The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-04 00:00:00

EVENIN'': EDITION

THE FRENCH CORN-LAWS•

The Moniteur publishes a return of the average
prices of wheat throughout France during thn. last week
of August and the first two weeks of September, from
which it results that it increased during that interval in
twenty-one markets, and underwent a trifling diminu-
tion in only nine. The average prices of wheat during
the second week of last month in the departments of
the first class rated between 22f. 11c., and 27f. 86e.,
per hectolitre ; between 19f. 75c. and 26f. Bc. in those
of the second class ; between 19f. 75c. and 29f. 38c.
in the third ; and between 17f. 80c. and 28f. 27c. in
the departments of the fourth class. The markets in
which the prices were highest were-Lyons, 251. 83c. ;
Bergues, 251. 24c.; Rouen, 26f. lc.: Marseilles,
271. 88c. ; Soissons, 28f. 27c. ; and Paris, 29f. 38c.
In the departments of 1110 et Vilaine, Cotes du Nord,
and Finisterre, in Brittany, the hectolitre only stood
in 171. 80c., 18f. 41c., and 18f. 71c. ; and in the
Charente Inferieure, it sold for 19f. 75c.
The Moniteur also contains an article on the corn
question, in reply to an inquiry by another journal, why
foreign corn, which is abundant at Marseilles, is not
sent to Havre. The lfoniteur says that the Govern-
ment has done all in its power to draw corn to the
markets where the price is higher than in others, and
states that the import duty at Havre is only 25 cen-
times per hectolitre, whereas at Marseilles it is 3f. 25c. If
the importers of corn have not taken advantage of this
encouragement, says the Monitcur, it is because Mar-
seilles is nearer than Havre to Odessa and Naples, and
the Italian entrepots and speculators in corn do not
like distant ports, which are less familiar to them for
this kind of trade. "In ordinary times," adds this
journal, " the prices of corn are much higher in the
markets of the south than in those of the north-west,
but, by an extraordinary anomaly. the contrary is the
ease this year. The rise of price in the markets of the
north of France has been as unexpected as it is excep-
tional, and it has certainly been increased by the exagge-
rated opinion of the injury sustained from the effects
of the storms, with which the country round Paris, was
more particularly visited. The trade could not foresee
this rise of price, and has not yet had time to apply a
remedy. But thanks to the free circulation of corn,
it is finding its way to all those points at which it is
dearest. Cargoes have made their appearance at the
mouth of the Seine from the Loire and the Charente,
and, if these should not suffice, Marseilles will not
fail to scud her stores of foreign corn, which are in ea-
trepot, and may he freely shipped to any port." The
Presse proposes to the Government the granting of
premiums, or a legislative measure to compel fo-
reign vessels to unload their cargoes in the ports of
the north. As to a premium, it already exists in the
reduction of the tariff in these ports, and the increase
of price in the neighbouring markets. As to compul-
sion, it is impossible, and would be dangerous. Free-
dom is the soul of trade. The Courrier Francais
replies to the statement of the Moniteur. It commends
the Ministry for refusing to adopt coercive measures, as
recommen' ed by one of the journals ; but says it is
wrong in attempting to defend the present Corn-laws.
The Courrier agrees with Adam Smith in thinking that
the best way to establish regularity of price and cer-
tainty of supply is to make the corn trade entirely free.