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stantly plunging the people into all the miseries of famine; and of aggravating tenfold the distresses they now laboured under.

The motion was negatived.

Second Report from the Lords' Com mittees on the Dearth of Provisions.] Dec. 15. Earl Camden presented the fol lowing Report:

SECOND REPORT FROM THE LORDS' COMMITTERS

ON THE DEARTH OF PROVISIONS:

Ordered to report, That the Lords' Committees have, since their first report to your lordships, proceeded with all the diligence in their power to investigate the several matters referred to them by the House. They have thought, in an inquiry so interesting and important as that which was referred to them, that it became them to endeavour to inform themselves upon the subjects connected with it, both extensively and in detail; and alfined their inquiries to the actual state of the though they have hitherto principally con

power of fixing, after hearing the necessary evidence, a price upon corn, and upon agricultural labour. Much stress had been laid upon the opinions delivered on this important subject by Dr. Adam Smith. He was acquainted with that excellent man; and he was convinced that, were that great philosopher now to rise from his grave, he would be ashamed to find his authority quoted in support of practices which were unknown in his day. He did not complain of the opinions of others, whose information was derived from sources very different from his. He had full demonstration, that there was little other scarcity than what had arisen from factitious means. Within these few months, there had been no less than 400 convictions for forestalling, regrating, and monopolizing. Let the House advert for a moment to what was the effect of this. At the time that a man of the name of Rusby was convicted, oats were so high as 52s. the quarter; but such was the im-harvest of this year, the stock of old corn in pression made by that verdict, that the price fell from day to day, till it came down to 17s. 6d. It had, no doubt, risen since; but there was reason to suppose the rise was occasioned by the impression made by that verdict having worn off in a considerable degree. The noble earl then moved, "That from the 10th of this instant December, to the 10th of June, 1801, the magistrates of every county of the kingdom shall be authorized, upon such evidence as may be given before them, to affix a certain determinate price, not only on corn, but upon agricultural labour."

Lord Grenville said, his noble friend must be aware, that this subject had already been twice discussed in that House, when it was almost unanimously condemned; and he did not think it any great proof of his noble friend's discretion to bring it forward again in the shape of a motion, which, if refused, would be likely to do considerable mischief. After what he had said on a former day, and knowing (as he did), the general sentiments of every person with whom he had bad any communication on the subject of a maximum, he would not trouble the House with any other argument upon it. Every man belonging to his majesty's councils had turned the subject in his mind long before the meeting of parliament; and the result of their deliberation was, that if a maximum should ever be adopted, it would have the effect of in

hand, the probability of importation, and the means of procuring substitutes, as well as of introducing them into more general use, they have also endeavoured to inform themselves upon other matters connected with a still more extensive view of this most important subject.

Lords' Committees think it their duty to call PART FIRST. Deficiency of Crop, &c.-The the attention of the House, in the first place, to the actual state of the late harvest. The report of the Committee of the House of Commons, referred to them by this House, and the various papers and documents which have been laid before them, contained much important information on this part of the subject; but the Lords' Committees were farther the correctness of those statements. They desirous of ascertaining still more particularly have, therefore, endeavoured to procure from respectable and well-informed persons in different counties of this kingdom (where it was possible for them, within a reasonable time, to attend the committee), the most exact reports upon the subjects above alluded to; and where it has been impossible to obtain this larly in the case of some parts both of Scotinformation by personal attendance (particuland and of Wales, and the more remote districts of England), they have received, from those best capable of affording it, the most detailed and precise communications in writing; which deviation from the usual practice of this House and its committees, they trust your lordships (under the particular cir cumstances of the case) will not disapprove.

to inform themselves of the amount of an The Lords' Committees endeavoured, first, average crop in ordinary years throughout the kingdom, in the different sorts of grain; they

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then proceeded to inquire respecting the actual crop of the last harvest, as compared with an average crop, and also respecting the stock of old corn in hand at the beginning of harvest, as compared with the usual stock; and likewise as to the result of such experiments as have been made with respect to the yield of flour from grain, and of grain from straw, since the last harvest. The result for each county of the actual information so received has been, under their direction, reduced into tables, and is subjoined to this report in the Appendix (No. I.). It may be material to observe, that the variations which will frequently be found in the accounts from the same county, are to be explained by the following circumstance:-That the persons from whom the information is derived, often speak to different districts of the same county, which differ much from each other both in soil and produce.

The reports which have been laid before your Committee from the receivers-general of the land-tax, from officers employed under the boards of taxes, stamps, and excise, together with the returns which have been received in consequence of the circular letters of the bishops of the different dioceses to their clergy, appear fully to justify the conclusion stated in the report of the committee of the House of Commons, that the crop of wheat of the last year was deficient by one-fourth of the average produce.

It is difficult to state, with precision, any average deficiency for the whole kingdom, as collected from those local informations, as to particular districts, which have been furnished by the persons who have been summoned to attend. Your Lordships' Committee, on the fullest consideration of the subject, are confident, that the deficiency of the wheat of the last harvest amounted to, at least, onefourth; and the committee are inclined to believe, that it may have been greater, as it has been almost universally stated to them, that although the yield of the flour from grain, harvested before the rains, has been, for the most part, abundant; yet, that great quantities of corn were damaged by the rains, and, in consequence thereof, furnished a deficient return of flour; and that, on the other hand, the yield of grain from straw has been generally deficient. They have the satisfaction, however, of being able to inform your lord ships, that the crops of barley may, upon the whole, be considered as approaching nearer to an average crop-and the crop of oats as equal, on the whole, to an average; but it is necessary to state, that in many parts of the kingdom these crops have also been much damaged by the rains; although in others they have been well harvested, and the flour from the barley of the present year so harvested, is stated to be of the finest quality ever remembered.

The committee have likewise the satisfaction to add, that the crops of peas are in geП

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neral good, and also those of potatoes, al ̃ though inferior in produce by the acre to the crops of former years; and although the quality of that root is less nutritious, from its having sprouted in consequence of the rain suc ceeding the hot weather, yet, from the additional number of acres planted, the Lords' Committees think themselves justified in stating the whole quantity produced not to be much less than the usual average; but they think it necessary to subjoin, that it has been found, from the above cause, that the potatoes of this year are more liable than usual to spoil in the keeping.

The committee think it proper to make some observations relating to Scotland in particular, and are happy to observe, the grain which is principally deficient in England, is not that which is most necessary for the support of the labouring classes in Scotland. The result of the information received represents the western side (for every part of Scotland, from its narrowness, speaking generally, may be considered as belonging to the eastern or western division of the island) as having had nearly an average crop of all sorts of grain; but the eastern side, from England to Edinburgh, has not produced more than two-thirds of the ordinary quantity of wheat, or more than three-fourths of oats and barley. From Edinburgh to Caithness inclusive, notwithstanding the productiveness of that country this season, the committee cannot estimate the crops of wheat, oats, and barley, at more than two-thirds of a usual produce, though the last-mentioned grain must be understood as rather more productive than oats north from Dundee. The committee, in summing up what they think it necessary to state concerning Scotland, are sorry to observe, that, taking the whole of the country, the crops of hay and straw must be considered as greatly defective.

The Lords' Committees have been informed, with scarcely an exception, that the stock of old corn was very nearly exhausted at the period of the late harvest, and, instead of the usual stock in the possession of the farmers, millers, and bakers at the time, which is almost universally stated to be from two to three months consumption, and even sometimes more, they have been invariably informed, that the stock of this year was not in any place more than the consumption of about three weeks, and that many parts of the kingdom were at that period wholly supplied with foreign grain.

Importation.-The Lords' Committees think it right to observe, that the importation of the last year was the most considerable which has ever taken place; and as this part of the subject is extremely important for the consideration of parliament, particularly with a view to such general and permanent measures as may be necessary to be adopted, in order to prevent, as far as possible, the recurrence of the present difficulties, the Lords' Commit

tees have thought it their duty to state more, particularly the result of the accounts which your lordships have referred to them: from these it appears, that the quantity of corn imported in preceding years, and in the last year, was as follows:

Wheat and Wheat Flour.-From 1697 to 1766, both inclusive (a period of 70 years), the annual excess of export, on the average, from England and Scotland, amounted to 210,231 quarters. In 1767 there began to be an excess of import, amounting (on an average for 18 years, from 1767 to 1784, both inclusive,) to 91,825 quarters per annum. From 1785 to 1789, both inclusive (on an average of five years), the excess of export amounted to 198,641 quarters per annum. Since that period (with the exception of the year 1792, when there was an excess of export amounting to 278,019 quarters), there had uniformly been an excess of import, which, on an average of five years, from 1790 to 1794, both inclusive, amounted to 182,021 quarters per annum. From 1795 to 1799 (on average of ditto) to 469,966 quarters per annum. And for 12 months, from 26th September, 1799, to 27th September, 1800, there have been imported, into England, 1,032,121 quarters; into Scot land, 114,615 quarters.

tember, 1800, there have been imported, into England, 291,950 cwt. 6 lbs.; during the same period, into Scotland, 8,743 cwt. 2 qrs.

Indian Corn.-In 1795, 7,000 quarters of Indian corn were imported at London, of which only 2,100 quarters could be retailed among the millers that year by way of trial, at the average price of 50 shillings per quarter. In 1796, between three and four hun. dred quarters were sold among the millers, at the average price of 45 shillings. In 1797, about 1,400 quarters sold at 28 shillings per quarter, of which about 1,200 sold for re-exportation, there being no demand for it in this country. Within twelve months, from the 26th of September, 1799, to the 27th September, 1800, there have been imported, into England, 3,506 qrs. 1 bushel; into Scotland, 2,372 qrs.

Every degree of encouragement has this year been held out, not only for the import of grain, but of rice and of Indian corn; and from the steps already taken, and the active speculations of the British merchants, which ought to be peculiarly encouraged at the present moment, there is reason to expect a considerable importation. The circumstances of those countries from which the supply is usually drawn, may however create some difBarley. The excess of export for seventy ficulty in this respect, especially as your comyears, from 1697 to 1766 (both inclusive), mittee is informed that the prices of all grain amounted on an average to 252,031 quarters are now unusually high in the north of Euper annum. During eight years, from 1767 rope. The crops in America have however to 1774 (both inclusive), the excess of import been abundant; and the committee are inamounted, on an average of those years, to formed, that a considerable supply of flour 5,584 quarters per annum. There was an ex-may be expected from thence as early as Fecess of export for fifteen subsequent years, bruary next. amounting on an average (from 1775 to 1789, both inclusive,) to 96,336 quarters per annum. For the ten subsequent years, from 1790 to 1799 (both inclusive), there was an excess of import, amounting, on an average of those years, to 50,153 quarters per annum. For twelve months, from 26th of September, 1799, to 27th September, 1800, there have been imported, into England, 61,034 quarters; into Scotland, 6,954 quarters.

The Lords' Committees, in order to bring under one view the whole of the measures which have already been adopted on this subject, or which are still in their progress, have thought it right to subjoin to this part of their report, the following list of bills actually passed, or now in course of passing, since the commencement of the present session, together with a statement of the objects to which those bills have been directed; and they have Oats. Since the year 1750 there has been added to this statement a copy of the informaannually an excess of import, which has gra- tion received from the chairman of the court dually increased. On an average of five years, of directors of the East-India company, as to from 1795 to 1799, both inclusive, the excess the steps taken by that court to encourage the of import amounted to 618,643 quarters per importation of rice. But your committee annum. For twelve months, from the 26th think it necessary to report to your lordships of September, 1799, to the 27th September, their decided opinion, that although consider1800, there have been imported, into Eng-able assistance may, as they trust, be derived land, 446,712 quarters; into Scotland, 32,608 quarters.

Rice. Within twelve months, from the 26th of September, 1799, to the 27th of Sep

TITLE.

from these measures, the only safe and effectual reliance, under this visitation of Providence, must be on economy of consumption.

LIST OF BILLS, AND THEIR OBJECT.

An Act to prohibit, until the 1st day of November, 1801, the exportation of rice; and to indemnify all persons who have been concerned in preventing the exportation thereof, or in the non-performance of any contracts

OBJECT.

To retain and preserve within the kingdom, for the use of the public, the quantity of rice already imported, or which may be imported between this time and the month of November, 1801; the same being found a most use

and agreements that shall not have been performed in consequence thereof.

An Act to authorize his majesty, from time to time, to prohibit the exportation of provisions or food.

An Act for suspending, until the 20th day of August, 1801, the duties on hops imported, and for charging other duties in lieu thereof.

An Act to prohibit, until the first day of January, 1802, the use of corn in distilling of spirits, or making of starch.

An Act to permit, until the 1st day of October, 1801, the importation of herrings and other fish, the produce of the fishery carried on in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and on the coast of Labrador, into this kingdom, without payment of duty.

An Act for continuing until the expiration of forty days after the commencement of the first session of parliament that shall be begun and holden after the 1st day of September, 1801, several laws relating to the prohibiting the exportation, and permitting the importa tion, of corn and other articles of provision. without payment of duty; to the allowing the use of sugar in the brewing of beer; to the reducing the duties upon spirits distilled from melasses and sugar; and to the prohibiting the making of low wines or spirits from wheat, and certain other articles, in that part of Great Britain called Scotland.

An Act for granting bounties on the importation of wheat, barley, rye, oats, peas, beans, and Indian corn; and of barley, rye, oat, and Indian meal, and wheaten flour and

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ful, wholesome, and nutritious substitute for bread when eaten separately, and making a considerable saving in the consumption of the flour of wheat, or other grain, when mixed with it and made into bread.

To retain and preserve within the kingdom the whole stock of every other article of provision or victual whatsoever, as well as of corn, that can be used for the food of man, in order that, by a more general recourse being had to the former as substitutes, the deficiency of the latter may be the less sensibly felt.

As the law stood before this act, in order to encourage the growth of hops in this country, the duty on importation amounted to a prohibition. To supply the deficiency of the present crop, the above high duties are suspended, and an encouragement given to the importation of hops, by a trifling duty only imposed.

It has been thought right, that even two such important branches of trade as those to which this bill relates, and which in a time of plenty are of considerable use in increasing the consumption of corn, to the manifest advantage and profit of the grower, should, for the sake of the poor under the present scarcity, be wholly prohibited from the use, even of so necessary an article of their respective manufactures; it being the wish of parliament not only to prevent any unnecessary consumption, but to sacrifice every less consideration to the obtaining an adequate supply of corn under the existing circumstances.

To encourage the importation of this useful article of food, and by the introduction of it as a substitute for bread in the present scarcity, to accustom the poor to that variety of food, which by degrees may lessen the value they at present set on the article of bread, from the mere but natural prejudice of habit.

The general object of both these acts is to prevent any article of food from being carried out of the kingdom, and by encouraging the importation of every sort of provision, so to increase the general stock, as to remove all apprehensions of the bad effects of scarcity, beyond the necessary consequence attendant upon every scarcity, namely, an addition to the price of the particular article; at the same time, in consequence of the supply to be expected from the encouragement held out, there is good ground to hope for a reasonable reduction, even in the price of corn. The allowing of the use of sugar, &c. in brewing, the lessening the duties on spirits made from melasses, and prohibiting the distillation of low wines from corn, in Scotland, have one common object, namely, the appropriation and setting apart of all the corn at present in the country, or that may be imported into it, for the single article of bread.

the House of Commons, that his majesty would be to issue a proclamation, and requiring the utmost

humbly requesting graciously pleased strictly enjoining economy in the

consumption of all articles of grain. The Lords' Committees can entertain no doubt of the disposition of their fellow subjects to concur in carrying into the fullest effect the solemn call which his majesty has, in consequence thereof, been pleased to make on all classes of the community. But they take the liberty to repeat to your lordships their decided opinion, that this can only be done by the adoption of detailed measures for the purpose, grounded on a deliberate conviction of that necessity, the existence of which has, on the fullest investigation, been clearly proved to the committees of both Houses of parliament.

With a view to bring more particularly before your lordships the consideration of the different resources to which recourse may be had on this occasion, to economize the consumption of wheat, the Lords' Committees have entered very extensively into this branch of the subject referred to them. The most natural and obvious substitutes for wheat are the other grains of the growth of this kingdom, barley, oats, and rye. With respect to these, the Lords' Committees have been informed, that a much larger proportion than is perhaps generally understood, of the northern parts of England, has always continued in the habit of consuming oaten bread, and that in the midland and western counties, barley enters largely into the food of the labouring classes: and they trust that these facts, strongly urged and impressed upon the public mind, will tend to remove an ill-founded prejudice which your Committee are informed still exists in this metropolis, and in its neighbourhood, against the use of any other bread than that made from the finest wheaten flour. The Lords' Committees have found, that, in most parts of the kingdom where the inhabitants had formerly been accustomed to the use of bread made with a mixture of barley, or with barley alone, and where, within a few years, that diet had been partially changed for wheaten bread, recourse had almost universally been had to their former food; and that, in some parts of this kingdom, where mixed bread had not before been brought into general use, this mode (which your Committee, conceive to be far the best) of economizing wheat, has recently been adopted.

Barley The testimonies of all the persons from the different counties, who have been examined on this point, are uniformly in favour of barley, as the most nourishing and cheapest article of food, whether as an entire substitute for the use of wheaten bread, or in mixtures with wheaten or other flour.

It is stated to your Committee, that in a considerable part of Devonshire little else is used among the poorer classes than bread made entirely of barley; that in ordinary years one eighth part of the consumption of the county of Dorset is in barley, and that this year it has been one-fourth; that on the

hills, in Gloucestershire, it has been used with wheat, in the proportion of one-half, and in the vale part of the same county, in that of one-third. That in some parishes of Nottinghamshire the subsistence of the poorer classes has been confined to barley alone; that in many parts of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire, and other of the midland counties, they use bread made entirely of barley; that the use of mixed bread has be come general in parts of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire; that in Lincolnshire the poorer classes who (within the memory of the person from whom this testimony was receiv ed) had exchanged the use of barley bread for wheaten, returned last year to barley bread; that in Yorkshire and Lancashire the use of it has been much extended; and that in Scotland a considerable quantity of barley meal was substituted for oats during the last season, and has given satisfaction.

The information thus received of the great increase of the use of this grain is the more satisfactory to the Committee, from the cir cumstance of the knowledge they had already acquired of the superior quality of the flour produced from it in the present year; and the increased demand appears to them to afford a sufficient reason for the high price of this article, notwithstanding the crop has been proportionably much more productive than that of wheat.

That an article now of such general use is in no degree prejudicial to health, it is hardly necessary to state. But lest any doubt should be entertained on this subject by those who have not been in the habit of seeing its effects, the Committee think it right to mention, that on, information respecting places where it has been used exclusively through the whole year, it appears in evidence, that the inhabitants have been at least as healthy as with the use of any other food; and the committee are informed, that one, of the best proportions in which it can be mixed with wheat, where it is not used alone is one half barley to a like quantity of wheat.

Oats. With respect to oats, the crop of which, in England, appears to have been equal to an average crop, the committee find, that the consumption of this article which, is used almost universally in Scotland, and in some of the bordering counties of England, has also been considerably extended in Lancashire and in other parts of the kingdom; and as no race of men is more hardy than that of the inhabitants of those counties where this article is the general food, the Committee think, that it must be considered as a valuable substitute for wheat in those parts of the kingdom where it is not yet brought into general use. It may be ground in equal proportions with wheat or with barley; and either of these mixtures will, as the Committee are informed, make a palatable and nutritious bread.

Rye Rye is an article less generally con

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