The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-04-23
The High Price OF Bread, and the Finances
In France.

From the Paris National, March l21
At this moment 1t would be useless to disssmbe the
gravity Of the state of the country The has be-
come general and more than two months must elapss
before any reduction in the prices Of corn can restore
activity TO business or security to its dealings On
every side the rise continues 20 progressively
different regions this was from If zoe to 0f &C. Being
upon the average 81 SEC, than double the In
crease rrc OF from December to January The average
tore Since the beginning Of March this rise has been
universal throughout France In the circle Of Paris,
during the first week wheats have reached from Az to
43f in the Nord from 3sf to All in Normandy from ssf
to 40 in the West from 32f to a6f in the Centre from
40f to III In the East, in Alsace Franche- Comte,
Champagne, and Lorraine it is still worse In the vos-
gcs at Raon Etape wheat has been sold at 4sf SOC the
and there II cannot last. At Dion there have been no
variations Of prices Since that period the Of the
sold at l07fto 1857 the 1877 kogrammes from Satur
day to Monday between 81 and A. and on Wednes
day the dealers demanded from ll6f to ll7f Certain
choice marks held to from lsf to 1907 tho
1877 kiogrammes; thus the rate for the assze tho
10th was 67f27c, which makes bread to 67c the
kilogramme or nearly II loo the kilogrammes Alb
loaf being four centmes higher than for the present
fortnight. Out Of Paris, but at our very gates,
In Champagne for instance the price Of -four from
l20f to l22f the l57 kiogrammes. In the Allier at
tho last market OF Montlucon, rye was quoted at
AT the hecolitre and wheat at 49f 5Of And thss
the case in all other parts What should most par
tculary occupy our attention is the fact that
no longer rely upon produce for the general
suppiy Our harvest of isa6 is consumed and Il there
be any at all they in very small quantities
purchased by individuals mt the beginning Of the winter
for their personal Private granaries are OK
hausted and the dealers have but foreign
countries As We have often observed the nature Of
things will permit us to hope that the arrivals will
be sufficiently numerous and the wheats imported
siderable enough put once stop to the rise and
then fall before the middle perhaps tho end
Of June. Two days ago bargains made at Hsvre
for the delivery Of American -four, at the period
have mentioned, ut 62f the barrel while in January
the price from 46f to 4sf London follows In the
same progression. In Belgium forestalcd, the
upon them and as long this foreign competition shall
keep up the prices 1t will be impossible to stop the rise
piled, and the Mayor of Havre has just published
an encouraging list Of ships laden with
promises but must not delude ourselves in tho anti
cipation OF their consequences The wants Of France
are unquestionaby very great though they may be
associations alarmed for public order and security
than frightened ut apprchendcd dearth have formed
themselves into mercantile corn companies and mako
purchases at the ports From this it results that the
quantities OF wheat imported though presenting I'M
portant mass disappear they nrc landed and
disseminated throughout the country Hence arise a
natural consequence speculation not being Affected by
the importaons, as II would be If the remained for
time at tho port Of its arrival the prices do give
the demands made In quick succession and the
high price continues This clearly explains why not
withdrawing the numerous arrivals the prices
reduced, probably will be reduced yet In the last
the population is fed the imported brought
dearly than it Is really worth We have profound
conviction that there Is real danger of u dearth-it
has indeed, become impossible but may expect that
the prices will become excessively high. In word the
country will have all the wheat necessary for its
nance but IL Will cost enormously dear Let 1t not bc
| said that IL did not depend upon any to save
France from these sacrifices II the operations which
have been practised within the last one or two
months had been commenced in October or No
vember, should have received before the
shut up by the ice all the we have need Of,
and more, instead Of being embarrassed and dis
tressed in March and April and until June and
then find ourselves in July encountered with superb
bundancc The dealers would have had enough to supply
demands and the prices could not have risen beyond
n certain limit Corn would have been undoubtedly
sold at high price but to the natural Of the
thura Invn h.a,, hat .upts
which creates Fictitious prices, and deceves all fore
sight II the Ministry better informed more sincere
had not kept up too long by imprudent circulars de
cetful security II had taken the initiative in sucl
energetic providcnt minds advised them 4
take the evil would have been considerably aevated
| II is its inexcusabe want of and its Ignorance
| which have brought on the crisis. Nothing re
mains for the country but to bear the consequences
the faults committed by its government May this be a
least profitable lesson to all and when the evil day
have passed may it please Almighty God TO teach y
seek from experience severely taught to take al
due means to prevent their return, which would be
worth than necessarily talking Of repression II Il
legitimate doubt, to take precautions against dis
turbanccs but the first duty Of government In pre-.
vent the causes which provoke them, and sometimes
| give them the semblance Of justification.