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work, should have the sides rising perpendicular from the bot-.tom, the swell necessary for tighting the hoops, being effectedby the staves of the side being thicker at bottom than at top. Orif the vessel’s sides diverge a little from bottom to top, (whichwould still better secure the grain filling the angle formed by thebottom and sides, so as to prevent slight in measuring), the stavesmight be of uniform thickness.
In the opinion of some, selling of grain by weight is approved,as leading to a more precise judgment of its value. Whilst othersconceive, that, after ascertaining the weight, about as many cir-cumstances, affecting the intrinsic value, are still left indetermi-nate, as, in merely ascertaining the measure,—such as the damp-ness,—the quantity of husk,—and the proportion of saccharine,which is by no means proportionate to specific gravity.
Regulation of Prices of Provisions, and of Labour, fyc.
In barbarous times, before the art of government was under-*tood,—before itwas ascertained what governmentcould, and couldnot do,—and what it ought, or ought not to-attempt,—the powerof regulating these was given, by our antiquated statutes, to theJustices of the Peace.
The regulation of the price of provisions, if that power wasever at all exercised, has fallen entirely into disuse ; * and, in-deed, nothing could be more dangerous than such interference.If it were to be exercised, it is to be presumed that it would ne-ver interfere in establishing a minimum, in times of extraordinarycheapness: or, if it did, no power of government could makethe regulation be observed; the producer, glutted with super-abundance .of his commodity, would be glad to get it off his handsat any price: And who would complain of being served overcheap >
It would never be used, but in establishing a maximum, intime of scarcity and dearth; and nothing could be more dan-gerous. The power of government cannot possibly create food;and, where there is a deficiency, the only resource against famineis short allowance; and the only possible enforcement of generalshort allowance, is high price. Price would be regulated, iqthe very best manner, by the interest of the dealers and compe-tition of purchasers, if matters are left to their natural course ;for if the price is kept so high, at one time, as that its too greatenforcement of short allowance slackens the demand, so as tomake it probable that the existing crop upon hand cannot be gotdisposed of at that price, but that the price may probably cometo be greatly depressed, by a better ensuing crop, the dealers
* The assize of bread is no exception;—for though it seemingly regulatesprice of bread, yet that price is regulated by the price of grain, which i*W regulated, but left to find its own level in the market,