The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-12-21 00:00:00

1'11F:4712E ROTAI., 7)IICR)'-1,41VE.
This keetaini. Teß4r, %Y. Dee.rel.er It, telll be performed
HER Vite.lst 111: I'7.
Otterear. the Prince. Mr. Mercer Renthard, Head Ranger. Mr. Bed.
reed I Wrenn. Mr. t:. t h tct.4 ph. Mr. T. ('Duke: temper. Mr.
Morn; Killen, K11.11,11%11 1.. the Head Meurer. Mr. Kulrht Denton id
the meets. mt. Hewett: Ze,utel. Ir.u. Smith; Witch a the Wen. Mr.
Lhatia. Moe tirreldou ; Rom. Miss P,vey.

After which,
MY UNCI G %GRIM.
Gabriel Osmium, Mr. Gatti': Scrip, Mr. WM', rd • Lieutenant but-
ton, Mr. Mora; Toro Tacit. Mr. Rillsbt; Jeep Ready, Mr. Marley.
Mtu rove/: Mrs. T., Mrs. Grte►.
Tomorrow, Guy Mannering, turd My Uncle Gabriel.

THEATRE nrir.4l.. COVENT-GARDEN.
This Evenlna. TliESn %V. Dee. 21. will be perfumed
.4 ailii4l4:2 ME.1.1.31 VEST:
Or. TIIL N Ilion OF 4'; MIN HILL.
Henry the Sleth. Mr. Maker; Foster. Mr. Young; Stephen Vaster.
Mr. C. Kernble; Foster, Jun. Mr. C.e.pert Walter nrown. Mr. rimr-
(nu ; Mr tiudfrey speedwell. Mr. Ilartley; Master innowent Lambskin.
Mr. Keeley; Clown. Mr. illaushard. Agnes Welsted (the Widow Of
Curnhill). bliss Chester; Mrs. osier. Miss Lary; Jane. Mass Jones.
In Art V. the Lord Mayors itiow. as It passed through Cheat:side, in
the year 1114.
Aber
THE BIItIIER OF SEVILLE.
Count Alma, lira, Mr. Join,: Doi tor Ilart;•lo, Mr. MAUCH; Figaro.
Mr. Ourt.iet. It. sine. Miss M. Tres.
To-.morrow. Der Frelsehuts. and CliaL

I he BRITISH NI ass Cortlmrn red pu 1.1 loth ing yesterday looming

at lice o'cfack.

LONDON, TUESDAY, Dtccusza 21, 1824.

The improving state of the revenue naturally suggests
the consideration how the increasing surplus shall be ap-
plied. When this question was last before Parliament, it
was, on the suggestion of Ministers, determinea,—and we
believe all parties have concurred in applauding the wis-
dom of the decision,—that the surplus should be appro-
priated to the abolition of some of the absurd restraints on
our foreign trade. The silk manufacture was then selected
for the experiment, if it may with propriety be so called,
and entire sum ss attested the perfect justice and sound
policy of the measure. The public cannot have forgotten
the ignorant clamour which was then raised, to deter Go-
vernment from proceeding in the course they had resolved
to follow. The result is, that already, instead of the ac-
complishment of the predictions of Mr. Fowe ex. Berme
and Mr. Ceecaere, not only is Spitalfiehis not desolated,
but the most intelligent French manufacturers are re-
moving their skill and capital to the market, which they
forest* is destined, at no remote day, to supply the world.
It may therefore be reasonably especied, that the further
reductions of which the improvement of the revenue may
admit, will be applied in furtherance of the great principle
of freedom of commerce. fire silk manufacture being
fairly and satisfactorily settled, we know of no commercial
subject more worthy of attention than the present state of
the wine trade. The absurdity of revenging upon our-
selves the disinclination of our neighbours to deal with us
is now universally confessed. The single question then
will be, how, consistently with national faith and the
necessities of the public revenue, we can most beneficially
throw opt n our ports for the admission of foreign conuno-
dities? There was a time when it would have been consi-
dered hardly less than disloyal to have proposed any mea-
sures calculated to promote our commercial intereoune
with France. By the Methuen Treaty in 170.9, by which
we bound ourselves to impose duties one-third higher in
amount on the wines of France than on those of Portugal,
we lost the French market fur our woollen manufac-
tures, in older that we might secure the monopoly
of the Portuguese market, on the condition of buying
from the Portuguese worse liquor, at a higher price! We
gave up twenty milliees of rich customers, in order that
we might have the exclusive supply of two millions of poor
mice ! The political relations that have since subsisted be-
tween the rialions have at different periods prevented the
subject ft em being regarded so tench it a commercial point
cf view as its importance entitled it to be. Our treaties
with Portugal have been rent seed from time to time, in ac-
cordance with the unwise stipulatiens of Mr. Mt en eN;
but fortutiatt ly it happens that the last of these treaties,
negociated in ISlo, expires next year. We shall then be
absolutely at liberty to decide upon the course we may
deem it advisable to follow in future with respect to the
winz trade. When we consider the vast benefit that must
accrue from a free trade with France, no argument can be
wanting to enforce the propriety of a great reduction and
complete equalization of the duties no wine. We say, un-
questionably that there should be a great redaction, because
we have lioapprehellsiOli that a greet reduction of the duty
wouid lead to a great diminutLen of the prodUCe of the duty.
Oa the con trary,we believe that it would not materially affect
the public resolute. With reference to this part of the subject,
it may be well to recall to the memory of our readers the re-
sults of Mr. Mee's celebrated experiment in llzte, in pursu-
ance of the provisions of his conuncre:al treaty-witn France.
According to that treaty, the duties on French wines were

reduced very nearly otr: hal.f, and on Portuguese and other
wines nearly one third. it was predicted that a consider-
able falling off* would ensue in the revenue, but by a re turn
laid on the table of the House of Commons, in 1191, it ap-
peared that while the average• duty of the three years prior
to the treaty amounted to ti.!3,454/., the average duty of
the three years posterior to the treaty amounted to 714,010!.
The consumption had increased front an average quantity
of 1:.,953 tun', to 21,:116 tans. It is not probable, there-
fore, that the pudic revenue would be diminialled by a
very considerable reduction of the duty. .1 bold experi-
ment may therefore he safely tried, and we trust that it
will be made next Session. If there were no weightier
cotesidaration, the abuses and adulterations resulting
from the high duties on wine, would alone recommend
the subject to the attention of Ministers. The reduction
of the duties on Seeittirh and Irish spirits has, in
this respect, had most beneficial etfcu. Tile revenue
has been increased, the enjoyments of the people ex-