Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/188

 The expenses are:—

So that, on this farm, which is very fairly cultivated, the rent is £800, the other expenses £790. (Cries of Oh, oh, from the ministerial side.) Now, if it requires 55s. per quarter in an average year to enable the tenant to pay the rent, and make £150 profit, it is obvious that without any rent he would be able to pay his labourers and tradesmen as well, with a price of 30s., supposing other produce to be reduced in the same proportion. But I do not anticipate that wheat will be reduced below 46s., even by free trade, and meat, butter, cheese, will certainly not fall in the same proportion."

Nine years after this prediction wheat exceeded 45s., and the price of meat, butter, and cheese was higher than in 1844. Mr. Cobden went on to say:—

An honourable income, as great as it had been under restriction, was had from land after the repeal of the Corn Law. Mr. Cobden proceeded to state the condition of agricultural labourers under "protection:"