price (particularly in towns where an assize of bread is set) appear high. Merchants and factors of foreign corn may have the same inducement to open the ports and warehouses. Farmers have a pride in the quality of their growth of corn, as proved by the sale, and often give large measure, or make up deficiency of weight by additional quantity. It is also in evidence, that a very general inattention prevails in respect to the use of the legal standard, and that every deviation is an increase upon it.

In regard to the practice of any fraud, with a view to create an influence on the price which each quarterday is to govern the opening and shutting the ports, your Committee have to report, that no instance has been actually proved before them to have succeeded in producing the effect desired; but two or three cases are stated in evidence, in which, according to the opinion of the witnesses, such an attempt has been made.

A great difference of price between the returns from the Corn-Exchange and those in the factors' letters has been shewn to exist in each of the six weeks preceding the 15th November, 1818, wherein it appears sometimes that the letters give an advice of price, whilst the Corn-Exchange return shews a fall, and vice versa, particularly in the last of the six weeks, when a great fall took place in the CornExchange return, but no correspondent depression, according to the fac tor's letters. The average of Kent and Essex is also shewn at the same time to be much at variance with the returns of the Corn-Exchange; the first five of the six weeks were 3s. 4d. above the price of these counties, the sixth week 2s. 2d. below them. From these circumstances the witness thinks that an inference may be drawn, that in these five weeks the Corn-Exchange return was influenced by artificial

means, so as that the ports were kept open that quarter-day by 2d. in spite of a counter effort, which he states to have been made in the last week, which was intended to shut them; in that week a fictitious sale of Scotch wheat, to the extent of 1000 quarters, was made upon the market, at a price of 60s., which was entered in the inspector's returns, and, being much below the average price, had of course an influence in depressing the return price of that week, but not so as to effect the object in view, as the ports did, as above stated, open that quarter-day by 2d.

A very striking instance of fraud is stated also to have been practised at Liverpool, which was not detected till it excited observation on the part of the receiver in London. On that occasion returns were made to the following effect:-2300 qrs. of British wheat, at 50s. per qr., whilst the true average of the market was from 68s. to 70s.; 2000 qrs. of oats, at 18s. per qr., whilst the true average was 23s. to 24s.; 1000 qrs. of beans, at $5s. per qr., whilst the true average was 48s. to 50s. ; 500 qrs. of peas, at 38s. per qr., whilst the true average was 48s. to 51s. The parties by whom these returns were made were understood to be considerable holders of British corn, and were induced to resort to this mode of reducing the general average, to promote the purpose of their speculations, and to render more improbable the ports being opened for the importation of foreign grain. From the careless manner in which the business of the inspector had been conducted, this fraud escaped detection in Liverpool.

But, notwithstanding your Committee have received no proof of frauds beyond what are here stated, they are of opinion that there are some circumstances particularly arising from the mode pursued of computing the

average ruling price, which afford great and obvious facilities to fraud; these facilities exist, too, without violating the letter of the law. They have not been practised hitherto, partly because the extent to which they exist has not been generally known, and partly because in former times the inducement was not so strong as at present; within the last few years more extensive speculations in foreign corn have been carried on than formerly. It is obvious, that whilst the difference is so great between the Continental and the British price of corn as at present, the latter being on an average double the price of the former, every temptation exists to get in a large quantity of foreign corn, and then to shut the ports; and as the importation price is fixed at 80s., which is also supposed to be the lowest price at which it can be grown, the market price will (except at particular periods, and under peculiar circumstances) be within a very few shillings of the import price, and, of course, the approach to the quarter-day is likely to produce a struggle between the parties concerned, according to their respective interests. In the early periods of the corn laws, the import-price was fixed so much above the remunerating market-price, that an occasion for such struggles, and consequent perpetual speculations, could rarely occur; nor was the difference between the British and Continental price at that time so considerable as to excite so much interest as now exists.

In order to explain fully these facilities of fraud, which arise out of the present mode of computing the aggregate average, it is necessary to refer to the paper in the Appendix marked (A), in which the amount of the weekly sales for the year 1819, in each of the twelve districts respectively, is set forth. It will be seen, that the average weekly sales in the

6th district amount only to 359 quarters, 6 bushels; in the 8th, to 324 quarters, 2 bushels; and in the 9th, to 135 quarters, 3 bushels.

These quantities, being so small, are obviously liable to be operated upon to a great extent by purchases made at a trifling sacrifice; and, as each district forms alike a twelfth of the aggregate, three form a fourth; and any undue influence created therein must produce a great alteration upon the price on which the opening or shutting of the ports depend: thus, if the price was advanced 4s. in these three districts, the aggregate would be advanced 1s. ; if 6s., 1.s. 6d., and so in proportion; a great in proportion; a great effect upon the aggregate price must follow thereupon. It is true, that if a more rigid execution of the Act should bring a larger quantity of corn into the returns of these districts, the facility of influence over the price would be diminished in proportion; but still the computation of the averages upon a dividend of the whole quantity into twelve, and three or four of these twelve being comparatively small, great temptations to influence the aggregate price, by operations carried on in those smaller districts, would still exist. To obviate the occurrence of so great an evil, your Committee venture to propose, that the total quantity of corn sold in the 139 towns of the twelve districts should, by the receiver of corn returns, be thrown together and cast up: also the total amount of the money for which the said was sold, and the money divided by the number of quarters; thus dividing once only to find the aggregate average price, instead of extracting it by the complicated calculations before described. The average total of weekly sales in the 139 towns, according to the paper in the Appendix, marked (B), amount, in the six weeks ending 13th May last, to 25,114 quarters.

This quantity, drawn from so many different markets, appears to your Committee to be above the means of any fraudulent influence; and as a more rigid execution of the law will add considerably to the quantity of corn now brought into the returns, the difficulty of fraud will be so much further increased, as in the opinion of your Committee to remove all apprehension of such an occurrence in future.

Your Committee think that a new Act may be necessary to authorize the computation of the aggregate average price in the manner thus proposed. The direction of the Act of the 44th Geo. III. cap. 109, as to the manner of computing the aggregate averages, is not very definite; but one uniform practice has prevailed since that period, which of itself may be supposed to have determined the law, and make a new Act necessary. Your Committee have particularly turned their attention to an examination of the effect that would be produced, as to the opening or shutting of the ports, by adopting the mode proposed of computing the average, instead of that at present in use; as they are sensible, that if the opening of the ports was likely to be retarded thereby, it would be productive of an effect which at present is not in the contemplation of the House. They therefore directed the receiver of corn returns to compute the average price of each of the six weeks ending the 13th May last, in the established mode, and in that proposed, which is accordingly set forth in the paper marked (B) and (C), by which it will be seen that the difference is very trifling, so as rarely in any instance to exceed the fraction of a shilling, and that fraction more frequently higher than lower, according to the mode now practised. Should the proposed mode be adopted, the returns

from the inspectors to the receiver in London may be made exactly in the same form and manner as at present. It will be the business of the receiver, when the returns are all come in, to add the quantities all together, and strike the general aggregate average.

Your Committee are of opinion, that, in order to ensure a due execution of the law, some further enactments and regulations are necessary to be adopted. In the first place, they think that the Board of Trade should be furnished by law with greater means of general superintendence and direction than they at present possess. Secondly, they think it necessary to observe, that the inspectors have not at present an adequate salary for their trouble. The country inspectors are paid 5s. only for each return, and though the magistrates have a power to increase that allowance out of the county-rates, it does not appear to have been done in any instance.

The inspector upon the Corn-Exchange appears to be adequately paid by the proprietors thereof, and the receiver of corn-returns is appointed by the Treasury, and it is presumed he either is or may be sufficiently paid for the due execution of his office, which is certainly an office of great trust and responsibility, and requires the constant attention and utmost vigilance of those employed in it.

Your Committee are also of opinion, that various other regulations might be adopted that would tend to the obtaining of more correct returns.

The inspectors should be furnished with directions and printed forms for making up their books and returns ; the latter have indeed been lately supplied to them by the receiver; their books should be open to inspection, under regulation, to buyers and sellers, so far as relates to their own individual sales or purchases; the average price of each town should be posted

Your Committee having received some intimations of frauds committed under the warehousing provisions of the 55th and the 31st Geo. III., and that foreign corn was taken from under the King's lock and thrown upon the market, proceeded to make some inquiry thereupon, but were not able to discover that any such frauds had been actually committed. They are of opinion, however, that it would be useful to provide a check against such an occurrence, by not only measuring the corn into the warehouses, but occasionally gauging the quanti ties, and measuring them out again, as well when the locks are taken off for home consumption, as for exportation.

It had also been suggested to your Committee, that frauds had been committed by introducing foreign grain into ships taking cargoes coast wise, going out half loaded, and filling up with foreign corn on their voyage; but no evidence has been adduced to establish the existence of such a prac tice. It has also been said that flour has been introduced from the United States of America, through the medium of our colonies; and one witness has stated that a mercantile house at Liverpool offered to supply him through that medium; but your Committee have received no further testimony thereof. They are certainly of opinion that it is highly desirable that the officers of the customs should, under the direction of Government, be ordered vigilantly to guard against any attempt of this nature to defeat the object of the legislature. July 8, 1820.

REPORT

From the Select Committee appointed to consider of the Means of Main

taining and Improving the Foreign Trade of the Country.

The Select Committee appointed to consider of the means of maintain. ing and improving the foreign trade of the country, and to report their opi nions and observations thereupon to the House; and to whom the several petitions relating to the commercial restrictions, and to the duties on timber, presented in the present session, were referred; and who were also empowered to report, from time to time, to the House, have, pursuant to the order of the House, considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed upon the following Report:

It has appeared to your Committee, that the means of attaining the object to which their consideration has been directed by the order of the House, consisted less in affording any addi tional legislative protection or encouragement to the commerce of the united kingdom with foreign states, than in relieving it from a variety of restric tions which the policy of a former period imposed upon it; and which, whe ther expedient or otherwise at the time when they were enacted, having ceased to be necessary for the purposes which originally recommended them, tend to embarrass its operations, and impede its extension and prosperity. Your Committee are satisfied that the skill, enterprize, and capital of British merchants and manufacturers, require only an open and equal field for exertion; and that the most valuable boon that can be conferred on them is, as unli mited a freedom from all interference as may be compatible with what is due to private vested interests that have grown up under the existing syte tem, and those more important considerations with which the safety and political power of the country are intimately connected.

Your Committee have therefore