( 135 )
¬in our markets became generally the highest, ;r consequence foretold in our public councils when the law was in progress, by one of the ablest men in our country. — The law indeed would be sufficiently protective, if, when tire ports were open under it, our markets were only refreshed by the fair commerce of foreign countries until they fell again below the importing standard; but that is by no means the case: the impor- tations are not made by foreigners, but by capi- talists amongst ourselves, who having money enough to stand the losses of unsuccessful specu- lations, can bring in their corn at the most favourable times, and being allowed to ware- house without duties, have their granaries al- ways full, when the law enables them to sell ; which suddenly throws down the markets, to the ruin of our agricultural classes. ¬" But the mistaken notion, which crippled ¬the law in its formation, was very soon exposed. ¬When the ruined farmers had in many places ¬discharged their labourers, and throughout the ¬k 4 whole ¬
