AVERAGE PRICES OF CORN.

TO TAE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

Cheltenham, 22d December 1849.

Sin—As there is going to be a strong effort for the reestablishment of " pro- tection," it seems to me that a study of the following figures would show the in- justice of such a proceediog.

An apothecary's business, or an upholsterer's, which could show such figures, would be a profitable one; and why is a farmer not to be expected to have simi- lar prudence?

The average annual price of wheat since 1838 has been as follows— .... 1.

5 years aver- age 8s. a I bushel.

6 years aver- age 61. 9d. a bushel.

The average of the above eleven years is 59s. 2d. the quarter. The average of the first five years is 64s. 7d. the quarter, and of the last six years it is 54s. 8d the quarter. Take the average of 1849 at 42s., and add it to the above eleven years; you still have on the twelve years an average of 57s. 9d. the quarter. I moreover find from my own farming book, (for I have not a table to go to,) that the five years previous to 1838 I had only an average of 51s. the quarter for my wheat; which was very good. Free trade certainly did not produce those prices; mar do I believe it has produced the present ones. The cause of them may surely be found in the immense losses the country has lately sustained from railway

s. cr. s. d.

1838 • • • • 64 7 per quarter .... 8 0 per bushel 1839 •••• 70 8 8 10 1840

66

4

8 3 1841 .... 64

4

8 0 1842

57 8 7

1

1843 .... 50' 1 6 3 1844 .. • • 51 3 6 5 1845 .. • • 52 0 6 6 1846 .... 54 8 6 10 1847 .... 69 9

8

8 1848 .... 50 6 6 9

speculations, commercial failure, and the Irish famine. And the sixteen or seven, teen millions of money now locked up in the Bank are pretty good evidence of this. In conclusion, I would ask, can the farmer be a fair object of pity or help when he has had for twelve years an average price for his wheat of 578. 9d the quarter, and that down to the present time; 56s. to 58s. being an admitted re- munerating price?