Poem by John Watkins

The Corn Laws and Emigration

Because our lords have taxed the staff of life, 
The working man, his children, and his wife
All slave together, yet they must not eat—
Toil gives an appetite, but brings no meat!
The price of bread by law is kept so high,
That what we earn suffices not to buy.
But, why is this? what makes our bread so dear?
Far cheaper ’tis abroad than it is here!
Yes, but a tax is laid on foreign grain,
To make our home-grown corn its price maintain;
And half-fed men may toil, and starve, and die,
That idle lords may lift their heads on high.
We might buy cheap, but landlords want great rents,
To spend in keeping grand establishments.
Their feasts, their fancies, jewels, balls, and plays,
The poor man’s nakedness and hunger pays.
The tenant says, if corn comes duty free,
Twill bring down prices here, and ruin me:
Taxes and rents in England are so high,
I cannot sell so cheap as you could buy.
Pensions, and perquisites, all other prices
Must come down too, save luxuries and vices.
The honest husbandman must emigrate,
And leave poor peasants to increase the rate,
Unless our lords consent to live on less,
And pride succumb to humble happiness!

1. Lines on Shell, Killed at Newport
2. Extract from the Play of John Frost

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