Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-27
OPENING OF THE PORTS TO FOREIGN



From Bells WesLly dfessengcr-.Aou. 24.
The event long expected, OF tie opening Of the
Ports for the admission of foreign grain has al
length occurred; and On Friday the averages al
tanned TO such height, that it was announced chat
wheat was admissible for home consumption upon
the payment OF the minimum duty of one shilling
per quarter, barley at three shings & fourpenee,
and oats at seven shiiiings and ninepence.
More than ten years have now elapsed since the
ports were opened unlinitedly, for the importation
OF forPign wheat Since the year 1918, this coun-
try, with very few exceptions, has produced its
own supply, and fed its own population. On two
o. three occasions, indeed the foreign wheat i'm
ported and warehoused, and which was spelling
Under the Kings locks, has been let into consump.
ton upon the payment Of duty. This bounty thus
conferred trade, 10 the injury Of the farmer and
the very small profit Of the consumer, took place
during Mr. Canning5 short Administration, & the
Revenue received nearly half a million rom the
measure. But, according to the general law, the
ports have been shut to wheat since 1917. The a.
yerages never attained eighty shiIlings per quar-
ter, which, until 1872, was the maximum prce;and
therefore the experiment under the new Bill OF
The Marquis Of Londonderry, in the period OF
1922, was never made. We are now, therefore
commencing new era in our corn trade, and To-
reign wheat is at present in the market at the low
duty of one shilling per quarter. This is the
Duke OF Weilington's Bill, and, since 1917, the a.
YeTages have never been so high as they are now
quoted.
Hos far the 1narkets-will be affected BY thes,-
There is every reason to believe that the granaries
OF Eorope have been pretty nearly exhausted by
the cotemporaneous demands for corn, both for
England and France; and prices are, at this pre-
sent moment, so high abroad, more especially in
Dantzic and the Baltic ports, as 10 afford very lit
tie prospect Of remuneration to the importer. But
let ii be remembered, that the corn now let out
for consumption was purchased up in cheap times
The indication Of a failing harvest was sufficiently
obvious in the month Of July, and speculation was
at work In every foreign port in the purchase Of
wheat, from he moment the wet season oommenc.
ed.
Itis, however, worthy Of observation, that the
cbTn market seems 10 have been managed with so
much skill that Government has been defeated in
10 expectations Of revenue. Gambling, indeed, ap.
pears TO have deserted its old position in the Al
ley, to have taken up ils quarters at the Corn Ez.
change; for never, we believe has there been
Known season Of more trick and chicanery than
has lately occurred in the great staple Of ffc.
In considering the question Of the opening Of
the porte, we scarcely know what class Of his Ma
iestys subjects 10 congratulate on this event; and
we very much doubt If any clsss will share in IFS
-nenehts. The farmer, whose crop has been reduc-
Fl and impaired in value by an untayorable sga.
son, will see the foreign importer availng himself
Of those profits which naturally belong 10 himself
-~enhnneed by the profit Of the merchant, who, m
che gsnful trsfic which he has pursued, will nave
ocafly doubled he cost price which he vas paid
10 tho .pofls OF Europe. In other words, wheat
originally brought thirty or thirty fouf sbilEnes
ret cuhTAr, VIII be old il the British market f.
esTe<y-'wo sNi.inge aoi th's, So cr- Tr5esr