The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-04 00:00:00

DISTILLERIES IN SCOTLAND.

We copy from our excellent Contemporary, the Edin-
burgh Scotsman, the following remarks, from which this
trade seems in a most deplorable situation indeed. Why
do the Distillers not get the Members of both Houses of
Parliament and the landed interest, (who will soon feel the
want of these distilleries for the inferior barley that is not
fit for making), immediately to go forward to Government,
and have their complaints redressed? They have a consi-
derable share of Liberal Members that would certainly be
ready to do it—Sandy did not use to be so far behind. We
recollect their exertions in 1830, about additional duties on
their spirits without any on rum ; and again, in 1831, about
foreign molasses, in both of which, with the assistance of
the landed interest, they succeeded in defeating the mea-
sures proposed ; so that Sandy must just try his exertions
again—he is not usually beaten out of the field :
(From the Scotsman of Wednesday.)
INEQUALITY OF THE EXCISE LAWS AS THEY
AFFECT THE SCOTCH AND ENGLISH DIS.
TILLERS.

We are sorry to learn that a large distillery in this vi-
cinity engaged in the English trade, perhaps the oldest
established and most extensive in the three kingdoms, has
been lately laid idle, and that several other distillers, who
manufactured spirits for that market on an extensive scale,
are also taking steps to close their operations. This has
been attributed to the superior advantages which the Eng-
lish distillers enjoy in the process of manufacture, and af-
terwards in reference to the Excise laws, and which have
enabled them to undersell the Scotch distillers. By the
distillery law, a discretionary power is vested in the Board
of Excise ; and while the law is applied with the utmost
rigour to the Scotch trader, considerable latitude is allowed
the English. Thus, first, while the Scotch distillers must
pay down the duties on spirits exported by them before it
leaves the distillery, the English are allowed three weeks'
credit. 2dly, While the Scotch distillers are charged
with the duty on the quantity exported, as it measures
when the spirits leave the distillery, the English are
charged with the quantity which they place in the recti-
fier's stock, in consequence of which the Scotch are com-
pelled to pay duties on the deficiency arising from waste and
evaporation on the passage of the article to its destination,
while the English suffer no such loss. And idly, While
all spirits sent from Scotland to England are measured at
the distillery before they are despatched, and the quantity
marked upon the cask, and again examined and re-measured
before delivery to the purchaser, no such regulation is en-
forced with respect to the English distiller. The Scotch
distillers complain that the latitude thus afforded to their
neighbours, has opened a door for so many breaches of the
revenue laws, that it is in vain for them to compete with
their more favoured brethren. Besides this, the English
distillers have many advantages over the Scotch in their
mode of working under the revenue laws, which it would be
tedious to point out. The Scotch distillers have repeatedly
represented the hardship of their case to the Lords of the
Treasury ; but as yet they have got no redress. With a
uniform system of laws, and equally strict survey, it is im-
possible that the English distillers can undersell the Scotch,
who have in their favour long experience, and a perfect
knowledge of the business, besides cheap labour and com-
paratively cheap materials. Such a state of things has not
occurred for the last forty years, and demands the attention
of our landed proprietors.

The late severe gales have made sad havoc : among.
other places, the stately groves belonging to the Countess of
Dysart, at Ham House, Petersham, have suffered severely.