Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-10-16


EFFECTS OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS In CAN
ADA OPERATING WITH THE CORN LAWS.
QUEBEC, Sept. 2Oth.-The price of wheat at
New Gork, furnishes datum by which the
effects of those laws In Canada may be ascer-
tanned.
The price at New York, is regulated hv the
demand abroad, there being in the United
States no restrictions on foreign trade, but full
liberty allowed TO carry or send il to the best
existing market, and also to purchase returns
wherever they are found the cheapest
On the 10th instant, the average price OF
Northern Wheat WAS 5s. cd. per bushel, this
currency, or one dollar ten cents.
At the same date, Wheat of about the same
quality, was offered in the district of Montreal
at 2s. cd. or half dollar pei minot, which is
something larger than the bushel, at New
York, and no sales.
Surprising then, the same absence of re-
strictions from the Navigation Laws at Quebec
as at New York, and that the cost of bringing
mnot ofwheat from the district of Montreal
to Quebec, together with any difference OF
quality and increased freight, to a foreign
market were equal to Is. per minot, which
is surely n sufficient allowance, then the oper-
ration of the Navigation Laws and Corn
Laws, united, would be equal 10 a tax on each
bushel of wheat produced in Canada beyond
| of 2s. per mnot.
The average quantity Of wheat exported
from Canada during the last fifteen years,
does not amount to 100000 bushels annually
but the average surplus o.: this grain, beyond
what is required for home consumption, a.
mounted during the last and present years
| probably to 100000 bushels annually or one
million for the year.
This gives an actual loss to Canada, by the
united operation of the Navigation and Corn
Laws, in the article of Wheat alone, OF fifty
thousand pounds, equal to tax of two hum
dred thousand dollars.
| The operation Ofthis tax is, however, more
! injurious to the Colony than taxes TO the same
amount usually are. 1t is tax upon prOduc-
ton which il goes to annihilate, destroying
the value of real property, and taking away
the best security against absolute scarcity
VIZ. the practice of raising for expectation
considerable surplus OF bread stulis.
| In stating the operation of these Acts on thC
| Colony, we mentioned only Wheat, for tn,
facility of illustration :; but their operation
equally extends to all other sorts ofgrain, ant
the evil is still more extensive. II it were {,
continue, it would, in the end, entirely ruii
almost every person in the Colony. It's i'm
possible, however, that it eau continue, ro
such never could have been the intention o
the British Government fGo-eHe.
The latest mercantile letters received az thi
port from England, give a very unfayorabl
account of the shipments OF Timber mad
here last spring. The price Of pine did no
amount to more than the freight and charge,
allowing nothing for Che PRIME cost.
We are informed by persons from differen
parts of the country in this district, that th
injury done TO the harvest by the late rains
less than was expected. A great deal Of graf
{ has been lately got in in good order. Th
first frost tllat was perceptIble this season wa
on the morning of the 18th inst. fIb.