Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-16 00:00:00

Warwick
• Doncaster
Chesterfield
Leicester..

Bedford
Newrwrket 8.0.11.......

3 Newmarket Houghton 22
8 Worcester Autumn 3O

NOVEMBER.
Hereford 1 Shrewsbury Autumn 11i..,,. 18
Liverpool Autumn Meeting 7

COURSING FIXTURES FOR 1860.
FEBRUARY.
Place. County. Judge Meeting.
Spelthorne Club Wilts Mr. Warwick 16, 17
Dirlcton & N. Berwick Northumberl'd Mr. J. Hay 16
Waterloo (Altcar) Lancashire Mr. A. Da1ze11.22,23,24
Thinkbarn Northumberl'd 23, 24
Abergele Denbighshire.. Mr. Warwick ....28, 29
MARINI.
Lanark (Open) Lanarkshire 6, 7
Ashdown Park (Ch.)... Berks Mr. M`George...l2, &e
Coquetdale (Open) ..... Nort hum b err(' Mr. Wars ick ....13, &et
County Louth Club.... Ireland 14, 15
Limerick (Cloraine).... Ireland Mr. llawkes ....... 14, 15
Diamor Meath lreland Mr. Owens 21, 22
Altcar Club Lancashire......
Biggar Champion Lanarkshire. 27, &e
APRIL.
Caledonian (Open) ..... Edinburgh
Limerick (Knockrue).. Ireland
Bellezk
NOVEMBER.
Scarborough
Newmarket Champion Suffolk
Coquetdale (Open) Northumberl'd
Hampton Court Cham Middlesex ...
Marham Club Norfolk...

3
Mr. Hawkes 11, 12
25, 28

6, &e
13, ke
1!, ke

20,
21, 22,

The report that Brother to Rainbow, the preFerty of Mr.
Merry, had broken down, has been contradicted on authority.
STEEPLECHASING.—" Spectator" remarks that "the pro-
ceedings at Slough were marked by one of those transactions
for which this description of sport kas unfortunately become
notorious. Omar Pasha was withdrawn at the last moment
from the principal race, and not a word of explanation ten-
tiered. It is said that Mr. Topham is not discouraged by the
want of success which attended his venture. Unless, however,
he can infuse the principle of fair play into the de.ilings of his
patrons, his efforts to establish a popular gathering w;11
attain their object." never

TROTTING.—The match between Mr. 0. F. Bastion's Jackey
and Chance's brown mare, for £2d aside, two miles, Caine off
on Monday, on the London and Woodford Road. The start
was made at half-past three, a little above the Castle at Woad-
ford, and trotted towards London. Mr. Chance's mare was
flurstthoinffi, at least
gradually least SdOuyaallrydsdismtainrtis,hbinuat Jtaheekegyap besoon-
tween them, caught the mare, headed her, and maintained his
together, having
lead to the end, winning by a hundred yards. Both animals
put
fe
ran in harness. Jackey comes to Liverpool to trot in a handi-
cap on Tuesday next.
UMPIRE.—The American boises are again in request in the
turf market. Umpire has returned to his old position in the
Derby betting, and Satellite has been made first favourite for
the Chester Cup. At the early part of last week as much as
12 to 1 was laid against Umpire for the Derby, and 10 to 1 was freely offered. On Monday he returned to 9 to 1, and again heads the list of favourites. The reason of the retrogression
was, it is said, chiefly attributible to the fact that he had been
kept in his stable for some weeks, but now that he has again
made his appearance in the home paddock, and appears sound
and well, his friends have come to the rescue

CORRESPONDENCE.

UP do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of

our correspondents.]

THE LIVERPOOL TRADESMEN'S VOLUNTEER

CORPS.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

Sut,—l see by your advertising columns that there is
to be a public meeting this night, at seven O'clock, in
the Common-hall, Ilackin's-hey, for the purpose of pro-
moting, this object. From all I hear and see dai.y, I
think there will be little occasion for much speechifying
to fan the fire of volunteering, as there seems to be a
race, since the first announcement of this corps being •
forming, who will be first enrolled: and if I may'form
anv-guess of the hereafter of this really local, and, from
'its suggestive title, and the element of which it is com-
posed, permanent corps, from the sample of volunteers
• that I saw enrolling themselves the other night, Govern-
ment may rest fully assured that the arms they will, put
into their hands will be properly used. Although an old
stager myself,- and acetrstomed -to- the pipe-clay and
pomattun_ regime• of national defenders, I bad at the
sight then before me. my feelings warmed up to the
hope that every, successive hour might heighten their
number, thlugh it could not increase their power; for
"'they were a lot," as the scotch express it, "o' as
brow and brisk voting lads as ye could meet frae Maiden-
kirk to John o'Groat's."
I' begin to fear, sir, that between Mr. Chancellor
Gladstont's cheap-brandy budget, fancy balls, and dash-
ing 'tradesmen volunteers, 'that the bachelors will have
to 'make up their minds to sew their shirt buttons and
darn their stockings again, for the lasses. Will be all off
with the tradesmen soldier volunteers. But' I would.
-submit 'to that, and much more, rather' than hinder
• Sueb. 0, grand display of loyalty and patriotism as is now
becoming every (lay more manifest; and heartily wish-
ing Mr. Danson and the committee a very full house
to-night; and a long array of additional volunteers to
their tradesmen's corps,—l am, yours, &c.,
CROSSBELT.

DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

SlR,—Public meetings are being held in various
towns throughout the country, to give the people an
opportunity of discussing Mr. Gladstone's Budget. why
should Liverpool be behind other places in this patriotic
Movement, and more particularly as there is no town in
the kingdom whose intere;ts are being more tampered
With than are those of the Liverpool merchantand ghip-
owner ?

You, Sir, have intmenQc influence, from the character
and circulation of 'your paper, and I would theiefore
respectfully urge upon you the necessity that exists fer
your advbeating the a=sembling of all interested, either
on Friday .or Monday evening, in the Amphitheatre,
and in this way give su, an opportunity of discussing the
merits of the financial scheme of the Palmerston

Cabinet. It is not a question between Whigs, Tories,
'and Radicals, but between Englishmen, of all shades of
opinion ; and it is only by ,giving the public voice an
opportunity of being heard with regard to ships, coals,
licensing, and the export and import tax of a penny per
package, that we can expect the Government' to modify,
in the least, their unfair and one-sided measure.--,Ycurs
truly, GOS-SYPIUM.
Liverpool, 15th February.

FIRST ANNUAL DINNER

OF TUC
TRADES' GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION.

The first annual dinner of this association was held
on Tuesday evening last, in the Star and Garter Hotel,
Queen-square, and was largely attended. ' The dining •
-
room was tastefully decorated for the occasion. The
party assembled embraced representatives from all the
Trades' Unions of Liverpool. The dinner, which was
of an excellent description, was served in a manner
which reflected great credit upon the host's well-known
abilities as a caterer. The chair was occupied by Mr. J.
M'Donald, who was supported in the vice-chair by
Mr. James Hoaxsey.. A nple justice having been done
to the sumptuous repast, and the cloth having been
removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose and stated, that although their
society had been in existence for the last thirteen years,
this was the first public entertainment at which the
members had assembled. Its legitimate object was
to take care that justice was fairly done to both employer
and employed. TheTliad assembled that night to cele-
brate its institution. The Chairman then entered at
length into a detailed account of the workings of the
society. Referring to the London builders' strike, it
wis his ardent desire that a long period might elapse
before there should be a repetition of the same disastrous
proceedings. He asked them to .drink, in a bumper,
"The health of their beloved,. virtuous, and gracious
sovereign, Queen Victoria." The toast was drank
amidst rounds of applause.
The CILA.IRMAN called upon the meeting to drink in
succession, "The Prince Consort, Albert Prince of Wales,
and the rest of the Royal Family;" "The Army and
Navy of Great Britain ;" and " The Rifle Volunteer
Corps."
The VICE-CIIiIRMAN said they had now gone through
all the loyal toasts, and he would give them a sentiment,
which, he was convinced, would be. well received.--
" Success to the Trades' Guardian Association," coupled
with the health of Mr. Allen, their efficient secretary.
Mr. JOHN ALLEN (secretary) responded, and was
very cordially received. He said he had filled the
various offices of president and secretary to the
association from its commencement. It had its
• origin in Liverpool, and from the time it was
started, now thirteen years, it had progressed rapidly.
He had seen many strikes; . and their association ex-
ercised a counteracting influence, which generally
proved of much good in reconciling the contending
parties. Since 1851, up to the present time, he had
been secretary to the society ; and, considering the great
good it had done, that, in itself, should be a stimului
to them to continue to it their support. It did good
-elsewhere than in Liverpool, for he felt it a pleasure iii
stating, 'that with very few exceptions, the employers
of Liverpool were feeling-and conscientious men. Their
association was not 'forgied to support strikes, or keep
up dissensioni betweenthe operative and his employer,
but to raise.the mechanic higher in his intellectual status,
andmakehim a good member of society. Their association
had appointed 'delegates to attend the meetings of the Li-
verpool Social Sciencecommittee, and he informed them,
with much .pleasure, that the members of that com-
mittee had expressed a high opinion of their association.
He .would not further detain them ; this was their first
celebration dinner, and he hoped their next one would
be attended by a still greater number of those who
appreciated the great objects they had in view.
'The next toast was 'The, Health of their worthy
Chairman."
The CHAIRMAN having responded, said there was one
toast which could not, be overlooked, and a most im-

portant one too. The press was omnipotent for good or
for evil ; it was a .mighty machine which • wielded a
powerful influence upon, all classes of society. He was
glad to perceive that the press 'Of Liverpool had not for-
' gotten them, as it 1,-as represented there that evening.
He should give them, with all his heart, " The Liver-
pool Press, and the British Press generally."
• The toasts of "The Vice-Chairman;" "The worthy
~,.b,ost and hostess, 'Mr. and Mrs. Chalk ;" and " The
A ,nlembers of the committee," were proposed, and duly
2. acknowledged.
During the evening some excellent songs were sung,
which "added much to the convivial harmony' of the
meeting.
• The excellent CHAIRMAN gave, " Our next merry
meeting," when the party separated.

General Garibaldi has received a present from the
Americans of New York, consisting of a handsome
revolving rifle, which will fire thirty shots without being
reloaded.-
MARRIAGEB OF QUAIEERS.—A bill introduced by Mr.
Mellor and Mr. Bright proposes to enact that after the
30th of June, .1860; the marriages of Quakers may be
solemnised in cases where one only or where neither of
the persons shall be a member of the Society of Friends;
and to extend and amend the Act 6th and 7th William
IV., cap. 85, and 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 81, whereby
both persons were required to be of the Society of
Friends.

- -
DINNER OF VOLUNTEER OFFICERS TO COMB OFF IN
LONDON.—We understand that arrangements are being
made by the Committee of the National Rifle Associa-
tion and the Provisional Committee of the Volunteer
Service Club (in accordance with what they believe to
be a very general wish) for a subscription dinner of
volunteer officers, to take place in London, on the 7th
day of March—the day appointed by her Majesty for
the Volunteer Levee.

THE WOLESALE HOUSES AND THE
BUDGET.

IMPORTANT MEETING, YESTERDAY.

A public meeting of the wholesale houses of Liver-
pool was held in the Common-hall, Hackin's-hey, yes
terday, at noon, for the purpose of taking into consider-
ation the changes about to be imposed on trade under
the proposed Budget. Mr. CouncillorEteains was unani-
mously called to the chair. The 'number of houses repre-
sented, either by partners or their agents, was 104.
Amongst others present were7—Messrs. Matheson (Lloyd,
Matheson and Co.) ; Hodgson, (Littledale and Co.) ;
Harrisons and Crossfield ; Moffatt and Co. ; Clarke
(Wright and Ciossl4) ; M•Fie and Co. ; R. Roberts
and Co.; Sharpe and Sons ; T. Otley ; Coates ; Daven-
port Brothers ; Cox (Paris and Co.) ; Gilbert Brothers ;
Robinson; Hill (Irwin, Finlay, and Co.) ; D. Harris ;
Geddes and Sons ; Wrenn and Sons ; Parrott and
Co. ; Wood and Co. ; Atkin and Co. ; J. It. Jeffery ;
Vey Brothers ; J. Goodacre ; S. Goodacre ; Crossfield,'
Twigge, and Crosgfield ; Thompson (Carlisle and Co.) ;
Rea; Cram (Taylor. and Sons) ; J. Dear; Jones
(Irwin and Sons) ; Robson'; Bassford ; Masterson ;
Grundy; Taylor ; Barratt (A. B. and Co.) T. P. Ches-
ter and Co. ; Henley ; Young and Co. ; Horton ;
Palmer and Co. ;• Stubbs ; M'Clellan ; Bushby and Co. ;
Bowen and CO. ; 'Creston ; Nenrick ; Lee ; Scott and
Co. ; T. R. Gee and Co. ; Balderstone and Co. ; Kent ;
Bigland and Jeffries ; Tyson ; Henry Tate ; :Harrison ;
Brown and Co. ; Horrocks and Co., of Bolton; &c. Sze-
The CHAIRMAN said : Gentlemen, we are assembled
here to-day to take into consideration the charges about
to be imposed on trade under the proposed Budget.
We are not here to criticise or to discuss the Budget
itself, because it is one upon which there may, very pro-
bably, be great, diversities of opinion. (Hear, hear.)
My own belief, which I do not hesitate to proclaim, :Of
the Budget, as a whole, is that it is a bold and compre-
hensive scheme. (Hear, hear.) It is a gigantic stride
in the right direction—(hear, hear)—as pointed out by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's master, the late Sir
Robert Peel; but there are some details in this Budget
connected with the bonded system, which I am quite
certain, from the well-known character of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, from his great anxiety to pro;
mote and encourage the trade of this country, the right
feeling and the 'sense of right which he has always
manifested towards the commercial interests, compel
me to think that he has had nothing to do with the
framing of these resolutions connected with the inland
bonding system-(applause);—and I feel quite sure that
when all the injurious effects are pointed out 'to him, he
wiliat once give way. I propose to speak only on behalf
of the, trade with which I am more immediately connected
--the tea trade,T-andi am quite certain that I betray
no egotism when I say that I know more Of the practical
corking of that trade than the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, or any of his advisers, who have concocted this
precious bonded scheme. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
It is well known that the great bulk of tea is bonded in
Liverpool and London, and thai the "larger retailers
and wholesale houses in Scotland and Ireland remove
the teas as they want them out of bond from Liverpool
and London to Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, or Leith, or
other ports, as the case may be. There are many of
those large houses in Scotland and Ireland who retail
and dispose of more than SO chests a week. This will
impose a tax upon them of £3 a week. Fifty chests of
tea,: which weigh 4,500 lbs., at ls. 4d. for charges,
would be just £3 per week, or £156 a year—a tax
which in many instances will be equal to 'ss. in the
pound upon their income-their profits derived from
trade. Such a confiscation of property could never have
been contemplated for one moment by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer ; and if you add to that the increased
charge of 4d. for reweighing every package—because you

cannot remove goods from one bonded port to another'
without the customs insisting on reweighing at a charge
of 4d., that charge at present being ld.—there is
an increased charge of 6d. for sampling—
we now pay 6d. to the bonded warehouse-
keeper, and we are to pay Gd. to the Customs
officer for having his hands in his pockets, and standing
there to see that the operation is performed. In short,
as I view these charges on tea, they will amount to one
halfpenny per pound. The effect on the tea trade, if
the proposal is carried out, would be entirely to abolish
the present bowling system, and reduce it to a duty-paid
trade. That will require about double the amount of
capital to carry it on—(hear, hear)—and it will, double
our bad debts, for we shall make bad-debts on duty as
well as upon the cost of the tea, and it will be in every

way inimical to the interests of the wholesale trade. I

will leave it to other gentlemen connected with the
sugar, rice, coffee, and other trades, to state their own
particular grievances, for the proverb will hold good,
that "no one knows so well where the shoe pinches as
he that wears it."- I will, however, just read to you a
letter which* I have received from London, on the.
subject of these charges. The writer said :—" We
have had a large meeting of the tea trade to-day, at
which the resolution I now enclose was adopted; and
I have undertaken to request you to bring it under the
notice of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, and other
gentlemen have undertaken other towns, so that every
chamber of commerce may take action upon it, if they
deemed it their duty to do so. •It is proposed to have a
gathering of the committees of various trades on Friday,
and then from the various committees choose one or
two from each trade to wait upon the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to press home his particular grievance. That
of the tea trade is, of course, the charges on inland
bonding, as•those of warrants are common 'to all, and
more immediately affect importers. The feeling of the,
meeting was, to go for an entire withdrawal of all the
'charges of inland bonding, as impolitic fetters on trade ;
and, if that failed, then to go for a large reduction of
them. If you take any action with the Liverpool
Chamber of Commerce, or the Liverpool members, per-
haps you n ill do it early, and let me know the result."
He had Also a letter from Edinburgh, which said :
" The Budget has greatly disappointed every one here.

The trade held a meeting to-day, to protest against the
new impositions on tea, and Mr. M‘Leart and Mr. Wm.
Ford were appointed to proceed to London to wait on
the Chancellor regarding the Is.. 4d. on every 100 lbs.
Lent coastwise; a deputation has also gone froth Glas-
gow, and they are determined to give this tax in parti-
cular every bppasition as also clauses-11and 13. Until
these matters are settled there will be no trade in tea."
From Glasgow, he had a letter stating that "The trade
here are busily engaged in discussing that portion of the
Budget relating to the heavy charges proposed to be
levied on colonial produce sent coastwise under bond."
So that you see, witibent any communication, from all
parts of the country, these unfortunate clauses 11, 12,
and 13—these crude, these ill-digested, these comfiscat-
ing clauses—are universally condemned. (Loud' ap-
plause.) I know there is one trade which will be almost
annihilated by the proposal of the Chancellor of .the
Exchequer, and I call on a gentleman connected with
that trade to address you.
Mr. CROSS, representative of Harrison, Crosfield and
Co., moved the first resolution, which was as follows : --
"That this meeting views with dismay the list of
charges to be levied on the removal of warehouse goods
under bond, as contemplated in the Budget now before
Parliament, which, if carried out, will annihilate the
present bonded system."
Mr. Cr..rix, of the firm of 'Wright, Crossley, and Co.,
said he rose to second the resolution with great pleasure.
He felt quite satisfied that it would not be necessary for
him to occupy the time of this meeting in analysing the
various charges proposed to be levied upon all operations
involving the transmission of goodS under bond. Those
who had not seen in' artenso the list of t4e'proposed
resolutions, would Probably be thunderstruck when they
found the amount proposed to be levied upon those
various operations 'which were now, in the majority of
instances, performed free of charge. After having read
that most masterly exposition of 'financial science pro-
posed by Mr. Gladstone on Friday last, he 'confessed he
was altogether unprepared for the list' of impediments,

r. o

obstructions, and impositions which he found, from the
paper he heldin hishand, it wascontemplated to propose
to the House of Commons. He entirely concurred withthe
Chairman in believing that in the preparation of his list
of impositions Mr. Gladstone personally could have no
part. (Heat; hear.) Nay, he believed Mr. Gladstone
would be as much surprised as any member of the trade
when he found the enormous evils which would be
inflicted upon the inland trade of this country if these
impositions were carried into effect. The trade, there-
fore, while they were protecting their own interests,
were protecting also the interests of the country at large
by protesting as earnestly and speedily as they could'
against the imposition of those charges. (Applause.).
The charges more immediately referred to were compre-
hended in resolutions 12 and 13 of the Committee on
Customs ActS. He would read those resolutions to
them, because he was satisfied that in many cases they
would be perfectly new to the majority of the gentlemen
present. The resolutions were as follow :

12. Charges to be levied on the removal of warehoused goods
under bond.--• Resolved, That in aid of the charges of Cus-
toms establishments incident to the removal of goods under'
bond, there shall be charged (irrespective of any duties of
Customs, or other charges pay :We by, law).upon the several
articles hereinafter mentioned, arid which are orinay be Ware-
housed in any warehouse for the security of duties of Customs
,under the laws and regulittions for the warehousing of goods;
-on removal of such goods ender bond from aky such warehouse'
in any other port or place, respective rates or charges follow-
trig, viz.:

s. d.
Tea " the 100 lbs. 1 4
Sugar the cwt. 0 4
Coffee
Cocoa the 100 lbs. 0 6
Pepper the 100 lbs. 0 6
Tobacco the• 10:) lbs. 1 0
Wine the 100 gallons 5 0
Sprits the 100 gallons 5 0
Fruit,viz , Figs, Currants, & Raisins, the cwt 0 4
Other Goods the package 0 3

13. Charges on operations in warehouse.--That before any
of the operations hereinafter mmt'oned are or shall be per-
formed at the request of the proprietor or his agent, In re:sped,
of goods deposited in any warehouse or place for the security
of duties Of Customs under tile laws and regulations in force
for the warehousing of goods, there shall be charged for every
such operation the respective rates or charges hereinafter.
mentioned, irrespective of any duties of Customs or other rates
or c! .e.rges uyon the importation into Great Britain and Ireland,
or otherwise, of the goods in.respect of which such operations
are performed, viz. :
s. d.
Repacking the package 1 0
Re weigbing the package 0 4
Filling up Casks the cask 1 0
Racking Casks the Cask- • 2 0
Vatting Casks the cask 2 0
Bottling the dozen bottles 0 2
Disgorging Bottled Wine the case 0 6
Repacking bottled Wine or Spirits the case 0 6
Regauging the cask 1 0 •
Other operations the package 0 6
Provided thatwhen any such opei'ati m is required for the pur-.
pose of removing goods from any such warehouse, in any port
or place, and in respect of .which the sates or charges payable
on removal under bond shall be paid, such operations shall be
exempt from tke said rates or charges in respect thereof, and
that. delivery out of warehouse upon Vayment of duty 'or for
exportation be not held to be an operation within the meaning
of this resolution.

The effect of this resolution would be simply this, that
the vast majority of all the operations which were St
present performed in bond, such as re-packing, re-weigh-
ing, and 'removal, the vast majority of these operations
would utterly cease and determine, as if prohibited by
express enactment. Not only so, but 'many of the
operations at present performed would come under the
charge of sixpence per package—a charge which, he
need not tell.them,. in many instances woud amount to
a considerable per-centage of the whole amount of duty
payable in respect of those articles: He would trouble
them with one instance of the unfair and oppressive
operation of this enactment, as it was one ,of those
instances which more particularly concerned the trade
in which he himself was personally interested. But of
course he did not adopt the principle which would lead
a man to-seek the removal of a burden from his own
shoulder whilst he calmly acquiesced, in burdens being
put on others ; and therefore, while be spoke only of
the article of rice, it was not simply because that was an
article in which he himself would be more particularly
affected, but because he thought it was a most
glaring instance of the hardship and injustice inflicted
, upon the trade in general by the operation of those
clauses. It might be known that a large trade was
'done in this country in the importation, cleaning, and
exportation of the article of rice. ' That trade, ho found
from the returns of the Beard of Trade, amounted in
the importations of rough rice in 1857 to 137,380 tons;
in 1858, the importation was 165,950 tons ; and in
1859, it was 59,250' tons—the exports in the last year
having materially fallen off in consequence of a scarcity
in the East. Of that quantity, the following propor-
tion was cleaned and exported to foreign countries :
In 1857, 60,750 tons were exported, of which, by far
the-largest portion consisted of cleaned rice ; in 1858,
53,610 tons; and in 1859, 51,270 tons. Now, it must
be borne in mind, that the whole )f that rice was at
present re-cleaned under bond—that was to say, the
cleaner took the rice from the bonded 'warehouses under
a bond, by which he undertook to'clean the rice, paying
the duty upon the difference between the quantity so,
removed and the quantity exported, with a small allow,
ance for loss in the operation of cleaning. This rice
was imported in bags, averaging about 1 cwt. He
had taken the trouble to throw into the number of
.bags the quantity of rice exported. In 1857 there
were exported 850,580 bags; in 1858, 750,540 bags;
and in 1859, 717,780 bags. Should the resolution
in question become law, and should this trade by any
possibility survive, he left it to the gentlemen pre-
sent to calculate the amount of impost which 6d.
per bag upon these en,ermous figures would reach.
Instead of reaching the modest sum which Mr. Glad-
stone had calculated, it would reach a sum infinitely
exceeding it. But it was a vain supposition. He ven-
tured to tell them a fact which would be confirmed by
anyone acquainted with the trade, that the imposition
of charges of this kind would at once destroy the whole
of the export trade and the cleaning of rice, so far as
this country was concerned. (Hear, hear.) This, how-
ever, was not a question which merely affected those
persons who were engaged in the cleaning of rice. It
was obvious that a large trade of this kind,' involving
an export, and import trade of from.loo,ooo to 120,000'
tons per annum, would afford employment to numerous
shipowners, and be a source of profit to . nfany
merchants, and the means .of livelihood to many of
the working classes. But the resolution in ques-
tion would entirely: strike at and destroy this one'
important branch of our industry, ,in which many
of our fellow-townsmen were engaged. He had
Merely selected this instance, because he thought the
injustice in it would be apparent to all. He might
mention that 'whilst the charge which this resolution
proposed to levy upon this particular operation was six-
pence per bag, the entire amount of duty payable upon
the article, would not exceed 5-0. ; so that the trade
were asked to pay 6d., to do that in bond which it would
only cost 51d. to do, duty paid. The effect would be
that the whole amount of duty upon exported rice would
be lost, so far as the exporters were concerned. He ven-
tured to think that the conclusion to which they were
irresistibly impelled was this, that these resolutions had
not been the result of that careful and deliberate fore-
thought which ought to have been employed before reso-
. lutiOns of such a nature should have been come to-Lthat
they had been suggestions, perhaps hastily adopted, or
without due consideration ; and that, therefore,' they
were bound to lay before the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer such representations and statements 'as would be
most effectual in procuring a modification, or a total
abolition of these most objectionable clauses. (Applause,)
The resolution was 'then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. R. A. MacTin,` who was received with applause,
said the resolution which he was now going to propose
to this very numerous meeting, had been put into his
hands upon a very short notice. Happily, there was
not much required in order to recommend it to their
adoption, the case having been so well stated by the
elpquent gentleman who , had preceded him. , (Hear,
hear.) He thought that there could be but one opinion
amongst them all, that the movement in which they were
now engaged, while it was indispensably called for by
the awkward position into which a hasty proposition had
brought theM, could not in any way be reckoned a party
movement, or an opposition movement. (Hear, hear.)
He Was, for himself, a most cordial supporter of her
Majesty's present Government. They had heard of
those new imposte, which, he thought, were subversive
of the bonded system of this country—a system which
was our glory, and which had given so many advantages
to Britain. He had been asked; Could anything be said
about sugar? ITe would give one illustration from the
fir:n to which he belonged,. He remembered buying it
cargo- of Manilla sugar, about 1,200 tons, Those 1,200
tons w;ere contained
,in' bags weighing, on an 'average,
less than half a hundredweight; so that they would have
40 times 1,200 pennies to pay7-the petty charge which
the Chancellor' of the Exchequer supposed it would be
—imposed upon a single cargo of sugar ; and the, value
of that sugar they' might 'conceive was very low-,when
he told them that the' colour was nearly as black as his
hat. (Laughter.) Ile, would take his next illustration
from another trade; and read an extract from a letter
which had rcaeliesi him that morning, "Witlt