The Sun. — London, England, 1814-10-29 00:00:00

ON THE BONDING SYSTEM. TO THE EDITOR. OF THE SUN'. SlR—The leading article in 'rap. SUN of the 1 - 211 i instant, relating to the Bonding System, l:ntains several assertions and conclusions, which I,l,pear to me very disputable, and, if taken for •anted, may produce bad effects to trade,- hnd con-imerce. Frn . to your well known candour, I amled to !tope you will grant the following remarks a place in your Paper. The experience of a long series of years enables me to make them : what appear to Ims errors or mistakes, must be readily excused in au _Editor, not professionally couversunt with the subject.' It is stated in the above paragraph, " that the Bonding System arose out of the circumstances of the Continent, under the anti-commercial Code 4)f - IitioNAPARTE, and was at once a great conve n'euce and indulgence to the Merchant, and of service to the trade of the country." in reply to this I beg leave to observe, that the Bonding System has been congenial to our Ex cise and Custom Regulations these fifty years, and acted upon during that wh0146-Period, though ext.onded since the tyrannical conduct of the French Ruler inhibited British Commerce on the Continent of Europe. The Bonding System was oil: • ginally applied to articles on which the Home-con stunption Duties were heavy, and which were mostly again exported to foreign countries. For instance, Coa'ee paid originally under this System a Custom, Duty of 3-fourths per cwt. inwards ; it was bonded under Customs and Excise locks, and when ex ported within the course of three years, had the full drawback of three-fourths allowed. The same was the case with cocoa, rum, &c. includ ing all prize goods, antecededt to the American Rebellion in 1774. The Merchants received the tobaccos under bond for the duties into their own ware-houses, and had eighteen months to pay the home duties in, or might export them, nor could payment of duties be sooner inforced. NiThen, in the course of our late eventful wars, the necessities of the State caused the duties of many-articles to be trebled; yea quadrupled, for home- consumption, it was the bounden duty -of government, and a. wise policy, to grant these fleilities in the payment of duties, securing their safety at the same time. If this arrangement had Dot been adopted, the Commissioners of the Customs and the Excise would have bad frequently to resort to the expedient of selling goods imported to obtain the duties payable, and there would'have been instances where they. would not have met with purchasers, for there are at times goods im ported not worth the duty. I therefore do not join in the opi&on to con sider the extension of the Bonding System as so great a boon to the Merchant, but as a conse quence of State necessity, felt by the Managers of the Revenue. The Merchants residing in this country would have only once fallen into the snare of Revenue Officers' Sales for Duty on Goods imported, and the loss the Revenue would have reverted on those who might be solicitous to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. In short, Mer, chants would have checked their imports ,to avert ruin, and the Revenue must have ultimately suffered. To induce the commercial part of the nation to submit to Mr. FREWIN'S plan, to have all Ships and Goods imported, landed, and kept in Docks encircled with walls, and locked up, the Bonding System was held out as a great 'inducement, and greatly enlarged, though in most cases the delay ; and charges attendant on Mr, FREWIN'S System are such, that they will prove a heavy burthen on our commercial rivalship with other nations ; but though the Merchants may rattle their chains, the thorough-bred Revenue Officer never minds—if one penny is secured to the Revenue, no matter • it cost Commerce a pound ! • The Continental System of NAPOLBON certainly did contribute to a still more enlarged Bonding system, both as to quantity of goods, and the en - largement of the time for paying the duties ; and tl;,(t very justly, when it is considered, that at one period we had only Heligoland, Anholt, and Ice hnid to export to, and this at the very time when Great Britain was the sole receptacle, for all the ,irmports from both Indies, to an amount inexpres sible in quantity and quality, such us these king ,t4onis neither could, nor were ever intended to con- une. A vast quantity of bonded goods are solely in !tended for exportation ; loaded with prohibitory civ4iesTrofotnia,bywayofsecuringßritish manufae -t.,y o r produce, that preference of home constimp- Aioir they, in a national point of view, are justly nudpreferably entitled to. Yet I very much question, wbcther these prohibitory 'duties are not a part, md‘a considerable one too, of the four millions `erling Government is said to be entitled to claim out the merchants for duties on Bonded Goods, ot;glr this branch of duties was impo se d i n t h e 1 expectation they would never be payable, be prohibitory. • We may justly consider the yes on another kind of imports in nearly the' t light. The West India produce of our late nests was not permitted to be imported into country for home use, that is, on British %Owl duties, but subject to a prohibitory duty ; the Planters in those conquests were con strained to send their produce to this-country, and no where else. Yet these,. as Bonded Goods„ . ail on high.dritles, swell-the four millions demanded. Barely six` months have elapsed since the great marts on the Continent have been accessible to British produce and shipping ; and Government conies forward to demand the duties on Bonded Goods, apparently blaming the Mercantile Com munity, as being slack in emptying the ware houses. That seems the real sense of the appli cation. Such goods as are wanted for horse con- sumption, or exportation' either, are no doubt taken out, and the duties satisfied before delivery. SENEX. Oct. IS, 1614. cro he continued.) NO It WAY. HEAD-QUARTEIIS AT FR F,DERICKSHALT„ OCT. 9, 1814 . The Swedish Commissioners to the Norwegian Diet, viz. their Excellencies Baron Rosenblad, Baron Watterstedt, Bishop Rosenstein, and the Secretaries of State • Count Horner, and Mr. De Wirsen, left this on the 4th inst. and arrived next day at Christiania. The Deputies from all the districts having met at Christiania, the Assembly was occupied the whole of yesterday in the verification of their powers. The Director of Police, Dirichs, has been elected Vice-President, and the Soren- Scriver Christie, Secretary. The question was agitated whether it was ne cessary to receive powers containing special in structions, and it was alindst unanimously de cided in the negative. This is important, inas- Mod' as it is said that the Deputies from Trond heim and Bergen were provided with instructions hostile to the union. According to all the information received, the tone of the Deputies is marked by moderation. Prince Christian yesterday transmitted to Mr. Rosencrantz his act of abdication. The Council of State will to-morrow communicate it to the Diet. The Prince has nevertheless expressed a wish that a deputation. should at the same time wait upon him, meaning to place in their hands a duplicate of this act ; after which he will de part without delay. HEAD-QUARTERS at FREDERICKSITALL, Oct. 14, 1814. Prince .Christian intended to deliver on the 10th his speech to the Diet.; but that Assembly, in order to conform-exactly to the Convention of Moss, having, declared itself constituted on the Bth, Mr. Rosencrantz, after having communicated that the health of the Prince did not permit hint to appear in person, read the speech, which - is an exposition of the conduct of Prince Christian sihce the peace of Kiel. On the 10th, a deputation of 25 members, hay - - ing at its head the Counsellor Treschow, repaired, at the request, of the Prince, to Ladegaardso, to receive front his hands his act of abdication. This formality being gone through, the Prince departed the sante night, and went on board a Norwegian brig of war. The Diet is already divided into Lag and Odals Ting. The Sarenscriver Christie has been elected President for the occasions when the two soctions shall unite ; and the , Sorenscriver Weidernann is. appointed Secretary. A Committee is about to be nominated, to examine the state of the king dom, and to receive the communications which the Swedish Cominissioners have to make in the name of - their King. The number of - Deputies amounts at present to 78. Those from Nordland and Finmark have not yet arrived. Admiral Baron Platen has just been appointed sixth Commissioner of the King to the Diet. HEAD-QUARTERS AT FREDERICKSHALL,Oct. is, 1814. The Swedish Commissioners having been in vited in the name of the Diet of Christiania to corn mimicate their propositions, they appeared in that Assembly on the 13th. Baron Roseublad there delivered a discourse, in which he announced the object . Of their Mission.... Mr. Christie, President,. replied, that the Diet would deliberate - on these communications with all the promptitude which their inipci.lance would admit of.- The Commis sioners then presented their powers, and the plan oh canstithtion. ,When th e y h a d qu itt e d t h e As sembly, this plan was there read. It is known that the liberal principle there laid down, and the dis course of the Commissioners, have produced a vourable impression on the minds of metubers. Mr. Christie-has been elected President of the Odals Ting ; and Count Wedel-Jarlsberg, of the Lag - Ting. The Diet has elected two, new Counsellors of State;Colonel llegerman, and Mr. Fasting, cola wander of the brigs of war. AMERICAN PAPISRS. ! BURLINGTON, SEPT. 13.—The enemy in their flight destroyed all the bridges, and obstructed. the road by trees, baggage, &c. They were, however, pursued as far as Chazy, but oh ac count of the obstructions of the road and their precipitate retreat, our heroes were not able to overtake them. The enemy have learned a lesson long to be remembered, that the " soil of free dom is sacred, that it must not, shall not, be polluted with impunity." In this, their expedi tion by land and water; we can account to Sir George for more than 2000 of his men, killed or prisoners, and more than 90 pieces of cannon. To the interposition of Heaven be. ascribed our glorious victory.—Out village last evening pre sented a most brilliant spectacle : every house was illuminated, which, with the riming of bells,.dis-. charges of musketry, and salutes of ordnance froM the wharf and encampment, proclaimed the joy of our citizens, and their gratitude to their heroic deliverers. WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPT. I4.—News has just arrived, giving the heart-cheering intelligence of the capture of four hundred of the enemy's rear-guard. SEPT. 15.—1 t is said our Commodore intends to go to the Isle au Moue, to see Sir George's bat ters' there. The Saranac has been a fine place for our BALTIMORE, SEPT. 15.—Titc ENEMY LANDING AGAIN.---We have just received information that the British have been landing at Colgate's Creek, on the western or southera side of the river, about nine miles from this city. NEW YORK, SEPT. 21.—The loss sustained by the British at Plattsburgh is reported to have been 2000 men killed and wounded, and prisoners, and 99 pieces of cannon. ALBANY, SE:PT. 20.—Letters from Sackett's Harbour to the 16th state, that the army under General Jzard had arrived, which, together with the militia, make our force amount to about 7000. SECOND ATTACK ON STONINGTON. On the 10th Sept. his Majesty's brig Dispatch anchored nearly abreast of Stonington, Connecti cut, with a spring upon her cable, and com menced a heavy fire upon that place, which was returned from the fort on shore with two 18- pounders. After about two hours, the Dispatch I►auled off, having been hulled several times, with the loss of t►wo killed and ten wounded. The privateer brig Portsmouth, SHAW, returned to Portsmouth from a cruise of 10 days, with 218 bales and cases of dry goods, which she took out of a British brig from Liverpool, and ordered in, captured close in with Sambroi Light, Halifax ; also was captured, a schooner -laden \vial provi sions (ordered for New Orleans), and a sloop, given up. Both taken off Halifax. FRENCH PA:2IAS. MAD:Iw, OCT. 14.—We arc, compelled to ac knowledge that the arrests continue, and that tho. spirit of discontent has manifested itself in several provinces. The expedition which is preparing to be sent beyond sea is to be under the command of General MoriDos. There is great difficulty in equipping the troops who are to embark. It is not very easy to prevent desertion. The long voyage alarms the soldiers, who do not like to quit their native soil. VIENNA, OCT. 15.---The Court Gazette of to day says nothing of the Congress, nor of the fetes given to the Sovereigns. It is the first time that they have preserved so absolute a silence. When the Congress was first announced several Journalists announced that they would publish an account of the proceedings every day, with poll tical notes upon them. But they have not kept their words; they are reduced to mere conjecture about the proceedings in the meetings of the Congress, and in the closets of the Diplomatists. It is, however, strongly asserted, that the discus sions arc upon the fate of Poland and Saxony. Of the two there are perhaps fewer difficulties in the case of Poland; there does not at present ex- ist any House that possesses any hereditary claim upon that kingdom. The case is not the same with Saxony : the Princes of Saxony will be un- willing to part with a Crown which adds new ustre to their Houses. Spain also claims, in the name of the Queen of Etruria, the Sister of Ferdinand VII. the posses sion of Tuscany, which was granted to her by a formal Treaty between France and Spain, as an indemnity for the Duchies of Parma and Placen- tia. By the new arrangements, the House of Austria is to have the possession of Tuscany and the Duchies of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, which are connected with its other possessions in Italy. It is said that Austria offers to the Queen of Etruria the three Legations of Bologna, Fer rara, and Romagna. This Princess is then to marry the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who is to take the title of King, but the three Legations are still in dispute, for the Pope claims them.— But all this wants confirmation. HAMJ3URGH, OCT. 14.—The Danes expect some favourable results from the Congress at Vienna. It is generally believed that Denmark will obtain, besides Pomerania, some districts in the North of Germany, perhaps the Duchies of Mecklen burgh, the Princes of which will, it is said, be indemnified in Westphalia. The commerce of Denmark is resuming acer tain degree of tivity, but it can only flourish till the Spring, when the communications will be esta blished with America and the Indies, and the war shall be terminated between Great Britain awl the United States. Great complaints are made, both here and in Denmark, of the want of specie, The English' litia, for on the banks was nearly all the execu tion done. The enemy repeatedly attempted to ford it, but were repulsed every time but the last, when a few officers and men got over, but after, wards straggled into the Woods, - .akil surrendered to our men—Sir George retreating without : call' , ing them in. Four Lieutenants are here (Baker's) on parole. They speak in terms of admiration of the kindness of Macomb, but are very severe in their remarks on ---. They say, had Wel lington, or even Brisbane (whom they term a fire eater), commanded, they would have had Platts burgh Forts. They say, they have beaten the Cleverest soldiers in the world, .and have now hren taken by a rabble. Their Captain; Purchess, they say, was killed by the militia, while holding up his white jacket as a flag. The Vermont militia arc returning, but the New Yolk militia are still flocking into Platts burgh, as there are but regulars enough to man the forts, Many deserters came into Plattsburgh yesterday, and many more are in the woods.— Brooks has greatly distinguished himself at Platts burgh. toll r ills $t std' or now only deal for ready m une) , e/- efir die l' - ' dates. Norwegian vessels now free tY of the North. d ies to cv 'CASSEL, OCT. 17.--Our Gore ' ° ea.. 4°11 , 11 0 5 report that the Saxon Generals li eceq f t heir(", witz were arrested, i n con seque nce °,, in 1° , 12 : ing signed a Memorial to the Co sir arrest' of their Sovereign.- The cause of their ' - mystery. %le' 1 that ' , 1 'GHENT , OCT. 22.—1 t was St.a.ite(- isbufl;lcLi Adams and Russel had set out for r ere: do rsi" Stockholm, where they are Alllbas'€e I•Defic,; their Excellencies are still in thi s C v itY 0 ; tended journey o f M . uoard t° ' 6f i ls i , ' o o'l conference with Mr.. Crawford, the ' s it", of the United States, are merely PP ° , i " izx Orr/ the English Journalists. H is - . C e Cri; 6 AnomterciitclaitnteLd Legation here. beiß.e.ut there is - I d of ° correspondence between Mr. Cralv f°l •••' It is certain, that the America n 00°1 ' a bi l a re n c d ei t v i e la d t se t i i ' l e e r y al in dispatehes from its 146 ;:; t611 ; those which were mia l* , i d of notes c b tt r ia b l i may continue, upon sorne r itet V 4 upon stlillealal g statelp 6fl a ii r .los t iftt c i ti o i. ecinec t aci a siniti i t : es,a l ettptblt.eit a tet,:bciipti,iol.: , o,iisiinllsctbr,n o lseo.t, c li e,iii: ! ec i , the arrival of Mr. Dallas, or of soni c °t fo ll(le who It l `' ii tp w ho ' well ye l d d n i to s h n wa o t s a e t hr d ee : o n e l rally believed, that the FrenCh 6c2ve i i t is s4 ; I f l o e ci lj at il i .i o t n e s 'i The, Cabinet of St—James's not havi n g I) v .ft t it 4 , „ hilS h oe any thing respecting its preteu.si°"„ o r . 4 field open to allsorts of conjectures. 17 e ct ro peC i a l ever, believe a part of what hasbeeas3ll iesi the views of Great Britain upo n the slab s fr will undoubtedly demand sonie.coneess o f P h ;,, 5 I have taken a favoara obvsi, America to satisfy the vain prelen s-11 i biri ull. But every thing that is said lle " f Tl)g , t l i t• .. Ject must be received with distr nst. 4 ' cbi ell i ej . h Journalists kindly may be said of alinost all the lett er " s hicll tr ' il s vp• i ll or from a Gentleman English i n sert , 119 " . ofi r COrr eS P cl ; t i say they have received from a. Lr cli .t d fool ji-' arrive -.nes e just P tee all this is the conduct of sitnpletous• lo 'e1e 5 .45 0 6 case of the two ters are generally made up I ° l° % ill as "- dt° Flemish Papers, often ill understoo" srlio-', bat e so seriously and so pleasantly saitl t° • - 4.• 140- , refuge in London. i „,i Itt ' t aw, • The Prince of Orange arrived yes il f ( sets. rs gq i , (w oo f , PARIS, OCT. 26.—The Royal ,-/- irt.-., 145 ,4 fl are ( ceive a fixed allots duce of t welve burl 0 0 eiS 1 r ec , h t. Russian Mediators, 100 wea l o -v. they will receive, besides, an ,in eac h s lip proportioned to the trouble which or s 0 Po t " may have. The amount.of these a : lie r ' i be fixed by Our beloved and trusty ch :i; 01 Ili. Chancellor of France, mu the proP°9ll ll Director-General of the Librar a ber. aY• 11 1$ , i,cr VIENNA, OCT. 15.--There arri ve OS° d 14th and 15th, Messieurs Prince .tliatist° tell' Ple s ° it of si ti lain and Aid-de-tamp of the King be P l ' els" Hoppe, Captain and Secretary o r t laic ° ration ; Count d'Erbach-Erhaell' „C° General in the service of 13av3ria. ,g Vkaf 0 lette.'spte of VENICE,, OCT. 10.—Recent state, that this island is always ii! a ri dotl,„bo,„i tation. Upon a report ' being. e'!."l-1r cotived,,,'-' cession_ of this territory to an all ele ( ' rail l 41 Order, it sent Messieurs Ornatis i an „ c laili l i,,, see • to the Congress of 'Vienna, t° r : ;, - ,piri c ' . 4 0 sible, their independence ; but til e " Cos. Jr . 4 44 sufficiently calm to be left to ther oSe c harg e A je Y the The first Sitting of the Colualititeleto•JaA;Se affairs of Germany, was lie' t i oroVgc,,cs , Diplomatists who compose it, ar e -'• re 1; 0 1 : -,f V llll. senburg, under the direction t ,-, ro sslyri , nich, Austria ; Baron Lltunboltit, 1 00° 1 ' ',14 Wretle, Bavaria ; Count Minister, ' • bare' , tliff;to ° Baron Linden, IVurtemburg• News which has been current, refuel to. receive an Envoy fixtra.o is' i lj :9o !it ot the . Court of Naples' at Congretecr 1` 1 .`:4 la / thai:6,olll,l„foiroe' E th n e v r , e )y ha b s u n t ottheaoppneearsse,tiliohehraesablicYol.t" re . r i , he bp ~ 40 0 Y t elt months. o f 5 3 ' 1 , 5 0 1t1 4 ,0 CAssEL, OCT. 17.. — The Kiog i , -is al j 5 ',,,:t taken no part at the Congress• It lea lil:colit'fil as solve Icair t of olporperloii without foundation, nounced, that he had signed aacct, lie• t' ; .4/ equally disposed to ask oh h e f If he says nothing on this st' a ltlln ° ell' ' glreadY - . ; la r,:i 41°, ee nothing, inter est ~, powerfulo_o(abbsi_fitfoeiee..:ni3CzvinAl. Galicia,l t g—e ta Es : ii tei , : :n e s ; , Congress Ps be s . . 00T.) esro ‘ (f v :); i presume Enfor ' ll :2 :a h .e Lord . i l si thatinriCi the I: n t :' a l l a i t ).. r C i t - ic e : - Qr P ,. .; tl. s i : 131 E 1 ; ) ;: g 11 1 1 4; t I co i l l . s c i t 1 1 '1 l i t 1 t i : I I f . 4 ,5 1 r:b : i :' : c.' 11 i ri. : it c : :: l i e I ' . t i I 1- 1, : i'11 ; P:c11 5 ‘ . : 61 , 6.' Saxony has been decided• Tl'el gll ll . .. t'o 4 l are will goingpotosseoscscioly t..thliti"sllBo!„tdr()o''s,:,,,erre::l:.j,:oct:ol4 F i cland to the electorate of 0311° l'llearol nth , , 'aced to the rank ot 3 killgfi°lll: lc Of Abe 117 o f 1 , 0 tir , e 0. , t o Duel Hesse Cassel will have . t. _ o pt 511 , c ep il j 1 y- As to Poland, it appear! ,_ tbc c,,,, 00, under o _ the dominion .of Russig,.i.ill,llilo Allso:l;.Ate', littllevhdiicsittrilc'itisi rreill'iceshr°lsit.l.lll:ll,,e'fi.,.:lo:-il°:„l't.c.fi'l. withoSme . Among iics ! a tine . most Tilis l e l x e %t.i': o w r c a l illt511"c;: r'ics,i,.siic:gr' ..°4fil,''' fob° c"ca' at Hambur 71 I: tile' ire'vD I ' h as be insetted 1,, I, we ranz. . (It sI d ~,,,, ,%, been in the Gazet"; regi'Ji,„j.! , e ° l v es'. The King o f Denmark .will coe .. 1 rec..‘poc •cPi.e.nhati'lel to the Eng►ish,. i l. l'olciate. of change flandwrich and t lic WO kz 4 ,r ; \ \ , tht . tt)t 1,444 ' itq 1 41 i th. 1143 IL 4