The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-28 00:00:00

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Durirs TO BE REPEALED ON ARTICLES OF
FOREIGN PRODUCE A.cD kANtrFACTURE.

Present Duty. Proposed Duty.
Gotten Goods .j 51., W. 10s., and 601. 101. per ant. •
Woollen Manufactures 50/. . - 134 ditto.
Foreign Linens . 404 and 180/. - . 25/. ditto.
Foreign Rooks - is. and upwuds per lb. ti•l.
Foreign Paper .fill.. . . lld.
Glass Mules - 801. per cent. abore Excise
duty here, las. per doz. 3•. per dozen.
Glass generally - 75 per cent. - 20 per ct. above
Excise duty on English glass.
Foreign Earthenware ';5 per cent. . 10 or 12.
On richer Porcelain . Somewhat higher
Turnery, &c. . Prolsibithl - At a small ad va.

I'rem duty.
Foreign Gloves . Prohibited - - 30 per cent.
Duty on Copper reduced f-om pet ton to 271. Proposes
further reduction.
Duty on Spelter reduced from 28/. per ton to 141. Proposes fur-
ther reduction.

Duty on Tin reduced from 3/. per ton to 2/.
Duty on Lead--a smaller reduction ; but the amount not men-
tioned.

On goods. warm and merchandise, being either in ran or
wholly manufactnred, and not enumerated by name in the Book of
Rates, and prohibited to be imported into Great Britain, iipon
which the duty is at p: :sent .50 per ceet. reduced to 20. On goods,
dee . not in part or wholly toanufactured, and prohibited at pre.
sent 20 per cent., reduced to 10.
The maximum of sty duty left on the English Book of Rates is
30 per cent.
On several minor articles used in our manufactories it is intended
to reduce th- duties. The duty on olive oil will be reduced !oar:
than it wan before the war. The duty on rape seed and fiox oil is
to be taken OF entirely, after allowing a certain time for the desire
to get rid of the stork in hand. The duty nn all wool, of which the
price is under a shilling a pound, is reduced to a halfpenny per
pound. The stamp duty on the transfers or shares in ships, and on
sales of whole ships, is taken off. The stamps on bonds for due
delivery of certain goods at places to which they are entered at the
Custom-house to be ex^:rted ere reduced from 40s. to 4s. and the
stamps on Custom.houta debenture. are removed entirely All
Consular fete are abolished, except for certain acts—c. R. notarial
acts—which arc extra Con.ular.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE BRITISH PRESS.
Stn.—A statement having appeared in • contemporary journal
of Friday last, calculated to rmslead the public with respect to the
merits of the question which the pawnbrokers Imagine is now at
issue between themselves and the Equitable Loan Bank. I beg
leave, through the medium cf .;our highly respectable Paper, to
offer a few remarks which will place this matter in its true light.
The statement in question says. " It can be proved to demonstra.
' lion that the gross average prcfit upon the capital of the largest
and most respectable pawnbroker in London is not mars than
91. 7s. per rent. per annum, nut of :r.'.104 all expenses of license,
lasses, and tares, servants sages and subsistence, u well as his
own and /smile's maim-mince. are to las defrayed."
Now if I take this for granted, I think it must shew the unrea-
sonableness of the complaints so piteous!; sent forth by the pawn.
brokers, for I cannot for rt-e life of me perceive, if they make only
91. 7s. per cent. gross profit, " out of which all expenses, licenses,
he. he., with their own and families' maintenance, are to be de.
durted," what need they dread from the competition of a Fent-
pany who ofrer to take only half the interest at present charged,
and who therefore can make may liar the profits. which would be
41. 13.. fkl. Must it not, I ask, be evident that any parties endea.
Touring to carry on an extensive business which gave a goon pro.
fit 01 only li. lbs. 6d. per cent., out of whist' they would have to
deduct all expenses and maintenance of themselves and families,
cannot succeed, and that the attempt must soon end in disappoint.
runt and ruin ? If the pawnbrokers believed thi., would they
take such pains to defeat an object, which would, according to their
own 'Mewing, so soon defeat itself ? Butt. Sir, the fact is, the
pawnbrokers do not believe it ; on the contrary, they well know
that the sum of SU. 7s. instead of being the whok of thsir gross is
not ant half of their sett profits, as I think I shall make appear
to the satisfaction of every unprejudiced mind amongst your OUP
memos reader .

The dein upon which I proceed I defy the pawnbrokers to con.
tradict. I have l:ad peculiar opportunities of information on the
subject, having been, from a very early period of my life, actively
engaged as asststant in one of the moat extensive pawnbmking
concerns in the metropolis, which I quitted within the last year in
consequence of having Iry married ! for it is a fast with which
most of your readers may not be acquainted, that pawnbrokers
will not employ a married man, or keep him after he has married !
No matter how long or how faithfully a man may have served,
the moment lie enters ir.to the matrimonial state all his former
services are lb:gotten by his master, and he is turned adrift on the
world at a time when of all others he has most need of employment.
To this I invite contradiction, if it can be given.—But to return to
the subject.
There are in the mctropo:is 269 pawr.brokin,g establishments,
which (including partnerships) are conducted by 313 individuals.
The number of is employed by these (including apprentices
and warehouse lads) are,on the average of four to each house. 1,131.
Now it will not be beyond the fact if I class these 289 eats.
blkshnients under the tour following divisions: 72 which issue
10,000 duplicates each in the year; 72 which issue 00,000 each in
the same time; 72 which lame 80,000:. and 73 whose issues are
100,900 duplicates each in the year. The whole amount of dopli.
caw thus Muted by the 289 establishments would be 20.260,000.
It is known that pawnhmkere never charge lees than a halfpenny
each duplicate. I admit that by law they ought not to make arty
charge fur the duplicates of ankles pledged for less than 2s. Id, ;
but I knew the fact, that in a thousand cases out of eleven hun-
dred it is done, when there is a chance of Its being dime with ins.
punity. I also know that Id. each duplicate is the lii4hest price
which the pawnbroker should charge, but that in many instances
that rate is exceeded, particularly in rases where respectable panics
come to borrow larger sums than by law he is allowed to lend.
However I think it will not be an unfair average—at least it will be
rather under than over the mark—to estimate the duplicates at an
average of one halfpenny each. This would make a sum of
12,2081. 84. 6d. Now irom this sum I would deduct the following
expenses :
Ambng the 2C9 establishments I would allow that £ s. d.
there are fifty journeymen or assistants at 1001. a
year each making - - 1,000 0 0
One hundred journeymen or assistants, at 801. a
year each, - f ono 0 0
Two hundred and fifty at a salary cif 351. each - 8,750 0 0
Two hundred yowl* at lel. a year each - 2.000 0 0
Price paid Air 20,260,000 duplicates, at 3s. per 1,090 3,039 0 0
Licenses for 2119 establishments. at IN. each - - 4,335 0 0
Plate Licenses for 289 establishments, at 111. les.
each . 3,323 10 0
Fifty establishments requiring lace licenses, at 3!.
each - • 150 0 0
Books and other contingencies . . 1,500 0 0

Total . . - - £38,097 l• 0
Ill'hich deducted from the amount received for du.

plicate', leaves a b"laace in favour of the pawn-
brokers of - 6,110 16 8

This sum, let it be recollnted, is wholly independent of the
interval which the pawnbroker is allnwed to charge. which is in
no tome less than lb per cent., but on all sums less than two gui-
neas Is 20 per cent., and on the smaller pledges (which by the way
are most profitable as being most speedily redeemed) it is at the
rate of 90, 40, and not infrequently 00 per cent. if to these be
added the profits from sales of unredeem d pledges, it is no ex.
sggeration to say they derive an interest from their capital of from
21 to 27 and shall per cent., from which they have only to deduct
the expense of house trot and taxes. For these I would allow
from S to 8 per cent, end then I find they will have • Sell prep of
at least from 22 to 24 per cent.
These, Sir, ate plain statements, and, if founded in error or ex-
aggeration, are capable of being easily disproved ; if they be
wrong, let the error be pointed out. To talk of " 01. 7s. per cent.,
out of which all expenses, &c. &c. were to be deducted,'' is rank
nonsense. if it does not deserve a harsher name, a wilful attempt
to mislead. It was established by several respectable pawn-
brokers and their assistants, on oath, before the Committee of the
!louse pf Lords last Session, that it is by Dolmans an unusual thing
for pawnbrokers to borrow money at ten per cent., for the purpose
of investing it in the trade ! Is it to be supposed for an instant
that they are so stupid PS to borrow at 10, to carry_on a trade whose
gross profits da not exceed 01. is. per cent. ? The thing is cab.
surd.

Sir, I do not object to the fair profits of any man in his busi-
reas. If the pawnbroker could realise in an honest way, not
merely 9.0, but 100 per cent.,l would not grudge it to him but if
he has it, let him not deny he fact. I can easily perceive the ob-
ject with which these statements are put forth ; it is to impress the
rublic with the belief that the Equitable both Company are en-
deavouring to oust the pawnbrokers from I:.e scanty profits of their
very laborious and irksome trade. If these profits be no greater
than the amount mentioned in the Morning Paper of Pricey, I
really think the pawnbrokers w:11 benefit, as well as the public, by
the Company the public, by the advantage of obtaining tern-
rotary loans at halfthe present rate; and the pawnbrokers, by being
forced from a trade by which (according to their own statement)
they must be losing very considerably. But as IWs shown, the
profits of the trade are not only not so low as they wish to hays it
believed, but are extravagant. end enormously so, when It is con-
sidered that in 99 cores out of 100 they are wrung from the hard
necessities of the peter. Sir, I will not trespass further on your
attention, than to remark that if the Equitable Loan Company can
afford (and I hare not the slightest doubt they can, and that too
with a fair profit on their capital) to grant temporary loins in all
cases at 10, at:d in some eases at lb per cent. less titan wbat the
pawnbroker is allowed by low to charge. they will confer a benefit
on the necessitous of every elan, but chiefly on that rery distressed
portion of the working classes, whose pressing wants °Sligo them
to pledge from day to day, and from week to week. and who arc on
that account made subjects of the most grinding extortion.
I am, Sir, your mint obedient.
London, March 27,10 n A. B.

We understand that Judge Ricketts and family are
expected to embark at Portsmouth, for Madras, about the
20th April, in the East India ship Sir Edward Paget,
Capt. Geary.

•

THE BRITISH PRESS.

TILE NEW QUARANTINE LAW.

TO IIIE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.
Sin—The framers of this law have three options, all in reality
equally founded on the doctrine of non-contagion, although two of
them profess to be founded on the contrary doctrine. They are, the
scheme of the Committee on foreign trade, the practice of Holland,
and, the plan which would result from the principles of Dr. Mac-
lean. By the first a forty.seventh part of the system would he pre.
served. founded on the efficiency of bills of health, upon which Dr.
Aliadean has shown: in his Lecture upon Quarantine, that there
can be no dependence. Let us takian example from a case of fre-
quent occurrence. Two ships load at the same time, and with
similar cargoes, to a port of the Levant at which the plague prevails.
It ceases. One of the ships immediately sails with a foul bill the
other waits 40 days, and gets a clean bill. What Ofference can
there he between the cargoes of these two ships upon their arrival in
England ? None whatever, depending upon airing. A cargo, it is
self-evident, Can undergo no urilicatiun whilst locked up in a
ship's hold, whether she be lying In port or at sea.
By the practice of Holland, " as soon as the ship arrives with a
foul bill of health, the crew is examined by the Quarantine Doctor,
and a few days afterwards his visit is repeated. A report is then
Made to the Aminslty and (all conibming well) the ship is released."
On the 19th of June, 1924, the Therese, Captain Rosing, from
Alexandria, with cotton, and a *lean bill of health, Arrived in the
Texel Roads, and (all bring well on board)) nut released on the 22d
frotnquarantme. In September 1924, the Yonge Willem, Captain
Stratingh, from Alexandria, with cotton, and a foul bill of health,
arrived in the Texel Roads, and being well on board) was
released as soon as the customary formalities could be complied
sath, e. in a few days. Not a bale of cotton was aired, or landed
from either of these vessels, until released from quarantine.
It rill probably be thought necessary to adopt this practice of
Holland. in framing the New Act, in order to prevent the Dutch
from hsvin,g the advantages over us in the Cotton trade of the
Levant, al-och they would otherwise undoubtedly possess. Hut if
the matter be considered in its true light, it will be found, that
this Dutch practice, although leas injurious, is in no degree less
absurd than that which depends upon bills of health. It seems, in-
deed, at first sight, as if there were something tangible, when we
talk of sickness, in the way of criterion of danger. But., when we
recollect that no case of plague has ever arrived, in any ship, from
any quarter of the world. in either Holland or England, we shall
readily perceive that nothing can be more irrational than to de-
tain ships in the Texel, or at Stangate Creek, for the purpose
of whetter there be a species of sickness on board,
which the experience of several ccoturtes—all the experience we
pcesess—nas taught its does not exist in such situations.
I conclude, then. sir, that when the Quarantine Bill goes to the
Committee, neither this ridiculous provision, not the still more in-
jurious ore which depends upon bills' of health, rill be allowed to
remain ; but that the Committee, having duly examined the sub-
ject. and dismissed apprehensions of imaginary dangers, will per-
ceive that there is more both of propriety and of safety in adopting
the clearly-established principles of Dr. ;Beduin, now in the course
of adoption by the Faculty generally, than in adhering in any de-
gree to the ancient doctrines on tins subject; and that they will
wholly and at once renounce laws which have been demonstrated to
be not Golf without an object, but highly destructive both of pro-
perty. and especially of that health and life which it is their pro-
fessed end to preserve. VIATOR.

THE ARMY.

LEVY FOR INDIA.

—..—....
By the last returns that have been received from the different
Recruiting Parties throughout Great Britain and Ireland, it appears
that 2,300 men have been enlisted for the British Regiments now
serving in India.
AMERICAN LOVA LISTS.
The pensions and allowances which became due to the American
Loyalists on the sth January, 1825. will be payable on the first
Wednesday in each succeeding month.
Detachments belonging to the 2d, 12th, 13th, 35th, 44th, 45th,
48th, 64th, 83d, 85th, and 81st Regiments of Infantry, marched
on Saturday morning, under the command of Staff Setoant Broad,
from Westminster, far the Depot in the Isle of Wight.
A detachment belonging to the 67th Regiment of Foot marched
on Saturday morning Iron, Westminster for Portsmouth.
A detachment belonging to the 99th Regiment of Foot marched
on Saturday morning from Westminster, for Gosport, where that
eorrett at present stationed.
hments belonging to the lit Battalion of the 60th, 31st,
57th, and 97th Regiments of Infantry marched on Saturday morn.
leg from Westminster, under the command of Staff Serjeant Hook,
for Chatham.

A detachment belonging to the 17th Light Dragoons (Lancen)
marched on Saturday morning Iron IVestminster, for Canterbury.
A detachment belonging to the 4th (the Queen's Own) Regi-
ment of Light Dragoons marched on Saturday morning from West-
minster, for Meidstone.

A detachment of Recruits belonging to the East India Company's
service embarked on Friday morning, under the command of Staff
Serjeant Plitt, at Bill;Nogate, for Gravesend, on route to the
Company's Depot, at Chatham.