The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-26 00:00:00

THE PRESENT CORN-LAWS.

In July, 1828, the Act was passed which -has since
until this time been in operation. This Act pro-
vides that foreign grain may be admitted for con-
sumption at all times, and that when the average
price of wheat in England shall be between 625. and
635. per quarter, there shall be paid a duty of 245. Bd.
per quarter, the duty rising with the decline of price ; so
that when the average is between 50s. • and 51s. it is
365. Bd. per quarter, and when the average price is be-
tween 435. and 445., the duty is equal t o the price, or
435. Bd. per quarter. On the other hand, as the price
rises the duty falls, and when the average reaches 735.
per quarter only ls. per quarter is charged on admission.
This law has now been in force nearly eleven years, and
in that time it is fair to presume that its good or bad ef-
fects have rendered themselves sufficiently apparent.
There is no necessity for discussing now the merits of the
previous systems,which were successively abandoned with
the full consent and concurrence of the laandlords i..s
inefficient or injurious to themselves.

The great advantage promised by the promoters
of this last-enacted law was, that it would insure
steadiness of price. Let us inquire how far that
promise has been fulfilled. On the day when the
Act received the Royal Assent, the average price
as advertised in the London Gazette, was 595. 10d.
per quarter. In three months thereafter the average
price rose to 78s. 9d., showing a fluctuation of more
than 30 per cent. In the next twelve months the
prices were somewhat more steady, having ranged
from the last-mentioned price to 625. 6d., or 26 per
cent. This was in the face of a constant and lame
admission of foreign wheat into consumption, amount-
ing to more than two millions of quarters. The fluc-
tuations in the following twelve months ranged be-
tween 575. 3d. and 765., or 32 per cent., the quantity
of foreign wheat admitted during that time having been
beyond a million and a half of quarters. The follow-
ing twelve months, to October, 1831, produced about
an equal fluctuation, viz., from 625. 10:1. to 78s. 10d.
The quantity of foreign wheat admitted in these
twelve months was about 1,200,000 quarters. From
that time to the middle of October, 1832, the prices
varied from 675. Bd. to 51s. 11d., still about 30 per
cent., but being at a lower range, the ascending
duty upon foreign wheat prevented the admission of
more than 300,000 quarters. Pursuing the inquiry
to the next twelve months, in which the foreign corn
admitted was, only 83,000 quarters, we find a steadier
market, the price having fluctuated only between
51s. 11d. and 60s. 3d., or 16 per cent. The ports
continued virtually closed against foreign competition
during the next fcur years, and the fluctuations then
experienced were as follows :
Highest Lowest
Price. Price. Fluctuation.
12 Months to s. d. s. d.
Oct. 1834 56 5 45 3 27 per cent.
1835 47 7 39 11 19
1836 51 1 36 0 42
1837 61 9 . 47 0 31

Since October, 1837, prices have again permitted
the introduction of foreign grain. About 200,000
quarters were brought in at the dose of 1837 ; but,
anticipating more favourable opportunities for the
purpose, the ho:ders kept back during all the early
part of 1838, and reaped the reward of their fare.
sight in the month of September, by obtaining the
admission of their stocks at the lowest rate of duty
fixed under the present law. The fluctuation during
this time has been from 51s. to 81s. 6d., or GO per
cent. If we take into account the whole r.alge of
prices since July, 1828, when the existing law came
into onPrAtion, we shall find that theif.,lotr
amounted tb—rzu per eauw --i7I-RiL4tevor w. ?:11"
examine the result, it will be impossible for anybody
hereafter to pretend that the variable scale of duties
has not signally failed to produce the effect, the secur-
ing of which formed its chief recommendation not only
with those by whom it is proposed, but with the great
body of landlords by whom it was promoted.—G: R.
Porter on the Corn Laws.

THE MAR KETS.-(YESTERDAY.

PRICE Of
The highest price of Bred,' in tl:
Mat, Goad Bread may be had at

BREAD.
te Metropolis is 101(1, for the 41b
3j4cl.

PRICE OF SEEDS.-March 95.
Par Cwt. Per Quarter.
New English Red Clover 70;.1128• St. Foin 403. 414 487,
Old Ditto Ditto -s. -a. -s. Rye Gras. 2es. 35,. O.;
New Foreign Diu:. -61 s. 903. 993.. I..scey Gras- s, 40,. "5;
Old Ditto Ditto -s. 40s. 60s. Linseed, for feeding 465, .t2s 55A
New White Clover oos. SOL 90s. Ditto, for sewing -3, r,s;. 63,
Old Ditto Ditto -s. 453. 603. Ditto, for crushing--; 435. 50;,
New Trefoil 2oi. 233. 303. Canary -s. 900. phi,
Old Ditto -s.'Sst 225. Hemp 3Bs-s• . 423.
Trefolium 10s. I Is. 13s. Per 13iishel.
English Carraway -s. 435. 465. White Mustard...lls. c•-1. 153, cd
Foreign Ditto -s. 403.445. Brown Ditto lbs. Od, 223. cci
Coriander . -s. 13s. '2ls. Tares 4s. Bd. Ss. co
Rapeseed, English 6ne (per L3Bt) 361. 381, Foreign 311. 3(1,
PRICES OF POTATOES AT SPITALFIELDS.
York Reds (from vessel) 4/. 10s. to 51 Os. per toi..
Scotch Reds ditto 4l. ss. to 4/. 15s ditto
Kidneys 1/. les. to 5/. Os.Alitta
Shawl 2(. 15s. to 31. sa. ditto
PRICES OF HOPS.-March 25.
Farnham Pockets (per cwt.) 6! es. 71. 15s. to 91. ss,
East Kent Pockets.
Ditto Bags 4l. 4e. 5/ 101. to 7i. 10,
Mid Kent Pockets 3/. 15s. Si. ss. to 81 8-
Ditto Bags 3l. 103. V. 103 to 7:. a
Sussex
Yearlings 2l. les. Si. 38. to 4/, 4,,
.
Old Olds
COAL MARKET.-March 25.

8.
d.,
s. d
Adairs l9 0I Walls End Barrett ............ 21 0
South Hartley 2O 6 Wars End Cragwood . ...... 20 0
Tanfied Moor Butes 22 61 Walls EndEClarenee Tees... 1) 6
Tanfield Moor 2l 3 Walls Earl Preston 2O 0
Wylam 22 6 Walls End Seymour Tees... 20 6
Walls End Hilda 2O 61Walis End South Durham.. '..0 6
Walls End Hotspur
Wall, End Walker l9 9 Walls End West iletton..., 20 3
Walls End Belmont' 22 0 Blythe'
17 0
Walls Endßraddyll'sHetton 23 3 Elsicai' l9 6
Walls End Stewart's 23 9 Hartley „
Walls Vnd 'lVlntwell 2l 0 Llangennech Coal 27 6
Walls End Hartlepool 24 6 Victoria Main . lB 0
Walls End Adelaide 22 3 Walls End Devonshire 2O 6
Walls End Barrington Tees 20 0 Wal s End Henderson 2O 6
Ships arrived since last market day, 159.

SPORTING MATTERS.—In addition to authen-
tic records of the Hampton, Warwick, Croxton Park,
Bedford, and Stourbridge Races, Bell's Life in London,
March 24, contained particulars of the Leamington, Not-
tingham, Scott Cup, York, Maidstone, Melton Mowbray,
Burton-on-Trent, Decoles, Aylesbury, Chatham Garrison,
&stall, Bedford, Fakenham, and South Devon Steeple
Chases. The price of Bell's Life in London is Fivepenc,N.

LITERARY NOVELTIES FOR EASTER.—An
abundant stock of literary entertainment is announced fur
the Easter recess. Several new works of interest are to
appear in the course of the present week. Mr. Colburn
has just ready Captain Marryat's new naval story, !"I'lle
Phantom Ship"—an historical romance, entitled " Toe
Banished," edited by James Morier, Esq.—a " Life of
M. G. Lewis," the celebrated Author of " The Monk,"
' with numerous extracts from his unpublished writings--a
new work of fiction, called " The Highland Inn"—and the
recently discovered " Diary of the liev. J. Ward, vicar
of Stratford-upon-Avon," containing the interesting notices
,
' of Shakspearc, of which our readers have doubtless heard.
The narrative of the Voyages of her Majesty's ships Bcagb
and Adventure, under the command of Captains King and
Fitzroy, is also, we understand, nearly ready for publica-
tion. This important work Still be comprised in three
largo volumes Bvo., beautifully illustrated with engravings, ~
maps, &c., by Landseer and other eminent artists. The
third volume is from the pen of Mr. Darwin, the Naturalist
to the Expedition.
TILE FERGUSONS.—This new novel, which is
said to be written by a member of a family already highly
e r-
distingished both in the political and literary world, OTF ,g
as
another example of the " Romance of Real Life,"
hibited in the highest grades of English and Foreign el
so-
ciety. The scenes and characters of English life exiiib,,tatruth of delineation which cannot fail to provaeirthoef
roroiatatoone
of the author ; while the mysterious history and adventures
of a beautiful Italian lady are so blended with the careerTurielse.
of
caotrio of
the other leading characters as to give an
and dramatic interest to the whole story.
LADY LYTTON BULWER'S NOVELn;
moreor sudden demraal
very peculiar circumstances attending the pmubal
a. 4
greaterC h cve
al enyd, the
pLraedsys
inßguli :e leave' s nco:e- ealteodf
ncur," together with the threatened interference f Ho.
or sup-
for the work than can be remembered to have
occurred for
any former work of fiction. But this may
measure arise from the seeming neeessa • in a great
yof p oeuri r •
book immediately on its publication, whichng the
take place next Thursday, the 28th instant' Rill positively
Yesterday morning a communication
from the Lord Chamberlain, prohibiting Was received
per-
formances at the Minor Theatre, C the amateur
during Passion Week. Catherine-street Strand,
FIRE ON A RAILWAY. 0
luggage train was proceeding f n Saturday, as a
Man-
chester, some bags of cotton from Liverpool to ignited, from what cause we
have not heard, and between forty and fifty were de-
stroyed before the fire could be extinguished.--Manchester
Chronicle.