The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-19 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

THOUGHTS on the EXPEDIENCY of a RELAXA-
t TION of the CORN LAWS, as the most EFFECTUAL
REMEDY for AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
This Pamphlet being the production of a
practical man (William Armstrong, Esq. mer-
chant, Newcastle-upon-Tyne), we think it highly
intitled to a perusal by all who devote any atten-
tion to the interesting science of political eco-
nomy ; and particularly so at the present mo-
ment, when there are such conflicting opinions
abroad as to the real cause of the unprecedented
distress which reigns, throughout the agricultural
world. Into a very minute examination of the
reasoning we cannot pretend to enter. We admit,
however, that great ingenuity is shewn in hand-
ling the subject of which the pamphlet professes
to treat. The knowledge and talents of the au-
thor are, in fact, conspicuous in every section of
the work. Various arguments are adduced, and
skilfully adduced, to shew that too great an ex-
tension of tillage, in the United Kingdom, has
taken place of late years. Ireland, alone, it is
now generally admitted, has more than quad-
rupled its growth and export of corn within the
last three or four years. The author observes,
It cannot be doubted that an abundance of corn
must always be considered as an important part
of national wealth ; but national wealth, and

the sum total of individual riches, are not syno-
nymous ; and the question for our consideration
is, not whether an extension of tillage may not
have increased the national wealth; but, whether,
by diminishing the net income from the land, it
may not in reality have inflicted upon our corn
growers nearly the whole of the distress of which
they so bitterly complain ? It seems perfectly
clear that every portion of new land brought
into cultivation must necessarily, from the in-
creased quantity of produce thence introduced
into the markets, have the effect of lowering the
prices of produce in general, and, of course, of
diminishing the net income from the whole of the
lands previously in a state of cultivation. Were
the quantity of Corn raised in Norfolk to be
doubled, but at an expence which the present
prices would barely remunerate, is it not. obvious
that the reduction in prices consequent upon the
sale of such quantity of Corn would operate as a
heavy loss to Agriculturists in every part of the
kingdom ?" As to taxation, the view taken by
the author is in precise coincidence with the sen-
timents expressed in Parliament, both by the Earl
of LITERPOOL and the Marquis of LONDONDERRY.
" With regard to the effect of taxation," ob-
serves the author, "it is sufficient to remark,
that up to the year 1813, capital employed in
farming yielded more than the ordinary rate of
profit ; and that since then the amount of taxa-
tion, particularly as applicable to the landed in-
teeest, has been greatly reduced. The repeal of_
the property-tax alone was a most important re-
lief to both landlord and tenant. The direct
taxes now paid by the tenant form so small a
proportion of his general outgoings, that, if the
whole were taken off, his situation would not be
materially improved." Mr. WEBB HALL'S ex-
traordinary opinions, as detailed before the Agri-
cultural Committee of the House of Commons
last Summer, are handled with no small severity.
Mr. W. HALL, it is well known, considers the
whole of the Agricultural distress as imputable
to the importation of foreign Corn duty-free.----
Yet it is perfectly notorious, that, for a pe-
riod of 20 years, viz. from 1793 to 1813, there
was an annual importation of Wheat alone
amounting to 500,000 quarters, during which
time nothing could exceed the flourishing state
of our agriculture. The author says—" Mr.
WEBB HALL himself admits that, from 1793 to

1813, it flourished in a manner never before ex
perienced ;" but then, in utter disregard of fact,
he has the temerity, or the folly, to assert, " that
during the whole of this period the ports, though
nominally open, were practically and virtually
shut !" 66 Never surely,"—continues the Author,
4C could it have entered into any head, except
that of the luminous Chairman of the Committee
of Petitioners, that an annual importation of
500,000 quarters of foreign Wheat was evidence
of a practical and virtual shutting of the ports! !"
This absurd notion of virtually closed ports is
only equalled by his absurd conception of vir-
tually open ports. In 1796, when, according to
Mr. HALL, the ports became virtually shut, the
quantity of Wheat imported from the Conti-
nent amounted to 820,381 quarters ; and since
1819, a period in which, he says, the ports have
been practically and virtually open, not a single
bushel has come into the home market. Really,
Mr. WEBB HALL has good reason to suspect, as
he himself says, that his understanding is in-
verted, and that he has got the world completely
upside down.'
From what has been stated, the Author insists
that the most irrefragable proof has been ex-
hibited, that even a considerable importation of
foreign Corn is not incompatible with the
flourishing state of our own Agriculture. The
Author further says—" My belief is, that
the landed rental of the Kingdom can only
be advanced again—or were maintained at its
present amount, by a gradual relaxation of our
present Corn Laws, until they shall have assi-
milated with the Corn Laws of 1804 ; under the
operation of which our Agriculture attained its
highest pitch of prosperity. By the Act of
1804, if the average price of Wheat was under
635. a duty was to be paid of 245. 3d. ; if at or
above 635., but under 665., a duty of 2s. 6d.; if
at or above 665. a duty of 6d. per quarter.—Un-
der this Act, the importation price was raised
13s. per quarter above the rate at which it was
fixed in 1791.—Preliminary to the re-adoption of
the Law of 1804, it might be expedient to admit
of the introduction of a limited quantity of fo-
reign Wheat on the average price reaching 70s.
per quarter : such a measure would obviate the
danger of a glut of foreign Corn, and, at the same
time, counteract the ruinous tendency of the re-
gulations now in force."—Having made our ex-
tracts as copiously as we can afford at present, all
we shall further say is, that we heartily recommend
Mr. ARMSTRONG'S Pamphlet to the attention of
the Merchant and the Legislator. The scheme
lately mentioned by the Marquis of LONDON-
• DERRY, in the House of Commons, of admitting

foreign Wheat at an average of 67s . per quarter,
with a protecting duty of 155., is evidently of pro-
pinquity with the measures so forcibly recom-
mended by the able Author of the Pamphlet be-
fore us. And we should always bear in mind
that the value of knowledge is in exact propor-
tion to its practical utility.