Wheat prices in Britain spiked in 1795, following an almost 40% drop in domestic grain output per acre. Popular pressure forced the British Government to charter transport vessels to import rice from Bengal.
The price of a "Winchester bushel" averaged about 6s 6d in 1794 but peaked at 13s 6d in August 1795. The price did not return to 6s 6d until March 1796. During the period of high prices municipal governments in towns such as Oxford and Cambridge seized cargoes of wheat passing through them, something that was illegal. There were bread riots in July–August 1795 in some 14 towns, which came to be known as the revolt of the housewives. Burials increased substantially in 1795 relative to 1794 and 1796. In response, the British Government took over the import of grains from abroad. All wheat imported up to the end of 1795 had been purchased on government account. It came either on government vessels or vessels chartered to the government.[1]
Because the British East India Company (EIC) had a legal monopoly on all trade between Britain and India, the Government worked through the EIC for imports from Bengal. The EIC notified its administration in Bengal of the government's requirements; the government in Bengal then engaged vessels already there.
Absent original research, there appears to be only one readily available list of vessels chartered. There is nothing to indicate whether the list is exhaustive or only partial.[2] Of the 14 vessels listed, 10 succeeded in arriving in Britain. The French captured two while they were en route, and two were wrecked.
The decision to import rice from Bengal lead to a similar program in 1800–1802. That time the program involved at least 28 vessels. Only two were lost.
^Burthen is a volumetric measure of a vessel's size and does not translate into absolute tonnage of cargo a vessel can carry. All one may infer is that a vessel with a greater burthen is larger and could carry more cargo than one with a lesser burthen.
House of Commons, Parliament, Great Britain (1812) Parliamentary Papers. (H.M. Stationery Office).
House of Commons, Parliament, Great Britain (1830). Reports from the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to enquire into the present state of the affairs of the East India Company, together with the minutes of evidence, an appendix of documents, and a general index. Vol. 2. Printed by order of the honourable court of directors, by J.L. Cox.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Stern, Walter M. (May 1964) "The Bread crisis in Britain, 1795–96", Economica, Vol. 31, No. 122, pp. 168–187.
April 18, 2024
transport, vessels, british, government, importation, rice, from, bengal, 1795, 1796, also, transport, vessels, british, government, importation, rice, from, bengal, 1800, 1802, wheat, prices, britain, spiked, 1795, following, almost, drop, domestic, grain, ou. See also Transport vessels for the British Government s importation of rice from Bengal 1800 1802 Wheat prices in Britain spiked in 1795 following an almost 40 drop in domestic grain output per acre Popular pressure forced the British Government to charter transport vessels to import rice from Bengal The price of a Winchester bushel averaged about 6s 6d in 1794 but peaked at 13s 6d in August 1795 The price did not return to 6s 6d until March 1796 During the period of high prices municipal governments in towns such as Oxford and Cambridge seized cargoes of wheat passing through them something that was illegal There were bread riots in July August 1795 in some 14 towns which came to be known as the revolt of the housewives Burials increased substantially in 1795 relative to 1794 and 1796 In response the British Government took over the import of grains from abroad All wheat imported up to the end of 1795 had been purchased on government account It came either on government vessels or vessels chartered to the government 1 Because the British East India Company EIC had a legal monopoly on all trade between Britain and India the Government worked through the EIC for imports from Bengal The EIC notified its administration in Bengal of the government s requirements the government in Bengal then engaged vessels already there Absent original research there appears to be only one readily available list of vessels chartered There is nothing to indicate whether the list is exhaustive or only partial 2 Of the 14 vessels listed 10 succeeded in arriving in Britain The French captured two while they were en route and two were wrecked The decision to import rice from Bengal lead to a similar program in 1800 1802 That time the program involved at least 28 vessels Only two were lost Vessel Master Burthen bm a Notes Abercromby John Gilmore 600 615 or 670 Amelia Crawford 1000 or 1400 Captured on way to England cargo loss charged to His Majesty s Government Anna M Gilmore 850 or 899 Known as Bombay Anna Berwick John McTaggart 420 or 426 Britannia Thomas Nixon Jr 384 Chichester R Blake 362 or 450 Eliza Ann John Lloyd 459 or 500 Favourite 900 Captured on way to England cargo loss charged to His Majesty s Government Ganges Thomas Patrickson 617 or 700 General Medows or General Meadows McDonald 340 or 575 Harriet Matthew Sparrow 373 or 500 Hercules Benjamin Stout 600 or 628 Wrecked on 15 June 1796 between Bengal and the Cape Cargo loss charged to His Majesty s Government Montrose 761 Wrecked between Bengal and the Cape Cargo loss charged to His Majesty s Government Nonsuch Robert Duffin 483Notes edit Burthen is a volumetric measure of a vessel s size and does not translate into absolute tonnage of cargo a vessel can carry All one may infer is that a vessel with a greater burthen is larger and could carry more cargo than one with a lesser burthen Citations edit Stern 1964 pp 168 187 House of Commons 1812 Appendix 34 p 502 References editHouse of Commons Parliament Great Britain 1812 Parliamentary Papers H M Stationery Office House of Commons Parliament Great Britain 1830 Reports from the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to enquire into the present state of the affairs of the East India Company together with the minutes of evidence an appendix of documents and a general index Vol 2 Printed by order of the honourable court of directors by J L Cox a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Stern Walter M May 1964 The Bread crisis in Britain 1795 96 Economica Vol 31 No 122 pp 168 187 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Transport vessels for the British Government 27s importation of rice from Bengal 1795 1796 amp oldid 1183313072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
