in rather than prosperity. Committees were appointed to inquire into
the causes of distress then prevailing among them. These inquiries were
useless; but, by the year 1824, much of the capital invested in the
poorer description of soils, under the stimulus of the high prices of
previous years, was withdrawn, and less corn being brought to market,
the price rose considerably, and an improved condition of the farmer
took place accordingly. For several years nothing was done permanently
to settle the terms upon which foreign corn could be admitted into the
market. Colonial corn was still excluded till the average price reached
67s. In 1825, however, an act was passed, admitting corn from our North
American colonies at a fixed duty of 5s. per quarter, till July, 1827;
and by another act passed at the same time, corn from our other colonies
was admitted at reduced duties: the stocks of corn in bond were further
admitted for consumption at lower duties. In 1826 there was a partial
failure of the corn-crops, and an order in council was issued in
September 1st, admitting for home consumption oats and oatmeal, rye,
peas, and beans, on the ground that there was great cause to fear that
much distress might ensue to all classes of his majesty's subjects. A
meeting of parliament was summoned in November, to indemnify ministers
for this order in council, on which occasion Mr. Canning announced the
intention of government early in the ensuing session to introduce a
general measure on the corn-trade. This measure was brought forward soon
after the next meeting of parliament; and its plan was a sliding-scale,
with a more regular and artificial range of duties than those of the
existing law; the object being to keep the price of wheat somewhere
between 55s. and 65s. This bill passed the house of commons by a large
majority; but the bill met with so much opposition in the upper house,
that Mr. Canning, whose health was now declining, dropped the measure,
and announced another of a similar character early in the ensuing
session. Before that period arrived, however, Mr. Canning died, and
the task of introducing the measure of 1828 fell to the share of Mr. C.
Grant, then president of the board of trade. His resolutions differed
from those of Mr. Canning, chiefly in making the protection afforded
when the average price should range between 60s. and 70s. more
restrictive by an amount varying from 3s. to 7s. per quarter. The new
scale was also le