THE REVENUE.

ABSTRACT of the Net Produce of the Revenue of Great Britain, in the Years and Quarters ended on the 10th October 1829 and 1830, showing the Increase and Decrease on each head thereof.

IN

FOREIGN CORN MARKETS.

IN consequence of the general anticipation, which has been since realized, that the averages of wheat would so advance, as to reduce the duty to a low point, very extensive orders were transmitted, in the early part of the season, to the various Continental markets; and considerable purchases continued to be made till within the last six weeks, when it became evident that the averages, chiefly from the inferior quality of the new wheats, would again decline, and so occasion a corresponding advance in the rate of duty. The duty having already advanced from 2/8 to 23/8 quarter, the demand abroad, generally, has greatly subsided, but prices have not receded so much as was anticipated, in consequence of the wants of Holland being so great as to require considerable supplies from the Baltic; and by our latest advices there was still a good deal of inquiry for shipment to that country. In consequence of the lateness of the harvest all over the north of Europe, we have not yet received the reports of the result, but we extract the following from the advices we have from time to time received during the last three months.

HAMBURGH.-The complaints from all districts are very great. In some, fears are entertained that not enough of corn will be saved for the consumption of the inhabitants. This may be considered an exaggeration, but that the harvest, up to the present time, namely the 30th September, has been an unexampled bad one for all low countries, is certain. The only good corn we can expect, will probably be from the high lands, and even on such lands, much has been carried in a damp condition; and in Holstein, not above half the harvest has yet been secured.

The supplies of new corn, of any sort, are yet inconsiderable. No wheat

has yet appeared, and only one sample of barley, and one of oats, both of which are inferior. No fresh supplies of old wheat have been received. The late supplies have generally been taken to granary. The demand for consumption is steady. Rye continues in good demand, and supplies are expected from England. Barley is very little inquired after, while oats meet a ready sale for consumption.

COPENHAGEN And the Danish ISLANDS. Our prospects for crops are generally very bad. Only the small farmers have yet got in their corn, which is inferior and damp. The larger farmers have much to do; indeed as yet they have got very little cut. Much damage has been done in all the surrounding provinces, except in a few parts, where less rain has fallen. It is yet too early to say, with any degree of certainty, how prices for new grain may rule, and as to old, there is almost none left.

ROSTOCK. The harvest being now pretty generally finished in this country, we beg to report our opinion of the result, which is founded on personal observation. A correct estimate, however, cannot be formed till the corn is thrashed. The winter crops, in particular, are quite deficient, having suffered, as well by the last severe winter, as by the incessant rains during harvest-time, and may almost be said to be little short of a total failure. The summer crops were very promising before the heavy rains, and some portion of the oats have been housed in fine condition; yet the greater part, as well as barley, has suffered by the inclement season. The wheat is generally estimated not to yield more than one-third of an average quantity; and of this grain, there is certainly not a fourth part, which is not sprouted, shrivelled, or rusty, and generally of indifferent colour and poor weight.

The best samples yet exhibited do not exceed 59 HP bushel, and we dare not calculate on more than 58 fb as an average.

The rye is still shorter in quantity, generally of very inferior and light quality, and probably not sufficient for the consumption of our own country. Pease are mostly sprouted, and carried in damp condition, but in quantity they may yield an average.

Barley will be discoloured-the weight may be 50 @ 51 tb, and as regards quantity, the crop will prove a fair average produce. The same may be said of oats, and as these are partly got in better, they will be of a good average weight, say 34 @ 35 bushel. Of old corn, the granaries are quite cleared, except about 500 lasts of rye, of which the price has advanced considerably, and 32/ free on board & quarter, is now demanded.

It is impossible to say how prices may rule for new wheat, as there are no supplies come to town yet, except a few sacks brought by the peasants, which are eagerly taken by our bakers, and at prices equal to 44/@ 48/ quarter. This year there will be a great difference in the price of good and inferior

corn; probably wheat may rule from 35/ @ 45/ according to quantity: barley 14/@15/, and oats 10/@ 12/: pease 18/ @ 20/

DANTZIG. The weather throughout the season has been generally wet, and only occasionally have we experienced a dry day. Some of our farmers have managed to get in their wheat and oats; but as yet only small quanti ties of the former have been brought to market, which prove of fair quality and weight. As to quantity, there is a full average crop, but there can be no doubt that a good deal is damaged. Of large new pease, none have been yet shown. Some of a small sort have been at market, which brought 18/6 @20/; they were of good colour, and pretty free from black pickles. It is to be hoped that some part of the crop of the large sort have been got in in good condition; but much injury must have been done to this crop also. The new oats that have been exhibited are not of good colour, but some have been secured of good quality. Beans and barley are still in the fields. As to the stock of old wheat, it is very small indeed. It is supposed that there are not above 1000 lasts of all sorts in this place. We have had a lit tle stir for the Dutch markets, and some parcels have been taken off at prices from 40/@52/ as in quality. The few oats that remain are held at 11/ @12/. There is little demand for barley, which is held at 13/6 @ 15/.

Of our new crops, there will be little in a state fit to stand a voyage, but such as will do so will command a much better price, particularly wheat and pease. We shall find it necessary to resort a good deal to kiln-drying.

THE

QUARTERLY

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE.

ON THE NAVIGATION OF THE RHINE.

THE powerful influence which the prosperity of any one great branch of public industry exercises upon all the rest, the intimate relation subsisting between the landed, and all the other interests of the country,-may sometimes induce us to direct attention to other departments of industry than that which is immediately connected with land. But, although the connexion may seem to be indirect, it may not be the less strong. With the commercial interests of the country, those of the landed interests are firmly united; and when we point out a means of promoting the prosperity of the one, we may not the less show how the good of the other may be served.

The unrestrained intercourse of all nations with each other, is the true principle of prosperity to all. The free access of all nations to the British market, is undoubtedly, to our nation, the basis of its commercial prosperity. If the government of any European nation thinks proper to fetter the commercial intercourse of its subjects with this country, by duties of import and export, and by other restraining laws, we can only regret that a short-sighted policy, or an erroneous system of finance, should induce or oblige that government to adopt measures contrary to its real interests. We cannot throw the first stone, for we ourselves are but beginning to shake off this political sin of governments against their subjects. We must trust to the slow

VOL. II. NO. XII.

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and sure progress of enlightened principles of trade; to the slow and sure victory in the market of the general consumption of mankind, which all that is good and cheap must obtain over all that is merely fostered by protective laws and duties. We can only negotiate, and endeavour, by acting ourselves on liberal principles, to induce governments to enter on a system of reciprocal intercourse. But if nations, willing to hold intercourse of mutual advantage with each other, are restrained, not by their own governments, but by the laws and enactments of any third power, we are entitled to examine the rights of that power; and the governments whose subjects are thus prevented from holding beneficial intercourse, neglect their duty if they are slow to interfere. How has our government acted since the memorable epoch of the settlement of the affairs of Europe on their present footing in 1815? This is a great and serious question. The period has been one of unexampled and continued distress to the manufacturing and commercial interests of Great Britain-a period of gloom, cheered only by momentary rays of sunshine. What has our government done to open up the channels of intercourse with the nations of the Continent which are inclined to hold intercourse with us? The history of the intercourse upon those great water-streets of the European people-the Rhine and the Elbe-will, we fear, show that our government cannot hold itself blameless; that great interests at home-the relief of our manufacturing population, by facilitating the intercourse with the consumers of their productions— have been sacrificed to petty foreign interests-to giving a revenue to third powers, derived from duties on that intercourse, and, in effect, on British industry.

The Rhine is the highway, the common road, which connects a great proportion of the civilized world with the people of Great Britain. For many ages, the intercourse of nations up and down this thoroughfare, was a direct and unrestrained intercourse; and, in the sixteenth century, the commercial cities upon the Rhine held a direct and flourishing intercourse with distant countries. When the provinces of Holland belonged to the Spanish monarchy, no sea-duties were levied upon their coasts on ships coming from sea and bound to ports up the Rhine, or coming from ports up the Rhine and bound over sea.