowdin rose and stated " he had been in- 

 fluenced in giving the invitations, not with the view of any pleasure 

 that would arise from the party itself, but from the important bear- 

 ing the subject he had to bring before them might have on the busi- 

 ness relations of the two countries. He spoke of the extent of the 

 United States, embracing every variety of soil and climate, accom- 

 panying his remarks on its productions with complete statistics. To 

 convince them that Indian corn meal was well adapted not only for 

 the use of the poor and middle classes, but also for the opulent, sev- 

 eral loaves were cut and distributed among the gentlemen. The 

 corn meal of which they were composed cost 2| cents per pound, 

 while wheat flour cost 4 cts per pound, giving about two loaves of 

 corn bread to one of wheat. The company afterwards partook of a 

 pudding composed of corn meal, suet and molasses. The bread was 

 pronounced good — the pudding excellent. 



The following is an extract from a letter of later date, received 

 from Mr. Cowdin, addressed to T. B. Wakeman, Esq., and read be- 

 fore the Farmers' Club at their last meeting, wherein alluding to thi» 

 subject, he says: 



" I am, and have for some time, been devoting my leisure time, 

 in endeavoring to introduce into this community, the great universal 

 staple of America, * Indian Corn,' about which the people here know 

 nothing, and I am pleased to say, have succeeded in removing the 

 deep rooted prejudice which existed, by frequent exhibitions of corn 

 bread in every variety of form. It may now be said to be fairly and 



