tle, have generally a promising appearance. In England, pease are for the most part bad, and a part of the ground sown with them was ploughed up. Turnips have brairded well, and potatoes have almost everywhere a promising appearance. The corn trade, during most of the last three months, has been without activity, and great surprise and disappointment have been experienced, at the state of prices by those engaged in the corn trade. With the exception of pease and beans, the prices of grain have fallen, and this notwithstanding the known fact that the stocks are light, that the supply from the north of Europe has been interrupted, and that a constant delivery has been taking place from the granaries to supply the immediate wants of the consumers. From the low state of the stocks in the exporting countries, and the dreadful interruption to the trade of the north of Europe, by pestilence and war, many interested in the corn trade still believe that there will be a re-action of prices. This, however, is a contingency dependent upon the state and forwardness of our own supplies. In the mean time, the favourable appearance of the crop depresses the market, and many importers, anxious to realize upon any terms, are selling at a heavy loss. In Germany, Prussia, Prussian Poland, France and Italy, the crops are universally regarded as promising. Since our last Report, butchers' meat has advanced in price, and fat cattle have accordingly met with a ready sale. Live stock, however, has declined in value, and is in slow demand. Bating the heavy losses sustained by rot, the farmers have been well paid for their winter feeding. The demand for wool has been steady, at an advanced price. We have for some time past directed the attention of our readers to the returns of the revenue, as indicating the state of trade and internal consumption. The result of the last quarter's return confirms the conclusion which we early drew, regarding the improving state of the finances derived from an increasing consumption. The whole year's revenue indicates an apparent deficiency of L. 1,156,282 00 But then taxes have been repealed which, in the year 1830, amounted to L. 4,518,000 Of which, however, there had been still collected during a part of the last four quarters, about 1,800,000 0 0 2,718,000 00 Making a relative increase of L.1,061,718 0 0 And this is to be reckoned the more considerable, when we take into account the various circumstances that have tended to disturb the commercial relations of different parts of Europe, and the causes of excitement and alarm which still exist in so many countries. We have, almost for the first time since the commencement of our labours, had it in our power to remark on a few circumstances favourable to the agricultural interests of the country. With this slight appearance of revival in a branch of industry which for the last sixteen years has suffered more than any other, it is mortifying to find changes proposed by persons of influence, which, whether carried into effect or not, have, by the mere announcement of them, a tendency unfavourable to returning confidence and industry. We repeat, what we have before this explained in minute detail, that nothing is so much required at this hour as the abstaining from changes which affect the trading capital of the country in its various relations. For what purpose, we ask, does Lord Milton now bring forward proposals for a great change in the corn laws? Granting that his Majesty's government were disposed to sanction a reasonable modification of these laws,-and the modification must be a reasonable one, if common sense is not to be thrown aside altogether,—of what use is the premature announcement of crude plans, which excite the passions of one class, and the fears of those who are to be the victims? Has there not been excitement enough already? Is it not important that those who have capital to expend on the cultivation of the country, should be encouraged to do so rather than deterred? Is Lord Milton ignorant that at this time hundreds of farmers are carrying the remnant of their capital away to other countries, and that a vague apprehension prevails amongst them all, that the obnoxious corn laws are to be made the next inviting object of public clamour. But it is not merely to the promulgation of the projects of an individual that we have to object. We are grieved to see another measure proposed under the sanction of members of the government itself. This is the proposal to admit molasses into the distillation and the breweries of the country. Surely this is a project which is ill-timed at least, and which, in the present state of the farming class, and the population dependent upon it for employment, does seem of very questionable policy. No one need be told that this is merely bringing forward the Rum question, so recently disposed of, in a yet more dangerous and insidious shape. The object, in either case, has been to give the West India planters the means to employ the produce of the sugar cane in competition with grain. We are perfectly aware, that, by the imposition of adequate duties, the competition might be made, not between West India produce and that of the mother country, but between West India produce and that of the corn-exporting countries of the Baltic; and this, we doubt not, is to be the argument employed. But, we must observe, that whether this is to be the effect produced, must depend upon the details, of which we are yet ignorant. We do not wish to prejudge a plan of the particulars of which we are uninformed, but we think that we are entitled to direct the most vigilant attention of landed gentlemen to the progress of this measure. The present time would be ill chosen indeed for relieving the West India planters at the expense of another interest at least as deserving of support. Nothing could justify, under present circumstances, any trifling with the farming capital of the country, for the purpose of relieving West India property. We do not desire to see the agricultural interest supported by any unjust monopoly, but we do wish to see some kind of respite given to those who have their capital sunk in this branch of industry, from experiments that may injure them. It is not the farmer alone who is interested in this, but the labouring classes of the country, who are dependent upon his means of furnishing them with employment: and at a time when so much distress has existed amongst the rural population, surely it would be the worst policy to embarrass the farmer, by supplanting any part of his produce, merely that we might consume an equivalent of that of the West India islands. We do not object to any relief that can be given to our West India countrymen, who have been insulted and ill-used enough; though we object to this being granted at the expense of the farmers and labourers of the mother country. We know that a more direct and safe mode of relieving the West India proprietors is within our reach, and this is the reducing the enormous duty on sugar. This would at the same time benefit the West India growers and the consumers at home. Sugar is not now a luxury but a necessary amongst our labouring population; and it would be as much a benefit to them to reduce the price of sugar as that of any other commodity which they consume. Are the West India gentlemen afraid that the members of his Majesty's government, in reducing the amount of the impost on sugar, should also think of redeeming another pledge which they gave when out of office, namely, that of rendering the duty equal, whether the sugar was derived from the East Indies or the West? In the present state of the West India colonies, we should regret to see this question urged against them; but we have a right to demand this forbearance in return,-that they will not urge the Government of the country to adopt measures for their relief, which are to injure a more numerous class at home. VOL. III. NO. XIV. B b TABLES OF PRICES, &c. The Average Prices of the different kinds of GRAIN, per Imperial Quarter, sold at the following Markets :— TABLE showing the Weekly Average Prices of GRAIN, made up in terms of 7th and 8th Geo. IV. c. 58, and the Aggregate Averages which regulate the Duties payable on FOREIGN CORN; the Duties payable thereon, from 1st April 1831, to 1st July 1831. 1831. 8. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. 8. d. 8. d. s. d. s. d. s. 26 027 26 10 7 942 9 42 9 42 040 841 8 8 6 42 341 7 8 0 39 539 211 0 6 39 441 18 039 639 211 0 039 10 40 99 639 939 311 0 040 640 7 9 639 939 511 0 640 040 49 639 939 611 0 639 11 40 2 9 6 40 539 811 0 6 39 4 39 911 040 039 1011 0 339 11 40 6 9 639 11 39 1111 040 039 1111 0 338 10 40 19 638 7 39 811 040 540 096 337 239 611 041 039 911 040 640 296 9 38 839 611 041 540 0 9 640 440 39 6 939 9 39 311 040 740 19 641 240 49 6 8. d. 8. d. 8. d. 039 239 311 0 The MONTHLY RETURNS, published in terms of 9th Geo. IV. c. 60, showing the Quantities of Corn, Grain, Meal, and Flour imported into the United Kingdom in each Month; the Quantities upon which duties have been paid for home-consumption, during the same Month; and the Quantities remaining in Warehouse at the close thereof: from 1st March to 1st June 1831. From British Possessions. |