The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-31 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

ON THE PRICE OF BREAD.
Mrs. EDITOR,--From my former letter, the
Public may naturally, but erroneously, suppose,
that they- are much worse off now than they were
under the system of Assize, and that, therefore,
a return to that system would be an adequate re-
medy for the evils exposed in my last. I beg,
however, to- state, in reply to such a very natu-
ral conclusion, that the same kind of peculation
(to calf it by that name) was practised under the
System of Assize, as that under which they now
suffer, although the combined exactions of the
miller iipOn the baker and of the baker upon the
Public, never reached that height which they have
latterly attained, yet that an overcharge was
(when we had an assize), constantly practised
in the following manner
It is notorious that not one half of the flour sold in. London is
ercr) bona tide, paid for at the top price quoted ; but whichpay-
meat being the real amount of purchase-money, ought truly
and alone to have been returned for that purpose.—Bakers,
11°Ivever, ilways made the returns so as to suit their own inte-
rests, it'd, instead of less than one half, it was generally found
that 4-sths to 9-10ths were returned at the tip-top 'quoted
price, so that the Magistratei were unavoidably deceived, and
the Public was made to suffer by it, whilst the Baker profited,
241 the;hillerstill more, by their various tricks of discounts,
ecc• ("Tide evidence before the Committee of the House of Corn.
Inc" iz.April, May, :and June 1811) The Public now pays is.
for the Quartern Loaf, and is content, notwithstanding the
Baker is thereby enabled to get clear ten per cent. per month ;
,41111°11gh, previous to this great profit being levied, the Mil-
e— igla extracted from and upon the same commodity his 42 per
ent.
evi.Y two months ; both at simple. interest ! what it
/viluld meticalbeat the year's end, by compound interest, let arith.
all . calculators inform you and the ! During
of re "s
time the poor farmers are perishing want
uneration ; who, if the present price were fairly di-
,t...c,L,,.and justly apportioned and distributed, would pros.-
' ; the public would pay no more for its bread than it
tioQuw,,,,, and thus all parties interested being prosperous and
presumg....would, it is to be hoped, be more contented than at
receipt tven if the farmer were at this moment in the actual
IPt *f. an aver,me of from 78s. to 80s. per quarter, for lus
"'neat which he
t 'would find at once a remunerating and a pro.
tieuait' price for the expellees of cultivation, yet the price of the
" ern loaf need be no higher than it is charged to the consumer
present motrent, so as to afford both the bakers and the
fall w 4
not only an adequate but also an ample profit, as the
formula; will afford convincing PROOF :
tee sack of prime household flour will yield 83 quay- rn laves at s. each -
veduct the Bakelr's charges and expences

s. •d.
83 0
11 '0

Allow for necessary, though ample profit, upon each 72 0
monthly return, full six per cent. -

Would leave as the price the Baker could then afford
to pay for each sack of flour without therice of bread
p
being raised beyond what it now is -

Six bushels of flour are obtained from a quarter of
wheat, which at 13s. .6d. pc.er bushel, as above calcu-
lated, would be
, -
he surplus benefit of the offal, when sold,would, af-
ter deducting all the expellees of manufacture, be as stated - GO •-•

4 6

67 6

81 0

9 4

Th
90 4
I r—us making the miller's net returns about -
"'Pon each quarter of wheat which cost him, say 79 0
Lea,;„...., - ---
-•-% profit for the miller per quarter - 11 4

lit it be always remembered, that these prices would b_e no
.116tber, if the farmer were thus also permitted to participate in
of general welfare, as he would then be receiving an average
gong79„B. Per quarter for his Wheat ; nor would other things be
el.4;l'e they were in propartion, and thereby yield him both
tual-11,_erafion and protecton, which is all he asks. In the ac-
can be to of the markets, however, when prime mealing wheat
ytia, e Purchased at an average of about 60s.—say 61s. 4d. per
the 'ter, the price of bread ought not to exceed 9d. or 94d. for
quartern loaf, at the very outside, after allowing the baker
- Profit
bear of 6 per cent. per month, and the miller a profit of
site,l-I:per cent. per two months, the proof of which is thus
s. 711„
each
sack of flour yields 83 quartern loaves, say at d.
ld•
uct the baker's expences in the whole per sack 11 10

Allow him ' . 52 Ili
6 also a necessary though ample profit of
per cent. upon the returns made once a month 321
Leaves, as the price he could then afford to pay for the
sack of flour (or about 9s. llid. per bushel) - 49 9i
fix bushels, the produce of one quarter of wheat, at
9s. 111 d. is - - 59 9
- - Adthdeto alhires7plus benefit to the miller, from the sale of
Paid after every expence of manufacturing was
.--- - - 9 4

69 1
Deduct the price he paid for the quarter of wheat 61 4
Leaves a net profit to the miller of the sum of - 7 9
pro N"' 7s. 9d. upon 61s. 4d. are about 13 per cent. ; an ample
Mfit ! the returns being made every two months. Therefore,
oVI is the extreme price that ought now, and for some time past,
copyave been paid for the quartern loaf, unless, indeed, the price,
heat were raised by the farmers, in order, in some degree, to
buttheir ruinous losses, which will otherwise soon
tcl2)ge them into an inextricable abyss of ruin and destruction ;
that
4,1(1 such a result may be effectually averted is the sincere
earnest wish of a real friend to his country.—Your'l, &c.
INVESTIGATOR.
London, Oct. 26,1821.

LORD STEW ART. RT.

KING AND CONSTITUTION CLISBi*SUNDERLAND.

IFurther Particulari—frorn " The Durham County. Adver-
tiser" of Friday lest.]
Yesttiday afterrobn, abOut two o'clock, Lord and Lady
Stewart, Sir H. Hardinga, Mr. and Mrs. Littleton, and Miss
Fitzclarence, left DUrbarn flit Sunderland, in two carriagesand
six. They were met near Bishopwearmouth by an immense
concourse of people, who received the illustrious visiters with.
the most enthusfesticacclaniefions ; the hOrses were taken froni
his Lordship's carriage, and he. was drawn triumphantly irno
the town amidst the loudest cheers. When arrived at the
Golden Lion Inn, the street in front of which was literally ren-
dered impassable by the density of the crowd, the Noble .LOrd
alighted, and almost immediately presented himself at a win-
dow on the first floor,_ from which he addresied the assembled
thousands, thanking them for the very flattering reception 'they
had given LAY Stewart, himself and friends. in allusion to a
petition which he had received against the use of machinery. in
the conveyance and shipping of coals,. his Lordship said, he
would gladly join with the other coal-owners on the Wear, in
,4tdopting any plait -which-might be c.onsi.lered beneficial to the
interests and. welfare orSiunierland -and its population. His
Lordship spoke for nearly half an hour. Lady Stewart after-
wards appeared at the slndow,- and paid her respects to the
friends who greeted her.
Between five and six o'clock, Lord Stewart, Sir H. Hardinge,
and Mr. 'Littleton, were introduced to the Members of the King
and Constitution Club, with whbm they had been invited to
dine., At six o'clock, the whole party, consisting of upwards
of 100 gentlemen, sat down to a most elegant dinner, prepared
by Mr. gay. - Thomas Hopper; Esq. of Hendon, tilled the
chair, having on his right 'Lord 'Stewart, Mr. Littleton, Mr.
Robinson, tne Collector .of the Customs, and Mr. Wade, of
Hylton Castle ;. and on his left Sir Henry Hardioge, Mr.
Illowbray, Mr. Reed 'Of Thornhill; and. Mr. Bramwell. The
Vice Presidents at the lower ends of the three tables were, John
Davison, Esq. C. S. Hill, Esq. and J. D. Garthwaite, Esq.
The cloth having been removed, the Chairman Tose, and after
a well merited panegyric on the puhlic and private virtues of
our most excellent Sovereign, end a happy allusion to his
gratifying reception not only in Ireland, but wherever he
has been, propoSed " the 'health of his Majesty George IV.
and long .may he continue to reign over us." The toast was
drank with four times four, and followed by the most raptur-
ous applause.
The national antheib -ofm God save the king" was then sung
in a most beautiful style, by two gentlemen amateurs, members
of the Club, joined ,in grand chorus by the whole -company..
The next toasts in succession were " The Duke of York and
the Army," with nine. " The Duke of Clarence and the
Navy," with-nine. "-The rest of. the Royal Family," with
nine. " The Lords Commissioners, who, under the authority
'of his Majesty, now" Cenduet the affairs of this kingdom,"
with nine. .-•
•
The Chairman then observed-, that. not many years ago, they
had been accustomed to assemble on that day (25th October) to
drink the health of their late revered Sovereign; arid, though
they could no longer celebrate the day
,in that manner, yet he
conceived they might endeavour to honour the memory of so
beloved a monarch, by drinking ,on the anniversary of his ac-
cession, " The immortal memory of King George III." drank
in silence, ;...ending. "Succession in the House- of Bruns-
wick," with nine. " Our glorious Constitution, the pride of
Britons and the admiration of the world," with nine. 4Lord
Liverpool and his Majesty's Ministers," with nine.—LOnd
applause. •
The Cuarnsrme now rose to propose the health of the noble
and illustrious individual whom he had the pleisure to see on
his right hand, and who had come this day to honour the Club
with his presence.. He (the -Chairman) felt gratified, and he
was persuaded that every-Gentleman present -must also feel
gratified, by the cordial and enthusiastic reception his,Lordship
had that day met with. -He would assure the •Meetine;, that
the Noble Lord had himself declared to him, that-he felt par-
ticularly anxious for the welfare of Sunderland. The Chair-
man concluded by proposing " the health Of Lord Stewart,"
with nine. Thunders of applause followed this toast, and
which continued for some minutes.
Lord STEWART, in rising to return thanks, confessed his
powers of speech totally inadequate to express the gratification
lie felt at his reception in doors and out of doors this-day.--
When he saw around him so many of the most respeceable in.
habitants of this great mercantile town, and considered the ho-
nour that had been conferred upon him by the invitation to dine
with them as MeMbers of the King and Constitution Club, he
might feel proud: Ile came amongtt them, twoyeers ago, a
stranger,. being then known to them only.as the husband of the
daughter of their late respected friend Sir H. V. Tempest:-.
They had since had opportunities of knoiving hiM better, and
he considered their reception 'of him to-day-as a testimonial of
the friendly recollection and affection of the town. Their hav-
ing twice elected him to the honourable post of President of
the Exchange Rooms, he considered as another testimonial of
their regard. This Club had been established during his ab-
sence abroad ; he rejoiced in its formation; and he trusted its
principles would . tend to crush the hydra of discord, and the
new hydra of radicalism. He felt satisfied, that alt.parties
would unite in renovating the Constitution,..which.formed the
basis of our happiness as a nation. He was 'anxious to declare,
that as long as he possessed or had the management of any.pro-
perty in this county, he would endeavour to enjoy the friend-
ship of all parties within it. He was an ',enemy to that paper
warfare, which sought to disturb the harmony of our fire-sides.
He considered that we are all children of the same nation ; and
that, when we are not engaged in the struggles of electioneer-
ing, we may litre upon terms of friendship without any sacri-
fice of our principles. He should be glad to see all parties unite
hand and heart, and observe a neighbour-like and gentlemanly
conduct towards each. other. He regretted the existence. in
this county, 11l it Newspaper which tended to destron those
links which should bind society together; and he considered it
somewhat hard, that while enjoying his property here, he could
not take up a copy of that Newspaper which did not calumniate
kiln. He wished his, sentiments upon this subject to go forth
to the county. So long as lie should wield the property which
he possessed in this county, it would be his anxious wish to
unite all parties--Whig or Tory. Party men or placemen
should be equally welcome to his board. Though he said thus
much. he uoulet crouch to no man; and when the time should
arrive when it might be necessary fur him to chew his princi-
ples, and to act up to them, he would ht: found at his post.—
His Lordship concluded by observing, that he had stated thus
much as he had few opportunities of expressing his sentiments
to them. He was no orator, and lie trusted they would receive
what he had Said as the genuine effusion of his heart—(Loud
and long continued applause.)
Some 'oasts followed, and—
The CHAI nsisasr then gave " Lady Stewart and the House of
Wynyard," (with nine, followed by thunders of applause.)
Lord STEWART, in returning thanks, assured the meeting
that Lady Stewart inherits all that attachment and devotion to
the country which distinguished her respected father, and that
she is equally anxious for the welfare and prosperity of the
port of Sunderland.—(Applause.)
• J. DAVISON, Esq. begged to propose a toast, which he had
given a few months ago, in the presence of gentlemen now in
the room, ", The Heir of Wynyard, and long may he live,"
with nine.—(Loud Applause.)
Lord STEWART begged to return thanks on behalf of his son,
till lie was able to do so .himself. He inherited a little of the
coal, and a little of the shamrock, and Iris Lordship trusted he
would be the no less acceptable to those whom he addressed on
that account. •It would be -his study to bring him up in those
principles of loyalty to the King, and obedience to the laws,
which were so essential to the public happiness and welfare.
" Mr. Littleton, and the independent Freeholders of the
county of Stafford," with nine.—(Loud Applause.)
Mr. LITTLETON, in a neat and energetic speech, returned
thanks. He rejoiced in the similarity of sentiment which per-
vaded the counties of Durham and Stafford. It had ever been
his object to promote the interests of the kingdom at large, re-
membering always that our commerce and manufactures are
the very bones and sinews of our country. He would always
be found ready to assist in removing any clogs which might in-
terfere with these or apiculture.

Lord STEwAnT, in proposing the health of the President,-
Vice-President, and Stewards, observed, that there was no
gentleman whose friendship he was more anxious to continue to
possess, than that of the President, Mr. Hopper. The toast
was drank with nine, and loud applause.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and gave " prosperity and
permanency to the King and Constitution Club," with nine.
The CHAntmAN said the next toast might be thought some-
what out of course, but as Sir Henry ?lardinge, one of the
Members of the City of Durham, was present, and a Member
of the Club also, he conceived there would be no impropriety.