The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-01 00:00:00

of free trade had had upcn British commerce and
finances, The British Government bad sent round
to all the Governments copies of very valuable
papers, published by the Board of Trade, abstracts
of the cominercial statistics of Great Britain, and
which set the effect of free trade in a very striking
light. At present, however, Germany was much
divided. There was a Free Trade Association which
had branches in the South, and in many other parts
even in Austria. Free-trade views were represented
in the Prussian Chambers and in the Lower House;
and in the Upper House, which consisted of landed
proprietors and the nobility, they were free-traders
to a man. But the smaller States were opposed to
free-trade, such as Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, and
others; and the Government was not independent
enough to act without deference to the commercial
classes ; the latter had such an influence that the
most enlightened statesmen were not able to go
against them. That explained the great difficulty
which Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Southern States
, had in adopting the reductions by the treaty with
France. It was only at the very last moment fi ed
by Prussia, two days before the Ist of October, that
she got the consent of the other States to the mea-
sure. The export duty on rags had been reduced
from 9a. to 53. per centime—and to certain classes
of this country this was a most important thing.
The advantage of these questions of tariff being
discussed now was, that the opinions of the Cham-
bers would be brought before a tribunal which met
every three years, at which these questions were
discussed, and recommendations made regarding
alterations. Austria would by the new arrange•
ments lose the preference which she had hitherto
enjoyed. He had heard that the Austrian states-
men talked very much of adopting the free-trade
system and liberalising their tariff, and had ex-
pressed a wish for some practical men from the
English Chambers of Committee. to go over, in
order to help them to carry out the free-trade
policy. He was not very sanguine that anything
would come of it. It was much to the interest of
Russia to make some alterations in her tariff, in
order to find better markets for her ~raw produce ;
and as soon as the reconstruction of the Zollverein
was completed negotiations were to be opened cffi-
cially with Russia. With regard to the trade marks
there was a clause in the new arrangement by
which piracy of them was guarded against, but the
provision was only to extend to new marks counters
feited after the passing of the treaty—therefore,
upon the face of it he considered it was rather illu-
sive. In conclusion, Mr Ward said that any resolu-
tions which the Chamber might adopt he would
press upon the authorities.
After Mr Ward's address some conversation took
place upon matters of detail. Mr. G. A. EVRRITT,
of the Kingston Metal Works, complained of the
injury sustained by English manufacturers, in con-
sequence of the Frency treaty subjecting brass and
copper tubes to a much higher duty than was levied
on the materials of which they were composed.
Mr. ROBERT BARTLEET, of Redditob, exhibited a
card of patterns used by a German maker of needles
in which the goods were described as being made
by Messrs. Bartleet and Sons, it being particularly
added that none others than those his packets con-
tained were " genuine."

In the course of subsequent discussion Mr. WAG-
NER was understood to hold the opinion that the
Prussian law which regulated trade marks was good
and cheap, but the experience of all the other gen.
tlemen present seemed to be decidedly at variance
with his account of it. It was stated by another
member of the Chamber that, under the present
practice, Prussia charges LO dols. per cent on steel
pens, but that, from the separate agreement between
Austria and Prussia, they could be sent through the
former country via France, at a charge of only
13 dols.

Mr. WARD explained that Austria would, by the
operation of the treaty lately effected between
France and Prussia, lose the benefit of such a transit
as this. As regarded the substitution of ad volorena
for specific duties charged by weight, Mr. Ward
stilted that there was no hopes of its being adopted
by the Germans. the prejudice among whom was
very strong against such an alteration.

The discussion on these points having been
brought to a conclusion, the following resolutions
were moved by different members of the Chamber
and unanimously passed
" 1. That this Chamber receives with g►eat satis.
tee ion the information that there will be a eonside.
ruble reduction made in the new tariff of the Ger-
man Customs Union in the duties on hardwares,and
trusts that the attention of her Majesty's represen-
tatives will continuo to ba given to the subject,
with the view of obtaining such further modification
as will enable the productions of this neighbour-
hood to be more extensively introduced into the
States of the Zollverein.

" 2. That this Chamber is desirous of drawing the
attention of the Government to the subject of trade
so far as English manu.
ute is concerned, is at
fma
ea
truk
rse,
rtsh
of
tp.
established
h ircehp,
present carried to such an extent by the German
manufacturers that a most serious injury is done to
the legitimate trade of England; and that Govern-
ment shall request their representatives abroad to
use their good offices with foreign Powers to adopt
such measures as shall prevent the continuance of a
system which is contrary to common justice and
good faith.

"3. That the best thanks of this Chamber be
given to Mr Ward for his able' ddress, and for the
information afforded by him vr;th reference to the
new fiscal arrangements of the, ZAlverein."

acknowledging
thanked the the compliment
conAtiarinWedAßiDn'thienlast
resolution,
Cham-
ber for the favourable attention which had been
given to his remarks, and assured them that there
was a groat increase of activity at the Foreign-
office in regard to the treatment of matters relating
to international commerce. He assured the Cham-
ber that there should be no relaxation of endeavour
on his part to procure for English traders whatever
advantages his position might enable bim to pro-
cure for them.