The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-11 00:00:00

AVER.4GES OP GRAIN.

The gentlemen of the ('urn Exchange who are interested
in howled grain, waited on Mr. iluskisson, at the Board
of Trade, on Friday Imt, respecting mine clause in the Hill
at protein before the House of Coitunotis, which they con-
ceited affected their interchts, wheri that gentleman read
to them the following letter ; and the importance of the ob-
servation contained in the concluding paragraph will nut
escape attention :
lloard of Trade, 29dm April, 1021.
SIR-1 yesterday received your letter of the 21th inst. written on
behalf of the Chamber of Cmnmeree of Cork, for the purpose of
soliciting the attention or the Board of Trade to the incorrect mode
of striking the average weekly returns of Grain of the twelve maxi.
time counties.

In proof of the defect of this mode, you refer me to the London
Return for the week ending the 13th instant, front which you inter
(and I have no doubt in my own mind that your inference is rot
without foundationo that a price considerably exceeding the real
average was returned from London.
' From other quartets I have received complaints, resting upon
sintsments apparently equally well founded, of the price returned
tie ether markets being depressed considerably below the rd
erase of the week for which such return was made.
A. I have reason to believe that, in both easest the forms and
condition! prescribed by the Law have been complied with by the
parties makkig such mums (however much they are made in
violation of the aisirit and true intent of that Law), 1 am afredd that
the evil complained nf is one Incident to the present systems which
will prevail in a greater or less degree, whenever the market price
of Grain. fur a few weeks before the striking of the quarterly ave-
rage, which relates to ihe. opening or shutting of the Ports to
foreign Grain, shall be such as to make it doubtful, whether that
contingency may no be determined, the one way or the other, by
these improper and conflicting practices. These practices arc cer-
tainly not rer.dered the less impropet by their tendency to
neutralize one another, iammuch as they derange the natural
course of the markets, interfere with the speculations of the trader,
and open a door to transactions, not only immoral in themselves,
but in consequence of which neither the grower nor the consumer
can place any reliance on that tueastre of protection, which the law
intended to afford, according to the loos fide state of the Corn
Market, to the one or the other.
nut whilst I fully admit these evils, I math for that, so long as
the present system of avenges is retained, it will remain liable to
the imperfections which I have stated ; and I own, that I sin the
more apprehensive that it will be found very difficult to apply an
effectual remedy, because, whilst I find the evil acknowledged on
all sides, and statements in proof of it pouring in upon ire from the
most opposite quarters, none of my numerous correspondents on
this subject, however practically tonversant with the corn trade,
have been able to suggest any effectual remedy, or indeed any ma-
ter's' legislative improvement, which can be made in the mode at
present prescribed fur ascertaining the averages.
I have tniublod you with thr explication, that you and the,l
Chamber of Commerce at (.'ork may be satisfied that the subject of
your letter is one to which I have not been inattentive, and that
am es anxious as they can be fur the due enforcement of the law re-
specting the averages. At the same time, I candidly own, that the
occurrencesof the last twelve months, and what is now taking place
in the corn-markets of this country, have greatly tended to confirm
all the objections which induced me individually, when the subject
was wider the consideration of Parliament, to state my preference
furs constant free trade in foreign corn, subject to a proper protect-
ing duty, over a system of alternate exclusion and admission, ac-
cording to any scale of average, or mode of fixing that average,
which could be devised fur the regulation of that trade.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your moat obedient, humble Servant,
W. lIUSKISSON.

To the President of the Chamber
of Commerce, C'ork.

SUICIDES.