The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Sur—Your Correspondent N. Y. Z., in noticing in your
paper of the wfl ult. tny letter of the sth, on the subject of
the Distilleries and the Trade in Spirits, appears to have
mistaken my meaning in that part of my letter in which I
elhulect Oa the Irish Distillers. 1 stated, that "since the
reduction of the duty, the regular distillers in Ireland have
found full tinployment for their capital in supplying their
own nuuket, which is no longer supplied by the illicit
distiller, the prq it to 1w oblnisod under the prawn/
brine, uses/ to thr ri.a." I meant the profit of illicit die-
dilation In Ireland, and made the observation, to account
for the Irish distillers being fully e►nployed at home. I
►mderstattd that the price of spirits has been higher in Ire-
land dm in Scotland, though not so high as lore ; and
thcre vasty be sonic agreement between the Irish and
ratglish distillers of the nature alluded to by your Corre-
spondent, but I do not know that this is the case.
Your correspomlent is correct in stating, that the present
price of spirits in Scotland is VII. 641. per gallon, whilst in
f;ngLind it is Ss., exclusive of duty, and at the same
strength, a reduction of price having taken place in Szot-
land about the date of my ktter, of which I was not then
informed.

I trust the attention of the public will be directed to the
resolutions of a meeting of Scotch Distillers held at Edin-
burgh, and also to the facts brought forward by X. Y. Z.,
which are of great importance to the proper anisideratiati
if this question. H satisfactorily proves, by referent...! to
official documents, that Oar uniform duty of ate. per gallon,
would produce more revenue than has ever been collected
upon spirks, whibd, at the same time, smuggling of foreign
spirits an! illicit distillation wouldl be effectually put down.
'flue expcose of the establishments now kept up for the
purpose of repressing those evil practices would thus
be sated, and the consumption of British barley greatly
ear •artled.

I am sarmised, however, that while he is advseating
the cause of free trade, he should adhere to the old priju-
iflee of its being "equitable" to continue a higher duty
uPon rum than on British spirits though he candidly rr-
-1
titlarks, tbat " there cad be no solid objection to allowing '
rim to hs used hr the rectifiers." There would surely be
al little "equity" in continuing thia injustice to rum as in
continuing the present distilling monopoly, which is so in-
jsrinus to the revenue, the landed interest, and the scotch
fla:illers, as Well at to the public at large. It is evident,',
that making the trade free would be for the advantage of'
levy prison in the kine. dont (except the monopolists), and
it would 11C a cheap mode of giving some relief to the %Vest
Mudd' plamers, to allow them to participate in that free
grade. It is eertimily admitted, that they require and see
guided to relief; and neither the landed interest nor the
tibia i I lers bare reason to fear the competition of ruin, as the
freight, inauranee, and other heavy charges, which must
t.hrays attach to it v: hem brought to this market, operate
20 an ample protection to the manufacturer of British
+rite.
It oneht not to be forgotten, that the fifteen distillers
the a rich, powerful, compact body of men, who have lung
lad much influence in a ecrtaiii quarter, which they are
apw exerting to the utmost, in the hope of securing their
wonoply for another • ear ; and it is on'y by prompt
wilrasures, and by a fair awl liberal concili to ft of the
retreat interests, that this influence can be counteracted.
nut the pmpored alteration is so just in principle, soil
would be so generally ben-fleial, that I trust no influence
will be able to prevent its adoption during the present Scs-
aion Parliament. I am, /Ike._

A Loossa-ox.

Landon, May 1, 1821.

Eel' LES I AST II 'A I. PROMOTIONS.

The Rev. f'harlea Hawkins, Rector of Kellum, S imam:shire.
sal Vicar of Cem/ey. taiinci-acrsinre, to the I'rebcnd of Patroby
r, in the Cathedral of York.
Thursday sennlght. the Rev. Alexander Forbore was ordained
minister of the pariah of liryaien, and was ray medially received
by the congregation.
ills Hon. :11m. Hamann), of Ilargany, has presented Mr. %% m.
M.Caonan, Preacher of the gleam I. to the Church and Parish of
Mantra, vacant by the translation of the Rev. Robert llPNair,
el Paisley.
The Her. Reginald Chantlos Pole. M.A. of St. Mary's
/Is been promoted to the Rectory of Radbourn, 1/abyshire, ea-,
CMS by the death of the Rev. Edward Pole,

Rumour stave that the Rev. Dr. Carr is about to be
rdsed to the See of Gloomier, upon the transbakm of
Re. Ryder to the Mshopric of Lichfield sod Coventry.