The Sun.
London, England, 1830-02-13 00:00:00

COAL TRADE.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY, in rising to pre-
sent a petition from the coal-owners on the Tyne and
Wear, praying their Lordships to take into their conside-
ration the state of the coal trade, felt greatly the honour
done him. The present petition was signed by
all the principal inhabitants of one of the largest
counties in the Empire. Considerable animadver-
sions were thrown upon the coal-owners. It was
supposed, that through their instrumentality coal was
at present at its enormous price. Now, if their
Lordships would only look at the evidence adduced
before the Committee, during the last Session,
their Lordships would discover that to be a most gross
fallacy.
alt was clear, upon that evidence, that
the coai-owiters in the North, at the present mo-
ment, received no more profit than when coals were low.
He called upon their Lordships to prove this by the best
criterion, namely—inquiry and examination. The best
coals in the north at the pit's mouth never exceeded 16s. a
chaldron. In London the price exceeded 50s. That
difference was created entirely by the extraordinary charges
and imposts put on them by the port of London. The
coal-owners in the North, laboured under grievances by
no means partial, they were felt in every part of that
vast county. He -4hould be extremely sorry to see
this great trade (rifled with, and he was sure
that the Noble Duke at the head of his Majesty's Govern-
ment, who gave this great question his earnest attention
during the last Session, would equally give that attention
during the present. If his Majesty's Government would con-
sent that coals should be sold by weight instead of measure,
the difficulties under which that trade at present laboured
would be in a great measure removed. The selling coals
by measure was open to notorious tricks—tricks of
such a nature as to excite the disgust of every man.
These tricks were practised in general by Custom-house
officers and other persons in the city of London. The
Clarence Railway job had failed, and heartily glad was he
it had done so. The Noble Lord, after going at con-
siderable length into the question, concluded by
moving that the petition be read at length by the
clerk of the House, which being done, the Noble
Marquis moved that the former Committee on the state
of the coal trade be revived as early as convenient to his
Majesty's Ministers.

The Duke of WELLINGTON then rose. He had no
objection to the appointment of this Committee, whose
labours there could be no doubt were not closed last Ses-
sion. It was his (the Noble Duke's) earnest wish
to bring those labours to a conclusion. He could
assure his Noble Friend that every thing in his power
should be done to bring the labours of that Committee to
a termination.—(Hear, hear.)—With respect to the
negociation betwet n himself and the City of London
the Noble Marquis, he trusted, would certainly give
hint credit for informing the House of what passed upon
that occasion, nothing then took place at all inconsistent
with the present inquiry.
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said a few words in
explanation.
On the motion of Lord WHARNCLIFFE the evidence
taken during the last Session was ordered to be placed be-
fore the present Committee.