V. The Speech of SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY in the House VI. Observations on the Brumal Retreat of the Swallow. To which is annexed a copious Index to many passages rela- VII. Memoir concerning the Commercial Relations of VIII. An Inquiry concerning the Propriety of increa- sing the Import Duty on Foreign Corn. By JOHN NAIS- LETTERS ON THE Political and Financial SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY IN THE YEAR 1814; ADDRESSED TO THE EARL OF LIVERPOOL. By F. PERCEVAL ELIOT, Esq. UNDER THE SIGNATURE OF FALKLAND. No. II. 9th February, The former Letters are inserted in our last number. No. I. should have been dated 31st January, 1814. 1814. No. III. 23d February, 1814. 1814, and No. V. 10th May, 1814. No. VII. Pam. 1814. VOL. IV. A LETTERS, &c. &c. &c. LETTER. VI. 20th June, 1814. MY LORD, RELEASED from the anxious and important duties so necessarily attendant on a state of warfare; and of such a war as that which is now so happily and gloriously terminated-with the exception of those international exchanges, indemnities, and restorations, on which a general congress alone seems to be competent to decide satisfactorily and permanently; and excepting also the necessary care of distributing due rewards, and the means of subsistence to the numerous naval and military servants of the public, who, under whatever commanders, have served you so valiantly and so effectually——— "His saltem longi, non cum duce, præmia belli LUCAN. With these reservations, which can only employ your attention for a short time, at most a few months, your lordship will have leisure to consider the necessary measures to be taken for increasing the strength, improving the revenue, reducing the debt, husbanding the resources, and promoting the general prosperity of the empire, during that peaceable repose so nearly approaching, and which, I trust, will be of such long endurance. Amongst these the encouragement of agriculture will be a main and leading object; for, though I do not go so far as to agree either with those, who look upon the produce of the farm as all in all, and despise commerce; or on the other hand with those, who would sacrifice the landed to the mercantile interest; because I am well convinced that the welfare of both is best supported, and the public prosperity most substantially promoted, by the reciprocal assistance received by each of them from the other-yet I am perfectly prepared to assert that an improving state of agriculture ought to be a primary object with every wise statesman, as leading to an increased population and augmented public strength both political and financial; and as that source of advantage and profit which is most permanently independent of external chance or control, by which the most lucrative branch of foreign trade may, at any time be cut off in a moment. I concur, therefore completely, my lord, with your right honorable friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in supporting the resolution for unlimited export in the corn trade; increased demand being the surest means of creating increase of produce,, wherever such increase is producible at will, as it is in the case of corn; though quite the contrary with respect to bullion, where it is out of our power to open a single additional mine of silver, though we may plough up a thousand more fields for wheat. But with the consideration of quantity, the question of quality is also a mainly preponderating point in the culture of corn; the production of the greatest proportion of nutritive farina with the smallest quantity of husk, and from the most limited extent of land, being evidently of equal benefit to the grower, the consumer, and the public. I 'enter fully, therefore, into the recommendation of the Committee of the House of Lords in 1800 to the Committee of Privy Council, for considering the propriety of selling corn by a combination of weight and measure. I have not a shadow of doubt on that head myself; weight is the only true standard of the quality of corn; the heaviest wheat in the smallest compass will always yield the greatest proportion of nutritive product; and the millers are so well aware of this, that in the Staffordshire markets, (to which I have been most accustomed,) they always stipulate for a nominal measure to be made up to a certain specified weight; generally (but not invariably) the Staffordshire bag of three strikes, of nine Winchester gallons each, to weigh 210lbs. avoirdupoise, or 70lbs. per strike. Thereby evidently making it the interest of the farmer to grow the heaviest and finest corn; which can only be done by keeping his land in high condition; beggarly land always producing lean half-starved grain. And in doing this they are also insensibly contributing to a great national benefit; as all judges of agriculture know that of two tenants farming an equal quantity of similar land, and applying only the manure raised on the farm, the one who sows only three tenths with wheat or on an average of seasons, will grow as much bread corn in quantity, (and of a very superior quality,) as the other who sows five or six tenths; with the important addition of two or three tenths more of his farm in grass land, in high condition for meadow or pasture. |