[274] It will be borne in mind that the trouble with America began immediately the Seven Years’ War concluded, with the attempt to impose, with increased energy, “the colonial policy” which at once was met by commercial reprisals that greatly dislocated trade and called forth loud protests from British merchants. Macpherson, Annals of Commerce (1805), see under years 1763-1790. Smith, Wars Between England and America (1914).
[275] Meredith, Economic History of England. See Chart B for variations in the amount of wheat which could be purchased with the daily wage of a carpenter and an agricultural labourer. Tooke, History of Prices; Martineau, History of the Peace; Wilks, The Half Century (1852); J. L. and B. Hammond, The Village Labourer; The Town Labourer; The Skilled Labourer.
[276] Manchester Mercury, 9th January 1762.
[277] Ibid., 1st September 1762.
[278] Macpherson, ibid., pp. 391, 406-407.
[279] Macpherson, ibid., pp 438, 452.
[280] Regarding this Assize the following notice, based upon 31 Geo. II., c. 29., was issued in The Manchester Mercury, 18th Nov. 1766:—“In every Assize of Bread respect shall he had to the Market Price of Grain and Meal and Flour making reasonable allowance to the Baker for his Labour and Profit. In order to know the Price of Meal and Flour in proportion to the Price of Wheat, the Magistrates and Justices of Peace are to take notice that the Peck loaf of each sort of Bread is to weigh, when well baken, 17 lbs. 6 ozs. avoirdupois, and the rest in proportion; and that every sack of Meal or Flour is to weigh 2 cwt. 2 qrs. (not 280 lbs.) and that from every sack of Meal or Flour there ought to be produced 20 such Peck loaves of Bread.”
“By this rule from every Manchester load of flour weighing 240 lbs. there ought to be produced 297 lbs. 13 oz. 12 drs., of Bread of each sort well baken. The price of 296 lbs. 7 oz. 8 drs. of Wheaten Bread consisting of 1d. 2d. 6d. 12d. 18d. loaves according to the above Assize is 44s. The Price of a load of Flour is 30s., allowance to Baker is 14s. The Price of 297 lbs. 10 ozs. 15 drs. of Household Bread consisting of such loaves is 32s. 10d. Price of a load of Flour is 27s. 6d. Allowance to Baker is 5s. 4d.”
Assize of Bread for Manchester and Salford
10th November 1766[A]
| lbs. | ozs. | drs. | |||
| 1d. loaf Wheaten | to | weigh | 8 | 7 | |
| Ditto Household | ” | ” | 11 | 2 | |
| 2d. loaf Wheaten | ” | ” | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Ditto Household | ” | ” | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 6d. loaf Wheaten | ” | ” | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Ditto Household | ” | ” | 4 | 2 | 12 |
| 12d. loaf Wheaten | ” | ” | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Ditto Household | ” | ” | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| 18d. loaf Wheaten | ” | ” | 9 | 7 | 11 |
| Ditto Household | ” | ” | 12 | 8 | 3 |