The averages by which the duty is regulated, are 
obtained in the following manner: —In 150 of the 
principal market towns in England and Wales, 
named in the Act of Parliament, there is an 1in- 
spector of corn returns appointed, to whom every 
buyer, or agent buying corn on commission, is 
bound to give in a schedule containing an account 
of the quantity of each description of British grain 
bought by him during the week, and the price at 
which each quality and sort were bought ;* these are 
added together by the inspector, and the whole 
quantity and average price of each description of 
grain is published by him. His return is then for- 
warded to the office of the Comptroller of Corn Re- 
turns in London, by whom the average price of the 
whole is taken and published as the general average 
of the kingdom ; but to prevent the average being 
acted on too suddenly, by a casual change in the 
markets, this weekly average alone does not regu- 
late the duty, but a further average of six weeks 
is taken, and by this average of six weeks the duty 
is determined, one week's average being taken off 
in rotation, as each fresh week’s averace is added. 
Thus, it would appear that no mode of arrange- 
ment could be more simple or equitable to all par- 
ties, than the present system, nor could there be 
one, provided, it were acted upon and carried out as 
projected ; but, unfortunately, its beneficial work- 
ing is interfered with by the operations of com- 
merce, which, while such a system is followed, no 
legislative enactment can prevent. These operations 
have their rise, and are conducted as follows :— 
When, from partial failure of the harvest in 
Britain, it becomes evident to the merchant, that an 
importation of foreign corn will be necessary, he 
takes into consideration the probabilities, as to the 
# In the London market, this account is returned to the In- 
spector by the factor or seller, and not by the buyer as in the pro- 
vincial markets.