The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-05 00:00:00

1-1-017BLIC wosarsajrrnrszirrianuss

Yirizi rill'

Yesterday the Cotton Supply 'Association pre-
sented to the Secretary of State for India in
Council the following memorial in favour of en-
eollreging the free application of English capital
To7l shill to works of public utility in India
the BiOt.
_Hon. Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P.,
her Majesers Secretary of State for India in Council.
The Memorial of the Cotton Supply Amosietion showeth,
That your memorialises are of *pink, that looking to
British Ind* and the =or-
territory in even a proper state, in order that its resources
monsth. eletenextenitveoafmaworksembofracedpublibcyutility required to pi. that
may be fairly developed, it is manifestly impossible for the
government, by its own efforts, to effect much in that di-
rection, whilst it Is tally clear that the surplus capital
and free enterprise of England, if made available, will with
rapidity supply all those of such works as do not of necessity
sad exclusively belong to the operations of government.
That irrespective of the stupendous benefits which •
' speedy and extensive construction of works of the nature
referred to in various parts of India would produce to the
cotton trade, and therefore to the general community of
this country, it is difficult to over-rate the numerous creaks.
lag influences and solid advantages which would thereby
necemmily Sow to the native population, and especially
when accompanied by the introduction there of a large body
c 4 English civil engineers and others of skill and education,
such as would be employed by private companies.
That it is therefore a matter of the met vital and press-
lag importance to the beet interests of both India and Eng-
land that every possible facility should be afforded to those
who are willlag to take upon yhemseivis the onerous teak of
odd= espial in this country, and to apply it to purposes
preemeneedy imperiest ass =me airis adverted tes,
wbugt ifff thPaisPnist eika absolve/e gßy hi wash •••11. thp
Pvecumint will nut esly Mime Mal nomis ressittr
asid trouble, but be a considerable financial/Meer, and at the
rime time secure the affection and loyalty of its subjects.
Thdt your memorialists have learnt with much satisfac-
tion that an influentieJ joint-stock company, established in
ladles, miler the name of the Madras Tenpin= and Canal
00811PheVi have submitted to you • proposal to construct
eitessine works of irrigation, drainer', and navigation in
Mem, and to connect that territory with the port of Cal-
i:Otte, requiring from government nu other atestence than
the mere 'apply of all land requisite for such works. Your
memaiMines are assured that a company already and
favourably ; hewn to the English pals& must moss-
. i possess - advantages for raining capital which
could
not appertain to • needy organised asso-
ciation, and are therefore more likely to achieve that success
which is all inpartant in a pioneer enterprise intended to
open up the way for • more general and greatly extended
application of the free =ill, science, and capital of
omits to the regenevotion of India.
Your memorialists therefore most respectfully pray
I. That the Right Hon. her Majesty's Secretary of State
for India In Coma will &fitted to the subjett-matter of thin
memorial immediate and serious consideration, with a view
to the adoption of prompt and energetic measures for the
most complete and rapid provision of works of irrigation
and menu of cheap transit in India, the want whereof at
gement prevents that country from producing an unlimited
supply of cotton to the manufacturers of Great Britain, and
from relieving the latter from an uncertain and perilous
dependecos upon the slave states of America.
2. That, m it is utterly impossible for government to
construct throughout thltish India more than a small
portion of the works in question, although they are essen-
tially viecesaary to develop her agriculturist and other
fleDlllooll, and to make her prosperous and contented, and
able to bestow upon the people of this country those high
conimerchd benefits they have the right to expect from her
direct union with England, sad as it is equally clear that
the surplus private capital, skill, and energy of Great Bri-
tain are capable, if properly applied, of producing such
works with rapidity and advantage, every possible facility
and encouragement may bevn by government to all joint
stock companies formed in England who may seek to under-
take the coostruction of well-selected, practicable, and
meful projects of irrigation and navigation, he., in British
hulk ; and
3. That the proposal now submitted by the Madras Irri-
ption sad (heal Company for the construction of works
of irrigation, &c., in the districts of Orion without a go-
vernmental guarantee may receive the most favourable con-
iddemtion and every proper enoouralrement and support be
given to enable that company to enter =on the contem-
plated undertaking with the first possible delay and in a
salhdactory meaner, in order that others may, by their
1111110M11, be induced to undertake other works of • like de-
scription by means of capital raised in the same way.
And your memorialists will ever pray, de.
Signed at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Ositon Supply Association in Manchester, the led day of
166°- •
Joust Cassrnan, Chairman.
. G. IC Barwooo, Secretary.

THE FRENCH TREATY.

At a meeting of the Council of the Birmingham
Chamber of Commerce, held yesterday, the following reply
was 'Mid %Poo to the circular issued by the Board of
" 1. 71/11 chamber considers that the diltiee upon half-
manufactured articles, such as iron and Steel ; ii on, steel,
brim, and copper wire ; brass and copper sheets ; iron and
brass tubes for boilers, steam, and gas, /Lc. ' • and tin plates
should be levied by weight ; and that the duties upon all
articles entirely manufactured should be taken ad valorem.
" 2. This chamber is unable to give the aversfe price of
the manufactured articles known so ' Hardware, the goods
are so varied, and the qualities of each single article so nu-
merous, that any approximate calculation would be of little
assistance to my lords • for instance, brass locks, which are
made from per dozen to 180 s. per dozen, and upwards ;
steed pens, from lid. per gross to 13s. fid. and upw;dlig
fru% 1011 let to n..• ald .. ; !!reed
candlesticks, from S. Per pair to A. and upwarth ; ia.
panned tea trays, from 8,1. per dozen to 80s. and upwards.
Numerous other articles might be mentioned as further ii.
Nitrating the impossibility of afforcLog any information to
my lords on this subject.
'3. This chamber is of opinion that the French treaty
will be of little benefit to the manufacturers of Birmingham
in the event of a duty at all approaching 30 per cent. being,,w
levied upon manufactured attacks, as such a duty 1
afford the French manufacturer • protection which would
prevent the importation into France of most of the leading
articles of this district. . . . .

" Urpoo the articles known as hardwares, this chamber is
of opinion that moderate duttiirch as these levied by the
neighbouring countries of um and Holland, would
greatly benefit the trade of this oadity.
Tis chamber is of opinion that upon the articles enu-
merated in their Reply No. 1, the following should be the
maxinnun duties, via. :
Wire, iron
Wire, steel lO „
Wire, copper and hiss 10 „ „ „
Copperand brasseheete 10 „ „
Tubas, iron lO „ 99 19
Tubes, copperand boas 15 ~ 09 9
Tin 609 ft
" The ityelion iron, as stipulated in article 17 of the
treaty, although couaidered by the manufacturers of this
district as too heavy, will still allow the import of certain
best brands, though probably only to a very limited extent.
" In conclusion, this chamber begs to direct the attention
of my lonb, to the fact that though an abolition of total
,probibitions in the French tariff may benefit a few iso-
lated Mancha of the manufactures of this district, they
cannot forbear comparing the tariff of Belgium with that
permed by France, as they find with much lower duties
levied in Belgium upon articles known as ' hardware,'
the demand fur the products of this loadity is
exceedingly limited, and with an ad reforest duty of thirty
per cent this chamber feels convinced that the advantage
Birminglian and the neighbourhood would derive from the
Dew French tariff would prove exceedingly limited.
" With regard to the suggestions of my lords, that de-
putations should be sent to Paris on the sub)set of the
tredy, the council of this chamber are of opinion that the
branches of the trader represented by them are too nume-
rous to admit of the suggestion being tarried into effect.
The council bas, however, appointed • sub-committee to con-
eider the questions referred to by my lords, and the com-
mittee will have much pleasure in affording any further
information which may be required by them iu the pond.
lug negotiations."

MR. COBDEN AND Tat NEW COMMERCIAL TREATY.
—The following letter from Mr. Cobden was read at •
meeting of the Manchester Town Council yesterday
Canoes, France, March 12, 1860.—My dear Sir, —1 have
to acknowledge, with feelings of sincere gratification, the
receipt of your letter enclosing a copy of the resolutiou
to at a meeting of the council of the city of Man-
car.tt, thanking me for my services in connexion with the
negotiation of the ocinunercial treaty recently entered into lie-
tween F.ngland and France. It is especially satisfactory to me
to find that in the opinion of a body so eminently qualifiod
your city oiuncil to form a correct judgment on the subject,
the treaty is likely to effect important changes in the
futury commercial relations of the two countries. It is true
that our neighbours have not, at once, secured for their
commerce all the 'demitasse which we, from our much
more exteesive removal of ciOireni•howte iiiipedinieutri, have
conferred on ourselves ; but the French are a logical people,
and I have full faith that, with the experience of a 'few
years to guide and encourage them, they will carry out to
their full extent those free.trade principles, the gradual
adoption of whieh, in England, has been attended with so
much benefit to all claims of the community. Will you
oblige use by conveying to the [number* of the city council
my sincerest thanks for the honour and kindness they have
shown me, and allow me to reciprocate personally the kind
expressions contained in your letter which enclosed the re.
salutes, ; and I remain, niyea dear sir, yours very sincerely—
' itlcamw eimusx.—lrie limbs, Esq., mayor."