The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-08-24 00:00:00

Irm".

.111 r....•••

EVIDENCE TAKEN BY THE AGRICULTURAL
COMMITTEE.

As this evidence extends to upwards of 400 folio
pages, and embraces almost the whole field of political
economy, it is hardly possible. by any abridgment com-
patible with our limits, to convey so adequate idea of it
to our readers. Reprints, however, have been announced
at a moderate expense, and will soon probably be in
readiness for delivery, which will place it within the
reach of all who take an interest in such subjects.
To copy or to abridge the evidence is, as we have
'stated, incompatible with our limits. We shall, how-
ever, from time to time, select particular points from the
mass of subjects, and endeavour to spew what light has
been thrown on them.
FOREIGN CORN.
One of the most important of thihdojects on which
evidence was taken, is the rate at AAA Foreign Corn
can be imported into this country. The notions enter-
tained on this subject by the Agriculturalists, including
many of the most distinguished Members of Parliament,
have been proved to be completely erroneous.
Dr. Smith bad observed, that " the small quantity
of Foreign Corn imported even in times of the greatest
scarcity, may satisfy our farmers that they can have no-
thing to fear from the freest importation." This con-'
elusion, however, it was maintained, had been corn-
pi-tely falsified by experience, and the most extrava-
gant assertions respecting the price at which Corn
could be raised In Foreign Countries, were hazarded
both in and oat of Parliament.
John Christian Curwen, Esq. M. P. stated in evi-
dence before the Committee :
" I should apprehend that the price of grain in Po-
land, from whence the greatest supply comes, is not
snore titan Ms. when sold to the speculator at Dantzic ;
rite price at Odessa much less, and that the speculator in
the first instance gains probably not mach less titan a
hundred per cent. by it, and that the cause of bringing
it to this country in the quantities that have been so
ruinous to it, have been the enormous profits expected
by the importer."
John Milan, Esq. stated, as on the authority of dif.
ferent imports of grain, and particularly a gentleman
living at Lewes. a very large mealtnan and merchant,
who 'hewed him several letters both front Dantzic and
Hamburgh, that—
" White wheats and red wheats to weigh 61 and 62
pounds a bushel after paving the freight, could be de-
livered at Newhaven harbour, near Lewes, at front 32
to 34 shillings a quarter; the freight would be about
four shillings a quarter; that they could buy it at 2Ss.
to 311 s.
Did he state that as the usual average price, or
merely the price at the present moment ? le stated
that it was frequently lower; that he could frequently
pm-chase it at a less price, and I suppose, rice row,
sometimes it would be higher."
Mr. William Stickney. I have an account of the
prices of foreign corn abroad ; at Antwerp wheat may
be obtained from 341. Gd. to 375. 6.1. ; oats, I Is. 3d.
to 12s. 3d. ; at Archangel, wheat from 21s. to 225. ;
from 9s. to 9s. 6d. for oats ; at Koningsberg. from 345.
to 445. for wheat; oats from 12s. to 13s, ; at Memel.
wheat 31s. sd. to 32. rid. ; oats, from 12s. to 12s. 4d.;
at Riga, wheat 225. W. to 395.; oats, I Is. 6.1. to
I 11. 9.1. ; at Leiban, from 30s. iNtetufm itAinat, and
oats I Is. 4.1. • .
" Then there is the freight to heed to that ?
Tel ; hut that would be very trifling from these
near places."
(1. Webb Hall, Esq —" The first thing we venture
to ask is a permanent duty, whatever may be the price,
of .10s. per quarter upon wheat, and we do it on this
principle, that wheat may be imported upon an aver-
:tee of years from 30s. to 355. into the Port of
1,0,olon."

So mach for the information possessed by our
agriculturists respecting the price of foreign corn.
Mr. Tooke, who for many years has been eaten
svely engaged in commerce with Russia, delivered in
accounts of the prices of Wheat at various the ports of
Russia, from 1914 to 1920, and of the cost delivered
in the port of London.
The following, according to Mr. Tooke, are the ate
rag.! prices of Wheat in the various Russian ports:-
From Petersburgh, in 1914, 2/. Is. sd. ; 1915,
I!. 17s. 91.: 1311;,2/. 51.; 1917. 2/. 195.; 1919,
2/. I Is. 6d. ; 191". 1!. 145. 9d. ; 1929. It 10s. 4d.
From Archangel, in 1914,2/. Is.; 1915,1/. 16s. 741.;
Ivl6, V. Is. ; 1917, 2/. 19s. 4J. ; 19.19, V. 6s. Id. ;
1 e 19, 1/. 10s. 7d. ; 1!1•20. 1/. 4s.
From Riga, in 1914, V. 13s. lid. ;
1315,
V. 7s. 10d. ; 1916, 2/. 15s. 7d. ; 1917, 21. 13s. 741. ;
1918, 2/. 19s. Od. ; 1919, 11. 19s. 4d. ; 1920,
1!. 15s. 5(1. _ _ _

The following are the average prices at which
w;'s delivered in the port of London
From Petershurgh, in 1814, 3/. Is. 3.1. ; 1815,
V. 14s. 5d.; 1516, 21. 14s. 7d.; 1517, 3!. Bs. ;
1518, 31. ; 1819, 2/. 4s. 11d. ; 1520, 1/.
19•. Bd.
From Archangel, in ISI i, 3/. 5s 3d. ; 1815.
21. 15s. 6d.; 1816, 21. 1 Is. 5d.; 1817, 31. 91. 7d.:
1818, 21. 19s. 2d.; 1819, 21. 2s. 10d. ; 1820, 1/.
14-. 6d.
From Rigs, in 1514, 3/. 13s. id.; 1815, 3/. 4s.
44. ; 1816. 31. 4s. 11d.; 1817, 41.35. 5d.; 1818, 3!.
94. 9d. ; 1519, 21. 9'. 4il. ; 1820, 21.45. 6d.
F:xclusive of granary rent and tire insurance, and
reclusive of interest of money and of the merchants'
commission when on consignment, and also exclusive
of the liability to damage, and of getting out of con-
dition during the voyage.
At Odessa, what would stand in rather more than
30s. on board, and the charges to this about 16s. per
quarter, exclusive of risk of damages, which are little
less than ss. a quarter. and a variety of charges.
Taking all charges into consideration, wheat could
not be imported at present into London from Odessa
at less than upwards of 50s. a quarter.
With respect to the quality compared with English
wheat, Mr. Tooke observed,
'• The best guide is the difference of price in the
market ; and while the best British white wheat is
quoted at from 61s. to 645. the quotations are from
Archangel 365. and 37e.; Petersbargh, 36s and 395.;
extra, 441.; and bard 465. Riga. 395. to 43.; Cour-
land, 445. These are the prices quoted for what is
free."
We shall aidce the reel of the evidence on this sub-
jest is a raters amber.