Influence of Corn Laws on Manufactures and Commerce, a Letter

Influence Of Corn Laws On Manufactures And Commerce, A Letter by Jonas Dennis. This 1841 pamphlet presents a formal critique of the corn laws, arguing they shape agriculture, industry, and trade in Britain. In a letter addressed to the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, Dennis traces the origin of British manufactures to agricultural regulation and foreign competition, arguing that repeal or lax enforcement would depress domestic production, reduce wages, and increase pauperism. He discusses the Poor Laws, wage regulation, and the balance between landowners, manufacturers, and labourers, warning that free trade in grain would create economic hardship across sectors. Drawing on historical examples and economic reasoning, the work advocates careful legislative governance of prices and wages to preserve national industry, stability, and self-sufficiency. The author emphasizes that prosperity in agriculture and manufacturing has historically been interdependent, and cautions against simplistic free-trade solutions.