The Statesman. — London, England, 1820-05-09 00:00:00

hr totally 4 :l'r/I up, tit:a of endeavouring rrosw rtery thing o ithin otarselres; and in this view he ght the probiltitory duties upon foreign timber peculiarly objectiainaltie. They nut only diminished oar trade in toss artitle, but the restriction upon the iniporta:lion of I; tended to excite its abeeesi.- especielLs-in_linaaja. than.ang utber re-. grietiop whatever. Nbt that he meant lor e 1111 l ity, an excitation of hostile feeling, hnt Cult disposition to jea lousy Which retaliated iijwn Wse min piodisce and'tna-' ne rietures with as num:• profit/Attune us could be cres t, against 'them. To bins It was a clear and obvious propositlon, that every protection which tonhl be af to (dell to out own industry should be CiVirn toit I hat tt,.•t suunld not he to the extent which would render it •Inwelcoone• in the foreirn market. The prohibitory tad restrictive s;stent, thoto. : 11 oorieinally , It.v6ell for the purposes of reeNine, had really an itijnrions e ret , as was erstletot from the com:otrative r0.10c.• of the customs, in which there seas a fallitie ..!!. I ist yrar of a and a h.:lt —4llear, hear!;—chat loss, luny ever, aid more than that, !Melt be re, ‘is ereil by the removal of these prohibitions, partienlarly t!io,r which which were directed against certain articles of luxury. liar vets prohibition of th aut tended tt Iv. iv T'.l whieb sex he would not say, to increase the desire ing them. Silks, gloves, and other artistes or th.,t Ile seription, were to he had in Paris f..r per cent. less than they could be olotained here, awl the practical rt.•lnsion of thew from the home usa:l et , I h t - lit .•n a temptation to resort to the foreittn one. lie ,oercly alluded to these articles as a find i:..r instance a the eNvesliettry 411 0 11$ , 'S v tan trittrjr. :1..11 1111011 01 , 111. be sal:n• Itriu. tole o i•: h t be more g enerally applietl. As to the he ;.olirlit that they also nii : •ltt ‘ , ry 1 1111erel , a retisiou. For ittst.oire, what iris. y ti..ui Ihe dune to the community, that coals ! he brought from New,.astle in German or route!' v....ti11, if tl.ry cuttlel thus he obtained at half their present linepri • •et Some , .:.tails, at least, its these laws, tei. 4 ht be altered. I hey went chiefly, he believed, upon the principle, that is, rirels sh•oabl be sent into this country by any ship, tiniest it was British, ;or unless it was of the country in which the fowls with which it was laden were pro dared. Now, where wiedil der the in . i,ury of a!liming a 4 foreign ships to import foreirn produce c 'I he next o Sect of the petit' o.ot was the freedom of the linen iole from transit duties. If any parsons, or bodies, thourht that they would suffer by such freedom, they nimbi of course come before the Committee, and every attentian would be due to what they ha.! to say. All that he at present wanted, was to ro nith them, and all the parties interested, into an investirat:on of their olijectious.—Haelt trade would, no doubt, think itself eatitled to protection ; but lie trusted that neither the oiiiiiiittee nor the House would to any partial ,;.tint. unless they convinced theteselves of its justice. I. hail been said with respect to Ceram,' linens, that if sto restriction upon their importation existed, the linen trade of Ireland would be materially affected. Anil whets the question was under consi.leration at a period, lie believed that the inttuomee of a Noble connected r ith the North of Ireland, bore down tLr suggestions which were made against the conti teiance of the transit ditties on linen, that Noble Lord Living bovu induced himself to believe that if a faci -1;•v were given to the importation of Berman linens, . _ . . . r.d staple trade of Ireland would he ruined. For his pill, be hoped, when the suNeet was fairly examined, i • would be seen that no injury to Ireland %could arise •frsni the abolition of the antics. Ile would ronsent 'o I:see the Irish trade protected by every means, as be felt convinced that no part of the ettipire deserved greater attention than Ireland.—(Near. 1 -•:ar, hear !) —But the general advantages of a free trade should rot he sacrificed fur !aria! reasons. One of the He disadvantages aris;fig from the want of that free d en was the impossibility of an English ship oroing 011 i with a cargo of assorted goods, which should not be more limited in their description than an American o: any other foreign ship c .ul,l carry. And hence it I:1114C, that in this trade this country was in many in stances already outstripped.--(Near)--Much stress 1, 3 ,1 Ii 'en laid upon the necessity of having a runttnerrial treaty with France concluded at the pear.. lie, for One, did nut blame the Noble Lord who negotiated that peace, fur not making such a treaty.—(Hear, boor: from the Ministerial benches.)--Ite did nut hi sane him on account of the hostility to the trade of , England, which it would have exerted throughout that country. The restrictive system stood in the way of t 'is country's greatness, and there is little doubt that other countries would not have adopted it, if they had 'Mot the example Gotta England, a country which, as it has been pre-eminently successful in its e ttttt nierce, th-y supposed it must also have been in possession of thin true principles upon which that pre-eminence was bun ied. The trade to India might, perhaps, be more estentled thin it bad already been. If it could be ihawn that any injury mould arise to the intonate of the Company from that extension, either in India or C;r,'na, he would not pursue the Idea further. (Inc eroment he load heard against it, that it might un •-ttle the arrangements which existed between the Clynpany and the Government of China. But it was well known that even from our own Forts American slips were cleared out for China, while one own ves sels were excluded from that trade. This was not oin;y injurious to our merchants, but it save a less ! security to those who employed the Americans, than they would have possessed if they were allowed id em ploy British vessels. If any damage accrued, if any smuggling transaction tOO% place, they would be sure *nu time or other to catch hold of British owners: whereas tee American vessels might go from port to port, and never be met with to render any ac count. As to the difficulties with respect to the ar tangements with China, they might he got over with out difficulty. The trade to the Eastern seas opened a large theatre to the enterprise of British merchants.—' ((fear, hear!)—The Americans might go where they pleased upon thlso seas, while British vesseis were ex cluded. Greater consequences would foie from open ing this trade than he could at present describe.— (Bear, hear!) —No one could tell what the enterprise bf Liverpool would do when such a field sof enterprise was extended before it.—(Cheers.)---He would not wish ti do illy thirty/ which might interfere with existing aerselltinas, nor wortfd he be in any degree disposed to iaterfeie with the rights of the India Compatty bat they should tome . &marl and state An tea! 'MS- STATESM cold's is the war of openin. , th- F:%sterti trade. The sfircuptstasees of the times were bitch ;:s to render a eonsideration of those Inlieuldes, nel of the possibi lity- of roaraving them, extremely desirable. If the House tamed its attention to the subject, it would, perhaps, find that novlt might be done towards re moving those restrictions which upi.ressed the roan ttwrce of the country. It would, at least, be aco iso lation to that country to see that the House was dis posed to exercise its judgment as to what was practi cable, and that it was prepared to take a fair and itn partial view of the interests of all parties which were e tttttt nitted to its protection.—', floe Hos. tientleman sat down amid loud and universal cheers). The petition was then brought up, and, upon the questi..ll being put, that it be now read, 31r. HAKINO intim:V(i, that he laid a!s apetition similar iu its object to pr. sent from the Chamber of Commerce in Edit;hurgb.—The petition was read. Mr. I I If FN VEI,I, said, that after the able and lurid speech of his Hon. Friend, he thought it uunecessary to go at any length at present into the subject of the petitin. He would not trespass upon the House fur ther titan to say, that he fully concurred in all the trtittions which that petition expressed, and that he would avail himself of c%ery means in his power to give them a practical operation. 31r. 11.0111Ntig.IN rose fot the purl o:sy of istAlinz a few general observations upon the liu.n•tion taaiell bad been so ably treated by the Hun. Gentleman who pre sented the Petition. He was fully as nsibie of the ex trent° importance of the sttlijeet. lie had frequently before expressed the c snrictis.n impress' d upon his mind, that the system of pas:tire t, triction. carried to so great a length as it had bera in this country, was fourths! in t rror.—(ilea hear D--ite had now no ohjertion to repeat tit tt so, i • . Thr Hon. tient le man had paid him a which he w.ts na commit's. of 4eservirg; ut the *awe time Ise was equally unconsen.us of tneririag the qualideation wit:' which it was ace panics', when it was added, that both he (Mr. Itohieson) and the Government with wide!' he was connectesl.were altogether “ apa I helical" • - • with I:ar:icilai plea-ure. lie meant that observation in which be (Mr. Riving) justilkd his Noble Friend for toot fareing. upon F:•aoce, or annexing to the Treaty of Prare a 'I reaty of touttnerce, giving advantages td , us, but intlictin L T a punishment upon them. Ile was glad an lion. 3lionlier, so well acquainted with the subject, had done this justice to the llorernittent fur the prudence and policy of the course they adopted o:t that occasion. A. to a free intercourse with Prance, he regretted to say that there were great, he might add, 1 foolish prejudices against it on each side. 'they were !national prejudices, however, not connected in the smallest degree with commerce. There were, he was afraid, feelings in this country which envied the pre ' sent prosperity of that country. lie wished that it was felt here as it ought to he, that the prosperity of !that country was on.• of the safest gr..utls we had for expee:ing permanent peace in this. lie wished it was also felt that if pea,.e and counnerre were to go hand in hand, we would be the less to he again disturbed by that military spirit which brought so many evils upon lierope.—(llear, hear :)—With re gard to the laws commeted with agriculture, he be lieved astrong feeling was excited in the country, and that there were Members in the House mho nimbi , bring them under its consideration. o that subject Hove:lnnen: had given its best attention, but fur his ; part he was nut aide to persuade himself that there was any thing iu the existing law so radically wrong as to require alteration. However, 3tinisters w. old cheerfully attend to any complaint which should he Made to them, as they always had been to any state- Isent mule to them iu the fair and candid way is a hid' the lion. Gentleman hail dune tonight. He had al ! most forgotten to Ithserve, as to the Indian. trade, that no (lonia commercial intercourse trunk! be promoted by the extension of that trade. But the House wuttid I walled that this was a question of compact, and th.tt it would be unadvisahle to drive hastily into any thing • which would look like unfair dealing.—(Hear, hear!) —The House had no right to contr.! the Company to abandon eren one of their privileges, if they wished to retain it.—(hirer, Is. ar upon the subject. For I,:ueself, he bail in fart paid Mr. PHILLIPS repressed his satisfaction at the to it much attention ; and the great dial airy which `view taken by the Bight Hon. tientleutan of the lat he h a d 1,, c o ntend with was, bow he cods! rive v ect I portent subject before the House. Ur admired the to the wishee which he rutin:deed. lie thought that liberal pi inciples of the Hight lion. Bradenton, and this difficulty arme in roue degree from his {own per- hr only thought it un:Ortunate that he should have Donal situation in that :ham, and from his relation to yielded them up so easily. lie was also sorry upon a the tiovernment.aith which lie acted. Hut he might be subject of this kind to we division iu the Cabinet. permitted to say, t the opposition with which he had . Mr. Lit tIIIII,AS and a 3110111E11 under the (lath ry. met was nut confined to those front whom opposition made souse olowrvaticns in support of the petition. was usually supposed to come. Ile alluded punka Lord MILTON said he beard tier petition, and the laity to the transit duties, which, it eaglet he recul• I speech of the Hon. Gentleman who proposed it, a its le. tee], were opposed and sop/meted by lientlesoen ten greet satisfaction; fur itaay thing in the p aesent state the so.her side trf :he House, as well as upon this. He of the country could aront ronso fetka i , it vas to se e cod.' not ray hoer far the Noble Lord to whom the 7 sound rinciples of politiralecossomy eu.hraccol by such llon. lirutlemau alluded, had any rartiality to that au enlightened body as the suerehants of Ile restrictive system: but this he knew, that the dilfi- would's:ire heard with ee l uai sertisfartion the si.rech of rutty which Ire hasp to induce pennons to agree in the the Right Hen. tieielcsuan topphsite, but for a little eeentietion of his mind, was saris a one as lie could net alloy which it eontained, he was sorry to observe that overe.mie.—(l fear, hear:)—ice thought it right to leis eganduct and his 1 riucipics were not iti animus. Ibe say thee. mettle as .e reason why his prin.lple were not *abject Wore the House was one Upon which carried into imsot.s!iste elk-cr.-4111-er, heat `—lint, party feelings ought to lee allowed to operate. his after all. seeing tetint the nom Gentleman b n virus, was not a sullieet un whirl, to tallisider the interests of it would hr e•en that mo difference now e eed be- particle:or constituents. 'they trete to legislate fur all, wee!: sine-elf tend 'aloe Ilan lientleman eel :site.— and hot for Northumberland, or I,r Yorkshire. A (Hear, loear !)---Upon the general print ip es they union of councils was 111tOt imperatively demanded by agreed: 1)11! it w..s impossible that a s. stoat %hid, tie.• state of the nation, and they were culled on to in had so long lir •ii acteel Lyon, could be all at seeirs. en- 'wile if the restrictions; which shackled and injured tirelv als.tli slued —t Hear. hear! fr tlic Opposi iv ee.) col 1111 l tree, could be advantageously removed. It was It was admitted that there carer clearly points suscepti- true that these restrictions here nut peculiar to us; Isle of alteration mid i:nproreme let. As to absolute for almost every people had adopted them, as if acting prohibitively, ne.; prepared to ray it was not sin the line of the poet—Omni/ je:nt wools: tithes. on a fair vivre of the suleiret, that no sitaisee But the great error lay in this selfish principle, both could take place. In point of fact, within the lust 100 as it regarded our relit:ions with other countries, and or three years, great relaeations had taken place. our situation at home. It weaned to Idol, that the Two Ar:s had lee en passed for the• purpose of repeal- 0. r entitling of agriculturists for liieher prices, and the ing three old laws: and here he should observe, that rompetition f *tureen:Hs itster..sts to meet them were the laws establishing the restlictive sys:eus were etpialy wrote since the distress pervaded the country coeval wide the c..nolerree of England.—(llear, at large in welch agriculture and commerce were, and hear, hear !)—The laws repealed were derived from nut these classes in an insulated state. It must, in the re'Lies of Hilliard 1., Edward 11., and Eliza- his view, be clear to every one that they could not go brae. there were other laws a hick imposed pro- on long as they were. 'floe live millions which the te.cting e!eities without end, which were also repealed. Right lion. lientleuean obtained last year, haul failed —ln the ii-port of the Lords' Committee upon in its avowed purpose, and the Hight Ilon.Uentlensan the Hank liestrictiou Arts, there was a list of no lead been proved either to have been entirely mistaken, less than 3110 articles, which were then proleileited. or one of the worst prophets that ever prophesied in This prohibition 1111 w ll.* longer existeti.—(liear '.) that !louse. Their true policy now was plainly pointed There oar indeed a his duty u, on them, but not so lent to them by the failure of the past, wherein Minis high as tee preclude them from this country. With re- tees had begun at the wrong end. It was not to rush earl to timber, he had no difficulty in saying, that in to taxation, but to enable the pe,yle to pay taxes. his opinion the state of the duties upon that article In taking a view of the distress of the country, many was sm-li as to require amendment. It was his inten- , tientlemen traced it to differeut causes. Among these lion to submit an arrangement to effect that oh- the Pons' Laws was one of cuennent occurrence, and, jrct. objections, he was aware. would be wadi-. But he thought, ought to be examined most minutely. in all the communications whinh had been made One uf the effects of the war had been to absorb and with those interested in the trade, he saw nothing draw capital into a smaller number of hands, anal thus which he thought sufficiently well-founded to prevent the great class of lesser capitalists we.e reduced to stilt an arrangement. llr agreed that the clime of that condition which was likely to lay many addisional the duties whirls were imposed upon timber, without barthens upon the Pours' Rates. In this light, he giving superior protection to the Canada trade, rojureir most say, that the primate of the late conflict had the trade to the Baltic. They were, in fact, imposed fallen nn the agricultural labourer and artisan in ma for the purpose% of revenue, and not for protec. ! nufactures, and nut on the wealthy landed proprietahj tion ; and he there fisre thought it perfectly con- or rich merchant. With regard to the restrictive pets. 1 sisteut with good faith, cites if any persons had ciple, it appeared to him, that at least all the ttailild acted upon the procredincs of the Legislature, to branches of trade might be left free. 'I bough the make an alteration with respect to the latter portion Navigation Laws, as tending to our national security, of those elettirs.—(l!var)ecar!)—As to the Navigation and the Corn Laws, fur their extreme importansm, Lucas, perhaps it Height be admitted that they did in; might have sacrifices made to thew, nothing short o f some degree tend to injure commerce . lint that in- our independence could sanction the principle. ATM jury bore no proportion to the danger whiels would ' doer matter which utast have bad great influence on threaten the natural defence and security of the coup- our system, was the return to sash pavement. This try, if those laws were abolished.—(Hear, hear !) must have augmented the preemie of the times, though But still be was taut pi epared to say that thorn was nu perhaps they had not, in their anxiety to attain so de roou for alteratiun. Indeed many relaxations of them sirable an object, looked the difficulties it was mica had been already made, which were scattered through laced to create so fully in the face as they should have several Acts of Parliament. Many exceptions to the done. There were many other difficulties to be en written Tule had been admitted, which he presumed countered before they could retrain their steps, bet were well known to those who bail an interest in ex- when the subject was so ably and fairly presented, aminine the su'fject. He had already stated his se- there was more . than common grounds for hope that quiescence in thee opinion which the Hop. lientlensan it might ho-followed up successfully. hail then with respect to the transitelutiee upon linen. Mr. RI('ARDO took ap the Noble Lord), remarks He nil not know why that (opinion was opposed; how-ion the subject of cash payments, and considered how ever, upp reel it was; yet he thought it a subject well far the bullion question affected the:present discussion. Worthy aconsideration. They west. duties founded upon He contended, that the alteration occasiuned by the error, and ha.! been imposed under circumstances very I return to cash payments was to* staff to warrant the different frets, those under which they could now be conclusion; that it had se predlgions an bounce la contemplated. As to commercial freedom in foreign f producing national calamity, he quoted the price of ports, he believed that until we removed ell restriction, I gold at several periods, to show tfset this was the case. others would not. - (Hear, bear!) -s-There was nee, He was him *bear that so map (ittnelosen had part of the Hoa. theatientaa's speech irkiali he heard Ispekin in form of a fug trade, sad that tie priati. • . • pies so ably lab! .I.ovit by .1.1. 1111 Smlti , leer,. a, !en.lit SO well reeeited, rut! likely, -miner or lat•r, upon. It might be said that the pre•ent svorm of commerce was ne,•••,sary towards kee!lec np the puldl e revenue; but to this be wont!! lobsrrve, that it wits /l in more neer/miry to enable men 1.. pay revenne,Sn i that oh. ket wonlil be best obtained ht atror.liit t t ere a t Er f a mi t ; e , to those who were engaged in c. mo'u'e. He ark /bow . le a ed that a chance in our commerci a l s y stem w .,. 0hl be attended at first with some diffienities. and, 1 speedily adored, with considerable loss to individuals. Ile particularly alluded to those who had vested in. terests, and who had embarked large ea.oi.pla in co ts , inertial speculations. It would therefor , . be unjust .0 do minty one present system all at encl.; tin; . shionl/1 be taken for WI consideration, atol tlec t li ; a m ie , s u h aurh be gra was introduced. It as al o .ba e k. to correc t t h e present system ; an d if i••:ltueld thought necessary to establish a free !rade, notice ought to be given that, after a re*!zitin change would begin to he carried into effect; and that a better evstem was to he reverted to. He was pleas.- to find, that e tof the opittime: given bv th e Ri •ht Ilion. Gentlemen opposite (Mr. Hel dos n) weed wit!, his own. II Hi regard to the corn-trade, be croureired that it rested on the s •me grontels with other C i d, ~/. commerce; Mr if the growers of corn I..hoared utt.hr any peculiar Iturthetss. it would he grope : to e them compoto:ation and pr ttectif.n. But he wishe.: to know Whither agriculturists ilbd laltaur coho sat}, peculiar burthees? and if so, wh e a r t e t p se ..r rt r were? It could not he said that th e tax ton wait leather came under that descripti on; firr Kt se t axes fell equally alike on all parts of the comorni!r. It might he said that the poor laws w then on agricultnre; if Ow were the rim, he would have no objection to a ruuntcryslin^ duty an tioe portatiom of foreign Cr . % ife %%TS, hole y. r, far from thinking that the poor-rates fell much heaviir on farmers than on the other parts of Coe • Nome portion of event might indeed fall as a peculi ar burthen on the land ; hut then there were pc, aliarbto them on other descriptions of people. iftt o u e lia w r ere kl t . : go ronnd among persons of various array:lids!, ar il fintl that almost al! of thin had 'heir m thesis, he could see no reason why aoy s pr c i i i t m „„ ne should he Stleoptedi in CI von ut A i: d hows only. Stil', if a greater hurtfu!. in proportion, fell wpm them, h.• then thong ke limper hi lay Si ewe tax On tit • importation of corn. TO', s sere cer tainly it Imi-qt.:, upon agriculture, and that clown stance 'night entitle Oil ni to he protertt.l hy &coaster railing ditty. L•rd MILTON spoke in extdanation. Mr. ELLICE observed, that the ht•nters were al reatly profeeted by the I'orit Hill, and They were the only persons who were prptected. re t ard to the present petition, he rortliallywconetwed in all the ob jects it proposed to cit./ t tut, tirtor:unately, the present state of the peldic debt,, fwd of the finances, must render all attention that naight r. w be pid to alterations in our commercial system, completely use less. If the whole of o u r public debt remeinfilillet as it MIT was, that Howse. would ionic be ileceifiae the country, if they held not Motes to the people that any benefit could accrue to t!,em from such a preceding as was now rerom eeee , nded. There were ct rtainh tivive vexations regulations in urn coutnteree, which nicht he done away. It toieht r !•;•r to allow sill arti des to he warehoused ; but, as th e b on di ng sy s t em now st.iiitl, that could not be don,' ; because it was ne cessary to give bonds on exciseahle articles, that were now warehoused. Whenever the 'GOO lien. Gentleman oitposite uel•re.l any prarti.•al FUrgeStiOr. he (Mr. Ellice) would give his leot assistanre, in en deavouring to carry it into effect. He hoped that Hon. Gentlemen who took a tart to this /moth I, would apply all their attention to it, and that a wise and beneficial system would at !ength he at:optetl. tI r. MAR II YA7 T corweivsal that our owe produce might he injured by the free iuu.ortation of foreip n prod ore • and that to allow co:•lit to he conveyed in‘ foreign vessels. would he injarkas to cur shipping in terests. lie hoped that his Majesty's Mitibters would pay particular attention to this sutject. Mr. WILSON agreed, that in the rresent ststr of our taxation, it would be itunossible to take up the subject then before the Ilitasie, with a T ie, / t o the at tainment of any real benefit for the et untry. lie was glad, however, to find that the subject ha•l been taken up / and in order that it might lie better andersteed. he titou•fht that lientletuen ought to bring forwaol particular grievances. Mr. HARING spoke in reply. He said he must differ from his Hon. Friend in what he said reviser:- ing the currency. A pound sterling at this time 411- d fe u r r e i t i l ig ro t n h s e id w e a ra r. isly T i b n e v d a il l r u e e ren f t r , t e im wa a s pound t f ist 3 er t l pe inf cent. in favour of the existing rtirrerey. A chaster in the value of commodities did tint immediately fel low this coance in the circulating medium ses or- - count of the fluctuations whili took place is the prices. The burthen at present on the country was taken "il blYiidepralace in a t t h gme eis n su ted eof li l y the alteration ankparr.lie w w bi u ch o lsa4 r, that it was an honourable and liberal set to limit the , currency, but he was not certain whether the Bark would be able to perform all that was prosniseL W. 4 , were now a oleclinine country in poiut of trade and I revenue ; and the question was, whether mom bail I been promised than could ever be performed. tkr great difficulty at present was a large fiebt, and we should not give the public creditor utorsAultle erg gee: • humid to do by our strict contract; Inst that we placed ourselves in a situatiMarof atie•kr• and gave the public creditor ton great WI atlitteAsee by recurring to parwwts in gold, and Irlablabilliss; silver, which was the old standard coin di 010 Mb& lie should rather have made it a perpetual ylrs and made it optional in the Dank to par in Bold or in silver. Nest Session he should bring forward a 'proposition to this !abet. Mr. RICARDO tpoks in explanation. The petitio-t wan thee( Mr. BAR/NO ebetts ft m the Chatnber'of Mr. Riesinx), in - Raring, as 'to having "mei, that site ebeepest IBS Mrstedliblelt. Vt. SARIN() ide, mink Om Mi. oks in explanatton. bordered to lie on else tahle. As presented a stadten- pd.. Coonnerce it Edialpqrdb l et n reply to what two standards of credrarkb 'b- ra WWI rpeged alutspe he the the fitl y g o“ abe i . "i. I 'II r~ - !~ i. .dr . L I ~ • r* * 4. ~" r , ;. ~.