The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-05-27 00:00:00

F

Itthersl blew was 'conformable to the genius of all
countries. The snore one greet class advanced.
tie more, in the same proportion. would ~,her
cisme, among the same people. In this respect
whist was said of nsan in his individual capacity was
5q‘41412 sppficeble to his social state. In the lan-
gAiterof the pot:J.:.
" like tbrepreiritroas vise, supports lives;
The greaser) be (sum, is from th' lacrosse he gives."
tee.'suoner trade was reitdreff to thi Milt jetfoil+
siait.r.uf freedom, t 4, batter would it•bs fee the
-•o•irts 4444 4V at large. But he knew that is 4111.1 r.
WA sato effect svelte prinuipie to it. toll. elev..;
the must be sloes 4ittl gradual, after the
.sr oysters% which had grown up is the collo-
*: Precipitate Measure., however politic nod
yolk must not be attempted without a cello and
palest investigation of the artificial situation ie
*high usenet* had' been suffered to rest. He re-

membered the anecdote mentioued of two very you-
owns met), who were the ornaments of the last cent %eq.
'Ettey wine Dr. Smith sad Mr. Burke, who, tat a coo-
-venntiooupon political economy, were discussing the
ropriety of particular measures, when Dr. Sinith re-
•e!teuded Mr. Bathe, as a legislator, for the slow.. li
;,cse
:with which Parliament recognised the soundest
'moat sell-evident principles of political eve.
nisi;. The Doctor asked, how it happened, th it,
shlw lbw bad effect of the laws against forestalling
'lO se apparent, they were still adhered to
leyiN*Ltgislature ? M►. Bu►ke's answer was this:—
•• Dr. Smith, you can from your Prrofessor's Chair
p Work with your principles in the most sum-
tudiry •Manner, like a professor of pure milieus:oles;
Su: the Legislature, as Statesmen, must pause in
rite advance to establish new opinions, however
wsll•adapted to the state of society—they must in
ef.wr progress make allowances for couflicting in-
:ie.:esti and conflicting prejudices." Such was
the je►t feeling of a Statesman, and he (the
Marquis) was, on the present occasion prepared to
*rear, that conflicting interests and coutlictieg
prejudices must he attended to, before any general
orrangement could he effectively made. With refe-
rent* to the general distress which so unhappily pre.
'Whit in this country, it would no doubt be dith•
wt/lt •In Igoe. it 'through its several causer. It
wow. from an accumulation of evils, gradually
arowing up within the last twenty years : whe-
/her owing to the ambition of a single lean, whe-
ther owing to the views of a single Government,
:o a Ode and current in the general stair of the
siflatrs oldie world, there had been fur the last few
year, an habitual excitement. which had been the
cause of vast speculations, and also of great difficul•
ties; the consequence at length was, that each na-
tion was prepared to live on its own capital, instead
of its productive revenue, and that a state of things
*toile which, with an increased population, rendered
the-labours of a great portion of that people unpro-
elective. This state necessarily led to an accumula.
tioa of encumbrances ; it left a greater produce
thaw demon& to be felt not alone in this country,
but pretty generally throughout the nations of the
world. This vititution, for such it was, was not,

hriwever, Mt every where with. equal weight—the
t uncial state of this country made the weight
pecbliorly operative, Why, asked the Birmingham
petitioners, did it happen, that in the midst of an
tsliundant produce, there is a wide-spread co-exist-
irsg state of so much misery and distress ? But then
tult,vie am. the remedy ? He aaw but one obviously
phicticable,•nd that was, to unfetter foreign trade-;
e did not mean that it should be altogether thrown
ripk-tr.wittiout some change in the shape of duty—
whet he meant was, that the prohibitory system
should cease to exist, and that the alteration

should be effected with every fair consideration
towards the artificial interests that inspolicy had
engendered. Liberty of trade should be made
th« grorral rule, and control of trade the ex-
ception—nut control the general, rule, and liberty
tee exception.—(Hear, hear.) —The Noble Mir-
then adverted to the principle of the Na-
vigation Laws, which he observed most affect-
ed that respectable body of persons, the ship.
u*Wriers. He submitted that a relaxation of those lows
would be highly expedient, the relaxation he slimild
pfopose would be simply this, that British vessels
sicr.rfir to different parts of Europe for cargoes,
rhOirld be permitted to pick up the assortment they
welted by touching at more ports than one in their
voyage—that a vessel, fur instance, after taking in
writ she wanted In France, might be permitted to
tone!, strain in a Flemish port. By the present
eptiero, the whole advantage of an assortment was
net to be obtained with the facility that it ought.
Its only limitation he should affix would be
to interdict the vessel. from taking iu colonial
prodrice, for that might possibly furnish the
reins of taking sway Irons the shipping lute-
rya. et home the benefit of the freight to which they
would be entitled to under oilier circumstances.
Tfiethird point which lie should suggest was, the
entire freedom of the transit trade, the extension of

*ankh principle would, he thought, be most
beneficial if adopted in the commercial system
of this
.country. The benefits of the bonding and
"'rebooting system had *already been sensibly felt ;
A obviously held out to the foreign merchant an
iediceibent to form a general mart here, an induce-
ment. which necessarily mart- be a great accession
of strength to the interests of this engulf. Some
interests, he was aware, must be soothed in bring-
iiig Oran this principle; bat no doubt they would
be eahly reeonciled by a *rime of mutual 'sequin-
fibs. The 'been trade of Ireland here naturally
auenverited itself, and vat entitled to particular con-
- sitfiretian-; lie knew that it had here protected by
• dirty Uf l 5 par cent. but be alto knew that the
Item tiliiisOldicturers 'would he easily induced to fall
• igto airy irrarigeitseut winch they were convinced
doyW he oeno detriment to thew. Some of the
principal linen manufacturers bid, be knew, altered
their opiiiinss upon the subject of late, and agreed
that it would be expedient to reduce the transit
duty. a state of war the transit duty did apply ;
• biit 1/0w could it operate in • time of peace? What
was to privet* the trader who waJted linen ill either
Gertnany or 'Flanders from resorting to the foreign
market and becoming npurcharer ? Surely nothing.
Wby then illfooki the importation of these articles
be restricted, by Which a general mart might
be eetablished here. without detriment to the
home Salmons ? ou the contrary, they *paid be
illealdhed by this system. Inland. but was
thrtad. *IOW 611 into any arrangement that was
net &rad tOnlash with the interests she had a right
If/ clairidlovakadisibeift to the general wealth of

the empire. He now came to what he was aware
would smelt, misels-diffeiterace•of *pi spien--it was the
duty - en the imports from the north of Europe,
more particularly in timber. Their Lordships. in
considering this part of the subject, should recol-
lect that when the high duties were unposed, it
wavespeenty understood that • therwsree sow to be
considered 'loomed Win part of a permanent system
of colonial policy—such was the intimation to the
shipping interests. These high duties then c.:8•141
not be Slow declared peratane9t. when the enact-
ment was merely temporary ; iu feet, they were im-
posed as mutual duties; It was evident that the
shipping interest connected with Canada, felt great
hostility to the removal of the high duties._
Now they were a body that he was very much die-
posed to treat with great respect, however much
they dfffered up.. this particular point to his prier-
tittle of free trade. and the free employment of ca-
pital. They were the instruments upon which the
maritime strength and greasiness of their country
very materially depended. But he totally differed
from their view of their own ca•.e ; and he ventured
to say, that it was impossible to devise a method
more detrimental to the encouragement of ship-
piug, thou the imposition of these heavy duties upon
one or the most 'inpatient raw materials admitted
into the country. Tire ship-owners stated in their
petition, that the timber trade of Canada. in
which they are engaged, is not of the saute
quality, iu general, ■s that front the north of Eu-
rope, and ought therefore receive a I irger protec-
tion, to be enabled to hold its place in the market.
Now the sort of sacrifice which, by this mode or
reasoning, they demanded of the country, was sim-
ply of this nature Whereas, according to all
rules of commerce. it is expedient to draw commo-
dities from those countries which produce them
cheapest, but we *hall selert them where they are
t dearest, not so durable, and to he brought from the
greatest distance." And this was to be done for
the better consumption of shipping. and regarding
a raw material of the utmost general importance iu
all their improvement's, whether of houses. lock* of
canals, bridges. aye, even ihipping itself. When the
Petitioners came forward and stated the expense to
which they were exposed, they asked at the same
time that the system he not departed from which
entailed upon them this expense. As well might
they Ise asked to impose a heavy duty upon
American cotton, to avoid interlering with the
East India cotton, which was to be had by
sending for it three times the distance. The
shipping interest, undoubtedly, if the altera-
tion he suggested were to take Once, might not
have so touch carrying trade as they had at pre-
sent, yet he saw no 'colon to doubt that it would
not eventually he as beneficial to them. Th, trade
of Prussia would. in such a case. be probably car-
ried on exclusively by British shipping; and if the
timber of the Baltic and of the Northern States
were riot lend fur directly by British monufectures,
these manufactures must eventually find their way
to the countries where the timber was produred, by
being bought at Leipsic ■nd the great fairs of
Germany. In fact, the rivers of the Northern
States, although well calculated to float down great
quantities of timber fur foreign consumption, were
not equally well qualified to convey foreign manu-
factures into the it•terior; but he would ask any
Noble Lord, at all conversant in the state of our
foreign trade, if the priticipul buyer. of British ina-
to:factures at the fah of Leipvic were not the inha-
bitants of the Northern States of Europe ? But not
upon this consideration alone would he Consent to
rest the great principle of its being the interest of
every country to obtain produce for consumption from
those countries where it can be procured cheapest.
If those countries do not in the Grid instance
take our manufactures, they must do it eventually.
But in the con•ideratintr of this topic, all those who
presented Petitions to their Lordships seemed to
overlook one point of view, which was, that the di-
minutia,' of price of the raw mate►►al must by
iu-
creasi:tg the consumption enlarge propoitiossably
the trade of supply. must cheapen the freight, end
thereby tempt the North of Europe to porchese our
commodities in larger quantities. •It was for the
Committee to consider, whether in opening the
timber trade of the North of Europe. it might
not be 'lone with some limitation, leaving to Canada
the trade in laths, Cur which that colooy was re-
markable, but permitting Ili to receive from the
Baltic that timber which was of most value to the
most important concerns of the country. He hail
made a calculation of the difference as it resulted
to this country between the timber trade of Canada
and of the Baltic, and he found that the present
system operated as a tax upon this country in favour
of Canada to the amount of 500,000/. annually.
Of this sum the City of London alone paid
100.0001. annually. a sum of money which might
undoubtedly be better employed in promoting and
extending some useful branch of domestic or
foreign trade. With regard to the trade of tba
coontry with Frsuce, he should say a few words,
more particularly in reference to that article,
which would not. he was sure, be unaccept-
able to many Noble Lords in that House—
he meant French wines.—(lleur, hear, hear, and
• a laugh.)—Their Lordships were aware diet the
duty upon the importation of French wines was
143/. 18.. per pipe, while the duty upon Spanish
sod Portuguese wines did not exceed 951. 1 Is.
Within the last year the duty on the importation
of foreign wines had fallen off to the extent of
emoooi. He was aware that without entering into
specific arraugerneut with the French Govern-
ment, apprehensions were entertained that Bri-
tish manufactures would not be received in ex-
change for the French wines ; but he could not be-
lieve that, whatever the indisposition of the French
Government might be to enter into a large arid ex-
tended view of the commercial relations of the too
coolants. there yet could exist so great an
indifference to iLa own interests and to the wishes
of a very large and important class of the intim!
bitants of France, as out to' feel' a desire to give
some specific advantage of that nature, if this coun-
try consented to take the French wines upon the
same footing as the wines of other couutriea. But
even though no such arrangement were made. the
rook of this country's taking the wines of France
mpst be to increase the exportation of British
manufactures. He would asio, if in any trade ever
pursued by this country a d►mioutiou of exports
was caused by the circumstance of our merchants
paying for the produce of the other country in bur-
liar ? Was it not manifest that au export of bul-

• • ,
lisn must always 6ve.atendentytto correct itself ?ft-
Ilss one trade in the East been ever reputed
a dvadvantage to this couutry, because it was for
the most partcarriert on with bullion? That bid.
lion was procured in Sonth America, but it was
there purchased by British menufacturd, and the
oily difference caused be trading with bullion was,
that the proceeding of first exporting commodities
to purchase the bullion, and then carrying the bola
lion to market. was more circuitous thin if the trade
were conducted at once on the principles of barter.
lie was aware that in opening the wine trade or
France, the British Government would have to re-
quire the consent of Portugsl, on account of the
emragements formed with that country ; but her
eouseut would tint be necessary to reduce the duties
on French wines, still observing the proportion ape-
cifit din the Methuen Treaty. Even of this modi-
fication, the result, lie doubted not, would he bu in-
crease of revenue arising from an increase of the con-
sumption of French wind, Helmond however by the
last Treaty concluded with Portugal, in 1810, that
the British Governs's& were bound to continue the
duties as they now are on wine, and the Portuguese
Gtverriment the duties on our woollen., only for the
pre rent. It may thence be collected that neither
of the contracting ironies considered the engage-
ment as permanent, but as leaving the (versifier:llion
of this point open fur future discuss' . Its fact,
if the engagement were not renewed on the part of
this country, the British woollen% were of so ex-
yeller't • kind, that they need lint fear to enter into
competition with the, eldisufacturea of say other
country. Our advantages, isideed, in any diplo-
matic arrangements with Portugal, were so nu-
inerons, that we might easily grant an equivalent to
that country for depriving her their peculiar
advantage. What he had said of the wines of France
was equally applicable to the silks of that country.
He could not doubt that the importation of French
silks iuto this country would be very disadvanta-
geous to a very meritorious, and he feared a very
distressed class of men ; but it would be the duty
of Parliament to make them a compensation for
whatever distresses might be inflicted by the exten-
sion of the trade with France, and a Parliamentary
grant would prove a cheap pun-hose of a general
advantage. Having thus referred to such flotilla of
the trade with Europe as he thought essential, he
turned with great satisfaction—for having already
noticed those which were supposed, however un-
justly, to affect the interests al the great body of
the ship-owners—he would now turn to one which
lie hoped would be found to promote them. In
looking round the globe, it would be found, that
from the fairest proportion of it, namely, all that
was contained within the Cape of Good Hope and
Cape Horn, British commodities were altogether
excluded. From the moment that an indepeodent
British merchant doubled Cape Horn or the Cape
*Mond Hope. he found himself oppressed and
cramped in his commercial pursuits—not by the
rade aspect of nature, nor by the indisposil of the
inhabitants to enter into commercial reldtionv with
him, for it is now known that the islailds of the
Great Eastern Archipelago abounded in people
capable of maim/tilling all the relations of civilised
life—but he found himself pursued by the statute
book.—(Near, heir.)—He could not trade in that
description of vessel which was convenient fur his
pursuits, and most suited to the nature of the
sirens and bays in which the islands abounded,
solid from meddling with many articles of pri-
mary importance, especially that of tea, he was
'wally prevented, as being included in the charter
of the East India Company. lie undoubtedly felt
no disposition to speak with disrespect of that great
Company, but it was nu want of respect to siy,
that as a great Commercial Company they were
liable to all the evils and disadvantages which
usually accompanied monopolists. He could not
suppose that this Company, connected intimately as
it is with the interests of the great body of the peo-
ple, would refuse to permit the inhabitants of this
country to du what they could not perform them-
.selves, and engage in this trade with the islands in
such a manner as would be found profitable. No
merchant, however well disposed to embark in the
eastern 'dile, would yet consent to hazard his ca-
pital by fitting out • ship of 500 tone, in which
lie would not even be pet mined to have the advsu-
tage of forming an assorted cargo. The inhabit-
ants of those island., accessible to commerce, mid
ready to engage in it, were computed at seventy
millions of people—and. acmdi iig to the authority
of Mr. Crawford, who Intl studied their manors'
and habits, they were advanced far in the progress
of civilisation. Upon this interesting point too,
they had the testimony of that highly-valuable offi-
cer, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who made an
excursion into the interior of Sumatra, and there
discovered &Mils previously unkuowu, who were
capable of holding commercial intercourse with
European States, if it could be carried on in a
manner congenial to their habits and suited to
their worsts. Such trades undoubtedly could not
at once rise to great elevation; they must have small
beginnings, which it becinue the wisdom of the
Legislature to encourage. He remembered a story,
trivial indeed its itself, hut remarkable as having
been put on record by the celebrated Dr. Franklin.
This evtisnable man and &lightened politician tell.,
that his wife having been under some obligation to
the Captain of a vessel, a native of Maytown, hut
then being iii the harbour of Philadelphia, made
the Captain's daughter a prevent of a cap. The
Doctor some time after found himself in company
with this Caplan; and a farmer, and the Captain
reminding him of the cap given by Mrs.
Franklin to the Captain's daughter, added, " Ah !
Sir, that was a dear cap to Maytown, for no
girl of the place would, after seeing it, go to
church, sinless .he could procure • similar cap front
Philadelphia, and they all are now provided with
thein."—" But," interrupted the tanner. " you
forget to inform the Doctor of an important path-
' 'cular. The girls of Maytown have, in consequence
of that cap. established so extensive a manufactory
of mittina, that they now supply all Philadelphia
with those articles, which they first thought of mak-
ing. that they might thereby enable 'kenneled to
purchase caps at Philadelphia."—The story wits,
as lie already remarked, trivial in itself, but it il-
lostrated the progress of commerce, and shelved how
unaiously the first efforts nuAht to be encouraged.
But the trade with the East offered a prouder
illuattation of the advantages to be derived from the
freedom of commerce. Some eight, or even six
yeses ego, no independent British merchant was to

.` ~

.bo Abend trading in India. The Comma em-
ployed now, as it did, at that time. abort 20,000
um° (4.6llll)Piug, lutAilite free trade hes is that short
ham risen from nothing to 61,090 tons: sad from
the resources still gamed by those extensive ree
gime', was there any man hold enough to say that
the trade might not be tarried much farther ? The
flambee of sailors employed- by-the free traders
amounted to 4.470, while the Company cm.
!doped only 2,526. He remembered that when
the proposition of opening the trade to India was
first proposed, it was said that it would dioemse
rage the einployrneot of seamen. because the Com-
pany employed more men in proportion to their
tonnage than would be used by the free traders.
The Comp.my employed 25 men to every 100 tons;
but although the independent merchants employ-
ed only seven men to every 100 tons, yet, from the
greater extent of their trade. they gave employ.
ment to a far greater number of seamen than
the Company. It should be known to their
Lordships, that at the present moment the trade
between Canton and the greater part of the Cootie
neat of Europe was carried on by American vessels.
He did not speak of this invidiously, but he cI,PI
think it a peculate hardship, that in the quarter of
the globe where British interests most prevailed,
A inericen shipping should almost monopolize the-
trade thet should seem to appertain of right to the
British merchants. The proportion, however, of
the American shipping employed in the Cantos.
trade was eighty to one of British; and while the
British shipping in that quarter Of the world was,
during the last three years, stationary or retrograde,
Americo') shipping had more than trebled in that
period. Even in the important trade with South
America the British merchant laboured under pecu-
liar hardships; for supposing a British and an Ame-
rican merchant proceed at the saute time to the port
of Valparaiso in South America. they might
both take in their bullion, but the American mer-
chant might thence immediately proceed with his
cargo to the East Inches, and there dispose of it
• without any impediments, while the British men.
cclisat mutt return to England, and there fit out
'firmly before he could proceed to the Indian mar-
ket. He had been informed this morning that there
were actually at this moment some Americans in
the River fitting out for the East with an as!
sorted corgo in vessel• suited for the trade. while
no British vessel would be permitted to enjoy
the same arovantages.--(Heor, hear, hear.)--
•` Are these," said the Noble Marquis,' the results
of your lrgislatiou, that you will throw open a valu-
able branch of commerce to a foreign country, and
prevent your own people from sharing in its
profits ?" The Noble Marquis then adverted to
the necessity of cultivating b strict intimacy and
trade milli the Independent States of South Awe-
rica, which it was evident could never be restored
to the mother country. We had already derived great
ndvantages from the trade with Buenos Ayres, and
equal profits must be expected from the other States.
He alluded also to the trade of Ireland—a country
which held out the promise of speedily employing
extensive capital, and of becoming one of the grelt-
est and moat valuable consumers of British corn-
modifies. The population of Ireland was ensinently
calculated to bestow the greatest advantages to this
country, and every assistance its the power of Eug-
lend ought to be freely and liberally extended to it.
Indeed, there were no two parts of the globe to
which England ought to look with better founded
hopes of deriving lasting assistance from them
than Ireland and South America. But the most
unsatisfactory circumstance in the present con-
dition of the country was, that no hope was
offered of any immediate remedy to the existing
distresses. But at the same time, feeling as he did
the situation of the country, depressed and cramped
as its energies were by injudicicus regulations, he
never ohandoned the hope, while any part of the
world remained unexplored, that we might yet look
to foreign trade as offering the promise of great re-
lief. If the country carried to it difflculties,
it likewise would carry with them faith and in.
dustry, qualities which have hitherto characterised
the exertions of England, which would yet as
proudly characterise her, and from which success
must flow in times to come, as it crowned her efforts
in times past. Surrounded as she was with dil6-
indite', but not oppressed, he would still look
with confidence to the genius of the country.
to relieve her from evert, mobs ent. The

Noble Marquis concluded, amidst loud cheering.
by moving, that a Select Committee be appointed
to inquire into the state of the fo►eign commerce of
this empire, with ■ viers to promote and extend it.

The question being put from the Woolsack.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL ruse, ass lie declared,
with great satisfaction. Niter the very able and can.
did speech of the Noble Marquis, to which he had
listened with unmixed gratification. With the
broad principles laid down by the Noble Marquis,
he in general concurred, although he by :to
means attached an equal importance to some of
them. He would Rot un any account oppose the
motion, sbich the Noble Marquis had properly
limited to an inquiry into the foreign trade of the
country ; properly, he had said, because it was
only by such a habitation of the inquiry tle.t it could
be conducted with any prospect of utility. But
although in the proposed inquiry it was of silvan,.
take that point one branch should he selected, yet lie
owed it to hintsel 1, and to those with whom hr had the
honour to act, not to cotitii,e has view of the state
of the country to any individual interest, but to
take a review of the actual coudition of all ; for
though be prised highly the foreign trade of the
country. be should very much deceive their Lord.
*hive if he were to represent it as bring of para.
mount importance to may other interest of the
State. He agreed with the Noble 'Marquis that
no opinion could be snore
.prejudicial than that
their several interests should be placed in op.
position to each other ; communed with him
in believing that the strength of one woo the
strewth of the other, and that distress could tut
be felt by one without exciting a strong sympa-
thy is the rest.—(Hear, 6ersr.)-11r could not,
therefore, but lament, that in the petitinus presets,-
ed to their Lordships, some attempt had bren,made
to disunite them, for it should be tetoreolierrd. that
although agriculture was the basis of the pimp,.
thy of the State, it could never have attained
is present wealth and eminence had it not
been fostered by commerce.—(Hear. henry—
Having premised this geuerol view of the subject,
the first Impression that presented itself to.his mind

was the necessity of endeavouring 1s ascertain *hi
the rictus' situation of the country was, both with
respect to its foreign and domestic commerce, and
its agricultural pursuit.. It would then be rapt,
dieut to probe the distresse. of the country, and
certain, if possibly, the cruses of their exittence ;
it would then be their duty to devise some mritii.
.1 61104141 a PewISY to. the evil.; it wokld fu:.
they be as advisable to drtermioe early what they
should sot do, as what they should endeavour to
effects for .shu ommitay ...44 waves settle so long
as men's minds were kept afloat with hopes or
atomism. Fie thought it nece►sary to remark, that
wl►atever docuspeuis be should use upon tbis
he was willing to lay brfu►s the House, or
them to the Committee, as might be deemed
advisable.

The distsesses of the country, he tlionz'
should be able to prove, did not Elise from sNy -
tninution of the internal consumption of the coon.
try, for there WISP only one article of internal euo:
'gumption in which there wu any considerable
crease within the last year, and that was trine. 1-1,
took some pains to endeavour to ascertain the actual
state of home consumption during the foot last
years, and thought the. best criterion he could odor
was, to collect it florn the returns of the qttentiliet
that paid duty, whet' than from the amotiiit of v
which were liable to fluctuation. lie held ill 1.4
hand a specification of the articles of consumptim;
which paid duty lot the last four years, and it
seemed to be • fair way of stating the point, first
to consider what the average was of the puts 1817,
1818, and 1819. 'toil then to show the actual cot,-
gumption of, thi last year as compared with tliA
average. The s•4l•wing then wea the rank:—
Tf,'.-4veragt,sf die yeast 1811, 1818, sad Is,.
1819
From the blastilord, 181111,9ailhe bib of April,
1820

Wbk sbews no Inconsiderable increase of 173,417

Cortez —Average of the years 1817, 18111,
iad 1818
Last year

Is which there was a diminution of, 664.727

Tooseco.—Aversce or (be years 1117, 1111,
Doti 1119
1491,7,5 . 11.1/5.917

Di mai o • 000 .. •• • 79 71,4
MAL?'" Vrtne a the Tom 1817, 1819, spa
1819
Litig year .

hereon .. 1.839.111
Snotoo (georliollad Irish).—Average of 1817,
1818,aud 1819 5.173,7s
Last year

Diminution prit,7ss
On this last article, however, he could mare the
House, that the increased consumption of foreign
spirits equalled the diminution in the consumptoso
of the British spirits. He was not aware that there
was any fallacy iii this statement; it was drawn
from the accounts of quantity, and not from throe
of the official value; and thence it appeared, that
in the consumption of the last 'year, as compared
with the average of the three years preceding:•tYiere
was rather ass increase than a diminution. In the
consumption of various other articles, such as pa.
per, hides, skins, bricks, and tiles, the result shew•
ed rather a trifling diminution. This account, so
for as it goes, was satisfactory,' for it 'hewed, that
in what depended upon ourselves, and which af.
forded the best criterion of the wealth and resources
of the country, there was no diminution.
He tow came to the state of the foreign trade of
the country, which he considered chiefly with re-
ference to the exportation of British manufactures.
lii this he lamented to say there had been a coast.
derable diminution. In estimating this point he
was obliged to judge from the accounts of the
cial valises, and he found that in the year 1818 11-e
exports amounted to 48,937,0001. and in 1819.0t:!y
to 37,939,506/. makiiii a diminution of more than
11,000,000/.1 Tluis diminution did not appear to
great if compared with the average of the three
• :ears 1815. 1816. and 1817, which amounted t..
43.161,176/. 11 however seemed fair to compare
Ws account of the exports of the lag year with the
• amortiit of the most favourable years before the
war, and also with the years" of the largest ex.
port during the war. The amount of the official
value of the exports in 'the year 1792, the most
favourable before the war, was 24,905,200:.
is 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, and 1811, the
years of the largest exports during the war, the
amount of the official volute in each severally was,
in 1806, 2.5,000,0001.; in 1807, 27.000,000/p
in 1808, 2.5.100000 L ; in 1809, 0.000,000/. ;
1810, 38,000,0001; and in 18U, 34,940,0001.
Mese were the years of the year in selticb the fo-
reign ^osumeici of the country rose to the greatest
extent—Lid. yet thy umpired of the official value of
the exports of the last year exceeded that of the
most flourishing of them. This falling off, how.
ever, did nor take piece to any considerable 'Meta
in the European "hart of this trade; indeed, the
most striking iusiou,ce of dimitstition was one
of 200,0001. in the article of reAned
a trade which, since t opening of the Colonies
and the 111.cfatkplo Ate Poutureut of Europe, must
Ire considered as last to this country. The trade
to Ireland, he was happy to say, was every year
increasing, but the diminution proceeded from the
,glouted
.sipte Of the 'East !odor markets, and from
the meat haling off ip the trade to the United
:Slates of North America, to aiiio) the exports had
lilllllouthed by one•Andfin the lasi year. as compared
with the year !preceding. This circumstance the
Ew,arl attributed to the distressed state of the
here'commireial rmbSrrassments prevail.
ed, as he said, to an extent greater even than they
were felt in any part of Europe. In this di.-
tress of the
.United States there was mystery..
It was tire naturist revulsion from their former
prosperiti, fOr dpring.the' war which raged fur the
last quarter of a century. the 'Americans were the
only neutral" iu the world, and they enjoyed the
mbar eiteronve corryiog trade. Of thiatiaty ore de-
prited
,i4r be' ,teloru of rim' ind Nary now are
trlnsimpsuag. ay a,feri yeriiiier distress their for.
mer profit.. This he certni•EY ilia not speak
He bad already mid selicimst
.to thew.
that in his opiuMis there was no country in the world
of
tillsta9vreUing4.o""t.te:ttlassalti.: fropirt labbodt 'icsolonolhttiyirfr,osto•Y it