The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-11-25 00:00:00

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MELAND.

Tilt LINEN TRADE.
A meeting of the factor. and the merchants of the
cite of Dublin connected with the linen trade, was
held at the Linea Hall, gin Frid iy the tith of Novem-
ber. 1842, to lake into consideration the conse-
quences which revolt to the linen trade of tins
country from the unrestricted iMporfation of foreign
!Mtn tarn ti do Great Britaiit and Ireland,
FRANCIS BEGGS, Esq. iii the Chair.
The followiug Nesolutioter were moved by Mr.
McMullen, seconded by Mr. Boyle, rod unani-
mously agreed to:—
lat. That it is the unanimous opinion of ibis ntreline, that
the importation of foreign linen yarn into the perm of Great
Britain and Ireland, subject to a merely nominal duty of Pd.
the hundred weight (whigb in general does out exered lbs.
on the value of each one hundred pounds stetting), is, node,
the existing eiccuinstsoces of the counts, highly injusioue to
the linen trade of Ireland, and diametrically opposed to the
uniform and avowed policy of the Legislatuir, as regards the
staple manufacture of this kingdom.
2d17. That in ale rosnicious opinion of this meetino,
the importation Of tied foreign hues yarn, under the cir-
curnstauces stated, is not only is au far injurious to LI e
linen trade, mid at variance with the general policy of the
country, but is also to a very great extent detrimental
to the interests of the revenue, as it is undeniable that
the liven cloth manufactured from it is admitted to bounty
on exportation, in precisely the same meaner and ander the
same advantages as hues cloth made from yarn, which is en-
tirely the produce and manufacture of these couotries;
whereby the foreign landowner, grower, aud spinner, are (as
to the operation of this bounty), placed precisely matte same
footing with the same class of persons at home ; or alter
native which we submit is sot only an unnecessary end
useless expenditure of the resources of the country, bolt one
which could never have bees' intruded, nor even contem-
plated by the Legislature.
3dly. That it appears to this riveting from documents
laid before Parliamint, that the quality sod value of the
foreign linen yarn imported into Great Britain during the
last three years; were as follo•s:
lbs. Valued at.
lathe year ending Siti Jan. 1820, 2,401,190 £129,667 17 9
Sth Jan. 1121, 2,372,658.. 111,190 18 11.
sth Jan. 1822, 2,b90,873.. 134,180 1 4
Total is three years.... 7.874,721 £375,038 18 0
Daring the some period we observe that the exports of linen
yarn from Ireland are comparatively small, we do not God
any exact return of the quantity, but accurdiug to the official
rate of valuation (the standard adhered to in the preceding
statement) the amount is as midge :
In the year waling sth of January, 1820.... f 30,757 3 1
Ditto "
Ditto
—r-a---•
lf: Total £ 139,939 6 7
Exceediag by a comparatively small sum, in an interval of
three years, the minuet of the last Magic year's importation
from the Continent.
4thly. That from previous and intimate knowledge of the
manufacture, we are enabled to state, that the cost of coarse
linen cloth, is in general composed of yarn, in the propor-
tion of about thrteloneks of its value, sod of the wages for
weaving, forming about the rensainiuguee fourth. According
to these proportions, the linen cloth manufactured from the
foreign yarn imported io the coarse of last year, would he is
value about 167,7251. ; the bounty upon the exportation of
which would be tram about thirty cm' forty thousand
pounds; and although wtoGy no means marl that the entire
of the linen chub so maaufactured, Its brill actually ex-
ported, or has crinsequeutly obtained the buuuty ; yet from
information to which we have seam, and upon which we
rely, aa well as from our own gate& knowledge of the .u!,
Jeci, we are perfectly convinced, "that by far the greatest pet:s-
portive of it has been au exported, and has consequently
obtained the bounty of lid. per yard; a premium which,
',doom,. it was paid, must unquestiotiably have defrayed
nearly the entire cost of weaving, ur ia other words, the e•-
penne of the improved value I:Meted in Great Brim* and
the employatent afforded by it.
Wily. That we are •trengthened IS our ennclnsiona upon
this subject by the unquestionable fact, that although the ma.
aufactiare of linen cloth in Great St inns is not nor cannot
be al present at all equal in email and in quantity in the
manufacture of !Maud, the bounty paid its the course of
last year upon the exportation of linen cloth made front
British and Foreign !meta yarn in Eoglaud and Scotland,
was 172,6431. 17e. Bd. while the bounty upon the export of
Lora fide Irish learn* cloth, as well direct from this country
as indirectly through the 1 oils of Great &Ash', was only
79,0631. 9r. 60,
thlily. That android' the cirhimstances, we feel pert etly
justified in coming:to the conclusims that a prohibitory duty
upon the impuritnituf foreign linen cloth, and a merely
nominal aud inoperative dury %pun the 111401.111 of turners
yarn, are cumplttely anomalous, sod totally iacuusistent
with each oilier.
7ihly. That we have reason to apprehend that the preeaut
system has been adopted and coutiuste4inader the erituseuus
impression that linen yarn is compariffiely, at least a raw
material, and that its unrestricted imporiacm is necessary
to &fluid edeployinent to the domestic industry of the
country; the facts we have here slated we hope may frail to
repel this idea, and to shew that linen yarn is inanofacfner,
nut only lira considerable state of lorwardi sssss but that it Is
actually our staple, and .nd,ed our only manufacture, aul.
warmed nti lees than three-fourths of its i Mire progres• to
perfection ; that its production embraces that various and
puinerous early processes of the trade, ii. which by far the
largest portion of donostic and naefulemployment is af-
forded ; arid we submit that, in aa Csr an legislative enact-
111t11111 can effect such an objr-et, it is that portion of the
manufacture which, beyond all others, shuuld heprutccird
mid encouraged.
Bibly. That we trust it may not be considered an uoner,s.
sary expression of uur *Mori, • we submit the pri,pri., y, ,C
a duty being imposed upon the wittier of foreign linco
yarn, %thirds shall, at least, ual le the mousing of the
bounty paid by the State upon the exportation of the lino ui
ir
cloth produced from it: we ere clear* of opinius, that a
duty to •this extent mild by no menus be committed as at
variance with the priuroplea of free trade, air its a kiateuae
would he necessarily cmillued to the mere transit of the ma-
nufacture tbroug,h Great Britain.
9thly. That we Jo, therefore, now address a Memotitt to
the Right Honourable and Hornoirable the Titian,. of the
Linen and Recipes Maimfecturea of lerlaild', praying that
*ay a ill take this subject, under the various am' insport.int
•eiseantsioaces connected with it, into their immediate and
serious cuutideration, with a view to such remedial measures,
either by application to Pas figment or otherwise, as they may
deem mast expedient and effectual in prumutiug the i,.t.-r, too
of the manufacture confided to their rate.
~
lOt My. Rosulved--That the Memorial sualread, es wiriein 4
the substance of the preceding Resole's...ma, du stand at the
Meniurisl of this Meetiug to the Right Hills. and Hun. the
Trusters of the Linen aud Heropeu ataartfacturee; turd that
it be signed by the Chairman, and pretriried accordingly.
On the mutton of Mr. Nolan, it was lI11:1111111LIIIIIIV
' resolved, that the earth,' t bank% of the ineetitig ate
hereby given to Air. M'lliillen, for the trouble
lie has taken in itivestito.titig this tuiportaitt subject,
al.(' to prepriring the ltesulivions and Mttnocial -
retooled by the Meeting.
'f be Cimino:us. having withdrawn, the Thanks of
the Meeting were plaited to lOW tor his vs ty
proper canine' to the C ow.