Fluctuations of Currency, Commerce, and Manufactures; referable to the Corn Laws.

London: Published by Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans,, 1840. First edition, by the passionate free-trade and anti-corn law campaigner James Wilson, arguing that the corn laws caused sharp price fluctuations in the British economy and impeded the supply of money to commerce. Wilson argues that as demand for wheat is fairly constant, bad harvests and diminished supply will result in a significant rise in price. In keeping out foreign wheat, the corn laws lock in an inflexible wheat market subject to severe fluctuations dependent on domestic harvests. Moreover, Wilson argues, higher wheat prices result in reduced demand elsewhere and higher costs of borrowing, impeding the wider commercial and manufacturing sectors of the economy. Wilson was writing in the aftermath of a sharp increase in wheat prices in 1838, which led to economic depression. The book, along with his numerous newspaper articles, "were immensely effective in making the anti-protectionist case, and brought Wilson widespread public recognition" (ODNB). Wilson later edited the Economist. Octavo. Original green cloth, front cover lettered in gilt, yellow endpapers. Early shelf label to spine and front pastedown, pencilled notations to title. Light wear to joints; a very good copy. Goldsmiths' 31426.