The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-18 00:00:00

WOOL T,IX.

COPT OF MINUTES OF EXAMINATION. TARE?.
UEFORE THE. COMMITTEE OF TIIF. PILIVY
COUN-
CIL Colt THE AFFAIRS OF TRADE, REGARDING
THE WOOL. TAX.

At the Council Chamber. ‘‘Mtehall, December 15, 1819:
By the Itoglit lionuatrable the Lords of the Committee
of (..SIIIICII appointed for the ronaideratinn oral! mat-
ter" r.l.iloot to l'rade and Korivi Plantation,.

Lord Lowther, one of the Lords of 11:4 Majesty'. Tirasoire,
and Mr. Stuart Wortley, tursilln r fur the roomy of folk,
and Mr. Thomas Nlll.un, nu•nibrr fur the city of Loudon,
were prgArtil.
Read—R.lN, escntaii iii from the gesitlemen engaged in the
woollen maisofileitirtelating the injurious len•lency Wlllell
a C//1011311111111$111( the lax t•n (1)11/1X11 01Hol mua beet• mr the
ores of Great Britain communicated by !be Earl
I.ivi rpool
A rely numerous depute • from the arveral clothing
mtendanre, nese celled iu, and
Were ricionim..lllll ft/111/WS

Q. At are the mum-opal mai keta to whirl) the fine
wooll.o goods of Okia conotry, made altocelher of foreixn
wool, are cetierally .%purled ?—A. The prior loal rximris of
Ihese cloths are to Ilse Unittil Slates and 11,1513 but we
cannot slate the pro:rorituos of e.ch sort of gumit mu ix.
ported.

Q. What proportion of the fine forrizo wool, imported
into this ettnotry. i+ re.ezpomted to a atatauf.tetured
A. .4houl tatt.ilord.

Q• Can you. by approximation, slate how much or the
wool so imported is exported in ao licks made euil Ire ly of fine
foreign need ?—A. ITe have out the menus of stating the
Proportion generally. It is supposed I hdt Glourestershire
where the manufactoey is almost exclusively of fine cloths,
shout one-third of the fine foreign wool consumed there is
exported in cloths asaele entirely of fine foreign wool.
_ _

Q. In articles made of a mixture of British wool and of
fine foreign wool, what is the proportion of each 10r1 of
wad?—A. Some kinds id IR r le wool (that groan in the
'mother,* parts of England for example) require a Elea!, r
proportion of fine foreign wool Bean whets. In Yorkshire,
the quantity of wool consumed is about Iwo-thirds foreign
wool, and one-third British. Of the floe foreign wool, about
our-half is mask into cloth comprised entirely of foreign
wool; the other into cloths made of a mixture of fore gee
wool sod fine British wool. Stuffs are made wholly of
British long wool. In the article uf carpets a small prove,-
lino of foreign wool is reset'. In low priced carpets some
foreign wool to used; but this fureiszei never exceed. 1441. per
lb.; a good many carpets of this illtbrnplioll are exported to
she United Slates.
Q. Is there not a mixture of foreign and British wool M
the articles known by the names of I'laahing•, Deilkis, :c••.
and in other coarser articles?—A. Yes ; while British ruarse
wool was very dear, the proportion of coarse foreigr wool
was nearly one-half.
Q. Are these descriptions of goods exported to the.l.lnited
States?—A. Yes; Ow greater proportiou of them.
The great propurti tttt of woollen goods, exported to the
European mai kris, are coarse *elides.
In laoesshirr, a great quirotity of low-priced foscizo wool
i• consumed. Thr risco duty on wool of Chia ire ion
is a proleibitimi; and if tee ;price of British coarse wool
*lmola rise, Chit leratieh sif trade would lee destroced.
Mare foreign wool is 31 prearnt required, fur the piirpose
of mixing with B. iiish wool, tie couseepie lice of the latter
having become eisi.re deteriorated w qlealiiy.
Q What rin-ct has the duty on foreign wool, be
rai.ing the piece of any pas 'mane sleseriptishe of woollen
manufseetere?—A. Sunposiug a cloth at Ilk per yard, wade
of half British and half foreign wool, Iwo pounds of wool
would be required, each at 2a. fid. per lb. Iu consequence
of the present duly of 641. per lb. the pine of the pound of
foreign wool is necessarily raised to 3s. and the price of the
poem/ of Enlist) wool moat he reduced to 25., in order that
the manufaourer °say still be eualrled to gelid the article to
the foreign market al the price stated (10a.) the price of the
article in the foreign counsel being fixed. This is the flume
necessary, as foreign cloth of a very good quality can be
manufactured wholly from foreign wool.
Q. As the consumer in the United Stales cannot procure
fi on the foreign neanufat Curer an article of the same quality
as that furnished by the British maaufareorer, what oddities,'
to the price of the British cloth would, in your opinion, en.
duce the Ame►ican consumer to give loathe use of the British
article, and to have recourse to the foreign manufacture fur
a subalitute ?—A. Mr. Wilson stated, that W. per yard, or
5 per rent. upon et cloth of 10a. per yard, would give the
turn Wll.lllll the British article.

Q. 7'u what comic du you impute the incremiril import of
foreign wool?—A. The manumit high price of F.itglish long
wool in 1818, amide it muse us cessary to import foreign wool
to mix wills it.

Suds •ras the &mood for roarre wool, that old cods are
sent to the mills 'III great numbers, to be torn and winked
up again.
The supply of short wool has been still further diminished
by the enclosures in the northern parts of England.
The total produce of English wool may be estimated at
000,000 packs, or 144,000,4100 lbs. of which one- (Will is cons.
mon wool.

't he Harlotry anti Porno* Ayres wools are short wools.
The chief growth of Irish wool is of a quality pretty
nemly iesenthlinc 11w wool of Leicratershire, or perhaps
mote like the Dieteb and Low Illeckleeihurz wool.
1Vi4411 aid the importation of COilf't wool from Buenos
Ayres commence?—A. Thus article was to be seen in the
market twenty years Miter; but the importation of it has
been greatly iticreaseil of late years, fruits the scarcity of
English wool.

4. Has theie not been an illness, d demand for foreign
CUalie wool of late years, fur the purpose of using it 0111LC.1
with other wool in runny derrripiinns of goods in which it
was sot formerly mud while English wool win cheaper, mid
if Englisliwnol falls in price, would not less of the foreign
wool be required to mit with the English comae winil?—
AA. Less foreign wool would be required if English wool were
at a ►easonable price.

Q. What du you coercive to be a reasonable price fu►
British coarse wool?—A. Twelve pounds pre par k,ispisl to
Is. per lb. would be • reasonable price, sit that price she
English article might met. ally Googol competition; She
present price is 131. per park.
In the stuff trade the manufacturer can afford to give Ms.
or 15d. per lb.; at this price they can afford to stud their
goods (stuffs only) to Russia, or any oilier market.
The fins good. depend entirely is) he finer .reign wool.
A Grath-mass who had for some lime watched Slur priers of
French cloths in the Veiled States. cossereved that we cur
supply that market 7 per tent. cheaper than the French.
lu Russia Slit German cloths come into closer competition
with Ilse Kniglials. This ohs. realism, taking the last three
years, is applo able to superfine cloth worth front 30,. to 351.
per yard.
The duty of fill. per lb. un foreign wool would he equal to
15.1 per yard on our fine cloths sa the Itenumin market.
hi sloths of a lower draeripti ~,,, of Itts. per yard fur ellt.
ample. those made of foreign wro.ll entirely, are certaiesly
superior to Eeglish cloths of the same price nook of mixed
wool. In cloths of 15s. per yard, the competitiou is meek
nearer.

Al the Council Chamber Whitt hall, December 17,1319.
By the Hight Huntiorsble the Lords of the C mitice
of Council appointed fur the consideration of ell mat-
ters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations.
ford Lowther, use of the Lords of his Majesty's Ties.
wry, was present.
Brad—Letter from J. Maitland, Esq. Chairmen of the
C milk* of the Wool Trade, dated this day ; transmit-
ting a list of the gentles's. is deputed from the different
clothing districts, classed arcurdine to the several branches
of the woollen trade in which they are respectively engaged.
Their Lorilohips having dete ssss lard to hear those gentlemen
who were beat qualified so give evidence as to the cxlmrt of
articles made exclusively of furriest wool, the followiuz grit.
Orsini were called in and examined :—Mr.6Oll, Mr.
Mr. Phillips, Mr. Thompsou, air. Ftsh►r (of lindili
Mr. Maitland, Mr. Tlsoniati Sheppard, Mr. Sheppard, Mr.
Oirerbory, Mr. N. veil, and ltle Botcher.
Q. What is the quantity of foreign wool committed an.
'Snail, in Yorkshire to the tosoistottures?—A. We have usi

rittamloraireltaht;nit &semen-rely; but we think that pm.
Laity rather less than our ball of the whole quantity Im.
ported.
Q. What propos,' Ma of the foreign *owl eonlitnled in the
woolliest strtuurseluees in the west of England, is reexported
in a innunfaciiired stile ?—A. About one-third.
Q With the exception of the, consumption of n certain
(mustily of coarse forrign wool in Laisen:burr, is Hilt nearly
the while foreign import eIJUSUITICII iu Yorkshire and the
west of Yes.
Q. Do you slut esituni.ite that tan puhnils of fine wool are
respired to make a hard of anises fins. brawl riots?.—A. Y.ii,
if ut be Spanish wool; if German wool is used, two pounds
and • half will be require ..1.
CL If the wool siele imparted in a smsbett state, what
quantity would be plowed ?—A. About six pounds iis
tauesity are Mat in scouring German wool; in Spanish about
three pound..

Mr. Golf aslderl, that Spanish wirol grnerally cornets h«re
wiqflid. The trench wool also cosine+ in a ernplied state gr.
nerally. It is F4111)110111.11 noose pulitild, from the 'she of
Gernian woola are usually brims:hi its the natural
style hunt the &ere, sir orally an. Brazil wool conics its
its natural stele.— Smyrna wool in the 1.3111 e way.
The wriser4l thisisneti,..is so the trade is, that the Spanish
and nesse!' wools are caite.l

The others, in the II oral stale.
Q. Assoosing a yarJ of superfine cloth to be mule of
2lba. of floe foreign word, the s fleet of the new dory ♦uald
be nearly au 'Waitron of 1.. per yard?—A. Yes, sot cloth
made of Spanish wool.
Q. What is the price of a yard of superfine broad cloth
made entirely of floe foreign wool ?—A. From 17s. to 21'.
per yard; superfine broad clink of tine Spa4ish wool is
worth upon an aserage about 174. Ir. r
Q. Would the hest English Mei 44444 wool lie of sufficiently
fine quality to make cloths from 12s. to 15s. per yard?—
A. (Mr. Phillip.). 1 have made up a great ileJI 4.f Merin.
wool grow., by Mr. Flower; it wits very inferior in quality
compared with fine Spanish wool; it wsv very cJartte.
There is WI wool grits u in this country of a quality equal
to make superfine cloth.. It wonle be very °harems whether
such stew rline cloth wore made of girlish wool.
_ .

Q. Wbit is the quality of the wool Gum New South
pales?—A. There is great variety in it. Soma of it, but
only a snail quantity, is equal to Spanish wool.
Q, has it siut been Pisti!, that, with the exceptio* of
Portugal, there is 110111111111itt iur the au pettisie cloths of this
country, uxeept in ft ?—A. There iv still a einisolerahle
trade in Ilicm in the Mcilit.arrnorail; but it is expected, that
if the new dilly is continued, the cloths of !kabala will su-
persede the Enlist' in the Mediterranean.
Q. Has nut the 31eitiitri aura') trail•• bees. gradually di-
miuishing since the peace'.—a. It is cusistilirably diminish-
ed. It huts however thicivaleil arrording to sin- octet of
wool. The competition use the whole rather inclines iu fa-
your of the foreixii ls.
Q. la it your issinressiois, that if the duty hash slot taken
place yon wuuld have carried out an eXti'I)VIVC Ira•le to the
Mediterraist ass in eblliv 1141111 V wholly of foreign wuol ?—A.
We think this Irnile would hare coutinued, Ib 411 it would
I ave fluctuated.

Q Of 11n woollen condi exported in Rowda, doe* not
one-1114d ronaixt of fine goodx?—A. No; tl prubably
about one.liftli.

11. What are the propurt• of cloth made entirely of
furtive wool, mitt of cloths made of oozed woos, m lime
trade with the United Stairs?—A. Perim!). Nearly une.half
i. pn.t.tl of Cligh4 uicde of hue foreign wool.
In au emourt of 300,0001. to the llama States lecl year,
made by one of the gentlemeu present, 160,000/. was of
cloths made of 4uc w unl.

ha an txport apt 2010,0001. in Me current year, about Si) or
90.1)001. were flue foreign 1r Loll.

The proportion of fiue goods inthe exports to &nib A ate-
rien is about the same.

It would be bad policy to send cloths made entirely of
British wool, ILu wool tool); ousel' deteriorated in quality.
Up to 10s. per yard, the Judo we woke ere entirely of
British wool.

The advantage which British cloths have over the Preach
cloths in the United Sirtes, tM at present allots, 71 per cent.
that is an cloths worth from tifis t.. 354 per yard, of which
the export may amount It) alines' 200,000/ per aranue. TMe
kerweh cloths however are Set avier than uu►c.

tVe do slut pontsc lise same advantage in he common
steperalie cloths.
_

Huller the terms of the existing treaty of commerce be-
tween Ibis country and the United Stales, we have an iJ.
vantage in respect of cloths of Ss. and upwards. But at•
Irrupts are now makiug to introduce eletlia of foreign mann.
'reuse into the market of the United States, which will
pruhahl) injure our i rade very motel i•lly.
Q. What are the eireumstaliceit which have hitherto given
us the advantage to which )ou allude?—A. Hitherto fo-
reigners have not nude any great efforts against its; bet
sampler of foreign cloths use now introillicing, wind' may
liod to a more unreal consumption of them.
N. What ■re your exportations as to the South A meriean
market ?—An increase, nu ilimillit. Mr. Gott stated that he
had this slay received irittra conveying very favourable ac-
counts on this suiliji el.
. . . _

Q Judging hen; the. elate of the orders lab ly received,
and from you, general knowledge of the state of trade,
what is your Impressioti, ex to the prospect of feline
improvement !.—A. Mr. Colt-1 think that the quantity ex-
ported this year bag 4(111 su diminished as compared wilts
flume or the revilAllt, year, diet there will Lea more relive
Trade with the United Steles next spring. The stock of
Roods in that rountry is 4,111114'h-bid; and the prier of th.ir
own produce is nearly come to its fixed levelosid I therrfore
expect we shall have inure considerable orders. I think the
made will revive with consideteble activity in the spring, if a
fair chance be give., us.
If tie• present tau were repealed we should begin to pur-
chase floe wool; as we are satisfied that the muck of goods
ow hand in the United Stales is run off; awl that they moist
require fresh supplier,. But we shall uui dare to act upon
this conviction, if we are to give fiel. per lb. inure for our
wool than our (ureic.' competitors.
Q. Will nut the advantage of finding in England long
credit under the eireunisiauces of expected difficulty and
stagnation, elweys induce the people of the United Mate. tic
prefer a connexion with this country.—A. During the Lillie
part of the war the A-meek:toe Came In pay ready money ;
and I believe they would now pay at six numbs credit. If
mere should be mine difference arising Irma hanger credit
then the interest of the money, I believe they will prefer the
Di abant clothe.
At the Council eliainber, IV the 2011 i a Dee imp:
By the Bight 800. the Weds of the Committee of coun-
cil appointed for the cuesideration of all wailers re.
lating to Trade ami Foreign Plantations.
Lord Lowther was primed.
Their Lordships resumed the consideration of the duty
on wool.

The following Centlesnen, interested iu that branch of the
woollen manufacture *herrn' twig wool it consumed, brunt:
in attendance, were called iu, mud examitir4l, viz —Mr.
Banks, Mi'. Kiley, Mi. Pardo, Mt. Lea, Mr. Noweill, Mr.
Walker, Mr. Nussey, Mr..Garoly, Mr. Bischoff, Mr. Ryley,
junior, and Mr. Henry Burgess.
U. Taking the annual import of foreign wool at
16,000,000 lbs. what is the proportion, ion all a Vernife of the
last ten yeses, of coarse wool, that is of wool omit r 2s, 8.1.
per lb ?—A. Mr. Bischoff think■ it has been about 1.3 d
upon an serrate of the lust four years.
Q. Flay 11111 the vary high price of British long wool, slur.
ing a part of that period, hit ii the carter of the irreatly.isi-
creased import of conwe rump' wool Nu doubt.
Q. lit. it doubled the Outwit of this article'—A. We
cannot any abrthir ii has or um; but Slit- high price of the
British hula wool certainly has brought a great deal of to.
reign WIWI to till, country, wheals ounlil tint otherwise have
conic brae.
Q. Ilas any part of the 16,000innio thy. of foreign wool
imparted into this country hero re.txpor tett ?—A. There has
hero wine capon of forrizis wool iu au atimauufactured
state, but only It, a tufting extent.
Q. A.roming the quantity of comae wool imported to be
1-4.1 of the whole in+pori, bow ouch of that proportion
so • uproar.' iii a manafactureal state?—Sloe than 1.3 d;
hot it is wised almost invariably with British wool; and
II is/ray drlbtsill tht rrfore to slate the morn-lion currtoly.
A very material part of it is employed in the manutactute
a carpel-, particularly Se tab.
U. Lucid nut the snick known by the nose of Kalmuck,.

Mai are Mated to he made at present of asixed wool, he
mrtie entirsly ur liriiish wool ?--Yes ; but if British wool
should rise to ■ certain price, we should cease t• make this
lrticle if we tooth, not go i foreign wool.
Wonld the ditty iu inch rase prevent the imporfitlins
of such wool ?—A. Aloft noiloubtedly; Deified' wool of the
flue, or cern middle spialitv, could not Ise worked up to ad-
vantage will I a mixture of foreign wool.
Q. Amoseintig She quaniiiy of British wool exported in the
stair of cloth to be e7,000,0001b5. what is the quantity ex-
pm led in all plates of mannfaetnee ?—A. We faittunt any:
the a hole export of Rrilish wool may be nearly 39,000,000.
pound. more than 1-411, of all the British wool produced,
is, we apprehend, reported in ■ mmoraeloreil slate.
,2. In articles made of wool moil •ilk svier,l, a hat iq the
pl,Vorlino of earls?—A. In Isionliezinc, tlic asik may be
rrrkuned about one tenth.

0„. IVhet to the drawback a—A. Ten•peure upon the
gr,:se Wright.

Q. Mrs the drawback cover the duty on the silk ?—A. We
Capitol say.
Q. In a cloth made of foreirn wool naked with British
moot, is it possible to disliiiewolt the irruntity of each ?
A. No; but if the cloth were very fine, we should presnme
it Si, made of foretzn wool; a chilli made of British wool
canto), be made of a Weber price than Ills. to les. per yard.
Q. What is the weight of a pi•re of hombszine,emitaitsinc
one potted of raw silk?—A. Moot. 7l lbs. in a finished slate.
Q The prodore of British wool has been stated at
600,000 parks; who, was this estimate wade?—A. In the
year 18055.
. . .

Q. Has the produce been Warned since that time.
some increase has taker' place.
Q What sort or osrpeis are exported to the United
States?—A. The largest quantity i 4 of the c sort,
called Kidderminster.

Q. Are any carpets imported into the United States from
other foreign eouutries?—A. some ignore carpets, llor
oisfielure of other foreign countries, are imported into the
United Shales, but no pirre carprts : the srpoire rarpriv are
very high priced; double the price of our best Brussels car-
- pet.:

The carpets mama-mini... 4 at Tourney ere either so room,
or Nu to be unlit for the marktt of Ilie l'ititeal
Stairs.

Q3f i. the price of coarse wool, table: the produce
at 150,000,0001hs.?--A. About Is. fad. per lb.
Q. Batsmen the extreme prices of fine foreign wool, whin
has been the flortuati **** of the superfine cloths ?—A. The
price esf superfine cloth has fluctuated very link, it at all;
the lien I.cootessa wools have been at 70.6(1. and at bs per lb.
The tnanufartured.aritcle, that is superfine cloth, does
nut fluctuate so much as the !trice of the raw material.
144 r4rpellini, the manisfactured article varies suture in
price than the raw material..

Q H.• the price of title cloths varied much to the foreign
cuimimer ?

A. In 'be United Mates snprrflue cloth has has
fallen nlau a gOO4l deal 111 Itassia.

lo B►novels regretting, the price ba■ fluet•atcd • roan!
deal in the laat four yetis,. from 74 Hal. to Ss.
lii the expert of the articlew manufactured at Kendal in
1817, what was 21a per piece of 20 yards, in 11114 was 31s.
to 325. In 1810 the United States would not give that price,
•nd throe& are still on baud, and our manufacture is now
at a stand. We impute the high price of coarse abort wool
is 1818 to the great orders for cloths from Itimeia.

Q IXlsat ws;the price of lung wool in 1818.—A. Twenty
to to/emplanr pence per lb.

NAVAL IN rgLLIGENC'E.

PTXMOUTII, MAY 15.
Arrived the Minerva, Derell, from Nurfullt ; turd Zeepard
Dutch blimp of war from the Texel, fur Batavia.

FALMOUTH. MAY 14.
Arrived off this port the Lian Hooauty, Elhutt, (loin
Jamaica, is 47 day., for lAwdoii.
_ _

Pared Ibis purl un the 12111 instant, the Chtlisptake,
Pairson, from bunks.' fur Valparaiso.

WILIYMOOTII, MAT It.
The Almurab,lVriirld, from Madras, passed Ibis port last
night. She eallrd the 20;16 Jauuary ; left at the Cape the
Iluugly transport, and t.ru ur three other Iff swig bunseward.
Would. l'hmnix and Caruatic left Bengal She 2011
January.

.I.7EItIPOOL. WAY IS.

Arrived she John sad Mary, hPArthur, (film Honduras;
Agenuria, Ridley, from Paraiba; Pocahontas, Boyd, from
is;4l, (Wring ; Cu harhie, A othcot, from demo ; (/live, ;Jug-
horn, from S..vasousila ; Oemvia, from Charhuou ; and
Chichester, &Moo, from 1.1•111111 and Co. k.

DIAL, MIT 18.
Came down from the River I tat night, and sailed with the
rest of the ontwand.b..und the Ituit.h Army, Stevens, for
(lot toe ; Suffolk, Albion, fur Si. Thunimia ; and Jane,
011151 w, fur Jamaica.

FROM TUESDAY NIGHT'S GAZETTE.