The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-03-11 00:00:00

from one partof the met of Ireland, lie immediately has recourse t
another, and unless the coast be hermetically seeded (a laugh), the
system cannot be put down. In further confirmation of the
opinion that the :avenue would be materially augmented by the
measures proposed, the reduction which took place in 1745 was
,likewise noticed by him; and the lion. Member, in conclusion, ex-
pensed his strong conviction that, taking into account the augmen-
tation of duty, and the diminution of revenue, there would be a
saving of 400.000/. by the adoption of his proposal. The motion
which he submitted to the House was to the following effeet :
" That a Select Committee be appoints: to inquire how far a di-
ruin:4.oon can he effected in the duties on foreign spirits, tobacco,
and tea, without injury to the public revenue."
Mr. CURL' EIS, in seconding the motion of his lion. Friend,
amongst other topics. observed, that the great basis of smuggling
was spirhs.distilled front rye or malt, and urged the reduction of
ditty on those and other articles. The view lie always took of the
subject was. that no matter whether the crimes arising tilt of
smeggling were called manslaughter or murder, the lose of lifeless
so dreadful that a remedy should he no longer delayed.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if he dif- ,
feral in principle from the Hon. Gentleman, or disputed the details
which had been brought forward by him, he might perhaps be:
under the necessity of troubling the House on the subject under
consideration at greater length than he then thought at all ramie.
site. The Hon. Gentleman did him no more than justice in the
course of his observations; but he owned that lie did think there
was no ground for taking this duty—Ao he would call it—of pro-
posirg measures respecting this subject out of the hands of the
•.rovernment, and transferring it to a Select Committee. lie did
not dispute that a reduction of the duties r.ould have the effect of ,
putting an end to smuggling, 'and at ths same time of increasingl
the revenue. The duties to wine he hail reduced to what they
were at a very early period of the war: but that was not the
only reduction : the duty on silk was also diminished, and, with
teepee; to several minor branches, his lion. l'riend near him in-
tended bringing propositions before the House. He himself pro-
posed to deal with spina, and, in accomplishing what was require&
in that department, he felt that a great point was gained, that a
great object was effected in thus attacking the outworks of the foe-1
tifiew ion. One of the redoubts he had already gained, teem which
lie hoped to reduce the citadel itself. With his mind fixed on one '
great object, be felt be should best illscharge his duty 'by objecting
to the motion of the lion. Gentleman opposite.
Mr. BRIGHT was of opinion that, taking the duty off tobseeo
wee attacking smuggling in its strongest hold. The Hon. Gentle-
man, Rite- relating some eircumetancee respecting numerous seizures
of tobacco and brandy on the coast of Ireland, near Dungarvoo,
and referring to the Tenth Report of the Commissioners appointee
to inquire into the crate of the Irish Revenue, stated a loss by
smuggling which the revenue sustained in one district amounted to
728,00 N. To prove the extent to which smuggling prevailed
Ireland, lie stated that machines for spinning tobacco were at work
in the mountains there ; and contended, that with the facts which
were then before the Howse, there was sufficient ground to justify
his lion. Friend in moving for a Committee. It was urged that
the proposal of measures on this subject should be left to the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, and certainly, though he gave every credit
to that Right lion. Gentleman, it 'would be fur the House, if
in their judgment it was expedient, to adopt such course as was
best calculved to remedy the evils complained of. lie maintained
that the reduction of these duties was of sitat importance, not only
to the ccrinforts but to the morality of the people, for smuggling
was a course of life which perhaps. more than any other tended to
sap and destroy every moral principle; it was therefore incumbent
on the Government to remove all temptations of this nature that
could influence the minds of the lower classes..
Mr. HUME called on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to do
all in his power to put. down 'amtigglitig. Ile (31r. Hume) did
not want to have more of the articles in question used : what he
wished was, that the portion consumed should all be paid for.
There was evidence in that vtlume (the 18th itepoit) of the deli.
liberate opinion of the Commissioners thht tobieco was principally
the object of illicit trade. The Honourable Gentleman then entered
info some further statements in support of the motion, and related
arcurdetances which had come wider his observation during a re-
cent chat to the coast. In the vicinity of W signal station, he met
several men With casks on their shoulders, and on his inquiring
what they cri.'; ained, war informed that it was tobficco. When h:
mentioned thislo the Lieutenant at the station, that or icer assured
him that the smugglers were in the habit of landing contraband
articles, to allure the guard to a spot remote from the place where
they purposed making a landing of goods to a much hieger amount.
If such be the success of smuggling in England, how much worse
must be the state of Ireland in this particular ? One other circum-
stance he would state, to show that than by whom such, a traffic
ought to be discouraged were found thernseives to (tarts ,e of its
gains. A clergyman's family were supplied with various smuggled
articles, and he (the clergyman) was connected with a company
which had been formed for the purpose of carrying on illicit trade.
There was no country every plated in such a disgraceful situa-
tion as England was at present, in regard to its internal arrange-
ments. After the knowledge the House bad obtained of the pre-
sent system of smuggling, he certainly thought that 'Ministers
were answerable for every life that was lost in the deiperate
conflicts which sometimes took place. Another evil of the pee.
sent system was, that it tended to degrade the character of the
seamen employed in the Preventive Service. If it were looked at
in a pecuniary point of view, they would find that during the
years 1821, 1822, 1823, the expenses of the Preventive Service
amounted to two millions; this expense ought to be avoided. He
concluded, hy hoping, that the House would remember that smug•
feting increased in the saute ratio as the duties.
Mr. H. DAVIS observed, that by the reduction of the duty
on spirits, smuggling was not put an end to; but merely driven
to tobacco, and would increase. It was clear the revenue would
not suttee ; for in Ireland, at a period when the population was two
million lees than at present, at the duty infinitely below the pre-
sent standard, the revenue amounted to 9,000,0001.„ whilst, at pre-
sent. under tlio increased duty, it only amounted to 3,000,8001.
In England the reduction would double the revenue, and in Ire-
land quadruple it. The fair trader was to be protected. Under
the present system he was obliged to become a smuggler, or ruin
his family. lie, therefore, hoped that Ministers would next re-
duce the duty on this article.
Mr. Alderman BRIDGES was surprised, that among the re-
duction of duties the articles of tea and tobacco was left untouched.
The proceedings of smugglers were as regular as those of any mer-
chant in the city. He did not wish to take die measure of out the
hands of the Honourable Gentleman who framed it, but he hoped
his attention would be directed to those articles in order that proper
alterations might be made.
An Honourable Member whose name we could not ascertain
observed, that the reason why Ministers did not like to reduce all
the duties at once was, that they might not, to speak in com-
mon language, let go with one hand before they had caught bold
with the other.
Mr. HOBHOUSE said, he could not imagine why the reduc-
tion in these articles should be delayed,' as had been suggested by
some lion. Gen lenien. The objection on his side of the House
was not that the meatus was founded on false principles, but that
their practice did no: tend to carry the objects foe which they were
ca'ru wed lie considered it to be imperative on the House, that,
as the evil had been exposed and acknowledged. it ought, if possi-
hie, to be immediately done away with, The House ought, if he
might so speak, to oblige the Chancellor of the Exchequer to strike
at once at the root of the evil. He would take this opportunity to
make some observations on something like a threat which had been
held nut the other night to wine-merchants. lie hail stated that spe-
cula, lens had taken place among the wine dealers, who had all
doubled their stock, and proposed to raise the price to the amount
of the duty taken off: Now he (Mr. liobhouse) knew that specu-
lations had taken place, but it was in colonial produce, and perhaps ,
in wine. but not among the wine dealers. So far from what the
Chancellor of the Exchequer lad stated, the whole of them
had, upon the notice of the reduction which had been given in that
House, immediately sent round to their connection to delay giving
orders, and to go on upon their present stock till they could be sup-
plied axording to die reduced duties. This would hare the effect
of Inenging down those persons who had speculated on a rise; and
also enabling them to supply French wines Is. ed. and Portugal and
Madeira Is. cheaper than heretofore.
Mr. HUSKISSON did not recollect the *ads the lion. Gen-
detrain mentioned. 'What he said was, that, and lie had had it
front good authority, they had added to the price of the wine the
amount of the duty taken off, and that he thought the removal of
the duty might be postponed till the present stock was consumed.
lie stated what he then believed, but he hal since received offers
to supply him with wine at the reduced rates ; and indeed such nu.
menus oilers, that had he given an order to each, he should have
had a greater stock than ever he had in his life. Ile thought he
might congratulate the wine merchant upon the increased con-
sumption that was likely to take place. lVith regard to smuggling,
he must gay that he thought that that in spirits was much more
pernicious than that in tobacco; and the Hun. Member fee Mon-
trose (Mr. Hume) would have found, had he examined the casks
said to contain tobacco he mentioned having met with on the coast,
he would have found that they were spirits. Ile did not think that
by any reduction of duty they could raise more than 3,000.0001.
the present amount.
After a few words from Mr. LOCICIIART and Mr. MONCE,
COL DAVIES, in reply, said Ise would not press a division, and the
motion was negatived.
The house then resolved itself into a Committee on ths Fishery
Acts, and the Report ordered to be brought up to-morrow.
The Mutiny Bill was then read a second dine without opposi-
tion.
The other Orders of the Day being disposed of, the House ad-
joarned at a quarter to ten.

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