The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-26 00:00:00

•

recerelog, and died's, nest waiving, a distinct
Crown. kiwi, ilia tires a mutter that, foe the sake .
ciple and mould woe, should be placed upon some
variable krona* Td call upon the shipping int
salaries of our Consuls was not, hi thought, • soui
principle. We owed it to our commercial prospects
facility and enessuragement to the shipping interests ..... . county).
It was as unreasonable to call upon the individual trader to pay the
expense of our Consular establishments, as is would be to call upon
the individual traveller through a country to do a similar thing.
He thought the true principle would be to place all those varying
usages upon the same footing—to appoint a fixed salary as a re-
muneration for our Consuls, and to pay the amount out of the
public funds. It was a general service, and ought to be provided
for out of the general funds; because the Consuls were appointed,
not merely for me protection of ships and commerce, but upon
general principles, and fTr the general purposes of the State. That
being the case, nothing could be more just than to provide for them
in the way he had pointed out. The House was aware that in the
Civil List, which was a provisional grant, made during the life of
Ms Majesty, a sure of forty thousand pounds was set down for the
payment of our foreign Consuls. This was of course not a suffi-
cient sum for et toting the purpose; indeed, a considerable portion
of it was absorbed in the payment of residents upon the coast of
Africa. What he had to propose upon the subject was, that the dif.
Terence between that sum of 40,d001. and the sum necessary for the
payment of all the Consuls employed by the country, should be
provided for by the House, in an annual vote, among the other
items of the House, subject, of course, to their consideration and
approval in the same way as other grants of a similar nature. How-
ever, in making this proposition, he still intended to retain certain
eir.all fees canneeted with the Consular Office, in no instance to
exceed one or two dollars. He spoke in this language, because
that was one of the most generei among foreign coins. These small
sums woe to be payable for the discharge of extra Consular duties.
such as Notarial and other office& He thought there could be no
objection to retaining such small fees as these, particularly as they
would not go to affect the general question. He proposed then to
pat all the Consuls upon the same tooting, and pay them in the
manner he had menttoned. Minh regard to other unavoidable ex-
penses in foreign ports, such as the expenditure arising from the
maintenance of places of divine worship, the payment of chaplains,
the performance of the requisite duties of burying the dead, and
other necessarroffices, tie thought the resident British subjects
would find no difficulty in managing these matters among them.
sel*s, particulatly as he intended to propose that Parliament
should grant a further soot for those purposes, not exceeding one.
half the amount of the subscriptions of the resident inhabitants.
These were the main and principal features of the Bill he
intended to submit to the consideration of the House. But
there was one other . measure, also connected with our Consu-
lar taltablishmeate, and the relief and encouragement it was
his • Irish to give to the conuneretal int/tests of the country—he
alluded to the present state of the Levant trade. The House
would be awarethat that trade was tinder the direction of the Levant
Company, which had been established by charter of James 1., for
the purpose of regulating and encouraging our trade with the
East. By that charter under which the Company had been ap-
pointed, several privileges of a peculiar nature were granted. and
corresponding duties itnposed upon them. Among these privileges
was the right to appoint persons to the office of Consuls in the
Levant. All Consuls were consemiently appointed by the Com-
pany, who in return were expected to defray the necessary ex-
pentliwre, and pay the salaries of the Consul. In this manner the
Levant Company exercised a certain kind of jurisdiction in corn.
mercial matters within the territories of the Ottoman Porte. They
derived considerable power from the enjoyment of such privileges,
and he should not be doing the Company justice were he not to
heat his te.tiinony to the praiseworthy manlier in which they Ind
conducted themselves in the discharge of these delicate and difii.
cult duties. They had displayed all the good sense and modera-
tion that was so desirable in their management of our trade in
that quarter of thi world, and he gave them full credit for
the manner in which they had acted. In doing this he was
barely doing the Company the justice they. deserved. Bat how.
ever desirable it might be in a general point of view to consider
the mode in which the Levant Company had discharged their
duties, and to award them the degree of praise for the faithful
discharge of those dirties, which they did undoubtedly deserve at
his hands, lie thought it still more desirable, in a political point
of view, to consider whether it was right, under present circum-
stances, fur that Company to retain the privilege of appointing
Consuls, as they bad hitherto done. No one could suppose he
meant to impugn site conduct of the Company ; but he thought
the House would be of his opinion, and feel that Consuls and
other public servants ought to be appointed by the individuals who
were accountable for their conduct; and should therefore poaseue
the power of controlling them in the exercise of their functions,
which bore a relation to the general interests of the State. I;
was utterly impossible for Consuls, however prudent and cared
they might be in the discharge of their duties, it was impor
sible for them to escape without occasionally subjecting themseivalt
to complaints, either well or ill founded : and in the event of
such being the case, it was only correct that the power of conned
sbould be vested ire the bands of the Government of the country.
Under this view 'of the case, he was of opinion that there could
exist no reasonablebbjectiun to the proposition that those Consular
establishments fn foreign parts should be placed under the direction
of his Majesty's Secretary of State for the Foreign Department;
and that those individuals should hold their appointments from
the Crown, and be considered in the light of servants of the
Suite and not of the Levant Company. This was an arrangement
which was not only correct in principle, but would be found
highly conducive to the advantage Moue commercial and shipping
interest, im that. peetpf the globe. The Company had been in
ilieliabit of exacttng froM I i to 2 per cent. on the value of all
merchandise in the Levant trade. He did not mean to say there
was any thing unjust or unreasonable in the levying those dues,
but the removal of them could not fail to benefit our commercial
interests. This was the 'haw lie and his Right Hon. Colleagues
had taken of the.circumstances of the case. When they came to
act upon their opinions, and to see how far they might be re.
dueed to practice, they had received every concurrence and com-
pliance with their wishes from die quarter where it could be
most effecteally given. The Levant Company had instantly ma.
nitested their readiness to concur in any arrangement to be matte
fur the benefit of the corremerce of the country. lie felt
his particular reknowledgments -were due to the Noble Lord
(Grenville) at the head of the Company. That Nobleman
I (he need not say) had filled offices of great importance in
the State, and was therefore the more sensible of the good effects
to he derived from the proposed measure ; he had cordially con-
curred in the suggestions relative to the abolition of the Company,
and placing the Consuls hitherto under their control on a different
footing. He thought it quite unnecessary for hint to attempt any
eulogy upon the noble personage he had alluded to; but he felt
bound in justice to say, that he (Lord Grenville) had entered at
once, and with the most philosophical and statesmanlike feeling,
1 into the views of his Majesty's Ministers upon this subject. He
I had consequently exercised his influence on the Levant Company,
! over *lnch he presided, to induce them to consent to resign their
i claim upon the charter they held from
the Crown., The Company,
acting under the advice and Influence of the Noble Lord, had
agreed to do so, and consequently made an offer to that effect. It
was almost unnecessary to say, his Majesty would be advised to
accept the tendered resignation of the Company—that was a mat-
ter of course ; but it would be also necessary to bring a Bill into
that House for the purpose of enabling his Majesty to accept it.
The same Rill would go to authorise the payment of the surplus
ft tole of the Company Into the Exchequer, which could not be
thought a matter of injustice, when it was considered from what
. moves their funds were derived. He would therefore have to sub-
mit a Bill to the House to invest the excess of the Company's lunds
in the revenue, to alter the present mode of appointing Consuls in
the Levant, and to enact that in future those officers should be paid
out of the public funds. He thought the principle of such a-Bill
perfectly unexceptionable in its nature, and that its provisions
could not fail of being salutary and useful. by removing the exist.
ing difficulties out of the way of that branch of our trade, and sere.
ing the shipping and commercial interests of the country. (Hear,
hear.)• He feared lie had long since exhausted their patience, and
felt ashamed of having been übliged to lead the Committee over a
field so extensive. and embracing such a wide range of objects.
However, he had been anxious to bring the subjects he had de-
veloped before the attention of the House at that early period, and
previous to the Recess, that proper information might go abroad re-
specting the changes to be made, and the advantages afforded to
the commercial interest of the country. (Hear). During the
Recess Members would have the opportunity of considering the
tendency of the proposed alterations, every part of which should be
considered open to correction and amendment if that appeared nee
tessary. At present lie wished the Committee to consider the prin.
triple of the measure, leaving the several details for another oppor-
tutity. lie trusted they would coneider it on the broad basis, and
as a continuance of the sound polies already so successfully
adopted in our commercial relations. He hoped they would look
upon lint conduct upon this occasion as Memorising well with the
Meps already taken by his Right lion. Colleagues, and all going
to redeem the pledge given in the Speech from the Throne at the
commencement of the Session, to remove she restrictions from the
commercial relations of the country, and in that manner encourage
aced extend the prosperity of the State. The Right lion. Member
concluded by moving a reran of Resolutions embracing the various
subjects to which he had alluded.
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON vindicated his conduct from the
imputations which had been care on it relative to the alterations in
I the duty on iron. lie admitted that he was largely interested in
she manufacture of iron, but he treated the charges which had
been made upon his conduct as frivolous, and unworthy of any
thing but his contempt. lie would not condescend to notice them
further than to say that lie had been quite ignorant of the inten.
noes of the lion. the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reduce the
duty upon iron. He did not fear the competition of foreign coun.
tries in the article. There were only two conntriee that could at all
attempt to compete with us. and they would be unable to do it ef.
festively. lie was ready to admit the removal of the duty on
foreign iron would lower the price of British iron. Bat lie hoped
en this, as well as on former occasions, he had proved he not only
knew, Mit did his duty without reference to private motives.
He had supported Government in the reduction of eludes before.
He had supported them with regard to the warehousing system; and
' he thought It unfair to turn round upon him on this occasion, and
I impute to him WHIM which had never actuated his conduct.
: • sir H. Vi Vin N thought dust the skill and capital of our manu-
facturers would protect them from say dangerous consequences
likely to arise from the competition of foreigners in the snide of
copper. The exporters of copper would certainly not be in the least
affected by the increased importatem of foreign copper, however the
nisnufacturer might be.. But lie entertained no doubt the latter
would be quite able to meet the foteign, manufacturer in the market.
The capital sunk in the mines of Cornwall might be animated at
about one million ; and if the patrol and incidental expenses of

, would be
-Persons e7l-

1.000.
in South
of the
Stock

Of alien teenits---7
nen or the Execution of any great and valuable on-
dertaking beyond the capabilities or the capital of individual.; brit
when they came in competition with individuals, and turned their
large capitals to purposes that could be as well performed by private
Cl;s, he did think them highly injurious in their tendeity.
he ea} pawnbroking companies, milk companies, and fish
companies, he thought the companies might succeed, but if they
did it would be to die ruin of individuals; end if they failed, it
would be no less injurious to others. He was free to admit that the
establishment of ahoernakers and hosiers joint stock companies
might effect a reduction in the price of stockings and shoes ; but
what tea to Demme of the industrious individuals who had hitherto
exercised those employments ?
Sir el. W. RIDLEY agreed with the general propositions of
the Right Honourable President of the Board of Trade, but there
Was some points In his able and luminous speech to which he found
It his duty to call the attention of the House. Hr thought the im-
portation of forcisn glass, on account of the reduction of duty on
glass bottle", would go far to destroy the manufacture of those
articles in this country. That manufacture had already been con-
tiderably injured by the trade carried on in second-hand bottles.
(A laugh.) The House might laugh, but perhaps they were not
aware that there were regular marts in the metropolis for the
purpose. and a thriving trade carried on in second-hand bot-
tles. (A laugh.) This had greatly injured the glass manufac-
ture of the country, and now the importation of bottles at a
low rate of duty would add to the stock of second-had bottles,
and put the finishing blow to the manufacture of the article.
He thought that when the Right Hon. Gentleman brought the
English gisse.ranufseturm in competition with foreigners, he
strudel also have introduced sometencral measure as to the materials
of which glass was manufactured. One of the principal articles
used in that manufacture was kelp ; and, as the law stood, no kelp
was allowed but that brought from Scotland ; and he was instructed
that so had had the Scotch kelp been for these few years hack, that
the manufacturers had not been able to give satisfaction to the con-
sumers. The Hon. Member, after some further observations, said
it was absolutely necessary that some alteration should be made
with respect to the regulations on kelp, in order to enable the Eng-
lish manutketurer to meet the foreigner on equal terms. There was
another subject on which he wished to ask a queation : he wished
to ascertain whetter the duty on old Iron was to be placed on the
same footing with that on mg iron ? With respect to taking off
the stamp duty on {he transfers of ships, he begged to say that there
was no measure more likely to prove beneficial to the country—no
measure more calcutated to serve the commercial interests.
Mr. A. BA RINIi next addressed the House. The Hon. Gen-
tleman was for the most part inaudible in the gallery, and except
at intervals we were unable to catch his observations. lie Was
glad the plan proposed by the President of the Board of Trade
was not confined to particular interests ; it did not*pply to the
iron trade—it did not apply to the resin trade—hut it was Intended
for the general commerce of the country. If the new arrange-
! ment of any article were too tenderly touched, it was copper.
He fenced that the Gentlemen of Cornwall had been too busy
I knocking at thf President's door. (A laugh.) The duty on cop-
per had not been reduced in the same proportion as that on iron.
The reason alleged for tho discrepancy was, that iron entered
mare generally into the trade of the country. The truth was, that
copper entered far more fully into it. No one could dispute
that fact who considered the great quantity of copper that was used
for the single article of steam boilers. The Honourable Gentleman
went on to say that he was sure great advantages must result from
the liberal policy about to be pursued in the commercial arrange-
ments of the country. He wes convinced that its great capital and
skill would overcome the high price of labour. Foreigners in the
article of labour had a great advantage; still they were not able to
compete with us; labour alone, without capital and skill, availed
not much; in proof of that let the House look to Ireland, where
labour was almost had for nothirg, still no manufactures were going
on, owing to the state of anarchy and discontent in which she was
involved. (Hear, hear.) Thera was a very important question to
which he would advert, not for the sake of surd,* it, or excit.
ing a discussion on it—he alluded to the corn laws ; though he
was unwilling at present to say 'much on the subject, still he
felt the time must come when the necessity of considering the
cora laws would press heavily on the House. The Hon. Gentleman
said, that no fair conclusion could as yet be drawn from the experi-
ment made in withdrawing the silk duties; still he liked the prin-
ciple; it was a good example to other countries; he hoped they
would follow it ; for he confessed himself to be one of those politi-
cal economists who advocated the principle of reciprocity. Allusion
had that night been made to the Levant Company. Though he
had no reason to think it badly conducted, he looked on it as a
nuisance; one of the laws was, that it should not deal with any
merchant not a member of the Company. The Russian Company
too lie looked- on ao an obstruction to trade. It was a fruitful
source of gross fraud and perjury, as it was provided that no per-
son should trade with Russia unless a member of that Company.
There was another important regulation intended to be introduced
—that respecting Consuls. He hoped some further meat ore would
be adopted as to salaries.
Mr. HUqKIBSON here intimated, that it was his intention to
Introduce a sea regulation as to the salaries of Consuls.
Mr. A. BAR then roceeded to say, that it was too much
to object relit alterations in the commercial world,
merely because soma pasfacular hardships were to follow from
them. It was US le:ssaptcted that individual concessions were to
be made, in order-to been* the public good. (Hear.) There was
one other subject to which he would advert: it was clear, either
that the publishers of English books enjoyed enormous profits, or
must labour under great disadvantages; this was evident to any
one who remarked how much cheaper books printed abroad were
than those in England.
Mr. HUSKISSON said, the copyright of books might cause
the disparity in price.
Mr. LITTLETON said, that as other Renewable Members
had adverted to the particulnr interests with which they were con.
nested, he might be allowed to say something of the earthenware
trade. He was sure his constituents would be materially affected
by the proposed reduction of duty on that breech of trade. Already
they had suffered much from the great rise in the raw material
WILMS something were done for them he feared they would not be
able to compete with the foreign manufacturer. The French par-
ticularly had an advantage over them, from their excelling so much
in the manufacture of the stained paper used in making porcelain.
The Honourable Gentleman concluded by saying, that if the re-
duction on ware and china were an experiment on the generosity of
the French Government, and if that experiment failed to operate,
then his constituents would certainly have strong tiaima on the
consideration of the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, he had no
wish to address the House at length after the able and luminous
speech of his Right Hon. Friend. He merely wished to say one
word, to diminish the alarm that scented to prevail on account of the
reduction of duty on foreign copper. It was material to recollect
that the duty had been raised to its present high rate not for pro.
tection ; the advance in the duty was perhaps accidental. It fre-
quently became necessary to raise loans to meet the exigences of
the State ; then to pay the interest of diem additional duties were
, imposed on several articles. New circumstances required new loans;
more duties were placed on, and, among other articles, large duties
were laid on copper. To so high a pitch were they advanced that
they almost became prohibitory, though originally no such thing
was intended. At present nothing more was contemplated than
placing the duty on foreign copper on the same footing that it was
, in 1808, before the additional duties were imposed. His Cornwall
friends could surely have no objection to that arrangement. In
1808 they were all flourishing, there was no discontent among
them, all went on well, and no more was proposed at present than
to go back to the same state of things. For Ins part he did not see
how they could complain of such an arrangement ; he was sure
they could not wish, nor would they ask, fora monopoly ; yet the
duties as they then stood gave them a complete one. The Right
Hon. Gentleman went on to say, that the copper trade, so far from
being diminished by the proposed alterations, would derive in.
creased energy from them. A fresh activity would be communi.
cated to the trade, machines would every where be at work, and
copper every where in requisition. These few observations he felt
himself called on to throw out, to silence if possible the great alarm
that had been expressed. Ile twined the House wnuld clot confine
its views to individual interests, but support the fair, practical, and
enlightened s sass" alNhis Right Hon. Friend.
Mr.. TILE $ eimpacted. dud unless some protection were
offered to the min ng interests utter ruin must follow—particularly
now that so much was about to be done in South America.
Unless protection were afforded, he fears& so far as the Cornish
, mines were concerned, it would no longer be a question of min-
petition, but of existence. The Hon. Gentleman proceeded to say,
that the profits from the Cornish mines were by no means such an
was supposed. From certain calculations he had been able to
make, it appeared that in the year laos the optentity of ore raised
fell short of the expenditure by 11'9.000 lbs. Whatever the Houle
should deem fit to do net the subject, he conjured them to proceed
with caution, particularly at that tinreof speculation, when all the
best tradesmen were going abroad. labour consequently was
rising, and could there be a worse time selected to lower the prices
than when the proprietors had also to conter.d with the increased
price of labour ?
Mr. OIPPS hoped he should not be considered obtrusive in
making a few observations on the subject of the woollen trade. 1 t
Was perhaps the pride of the Englurh House of Commons, that let
any interest be concernedat had its representative within the walls
of the House. The reduction proposed to be made on woollen ma-
nufactures was monstrous—it was to reduce the duty at once from
50 to 14 per cent. ; if the duty had been fixed at 20 per cent. it
would be more reasonable; it would be somewhat adequate to the
danger threatened to our manufacture front abroad. It may
be answered that • reduction would take place in the mate-
rial. l'he reduction, however, was not suflicient to countervail
the enormous reduction in the duty on foreign manufacture.
If tho duty were even fixed at 20 per cent. on woollen cloths, in.
stead of at 15 per cent.. be thought the manufecturer would be
better able to meet foreign competition.
Mr. LINDSAY considered the reduction too much, and hoped
Ministers would wait to see what would be the effect of the reduc-
dons on other articles.
Sir R. FEROUSSON entirely &creed inithe opinion that the duty
of 21 per cent. could not but be injurious to the manufacturers of
linen. He admitted that prohibitory duties ought if ponsible to be
taken off every article ; but we must at the same time be placed on
the same footing with other countries. As the Right Honourable
identleman (Mr. Huakisson) had said he would do every
thing in his power to enable us to compete with foreign ma.
rattecturtes, he hoped attention would be directed towards those of

- -. THE BRITISH •PRESS
salary from the working the niises store added, he thought the grow; sum you
of aniform prin. little abort of two million and a hill'. The number of penal
is equal and ia- gaged in those mines could not be lest than from 71 to 100,001
iterest to pay the was said that metal rould be proenred at a cheaper rate in
Ind or creiettable America, and miner and smelters were every day going not
:ts to give every country. This was at the instance of the numerous Joint
its of the country. Companies of the day. He did not disapprove of the establial