The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-02-08
"fhe value is given in flames.

Every item in this table is full of interest-ss
well to the phiiosophic statesman as to the refec-
Ting nottingham. 1t abounds with instruction of
the most important kind-for it has a genera reIa-
ton to the first principles of political econcmy-
THE SUBSISTENCE AND COMFORT OF MAN. But
there are only parts of the table that are d.
rectiy useful to our present purpose-whch is "a
dissolve the baseless visions about FREEDOM IN
TRADE, in the present state of the world. We are
not called upon to consider what should be--but
must take THINGS AS THEY ARE.
l. The cultivator in France produces money!
vaue OF only 246 francs--say gas a year and
in Britain, of COG francs, or SIl4: and vet the
QUANTITY because of the excessive relative num-
Der OF individual propretors" in France. every
man is supposed TO be the best manager of his ewn
affairs produced by each cultvator, may not have
any important average difference. Here is a strong
exemplifcation of what has been said of price AID
Unlue.
2. Each inhabtant of France consumes of the
products of agriculture, the money-value of I4I
francs, or S26 year and in Britain of 242 francs,
or SIS. These plainly shew that the French live
mach better than the British, or at least well,
though at only little more than half the money
cost, or price, of subsistence in Britain
3. But, and notwithstanding this great difference
in the cost of subsistence, each French manufac-
turer produces annual value of 286 francs er
S53,62. and the British manufacturer produces
only SIG francs, or S59,25.
4. And yet--though the fact is well known that
Clothed
supplied with manufactured articles as the British
the former consumes only the annual money-value
oi43 francs or So, but the other requires the value
of l25 francs, or S23,43. This great difference in
the cost of clothing, &c, more results from The
different habits of the two nations than because of
any essential difference in the cost of commodities
the fashions well as the wants of the two
people not being the same. And besides, the gen.
orally more mild climate of France has very ma.
teral effect on these comparative items.
5. The vast home market which France possesses
is seen in the quantity Of lands cultivated and the
amount of agricultural produce exported as COM
pared with those items in Britain and so much is
the industry of the French people guarded, that
this market may be kept lively--that only SO mil
lions of francs or the value of l-2 millions of
dollars worth OF manufactured articles were i'm
ported in l828--the latest return that we can lust
refer to. +a.--s-
The hectare equal to 2,4736 GA English acres
that is, very nearly J-2 acres in France AZ
there are 127 millions of acres being cultivated
and the gross population 81 millions, it appears
that nearly four acres Of land are in use for avery
ndivdual-but in Britain, the population being %
nillions, and the land in cultivation only 20 mil
ions, there are only % acres for every individual
Fhe cultivation in Britain is more cIose and 20.
ere, and the crops of heavier kinds than those of
i France-the vine covering large tracts in the
AFTER and much being given up 10 gardens and
orchards, sc. The human agricultural power
added TO that OF horses, oxen, asses &C. in France
n
sons-the same in Britain at "a millions The
commercial and manufacturing power of each is
put down at nearly the same-say equal to the Ia
Dor of 4 l-2 millions of men Britain, though of
much smaller population than France, having a
larger proportion of scientific power, which is
considered in the account.
might make many important additions to bear
upon the points aimed at, but fear as well to rem
der this article too long, as to confuse or divert
some of my readers from the great question under
consitle ration-which is this that Briton. the
price of whose subsistence and clothing il SGT
francs. OF S67 year, CANNOT COME INTO compr.
TiTIoN "by free trade" with Frenchman. whose
subsistence and clothing has price of only I89
francs, or S35 year. Whatever .here are of er.
changes between those must be regulated by ayb;
trGy circumstances-such as the use of labor-say-
ing machinery; for manual labor in each. being
equally productive in quantity, the Briton must
work 81 hours, days or weeks, TO obtain as much
OF the necessaries of life, as a Frcnchman will
earn in 35 hours, days or weeks.
Agaln-the average amount of British revenue
Tor several years past, may be stated at about 80
millions of pounds, and the tithes and poor rates
are equal to Is millions more, together 65 900 GOO
pounds, or say 290 millions of dollars-wbich il
equal to per head for every inhabtant of Great
Btitain and Ireland. In France the annual public
revenue, applicable to the same purposes as in
Britain,) has an average of about $50 millions of
frances or l75 millions of dollars-equal to IS I-2
for every inhabitant of France. Thus, while a
British laborer and his family, in all persons
must in some way pay y7S year to his govern
ment, Frenchman, with like family, pays only
S33. Now this difference of payment in itself
would be great profit to French laborers, could
they make free" exchanges with British labor
ers.
Furthcr-though the palue of a bushel of wheat
cannot be greater in Britain than in France it is
indispensable to the preservation of the British
system Of government that its price should be
! FORCED up-dnd hence the obnoxious and op
i preSsipe ldtcs The chief part of the dis
bursements of Britain have determinate money!
! value-the public debt bears certain per ctnt,in
i the salaries and all other regular payments of the
king and royal family, place-me and pensioners
! priests aud soldiers and sailors, &c. &c. are SO
many pounds and shiliings also, is large part
! of the rents of lands, lots and houses. Hence the
| chief products of British industry consumed az
J home must needs be enhanced in price that sucI,
/ ,noaeu-amOunts may be produced. We NAV easily
shew this--a certain tract of land IN England IS
subject to the payment of 100 pounds a year, for
taxes rates, tithes rent. When tcleat is at lOs
bushe, the cutivator makes his payments with
eco bushels, and all else that he has yet TO spare
bears a proportionate high price but the growing
! even of 800 bushels of wheat in a better season.
when the price falls to 5s. ias il necessarily will
because Of an excess quantity in market,) he must
fall short 25 pounds in his payments, and all his
barley. oats, potatoes, &c. will suffer the same
rate Of reduced price. And what is the conse-
quence? Why, the farmer is ruined. A few
years ago, so abundant was the crop of wheat in
Esland, that several cargoes arrived in the United
States, and were sold ut profit, after paying the
charges of freight. &c. with our duty on wheat |;
but the effect of this plenty was terrible to British
cultvators--many tens of thousands Of them wero
sold out, or 5ankrupted, and the jas were literally
crd'nmed with them, so much so that the grand iu-
ries, or other persons having authority in numer-
Gus cases, took It upon themselves TO forbid the
reception OF further inmates, lest they might per-
ish because Of their crowded condition Such
scene of distress as this plenty produced, was
hardly ever before witnessed in England because
OF the failure Of the crops Provisions were plen-
ty-but there was a want of money to buy them.
Britain, then. never can admit Of " free trade"
until she wipes off her national debt and dischars,