21 Decr 1801

Maximum

Mode

Execution

2

set, could he know what dependence he could with safety place on the continuance

of it. {The farmer, understanding that wheat at 90s a quarter would pay him

better than any other crop.}

Whereas, if from the first he were to know what price the law would allow him to

take, supposing the state of the market to keep the article up at that price,

his operations would rest on a basis /be grounded on /supported by/ a degree of

assurance/ much firmer than in the other case. If from the first in virtue of a

fresh Act for that purpose the maximum were to be fixed suppose at 90s a

quarter, the farmer according to whose calculations wheat at that price would

pay him better than any other crop he could raise, at the same time that

circumstances in his estimation seemed to warrant the expectation of its keeping

up at that price would take his measures accordingly. These measures he would

perhaps not take with a maximum at a pitch altogether uncertain hanging over his

head: and supposing his expectations dangerous[?] enough to get the better of

his apprehensions on that score still, if the maximum price eventually set under

the discretionary power were in his part of the country to stand so low for

example as 80s, he would be a sufferer, in a way