By these means, under Divine Providence, the colony again became able to supply itself with daily bread; a capability of which, like many other blessings, nations scarcely know the value and importance, until they are deprived, or deprive themselves of it.[121] [119] One of the vain attempts of the present age is that of entirely preventing the various fluctuations to which, from accidents, bad seasons, &c., the price of bread is subject. It did appear as though a certain average of moderate prices was established in England; but, recently, the system has been again altered, and time must show how it works. Certainly the changes in the value of corn in New South Wales have formerly been violent enough, supposing the following statement to be correct: "I have nine years been a landholder in this colony, and seven years have cultivated my own farm. In this time I have twice given wheat to my pigs, because I did not know what else to do with it; twice I have known wheat selling at fifteen shillings per bushel, and once at twenty shillings!"--ATKINSON _on the Encouragement of Distilling and Brewing in New South Wales_, p. 3, ed. 1829. [120] It is said that the natives foresaw the approach of this calamity, and advised the colonists of it, but their warning was not regarded.--_See Barrington's History of New South Wales_, p. 310. [121] For the particulars here related of the floods of the river Hawkesbury, see Lang's New South Wales, vol. i. pp. 98-101; and also Wentworth's Australasia, vol. i. p. 67 and 448-9. The latter writer speaks of wheat and maize being sold at 5_l._ or 6_l._ per bushel, but that seems to be a mistake.