Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/186

 "A short time ago I met a miller from near Winchester, who told me the prices which he paid every year for the corn which he purchased before the harvest, and after the harvest, during five years. That statement I beg to read to the house

Thus in these five years there had been a difference of £3 189. a load, or 18s, a quarter, between the price of wheat in July and August, and in October and November in each year, showing, beyond dispute, that the farmer did not sell his corn at the highest, but at the lowest of the mukets."

He reminded the agriculturists that every prediction then uttered with regard to corn had been uttered with regard to wool, all of which had been falsified. Similar predictions had been made with regard to the late tariff:

"It is said that the tariff has caused distress among the farmers. Why, I don't believe there has been as much increase in the imports of cattle as would make one good breakfast for all the people. (Laughter.) Did it never enter the minds of hon. gentlemen who are interested in the sale of cattle, that their customer in large towns cannot be sinking into abject poverty and distress without the evil ultimately reaching themselves, in the price of their produce? I had occasion a little time ago to look at the falling off in the consumption of cattle in the town of Stockport. I calculated the falling off in Stockport alone for three or four years, at more than all the increase in the importation of foreign cattle. It appears, therefore, that the distress of that town alone has done as much to reduce prices as all the importation under the tariff. It has been estimated that in Manchester forty per cent. less of cattle was consumed in 1842 than in 1836; and it has also been estimated that the cotton trade was paying £7,040,000 less in wages per annum in 1842 than in 1836. How could you then expect the same consumption? (Hear.) If you would but look to your own interests as keenly and as wisely as manufacturers look to theirs, you would never fall into the