AS the Price of Bread is the most National Concern , and the feeding of Hungry Mouths ought to be the greatest Christian Care , there cannot be a more tender Consideration for the Magistracy of the Kingdom , than in present Dearth , and Scarcity of Corn , which we presume , occasions the high Rates now set upon it , to ease and assist the Poor as much as possible , under their Hardships on that Account . As the Prices of Corn are so obvious to every Capacity , the Price of Bread should in all reason only rise suitably ; nor should the high Markets of Corn encourage the Baker under that Umbrage , to Extravagant Rates of his Retail , to the enriching of himself , by an Universal Oppression upon the People . Now , that this Charge and Accusation upon them , seems grounded upon a great deal of Truth , we think fit to remonstrate that general Grievance , by a plain State of the Case . 't is notoriously known , that the best Wheat now brought to London , is to be purchased at about Seven Shillings Nine Pence per Bushel . This Corn , though the Measure of Corn is not so large as at some other parts of the Kingdom ; nevertheless , still holds out that Measure , that all the Charges of the Grinding it , and bringing it home to any Wharf in London or Westminster , are satisfied by the Overplus Weight ; insomuch , that the Corn ground , stands the Baker still in no more than Seven Shillings Nine Pence per Bushel , viz. at 56 Pound Weight .

After this , supposing this Corn designed for common Houshold Bread , the small Extract of Bran , and the whole Charge of the Baking does not raise it the utmost above Fifteen Pence more per Bushel ; so that a Bushel of Corn , when Bak'd , stands the Baker in no more than Nine Shillings , which is Two Shillings Three Pence per Peck : Now , by the present Allowance of Eight Groats per Peck , the Bakers Profit is Twenty Pence a Bushel : Now , as the Baker bakes thrice a Day , at Three in the Morning Houshold Bread , at Six in the Morning small Bread , and in the Afternoon Houshold Bread again , 't is notoriously known , that a large Oven will bake a whole Quarter of Wheat at one Batch ; yet modestly computing that the Baker at his Three Batches bakes but Two Quarters , and in each Bushel ●e gains Twenty Pence , his one Days Profit in Two Quarters of Corn bak'd , comes to 1 l. 6 s . 8 d . which in a Week amounts to 8 l. and in a Year 416 l. All this ●●ade can the Baker drive , and all this Profit he can raise from a running Stock of ●ot above 50 l. which improving to 416 l. per Annum , that is to say , about 800 l. per Cent Advance of his Money , we have reason to think he has a very Advanta●eous Occupation ; and with all humble Submission to Authority , we hope that that further Inspection and Regulation will be made , as to retrench this Exorbitance , and make a yet farther Ease to so many poor necessitous People , who have hitherto been so long aggrieved , and who will undoubtedly have just Cause to bless God for 〈◇〉 Redress for such an Oppression .