This last is a consideration of such paramount importance, that it is of itself adequate to explain the whole phenomena, which have occurred; and yet, strange to say, it has hitherto met with very little attention either in or out of Parliament. The point to which we allude, and to which we crave, in an especial manner, the attention of the nation, is _the progressive and now alarming disproportion between the money value of our imports and our exports_ which has grown up ever since Sir Robert Peel's tariff was introduced in 1842, and which has now, from the action of the free-trade in corn, risen to such a height as to be absolutely frightful. The declared or money values of our total exports and official value of our imports since Sir Robert Peel's tariff was passed in 1842, have stood as follows:-- Imports, official value. 1841, £64,377,962 1842, 65,204,729 1843, 70,093,353 1844, 75,441,555 1845, 85,281,958 1846, Not made up. Three first quarters of 1847, Not made up. Exports, declared value. 1841, £51,604,430 1842, 47,361,043 1843, 52,278,449 1844, Not made up. 1845, 53,298,026 1846, 57,279,735 1847, 39,240,000 The imports for 1847 have not yet been made up, and cannot be till January next, when the year is concluded. But in the figures we have given, there is abundant room for the most serious reflection. The fact which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has mentioned as to the sums paid _for grain alone_, in fifteen months, having reached the enormous and unprecedented amount of £33,000,000, leaves no room for doubt that, in the year 1847, our imports _will have reached £100,000,000, while our exports have sunk below £50,000,000_.[18] Now, how was this fearful balance paid? The answer is evident. In cash. Here then, without going farther, is a balance on the exports and imports already returned, in 1846, of _forty millions_ against the nation, on the transactions of the present year, of probably not less than FIFTY MILLIONS STERLING.[19] Whoever considers these figures with attention, will be at no loss to perceive from what cause in the main the present disasters have arisen.