Letter 1326
Darwin, C. R. to Higgins, John
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Agrees to reduce rent on farm because of bad times.
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Transcription
Down Farnborough Kent
May 9
My dear Sir
From what you say I must accord my consent to your proposition of a reduction of Rent of 15 per cent for the past half-year & can only hope the present depressed times will not last.
Prices I understand, have been as low before under Protection, & in France at present they are very low, so that I see no cause
whatever to despair. I suppose M
I hope that he has nothing of any kind to complain of.
We must hope for better times
I remain | dear Sir | Yours very faithfully | C. Darwin
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- f1 1326.f1
British farmers and landowners were finding it difficult to adjust their operations to the reduced prices of corn and other crops; their dissatisfaction was loudly expressed in Parliament and at public meetings during the first few months of 1850 (Annual Register 1850, History, p. 2). Some wished a return to protectionism, others a remission of taxes on the landowner. - +
- f2 1326.f2
The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 had led to a decline in prices. Early in 1849 the duty on foreign cereal imports was also abolished. - +
- f3 1326.f3
Francis Hardy, CD's tenant. - +
- f4 1326.f4
CD's income from the farm remained at the reduced rate during 1850, 1851, and 1852 (see letter to John Higgins, 13 December [1850], and Correspondence vol. 5, letters to John Higgins, 7 June 1851 and 19 June [1852]).