AN ADDRESS Against the City Bakers.  

licenced according to Order.   
AS the Price of Bread is the most National Concern, and the feeding of Hungry Mouths ought to be the greatest Christian Care, there cannot be a more tender Consideration for the Magistracy of the Kingdom, than in present Dearth, and Scarcity of Corn, which we presume, occasions the high Rates now set upon it, to ease and assist the Poor as much as possible, under their Hardships on that Account. As the Prices of Corn are so obvious to every Capacity, the Price of Bread should in all reason only rise suitably; nor should the high Markets of Corn encourage the Baker under that Umbrage, to Extravagant Rates of his Retail, to the enriching of himself, by an Universal Oppression upon the People. Now, that this Charge and Accusation upon them, seems grounded upon a great deal of Truth, we think fit to remonstrate that general Grievance, by a plain State of the Case. 'tis notoriously known, that the best Wheat now brought to London, is to be purchased at about Seven Shillings Nine Pence per Bushel. This Corn, though the Measure of Corn is not so large as at some other parts of the Kingdom; nevertheless, still holds out that Measure, that all the Charges of the Grinding it, and bringing it home to any Wharf in London or Westminster, are satisfied by the Overplus Weight; insomuch, that the Corn ground, stands the Baker still in no more than Seven Shillings Nine Pence per Bushel, viz. at 56 Pound Weight.  
After this, supposing this Corn designed for common household Bread, the small Extract of Bran, and the whole Charge of the Baking does not raise it the utmost above Fifteen Pence more per Bushel; so that a Bushel of Corn, when baked, stands the Baker in no more than Nine Shillings, which is Two Shillings Three Pence per perk: Now, by the present Allowance of Eight Groats per perk, the Bakers Profit is Twenty Pence a Bushel: Now, as the Baker bakes thrice a Day, at Three in the Morning household Bread, at Six in the Morning small Bread, and in the Afternoon household Bread again, 'tis notoriously known, that a large Oven will bake a whole Quarter of Wheat at one Batch; yet modestly computing that the Baker at his Three Batches bakes but Two Quarters, and in each Bushel and gains Twenty Pence, his one Days Profit in Two Quarters of Corn baked, comes to 1 l. 6 s. 8 d. which in a Week amounts to 8 l. and in a Year 416 l. All this ●●ade can the Baker drive, and all this Profit he can raise from a running Stock of ●ot above 50 l. which improving to 416 l. per Annum, that is to say, about 800 l. per Cent Advance of his Money, we have reason to think he has a very Advanta●eous Occupation; and with all humble Submission to Authority, we hope that that further Inspection and Regulation will be made, as to retrench this Exorbitance, and make a yet farther Ease to so many poor necessitous People, who have hitherto been so long aggrieved, and who will undoubtedly have just Cause to bless God for 〈◇〉 Redress for such an Oppression.   

London, Printed for E. Bradford, in the poultry, 〈…〉 4.