The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-01 00:00:00

TIRE COAL TRADE.

Every day supplies fresh proof of the necessity of a public
resistance to the immense combination which exists to keep
up the price of coals, and the Lord Mayor is receiving informa-
tion directly and indirectly ou the subject, calculated to en-
courage him in his exertions to conquer the monopoly.
On Saturday, after the business in the justice-room was
concluded, the Captain of a collier appeared before the Lord
Mayor and Alderman Copeland, and complained that his ship
had been damaged, and was in a sinking state at Gravesend,
in consequence of having come in collision with another ves-
sel. He had, he said, applied to Captain Cousins, the har-
boor-master, at Gravesend, for an order to bring the ship up
the river, but the application had been refused, because the
coals were not sold.

The Loan MAYOR—Then why do you not sell the coals
directly, and he will give you an order instanter to bring up
your vessel ?

CAPTAIN—They cannot ba sold without going through the
market. The permission of the factor must be pfocurcd.
The vessel is making ten inches water every hour.
Alderman COPELAND-1f your ship is in bad condition you
can take her into dock at once.

CAPTAIN—We want to get her up the river, and ought to
be permitted under such circumstances.
The LORD MAYOR—Oh, I see you are engaged in the com-
bination, and want merely to feed the public with coals to keep
up the high prices. You have no right to ask my assistance.
The power is in your own hands. Sell your coals or go into
dock, and you will get your order at once.
CAPTAIN—I assure you lam not engaged in the combina-
tion. lam only the commander of the vessel. We wish that
the combination was broken up. if it were we should be
greatly benefited by its destruction. We hive nothing to do
with the coals but to bring them to London.
Alderman COPELAND—To whom are they consigned ?
CAPTAIN—Sir James Duke and Mr. Hill are the consignees.
The LORD .'MAYOR—WeII, you can apply to Sir James
Duke, and he will give you an order to sell. He is a member
of the corporation—one of the makers of the by-laws. What
would he say if I were to assist you in evading them? You
are certainly a party acquiescing in the combination, otherwise
why not get coals from some of those new collieries, and sell
them out of the coal market without the intervention of either
factor or Committee. _ _

Alderman COPELAND—It is evident that he acquiesces in
the combination, for he says that it is impossible for the coals
to be sold till they go through the market. The Alderman
mentioned the case of a respectable coal-merchant who was
obliged to become shipowner to supply himself with coals,
and who had to struggle against the combination to his great
injury.
The LORD MAYOR—I have had two coal-merchants with
me this morning, ono of whom urged me not to allow the new
regulations to be at all interfered with, and expressed himself
convinced that the strict observance of them would break up the
combination. He says that the merchants do not require fac-
tors, and that it is the commission which the factors get that
induces them to keep up the combination.

CAPTAIN-Our hands are quite exhausted with pumping the
vessel. We only want to bring her up, and lay her in front of
a wharf, where she may ground till the coals are sold.
Alderman COPELAND—GO to Sir James Duke, and give
the Lord Mayor's and my compliments to him, and say if he
will allow the coals to be sold it will be the means of saving
your ship. He was Sheriff part of my time with me when I
was Lord Mayor, and he is a Member of Parliament, and has
the public interest too much at heart, I am sure, to uphold any
system detrimental to the public good.
The LORD MAYOR-I have had a gentleman with me just
now, who stated a case of very great hardship relating to a
contract he had entered into to deliver coals, which he was
unable to fulfil in consequence of the regulations made by the
Committee, through which he was compelled to break, or be
a very great loser ; and as it was, he had to pay a heavy fine
per ton, on all the coals unshipped, or he would not have
been allowed any more coals of that sort. I asked him why
he did not make such a case public, to which he replied
that it would very much injure him in his business if he did,
and that it would be unavailing in a few individuals to set
themselves up against such a powerful combination, but for the
existence of which the public would, without the least doubt
be now purchasing coals at six shillings per ton cheaper than
was now demanded.

Alderman COPELAND—You may take your ship at once
into dock, or go to Sir James Duke. He is the person to
help you in this case, not the Lord Mayor.
The Captain expressed his thanks, and said that he should
directly follow the advice of the Lord Mayor and Alderman
Copeland.