The Sun.
London, England, 1820-08-07 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

REPORT from the SELECT COMMITTEE on PETITIONS
c‘,mplaining of AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS, &c. Or-
dered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, Bth July,
11;20.

The Select Committee to whom the several Pe-
titions presented to the House upon the sub-
ject of Agricultural Distresses were referred, to
consider the matter thereof, and report their
opinion thereon, and who were, by an Instruc-
tion of the 31st May last, directed to confine
their inquiries "to the mode of ascertaining, re-
turning, and calculating the average Prices .of
Corn in the twelve Maritime Districts, under
the provisions of the existing Corn Laws., and
to' any Ftauds which 'may be committed in
violation: of any of the provisions of the said
Laws—have proceeded to investigate this
branch of the subject matter of those. Petitions,

and have agreed to the following Report :
Your Committee have thought it necessary to
explain, in the first instance, the manner in which
the 'returns of the prices of the several sorts of
British corn (the aggregate price of which go.
verns the importation of foreign corn) are re-
quired to be, taken and computed by the existing
laws, and subsequently to make some observa-
tions thereon, and to suggest some' alterations.
These returns are taken from those parts of Eng-
land more immediately accessible to the sea,
which have been denominated the twelve mari-
time districts ; and the counties comprehended
in which are particularly described by the Act
of the 31st of his late Majesty, cap. 30. These
districts are under that Act totally independent
of each other, the foreign trade in corn being
governed in each by its own distinct price, so
that the ports might be open in one district, and
closed in another : Scotland also was divided
into four districts; the foreign corn trade of each
being governed in the like manner. This system
continued till the year 1804, when it was deter-
mined by' an Act.of that year, that the entire
foreign corn trade of England should be go-
verned by one ruling price, and the aggregate
average price of the twelve maritime, districts
was fixed upon as the basis to form that ruling
price ; it was also enacted, that the entire trade
of Scotland should be governed by the aggregate
average of the four Scotch districts. In the year
1805 it was enacted, that both England and Scot-
land should be gOverned by one ruling. 'price, and
the aggregato average of the twelve maritime
districts of England was then adopted for 'that
purpose. During this period Ireland was consi-
dered in relation to its trade in corn with Great
Britain as a foreign country ; nor was it' till the
year 1806 that the perfect freedom of trade.in
corn /between the two countries was established.
The foreign trade of Ireland, as well, as of Great
Britain is now governed by the same rule.
_ _

The first of these twelve maritime districts
comprises the counties of Essex, Kent, and-Sus-
sex : but the price of that whole district is deter-
mined exclusively by that of the Corn Exchange
in Mark-lane; and in order to ascertain the same,
all corn-factors are required by laW to return to
an inspector, who is appointed by the proprietors
of the.. Corn Exchange, an account in writing
weekly-of the quantities and prices of each and
every sale 'of corn made by them, and the names
of the buyers, and by what measure and weight
sold ; all which accounts the inspector-rimst en-.
te'r in a boOk to be_kept for that purpose. If any
sales are made by measure or weight other than
the Winchester bushel or weight of 571bs. he is
to equalize them abcordingly,, and then cast up
the' total quantity sold in the week, the' total-mo-
neythe same has been sold for, and divide the mo-
ney by the number,of the quarters, and the re-
sult gives the average price for the first district.
This account is . transmitted to the receiver of
corn returns. The inspector gives bond before
the Lord Mayor, and makes oath to the dhe exe-
cution of his office, and is liable to be removed
upon complaint; lie has an office found for him,
and a salary of 2001. per annuin,paid by a duty of
id. per last on British, and 2d per last on Foreign
'corn brought into the Thames eastward of Lon-
don-bridge ; iris, books are not open to public in-
spection, but they are accessible to the receiver
at all times, and to other persons, by order of the
Lord Mayor or two Aldermen. Every corn-
factor is. bound•to make a declaration to return
all sales made by him., with the names of the
hovers,
and by what 'measure and weight sold,
undera
penalty of 501.
Tin: second distridi comprises the towns of Ipswich, Wood-
bridge, Sudbliry, Hadleigh, Stowmarliet, Bury, Beech:s, Dun-
gan Lowestoft, Cambridge, Ely, and Wished).
The 3d district comprises the towns of Norwich, Yarmouth,
Lynn, Thetford,Watton, Wymondham, East Dere hani,Harle-
sion, Holt, Itylesbam, Falienharn, and Walsingbam. .
The ~itlr district. comprises the towns of Lincoln, Gainsbo-
rouglf, Glamford Briggs, Louth, BostO9, Sleafurd, Stamford,
Spalding, York, Bridlington, Bevet ley, HoWden, Hull, Whit-
by, and New 111alton.
The sth district comprises the towns of Durham, Stockton,
Darlington, Sunderland, Barnard Castle, Wolsingilam, Bel-
ford, Hezham, Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnwiclt, and*Berwick.
The 6th district coorprises Carlisle, Whitehaven, Cocker-
mouth, Penrith, Appleby, and Burton.-
The 7th district ComprisCs the towns of Liverpool, Ulrer-
' ston, Lancaster, Preston, Wiizan, Warrington, Manchester,
Bolton, Chester, NantWich, Macclesfield, and Stockport.
The Bth district comprises the towns of Holywrn, Mold,
LienbiOrWrexhatsu, Lla-nrixsti ltuthiu, Deaumutis,

70-n°ll

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ii cli,e o'. •
On Thursday, the 3tl inst., at Ramsgate, in e°l-15,e'J (Lr;-10°
bein.& thrown from his chaise the preceding evel""r;if;;01 .
sioned Ify.his horse tahing fright), John Child, s'lli';131'1)
n,
Elms, second' son of William- Child, Esq, °`
. Or ~,iii'
common, in the 40th year of his age. k. ~..e,,
~..,
On the 2d instant, at his house, in Boureric-s" 1,-,w
plexy, in the tiOth year of his age, James Dobie! .1 •
oratto.:-....,,,1%
citor, 34 years Secretary of the Scottish Corp

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LONDON: Printed 1)y 3. B. CARSTAIRS9•O';',I.I)9 '":',C4
Ormond-street, Queen-square; and publig"-- TO riCill'..
SCRIPPS, of No. 7, South Molton-street, at . 01-,;'.
Office, No. 1 I 2,.Strand ; where Advettisemen, Pi-
. xr,'''
Icaers, &c. (post-Tait!) mutt beAddreiseth‘ . -'-';:'''',

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