The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-07 00:00:00

ay./-4--- 4_

round which its other dirties gather and move. They
I paved the way for legislation on this, the most im-
pottar,t, possible Of public concert;,
Up to the last session ^f paz2iameut no measure
had been framed on the recommeada,..:°°3 of the
com-
mission. sock statutes as the Idetropolita,: Ihuldings
Act, if their framers took any note of these ;:e0131:
mendations, showed that they bad done so within:.
mastering the subject, even so far as it came within
their immediate attention. The first sanatory statute
deserving the name was introduced at the close of
last session by Lord LINCOLN, for the sewerage,
drainage, &c., of towns. In this case, the report of
1844 was used. The Health of Towns Association
declare that the act forms " an excellent basis for a
comprehensive and efficient sanatory measure."
The measure has not yet passed into law. The
Health of Towns Association (which includes the
most active and intelligent of the men who have
taken part in the sanatory agitation) appointed a
committee to consider and report upon the provisions
of Lord LINCOLN'S bill.

They have done so, at length, and their report
has just been published.' We most earnestly and
strenuously recommend it to all who wish to ac-
quaint themselves with existing sanatory evils and
their remedies. It presents these to us in the
shape of a detailed and critical commentary on
Lord LINCOLN'S bill. Approving of the measure in
its intention and many of its provisions, it points oat
in it numerous and most grave defects. Some of these
are fundamental, and would go far to defeat the
object of the framers of the act. The bill, with the
remarks of the committee of the association, suggests
a painful comment on our official arrangements.
Here is a measure, ostensibly based on the
report of a commission. That report is unri-
valled for its clearness and fulness of detail. Every
evil mentioned in it had its reason and its
remedy appended. Yet the measure in many
points overlooks, in several absolutely rims counter
to, the advice of the report. It leaves some of the
worst evils unredressed, and its method of redressing
others is such as must infallibly be inoperative in
practice. It is, in short, a slovenly measure, judged
by the materials at hand to construct it from, and
the rules laid down to guide its architect. Yet, bad
as it may be, it is more careful, we believe, than
most of its brethren. It will owe much of its
efficiency to the degree in which it is amended ac-
cording to the recommendations of the present
report. Thus we see a private association criticising
and setting right the executive. It is well, as
things are, that such a revising power is in
existence and action. The want of it is se-
verely felt in other branches of legislation.
We are anxious to urge the sanatory question on
public attention. Every man is interested in it.
Every man is suffering from the neglect and ignorance
which at present prevail with regard to it. Every man
may do something to removethe oneand the other. But
sound information astoevilsand remedies is an indispen-
sable condition to activity. This report furnishes
such information. Let us recommend it to those, first,
whose position and pursuits bring them in contact
with the poor and their houses, and, after them, to all
who have intelligence, humanity, and courage, to
examine, appreciate, and asmil, what are really the
most fruitful sources of death and depravity. Till
these foul springs be stopped, or, at least, their
poisonous waters sweetened, neither benevolence, re-
ligion, nor education, can do much to bless and
elevate the lower classes of this country.

• Chas. Knight and Co., 22, Ludgate-street, price Is. Gd., Bro.
pp. 122.

A NUMBER of the first merchants of Liverpool
have formed themselves into an association for the
reduction of the duty on tea. The association com-
mences by declaring, that " our export trade with the
Chinese is in danger, and that, to preserve it, there is
the most urgent necessity for a large reduction of the
present high duty on tea." It denounces the present
duty, being 2s. 21d. per pound, or 200 per cent. on
the average value, and from 300 to 400 per cent. on
the lower qualities. It is a higher duty, they assert,
than is charged on any other necessary of life, which
tea proves itself to be by the avidity for it of the lower
classes. The bulk of teas cost but from Bd. to 2s.
a pound ; the duty alone places it above the reach of
the many. The association declares the Chinese as
eager to take our manufactures, on which they levy
but 5 per cent., as the English to take their tea, if
the duty was somewhat in proportion. And, finally,
they assert that increased consumption would follow
reduction, so as to occasion no loss to the revenue.
The Tea Association must feel that this latter point
is the great one for them to establish. When any
particular duty furnishes the Exchequer with an
annual sum approaching to five millions sterling, like
malt and tea, it is no light or easy matter to medflle
with it. Whatever maybe the desires ot- (hose
entrusted with the management of our commercial
administration to promote the trade to China, fears
assail them, that all the premises laid down by the Tea
Association may not be correct.
Tea, unlike most other produce, is not a crop that
can be raised at will, or in a season, to meet a
suddenly increased demand. There are not many
soils and regions in China which suit it. Those who
do cultivate it are small proprietors, without
capital, taking in advance from the merchant,
who wishes to buy tke crop, the expenses
necessary for its cultivation. The East India
Company invariably found that a sudden increase in
the demand for tea caused a disproportionate one in
the price. Any very increased demand in this coun-
try might not meet in China with a supply
increased to anything like the same extent, and if this
grew out of diminishing the duty, the result might be
a very great loss to the revenue, without the smallest
benefit to the consumer.
The Association adduces the example of coffee, the
reduction of the duty on which led to such increased
consumption. But the consumption of coffee had
not been so universal as that of tea is already.
It had kept a secluded rank as a luxury, and only
of a sudden, and in consequence of cheapness,
became an article of popular use. There is not
the same room for an increase in the consumption of
tea. Neither is there the same wide field for tho
supply of the article. Coffee is produced in both
hemispheres, in many and varying countries. The
West Indies and the East, the Brazils and the Mauri-
tius, Mocha and Java can be applied to for coffee.
It is not the same with tea ; Nature has as yet endowed
China with the virtual monopoly.
It is, however, impossible to deny that the duty
levied on tea is enormous in proportion to its first cost,
and that if any means could be found of reconciling
the interests of the revenue with those of the traders
and of the consumers, they ought to be grasped at.
There are, however, great difficulties. There is no
possibility of making a small or gradual experi-
ment. Any reduction of the present duty by
less than one half would be futile. Whatever the
reduction be, we may calculate certainly that at least
one half of this reduction would go into the pockets of
the dealers. If Government took off sixpence, the
consumer would be benefited only threepence. Let
the reduction of threepence a pound on the price of
tea be divided into the quantities which the poor in
general purchase, it would not make a farthing in
the ounce, and such a fractionary diminution of price
would not be felt in such a way as materially to in-
fluence the consumption. The reduction should at
least be one shilling, and what Chancellor of the
Exchequer must not pause ere putting in jeopardy
two millions and a half of revenue ?

Could the system of ad valorem duties be recurred
to, and a fair scale of even cent. per cent. duties be
charged upon all kinds of teas, the poor man paying
the additional shilling for his tea, should it originally
cost but a shilling, and the rich man paying a duty of
two and three shillings for his high-priced tea, it
would be much the more equitable and plain..,-1/11M• 4.6
fortunately the ad valorem system has
impracticable, and the result has been verfoikiran.l, d....„0"
• •
gross injustice to the poor man, not only isttlie PICO'

; ,
'