Variation in the Price and Suppli/ of Wheat. 
179 
of tlic soil ;m(l of the humble tiller of the soil, in whose mind 
is imphmted the desire for improvement. Trade thus extends 
the influences of wealth and civilisation into remote corners of 
the world, and distributes increased comfort and happiness 
among mankind. Increased wants accompany the general pro- 
gress, labour rises, the cost of production increases, and the low 
prices of a ruder age pass away. Prices rose from these causes, 
in this country, from the middle of the last century ; a similar 
rise has commenced, and will no doubt continue, in some 
countries which have entered later on the path of advancement. 
That the price of corn should be maintained at a period when 
one-third of that brought to market is of foreign growth is what 
none could have anticipated thirty years ago. 
A variety of details on the price of growing corn in Europe 
were laid before the Agricultural Committee of the House of 
Commons in 1821 ; and Mr, Jacob's " Report on the Trade in 
Corn and on the Agriculture of the North of Europe," printed 
by order of the House of Commons in 1826, is still a standard 
authority. This gentleman was employed by the Government 
to investigate the capabilities of the various corn countries, their 
soil, the average yield of corn, cost of production, and the means 
of transit. 
The average price of grain per quarter, free on board at 
Dantzig, was — 
Wheat. 
Rye. 
Barley. 
0:lts. 
.V. f7. 
s. 
d. 
s. 
d. 
s. d. 
From 1770 to 1779 .. .. 
33 9 
21 
8 
16 
1 
11 1 
1780 ,, 1789 .. .. 
33 10 
22 
1 
17 
11 
12 4 
1790 1799 .. .. 
43 8 
2P 
3 
19 
3 
12 C 
1800 1809 .. .. 
CO 0 
34 
10 
25 
1 
13 1 
1810 ,, 1S19 .. .. 
55 4 
31 
1 
26 
0 
20 4 
Average price for 49 )-ears 
45 4 
27 
2 
20 
10 
13 10 
The average price at which a quarter of wheat grown near 
Dantzig could be put on board ship at that port was stated to 
be 35s., and the cost of freight, insurance, unloading, and ware- 
housing was 8s. But in case of an active foreign demand the 
price would immediately rise ; as any considerable supply could 
only be derived from the more distant and fertile districts of 
Galicia, Volhynia, Moravia, and Massovia. The lowest price 
at which corn could be produced, " if land could be had for 
nothing, and reckoning upon no casualties, such as a failure of 
N 2 
