The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-16 00:00:00

THE SUGAR DUTIES.

We have been favoured with the following letters
on this subject

"TO RICHARD COBDEN, ESQ., M
"Dear Sir,—As an old free trader, who fought under you
in the ranks of the Anti-Corn Law League, I am sure you
will excuse me for expressing surprise on reading the re-
port of your speech to your constituents at Rochdale. I find
you saying, 'There is no longer any question of free trade
and protection to discuss,' whilst the article of sugar, se-
cond only to corn as an article of food and consumption, is
in much the same position as corn was at the time of the
free trade agitation, viz., a slidiug scale of duties, pur-
posely contrived to protect the home refiner at the expense
of the grower and the consumer.
"Surely, you must have forgotten that it was to Lord
George Bentinck that we are indebted for the present
clumsy method of collecting the revenue on sugar, and that
he was only the mouthpiece of the home refiners when he
proposed the classified scale of duties on brown Muscovado,
brown cleated, white clayed, and refined, raising the duty at
every stage of improvement in quality.
" Now, sir, I have been connected with the sugar trade
for 35 years, .and remember well how it was in the old
slavery days, when the West India interest had the exclu-
sive monopoly in this market. True, some foreign augers
were imported, but by excessive preferential duty they were
excluded entirely from home consumption. But they were
refined in bond, and lump sugar was exported from here to
the West Indies that the negroes might use it, and send
home every pound they produced of brown monopoly sugar
for the poor tax-ridden English labourer at duuble the cost
of the lump sugar exported out of England. I remember
the first introduction of sugars from Mauritius and the
Fastlndies, and it was only after many years' struggle that
those growers succeeded in getting justice by having their
sugars placed on the same scale) of duties. And even
then every precaution was taken that it was British
grown, and yet this monopoly did not flourish. The
West Indian planters were periodically ruined,
and were frequently at the doors of Parliament com-
plaining of distress, and asking for fresh bounties, for re-
mission of taxation, or for Parliamentary loans. After the
abolition of slavery, a gradual reduction of duty took place
in foreign sugars, and the West Indian interests were for
the last time completely ruined, but somehow happened to
survive, for the days of competition produced the natural
result of stimulating energy. Attention now began to be
paid to economical production, and machinery, such as
crushing mills and vacuum pats, were being extensively
introduced into our colonies, when the unfortunate law of
classified duty was adopted. Mark the consequences.
One Newcastle firm had established works at Cossipore, in
the East Indies, and had gone to very great expense in
fitting them up with the best machinery, vacuum-pans,
&e., for crystallising sugars. Th'.s they did to great per-
fection, and succeeded in sending the most perfectly pre-
pared sugars ever imported into this country. For every
improvement they made, the Government took more than
the benefit from them in increased duty, and it not un-
frequently happened at their sales that the inferior
sugars brought them more money than the finest qualities
when the duty was deducted off the prices. What was the
consequence ? The firm was ruined by protection. At that
time large imports were made to Newcastle by three other
firms, and that for some years has been entirely abandoned.
Take another instance. A West India proprietor told the
writer that in consequence of our absurd law they had laid
aside three vacuum-pans on their plantations, and now, by
adopting a German patent, they were producing rum,
which brought 5s to 6s a gallon, such as generally brought
only 2s to 3s, and thus, because of its being a fixed duty,
they knew exactly what they were doing. As regards
sugar, they now send it in the crudest possible state, to
secure its being charged the lowest rate of duty. And this
is not the exceptional rule, for nearly all foreign sugars,
as well as much of our West India, and part of our Mauri-
tius and East India sugars, are imported to this country in
such a state as to be quite unfit for consumption
until they have passed through the hands of the refiners.
Mr. Fairie, a large refiner, in a letter published in the
Urocer of November 21, says that it appears from Travers
and Son's circular, that their sales are four times as large
for refiners' produce as for all kinds of colonial sugar—and
this, I think, will about represent the truth with the trade
generally—that four-fifths of the sugar trade has passed
into the hands of home refiners. And yet this gentleman
admits that buyers and sellers of sugar must generally be
content with an examination by the eye, the touch, and the
taste, and what is sufficient for them must be sufficient for
the.officers of Customs. He remarks further that the mere
strength of sugar is not the guide as to the class to which
any sample may belong, for two kinds may contain equal
quantities of pure sugar, and yet differ in price 10 per cent.
" Thus, even by the showing of the refiners, the classifi-
cation of sugar is attended whty great practical difficulties
and the Customs rule is the rule of thumb. This leads to
different rates of duties being charged in different ports
for the same sugar, and to constant disputes between the
merchant and the Customs Board; whilst the producer is
baffled in all calculations as to what rate of duties his sugars
will have to pay. This difficulty could all be got rid of by
a low fixed rate of duty, and it should be much lower than
at present, when this primary article of consumption pays
from lid to 2d per lb duty. Yet this great question is never
treated in Parliament on the true basis, that of a question
for consumers, who ought to be allowed to 'urethan on
equal terms from the best markets in the world ; far it is a
startling fact that, with our inc: easing population, whose
consuming power in all other articles is so very largely in-
creased, the consumption of sugar is almost stationary ; and
though the Chancellor of the Exchequer ventured a calcu-
lation that the reduction of the tea duty would lead to a
large increase in the consumption of sugar, up to a recent
date his expectations had not been realised.
I commend the subject to your serious attention, for
within the last few weeks an advance of 10s to 12s per cwt.
has taken place in sugar. Owing principally to a failure
of the beetroot crop in France, large purchases have been
made on French account, and, only the other day, 2,000
bags of Cossipore were bought in Liverpool at 50s. per cwt.
because the high rate of duty, 16s. per cwt., was equivalent
to a bounty of L 3 3e. 4d. per ton on their export. This ad-
vance is equal to 25 or 30 per cent. on the value of sugar--
a serious extra charge to the public—for the working
classes must pay an extra ld. per lb. on every pound of
sugar with which they sweeten their tea or coffee.
Anything that tends thus to limit the consumption, to
deteriorate the quality, or to raise the cost of sugar to the
public—as, I think, the present law in relation to sugar is
doing—must be deserving the consideration of all political
economists, but doubly so of the Apostle of Free Trade.
"I am, dear sir, with profound respect, yours truly,
"E. S. HILLS,
"Newcastle, Nov. 30, ISO."

" TO E. S. HILLS, ESQ.

" blidhurst, Dec. 3, 1863.

" Dear Sir,—l have already been favoured with the
views of Mr. Travers on the sugar question, and can only
repeat that the subject, shall have my attention when
brought before Parliament. I thought I had as keen a
scent as most people in such matters, but I was bound to
admit that I did not see that protection' was necessarily
involved in the principle of the scale to which he objected.
The only real solution of the sugar question is to abolish
the duty altogether. But with the present scale of Govern-
ment expenditure that is, of course, out of the questica.—l
remain, truly yours, "li,. COBDEN.
"E. S. Hills, Esq."

MARKETS—This Day.

MARK-LANE.

There was a moderate show of samples of English wheat
on the stands to• day, for the most part of poor quality. The
trade, however, was very dull, and even selected parcels
were difficult of sale, at Monday's fall in the currency of is
per quarter.
With foreign wheat the market was but moderately sup-
plied. All descriptions sold heavily, at the late decline in
prices of is per quarter.
With foreign wheat the market was but moderately sup-
plied. All descriptions sold heavily, at the late decline in
prices of is per quarter.
Floating cargoes of grain moved off slowly, on rather
easier terms.
The supply of barley was large. Fine malting parcels
supported previous rates; otherwise, the trade was dull, at
fully the recent fall in the currency.
Malt sold heavily, at Monday's decline in prices.

_ .
Tho supply of oats on sale was by no means extensive,
yet the demand ruled inactive, at barely late rates.
Beans and peas were a dull inquiry, and prices had a
downward tendency.
In flour a very moderate business was transacted, on
former terms.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat Barley. Malt Oats. Float.
2,070 830 1 500 300 I 1,510
Irish - I ___ 500 I
900 eke.
F oreign. 5,860 6,250 I 10,=0
brie.

ftt.........e•••

WHITECHAPEL.
The supply of meat on sale is somewhat extensive, and
the demand rules inactive, as follows :
Beef, from 2s Sd to 4s 4d; mutton, 3s Od to 4sSibs by the
Gd ; vcal,
3s 8d to 4s Gd; and pork, 3a 6d to 4s 4d per
carcase.

BOROUGH HOP.
Our market is firm, and the value of fine produce has an
upward tendency.

RUSSIA AND DENMARIC.--We find in the Gr,zette
of Augsburg a detailed analysts of the instructionh
given by the Itussian Government to State Councillor
Ewers, charged to compliment King Christian on thc•
sion of his accession to the throne. The representative of
wrongly,
heof
isth
the Emperor Alexander has for his special mission to induce
King Christian to modify the constitution
of November, by which, rightly or wrong'accused
18 tlBth
of wishing to incorporate Schleswig in the Danish monarchy.
ioreover, he was instructed to declare
. to the Danish Cabi-
net, that if it did not yield on this point the Powers would
throw upon him the roponc
to.lity of the consequences
which might result from the .
retusal of that mission.

LONDON GAZETTE—Last Evening,
FOREIGN OFFICE, DEc, ]5.

Copies of a letter from Earl RuSsell to the Lords Com-
missioners of the Admiralty, and of a despatch from the
Duke of Newcastle to the Governor of the Bahamas :
Foreign-office, Jan. 31, 1862.
My Lords,—Her Majesty being fully determined to ob-
serve the duties of neutrality during the existing hostilities
between the United States and the States calling themselves
"the Confederate States of America," and being, more-
over, resolved to prevent, as far as possible, the use of her
Majesty's harbours, ports, and coasts, and the waters within
her Majesty's territorial jurisdiction, in aid of the warlike
purposes of either belligerent, has commanded me to com-
municate to your Lordships, for your guidance, the follow-
ing rules, which are to be treated and enforced as her Ma-
jesty's orders and directions.
Her Majesty is pleased further to command that these
rules shall be put in force in the United Kingdom and in
the Channel Islands on and atter Thursday, the 6th
day of February next, and in her Majesty's territories
and possessions beyond the seas, six days after the day
when the Governor or other chief authority of each of such
territories or possessions respectively, shall have notified
and published the same, stating in such notification that the
said rules are to be obeyed by all persons within the same
territories and possessions.
I. During the continuance of the present hostilities be-
tween the Government of the United States of North Ame-
rica and the States calling themselves the "Confederates
States of America," or until her Majesty shall otherwise
order, no ship of war or privateer belonging to either of the
belligerents shall be permitted to enter, or remain in the
port of Nassau, or in any other port, roadstead, or waters
of the Bahama Islands, except by special leave of the Lieu-
tenant Governor of the Bahama Islands, or in case of
stress of weather. If any such vessel should enter any
such port, roadstead, or waters, by special leave, or under
stress of weather, the authorities of the place shall require
her to put to sea as soon as possible, without permitting
her to take in
a
for her immedianty supplies, beyond what may be necessary
If, at the timee uvsehen this order is first notified in the
Bahama Islands, there shall be any such vessel already
within any port, roadstead,Lieutenant-Governor or waters of those Islands, the
shall give notice to such vessel to de•
part, and shall require herte put to sea, within such time
as he shall, under the circumstances, consider proper and
reasonable. If there shall then
belonging to both the said belligerentse ships of war or privateers
within the territorial
jurisdiction of her Majesty, in
gear the same port, road-
stead, or waters, the Lieutenant-Governorl shall fix the
order of time in which such vessels shall depart. No such
vessel of either belligerent shall be permittedu to put to sea
until after the expiration of at least 24
other
the time
when the last preceding vessel of the
privateer, or
r belligerent
(whether the same shall be a ship of war, or
port, road-
merchant ship), which shall have left the same '
stead, or waters, or waters adjacent thereto, have
parsed beyond the territorial jurisdiction of her Majesty.
11. Daring the continuance of the present hostilities be
the Government of the United States of North
America and the States calling themselves " the Conlede-
all ships of war and privateers of
rate States of America,"
either belligerent are prohibited from making use of any
port or roadstead in the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
and Ireland, or in the Channel Islands, or in any of her Ma-
jesty's colonies or foreign possessions or dependencies, or
of any waters subject to territorial jurisdiction of the Bri-
tish Crown, as a station or place of resort for any warlike
purpose or for the ptirpose of obtaining any facilities of war-
like equipment; and no ship of war or privateer of either
belligerent shall hereafter be permitted to sail out of or leave
any port, roadstead, or waters, subject to British jurisdic-
tion, from which any vessel of the other belligerent (whether
the same shall be a ship of war, a privateer, or a merchant
ship), shall have preciously departed, until atter the expira-
tion of at least 24 hours from the departure of such last-
mentioned_vessel beyond the territorial jurisdiction of her
Majesty.
111. If any ship of war or privateer of either belligerent
shall, after the time when this order shall be first notified
and put in force in the United Kingdom and in the Channel
Islands, and in:the several colonies and foreign possessions
and dependencies of her Majesty, respectively, enter into
port, roadstead, or waters, belonging to her Majesty, either
in the United Kingdom, or in the Channel Islands, or in
any of her Majesty's colonies or foreign possessions or de-
pendencies, such vessel shall be required to depart and to
put to sea, within 24 hours after her entrance into such
port, roadstead, or waters, except in case of stress of wea-
ther, or of her requiring provisions or things necessary for
the subsistence of her crew, or repairs ; in either of which
cases, the authorities of the port, or of the nearest port (as
the case may be), shall require her to put to sea as soon as
possible after the expiration of such period of 24 hours,
without permitting her to take in supplies, beyond what
may be necessary for her immediate use : and no such
vessel. which may have been allowed to remain within
British waters for the purpose of repair, shall continue
in any port, roadstead, or waters, for a longer period
than 24 hours after her necessary repairs shall have
been completed : Provided, nevertheless, that in all
cases, in which there shall be any vessels (whether ships
of war, privateers, or merchant ships), of both the said
belligerent parties in the same port, roadstead, or waters
within the territorial jurisdiction of her Majesty, there
shall be an interval of not less than 24 hours between the
departure therefrom of any such vessel (whether a ship of
war, a privateer, or a merchant ship), of the one belli-
gerent, and the subsequent departure therefrom of any
ship of, war or privateer of the other belligerent; and the
times, hereby limited, for the departure of such ships of
war and privateers respectively, shall always, in case of
necessity, be extended, so far as may be requisite for giving
effect to this proviso, but not further or otherwise.
IV. No ship of war or privateer of either belligerent
shall hereafter be permitted, while in any port, roadstead, or
waters subject to the territorial jurisdiction of her Ma-
jesty, take in any supplies, except provisions and such
other things as may be requisite for the subsistence of
her crew; and except so much coal only as may be
sufficient to carry such vessel to the nearest port
of her own country, or to some nearer destination ;
and no coal shall be again supplied to any such ship of war
or privateer, in the same or or any other port, roadstead, or
waters subject to the territorial jurisdiction of her Majesty,
without special permission, until after the expiration of
three months from the time when such coal may have been
last supplied to her within British waters as aforesaid.—l
have, dm,

(Signed) RUSSELL,
NoTE.—A similar letter has been addressed to the Secre-
taries of State for the Home, Colonial, War, and India De-
partments, and to the Lords Commissioners of her Ma-
jesty's Treasury.

Downing-street, Oct. 6, 1563.

Sir—Doubts having been expressed as to whether, under
the regulations of the 31st January, 1862, which were em-
bodied in a proclamation issued by you on the 11th March
following, it is required that the Commander of a bellige-
rent ship of war or privateer should obtain the permission
of the local authorities before entering the port, roadsteads,
or waters of the Bahamas out-islands, when the Governor
is not there present, I am to acquaint you that Earl Russell
has taken her Majesty's pleasure thereupon, and you are to
understand that at the out-islands, as at Nassau, the
special leave of the Governor himself is required (unless in
stress of weather), by any belligerent vessel desiring to
enter, with this exception only, that in cases of grave emer-
gency and real necessity and distress, such as a sailing ves-
sel being dismasted, or accident happening to the machinery
of a steam-vessel, the vessel may enter the ports, roadsteads,
or waters on obtaining leave from a resident officer, to
whom the Governor shall have delegated his authority in
that behalf.
With a view to give effect to her Majesty's intentions,
you will b 3 pleased to convey to the tfficers in the out-
islands to whom it may best be confided, the authority in
question, taking care to communicate to them copies of the
regulations of the 31st January, 1862, and calling their
especial attention to the limits of the authority delegated,
and to that clause of the regulations of 31st January, 1862,
in which it is directed, that vessels entering under stress
of weather, or by special leave, shall be required to put to
sea as soon as possible.-1 have, kc.,
(Signed) NEWCASTLE.
Governor Bayley, C. 8., &c.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, DEC. 16,
Notice is hereby given, that the State Apartments of
Windsor Castle will be opened to the public, under the
usual regulations, on and after Monday, the 21st inst.
ADMIRALTY, DEc. 11.
The following promotions, dated the 3d inst., consequent
on the death of Admiral of the Red John Ayscough, on the
2d inst., have this taken place :
Admiral cif the White Sir Edward Harvey, 1C.C.8., to
be Admiral of the Red.
Admiral of the Blue Sir James Stirling, Knight, to be
Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admiral the Right Hon. Charles Philip, Earl of
Hardwicke, on the Reserved List, to be Admiral on the
same list.
Vice-Admiral of the Red Sir Henry Dude Chads,
K.C.B. to be Admiral of the Blue.
Vice-Admiral of the White Sir Robert Lambert Baynes,
K.C.B. to be Vice-Admiral of the Red.
Vice 'Admiral of the Blue the Right lion:Lord George
Paulet, C. 8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Nirltatas Raikes
Rear-Admirals—William Hargood, to be Vice-
Trigge Thompson, Bart, on the Reserved. List,
MI:allele on the same list.
Rear-Admiral of the Red Robert Smart, Ii H., to be
Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear- Admiral of the White Sir Lewis Tobias Jones,
K.C.8., to be Rear-Admiral of the R Henry Anderson
ed. •
Rear-Admiral of the Blue William
Morehead, C. 8., to be Rear"
trestral of the White.
Sulivan,
Captains—Bartholomew D C.B.,Henry
Begot, Hon. Walter Bdoutocni,er evereux, and Sir George
Nathaniel Broke Middleton, Bart., C. 8., to be Rear-4:
rairals on the Reserved
Captain Georg Giffard, C.B„ to be Rear-Admiral of the
Blue.
P to have
Retired Vice-Admiral George Curry Lem riere
the rank and title of Retired Admiral, in pursualt_
of the
Order in Council of 7
BANth May, 1808.
KRUP T S
The following are the only bankrupts of commercial im-
portance in
nthe Gazet
e,te :
Edward aakayn auctioneer, Liverpool
wheelwright, 'clstone
Wildish,
James Midgley, publican, Smallbridge, near Rochdale
John Dodds, merchant, Cecil street, Strand
George Boddy, builder, Gray's-inn-lane
Win. Paynter commissioimothy O'Regan n agent, Kingsland
grocer, Abergavenny
Wm. Edwards, haulier,
John Stone, butcher, Bridgwater
Swansearidgwater
Alex. Mowatt, watchmaker, Bath
Francis Stilborn butcher,
Philip Cooper 1 Bishop Wilton
corn factor, Ashford
Joseph Ahttarkk,
brewer, Wolverhampton
Johu J.er,
Peter Jacob picture dealer, Bathnt,
Philip Schole ouier, et.mu!issitT age„,__shatu
Hoiton
y, licensed victualler, •Cir )0;
William Janes, beershop keeper, 11°1..
George Howard, shoemaker, Terupste-d
Nathaniel Cox, iron ship builder, Chester
id
Martin Slack, beerhouse keeper, Chesterfie
Matthew Sykes, greengrocer, Dewsbury_
Lincolnshire
Richard Lindley, cattle dealer, Belton, Li
Lance.-
Francis J. Higginbottan, attorney, Birkdale,
shire
Joseph Mutton, plumber
W ,„rCKo;l2.ol7aidge
Jame Whitaker, grocer, "
York
Nicholas Lackenhy, hair dresser,
u`oprkrs.
SCOTCH BANlitt
John Ronald, generar, Gairluch
1 merchant, St Andrews
Colic Munro,
John Smith, gfrßoiclner:,,Carluko
far a
Sanquhar, Duinfries-shire
lermfarmer, Rosehill, Renfrewshiro
jßacrweasr di) Gr ])rife,
George Lind:y2___—'farmer, Arbroath

Tia: ENTIRE COMMAND OF TIIE GERMAN ARMY
to invade Denraark (Austrian troops as well as Prussian)
Frederick Charles of
will be given tp Prince Prussia.