The Express.
London, England, 1848-01-15 00:00:00

THE TEA DUTIES.

Yesterday a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Lir, rpool, convened by the Mayor, was held in the Sessions-
house, to consider of the best means of promoting a reduc-
tion in the present exorbitant duties on tea. His worship
the mayor, T. B. lioitereLL, Esq., took the chair shortly
after 12 o'clock, at which time the court-house was about
three parts full. The meeting consisted of men of all shades
of politics, anxious toe sprees their opposition to a tax which
presses so heavily upon the poor, and detracts from their
means of social enjoyment.—The Town-clerk having read
the requisition,
The MAYOtt said the reduction of the duty on tea was not
only a question ef great commercial importance, but it was a
question affecting the very well-being and social welfare of
the community. It was on those two grounds that he
trusted the question would be brought under the considers.
don of her Majesty's government. It was no question of
patty politics—no question of commercial competition be-
tween one branch of commerce and another—it was a
question on which all might, on one common ground,
request her Majesty's government to reduce what
was considered a most exorbitant duty on one of
the almost necessaries of life. The merchant said, and
said truly reduce the exorbitant duty on tee, and
you enable me to export more largely the manufactures
of this country. Toe manufacturer said, and said truly—
reduce the exorbitant duty on tea, and you enable me to ma-
nufacture mere extensively, and, consequently, employ the
labouring population of this country. The operative said,
and said truly—reduce the duty on tea, and you give me
employment, and not only this, but you enable me to enjoy
in my own domestic family circle that luxury which at pre-
sent is almost confined to the wealthier classes.
Mr. S. HOLME moved the first resolution:

That the report of :he parliamentary committee of lad melon has
conclusively established the case of the advocates fora reduction of the
tea duty, and that that report claims the immediate attention of her
Majeety's government—proving, as it does, the injustice, ae well as
the impolicy, of continuing so heavy a tax on an artists which is
mainly received in better fur British manufactures.
Mr. R. Cuoln3LEY sLeonded the resolution, which wan
carried unanimously.
Mr. W. 11/amour:2 moved the second resolution
That it is the deliberate opinion of this meeting, founded on the
experience of the lest three years, that union, the duty on tea be Un-
mtdiately reduced, the question is no longer one of an increase or de-
crease of our trade with China, but almolt of its very existence, se a
prolititble outlet for the products of British industry.
Mr. L. BILODKIIIH, in seconding the Desolation, said it
spoke of the experience of the last three year, as proving
that if a reduction was not made in the duty, the trade would
be destroyed. In proof of this, he wucl the export, of
woollen goods, during the last three years, to China were as
follow ;-184.5, 106,948,000 yards ; 1846, 68,396,000 yards •
and in 1847, only 63,278,000. Or print., in 1845, 2,309,000
yards were exported ; in 1846, 2,451,000; and in 1847 only
2,063,000. The effects had also been dhastrous to the ship-
ping. In 1815, 112 vessels, of 48,503 tons, cleared out of
China ; in 1846, 91 vessels, of 38,310 tons ; in 1847, 73
vessels, of 29,606 tons, and two of the latter vessels in ballast.
He then proceeded to show that the opening of the China
trade had not benefited the merchants, and argued, at great
length, and with much energy, in favour of a reduction of
the duty. The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr Joux SMiTif, seconded by Mr. Churchwarden FEB-
OI'OON, proposed the third revolution
That it in the bounden duty of government to foster and encourage,
not to jeopardise, so important a trade as that opened up to us in the
Tut empire of China.
The remainder of the resolutions adopted by the meeting
were as follows

That awl meeting is of opinion that no direct loss would excrue to
the revenue from a considerable reduction in the ditty on tea; but
that, even it a temporary di heiericy were to arise, the considerations
of a social and moral character, in ieparalgy connected with this great
question, are of paramount importance to those of a mere fiscal nature.
That it Is a fart which can no longer be concealed, that the pressure
which commenced wits the manutacturing and mercantile body Is
MOO extending, in a frightful degree, to e.ery clam of the community;
and that, unless the cost of the necesvaries of life be lessened to the
public generally, and above all, to the working classes, the present
revenue of the country cannot he maintained.
The following memorial WOO their read:
TO Tilt Slott ZION. THE 1011110 roMMIAMOELRA OI rata MAJESTY'S

TKVASI•4V.
The memorial of the inhabitants of Liverpool, in public meeting
assembled, respectfully showed, that on A former occasion, during
the loot aeration of parliament, when the inhabitants of thin town met
together to remonstrate against the impelicy of continuing so henry a
duty upon the article of tea, the meuturialieut endeavoured to recom-
mend their views to the ineourab e consideration of your lordship.,
by arguments drawn from statistics, from practical experience, and
from incontrovertible facto. Since that period the question has gone
through the ordeal of a searching pat liameatary inquiry, the result of
which has been to establish conclusively the Hustle's, as well as the
impulicy, of continuing so heave a tax on an anise which is
mainly received in barter for Brandi manufactures. Your memorial-
' ista, assembled on the prceet occasion, can only reiterate these anti-
menta in the strongest psaible manner; and It is their deliberate
opinion, founded on the experience of the last three years, that unless
the duty on tea be immediately reduced, the question will not be one
of inermee or decrease in our trade with Chine, but of its existence an
a protitoble outlet (or the products of British industry. That your
mesuorialiets would respectfully urge on ber Majesty's government the
noreasity of ((tete, ing and encouraging, not jeopardising, no important
a trade as that opened up to us in the vast empire of China.
That your memonalists are of opinion that no direct loos will
accrue to the revenue from a cornidemble reduction of the duty
on tea; but that, even if a temporary deficiency were to aria,
the ceitundendimui of a social and moral character inseparably con-
nected with this great question are of paramount importance to those
of a mere fiend nature. It is a fact that can no longer be concealed
that the pressure which commenced with the manufacturing and
mercantile body is now extending in a frightful degree to every class
of the community, and that, unless the cost of thy necessaries of life
be materially lenience, to the public generally, and, above all, to the
working-elasees, the pi event revenue of the country cannot he main-
tained. Your memorialists, therefore, now urge upon your lord-
ships' consideration the immediate adoption of the recommendations
of the select committee of the House of 0,01010113, ad your memo.
Mast/ will ever piny.
Moved by Mr. C. TURNER, and seconded :
That the memorial now read, embodying the foregoing resolutions,
be adopted, and that his worship the mayor be respectfully requested
to sign the same on behalf of the meeting; and that a deputation be
appointed to wait on her Majesty's government therewith, to lay be-
fore them the sentiments of this meeting, and to urge the immediate
adoption of the recommendation of the select committee of the House
of Commons.
Several gentlemen were then appointed to form a depu-
tation.
Mr. EARLE then moved the following resolution, which
was adopted unanimously :
That the cordial thanks of thin meeting be given to his worship the
mayor for the alacrity with which he responded to the wishee of the
requisitionists in calling this meeting, tor his kindness in preeiding at
it, and for his able conduct in the choir.

IRELAND.
DCALIN, JAN. 13.
At the meeting of the Irish Confederation last
night, Mr. Leech, from Manchester, displayed his
oratorical powers, and avowed himself a " chartist."
The spirit of the Nation, which once animated the
confederates, appears to have evaporated, for the ap-
plauded of the night was Mr. Mitchell. Mr. Duffy
has ceased to be popular, and how far that feeling
will extend a few weeks more will bear witness.