for in this country?  Never.  But look to the operation of the law prevailing in the former part of the war; the prices varied from 70s. to 150s. the quarter.  Did we ever hear of foreign corn being sold for 1s. less than what could be got for it in the general markets of this country?  It must be sold by the merchant importer at the very same price as by the farmer.  It is all very fine to say that the price would be exceedingly low, if these laws were abolished, and corn were allowed to be introduced without restriction.  Why, if the price of corn raised in this country were low, the foreigner could not get more for his corn here, than the farmer; but if the price of home grown corn were necessarily high, the introduction of foreign corn would not reduce it.

March 14, 1839.

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Repeal of the Corn Laws will raise the price of Corn.

It is very important to look at this question with reference to the interests of the commerce of the country, and also to consider the effect of the abolition of the corn laws on the price of provisions and on the price of manufactures.  Now, if we discourage agriculture to such a degree that any large body of persons and a great amount of capital come to be withdrawn from it, the price of native produce must rise; there would be so much less produce raised than before, that its price—­the price of the native produce I mean—­must rise.  Now, the price of the corn imported will be the price of the diminished quantity of the home-raised corn.  Would the manufacturing labourer benefit by this?  Would the manufacturer find any advantage in it, when the diminished value of their wages was forcing the labourers to raise the market upon him?  Would the merchant exporter gain anything by the change?  Would it not be found that, in proportion as the manufacturer must pay a larger amount of wages, the prices of his manufactures must be augmented; and therefore the disadvantages of competition with merchants abroad be augmented likewise?

March 14, 1839.

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Foreign Governments would Tax the Export of their Corn.

There is another view of the question which I beseech your lordships to take—­I mean the question of our dependence on foreign produce for a great part of our annual consumption, which would be caused by the abolition of the present law.  On looking over the papers which have been produced on former discussions of this subject, I have seen proofs that in certain countries duties are paid upon the exportation of corn thence hither; and that statements are made by the sovereigns of those countries to this effect:—­“As the corn is wanted by Great Britain, and her subjects can afford to pay the duty, therefore they shall pay it.”  This duty must come out of the pocket of her majesty’s subjects, and be taken into account in the price of the goods of the manufacturers.