This Glasgow author, Mr Cleland by name, had been describing the means which had been taken by the Governments of George II. and George III. to regulate the price of bread in accordance with price of wheat. His description is very interesting, if only for the fact that it shows that steps had to be taken to regulate the exactions of the profiteer, even in those early days. It shows, also, that the methods of our various “Controllers,” “Food Committees,” etc., are not new, but are very much along the same lines as those devised to keep down the price of bread a century and a half ago. The price of bread was regulated in accordance with the price of wheat, and the baker was allowed a fixed sum per sack of flour for his expenses of baking and distributing. In the various cities and towns the application of this Act was in the hands of the magistrates; and, in Glasgow, bread prices were fixed at various intervals until 1800, when it was decided at the last Bread Court held to cease the practice, as, in the opinion of the magistrates, such a course was unnecessary; but the weight of loaves continued to be standardised at 4 lbs. 5 oz. 8 drams for the quartern loaf, and 2 lbs. 2 oz. 12 drams for the half-quartern loaf. In view of the price of bread to-day, it is interesting to note that the price of the half-quartern loaf was fixed by the last Glasgow Assize, held in 1800, at 10d. for fine wheaten bread and 7½d. for household bread, which was evidently of a much coarser and poorer quality. Some of the Bread Assize regulations were peculiar. For instance, the baker had to produce eighty loaves from the sack of flour, and sell these eighty loaves at the exact price which they cost him, in accordance with the cost of flour. “As, however,” says Mr Cleland, “they usually were able to get two loaves more from the sack, and these two loaves were clear profit, the price at which they were sold was a consideration.” At the beginning of the nineteenth century the expenses per sack allowed to the bakers were 14/, but by 1816 this sum had been increased to 16/9. It was within the right of any two bakers to call the attention of the magistrates to the fact that the price of bread or flour had risen or fallen, and to offer proof. When this was done the magistrates or Justices of the Peace were obliged to take evidence as to the current prices, and, if they found any variation from the last price fixed, “they shall immediately set a new price, which shall remain unaltered until a new Assize has been held.” One wonders whether the magistrates of those days were as difficult to convince that any alteration was necessary as have been the Food Control officials during the last year of the war.