The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-11 00:00:00

THE LINEN TRADE OF ULSTER.

At a meeting of Belfast Chamber of Commerce on Sa-
turday, Robert Grimshaw, Esq., in the chair, the fol-
lowing memorial, addressed to the Earl of Clarendon, on
the subject of the duties levied on linen fabrics in the
United State, with his lordship's reply, was read :
"To the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon,
K.G., G.C.8., her Majesty's Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs.
" The Memorial of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce,
" Showeth—That the export of linen fabrics from the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to the
United States of America is a very important branch of
the international trade, as it reaches annually an average
value of 1,700,000, while the entire export of British
and Irish linen fabrics to all parts of the world averages
4,000,000 ; so that the United States take between one-
half and one-third of the entire value exported. That the
ad valorem duties levied by the United States on the im-
portrof
Previous
to 8
nhalvel2the
varied
ratecon wassidera 5 p considerably
per cent.
cent.
In 1812, it was raised to 37} per cent.
In 1832, the duty was abolished.
In 1842, a duty was again put on of 25 per cent.
In 1846, this duty was reduced to 20 per cent. At
which it still continues.

"That as the United States do not possess any linen
manufacture worthy of mention, there is no native in-
terest to seek for protection; and that, therefore the
duty now levied is, in fact, a tax on the American con-
sumers of about 350,0001. annually.
" That it appears, from a circular letter of Mr. Guth-
rie, Secretary to the United States Treasury, which has
been copied into the English newspapers, that there is
now a probability of a material change being made in
the tariff, owing to the very favourable position of the
United States revenue.

" That, in the aforesaid circular, Mr. Guthrie declares
that any reductions made should afford an equal partici-
pation in the benefit to every interest and to every sec-
tion. Your memorialists believe that the consumers of

linen and the producers of articles of export in America
would be equally benefitted by the abolition of the duty
on linens, although the saving to the former on the pre-
sent cost of these articles, and though the advantage
which would arise to the latter from the increased im-
ports likely to follow, by affording an extended' exchange
for United States produce shipped to Great Britain and
Ireland.
"That Mr. Guthrie's circular further states—`There
will be, doubtless, the least question about articles which
do not come into competition with American products.
This object,' proceeds Mr. Guthrie, will be consulted
by adding to the free list articles of general consumption,
which, but for this consideration, might properly be made
subjects of revenue.' Your memorialists believe that

linens will strictly fulfil this condition, as they have
already observed that the American manufacture of
linen is extremely trifling ; in illustration of which they
may mention, that the entire Union contains but one-
half of the number of spindles for flax which are to be
found in a single first-class Irish factory, while the im-
port of yarns into the United States reaches the value
of hut 16,000 f. annually.
"That the circular also invites suggestions as to the
re-modelling of the tariff, in such a manner as `to
abridge the labours of the Custom-house.' Y our memo-
rialists would here observe that the present system, in
the United States, of levying the duty ad valorem, leads
to much difficulty among their Custom-house officers, as
regards the examination and appraisement of the great
variety of linen fabrics which enter so largely into con-
sumption in the States ; and that the abolition of the
duties on a class of goods so extensively imported would
materially lighten the labours of the customs department.
"That your memorialists have thus shown in how re-
markable a manner the article of linen, as a leading im-
port of the United States, illustrates the conditions
which, through their Secretary of the Treasury, the
American Government refer to as being the most likely
to influence them in a selection of the items on which a
change of duty may be most judiciously effected.
`"That the linen trade of Ulster, as your lordship is
fully aware, is of extreme importance to the people of
this town and province, as well as to the empire at large ;
and that the position of the United States market, which
consumes upwards of 1,000,0001. in value of the fabrics
shipped from this port, is of the greatest influence on the
prosperity of this staple trade, since the imposition of
prohibitory duties by France and other Continental
states has restricted the range of foreign markets, on
which Ireland, in common with the kindred manufacture
of Great Britain, relies for a profitable sale.
"That the increase of our exports of linens to the
United States have not been in proportion to the rapid
increase of those states in population and wealth, in con-
sequence of the high duties imposed in 1842 ; that the
continued expansion which their great natural avantages
appear amply to promise would warrant your memorial-
in looking forward to a future increase in their consump-
tion of Irish linens, in a ratio which would have an im-
portant effect on the prosperity of this branch of manu-
facture, whose cheapness and excellence of production
place it in a position to fear nothing but the operation of
these excessive duties in limiting consumption.
"That it is on these grounds your memorialists would
now respectfully solicit your lordship's aid, by requesting
that you will instruct her Majesty's Minister at Wash-
ington, should a fitting opportunity offer, to use the re-
-0 presentations contained in this memorial, in such a form
as may appear most likely to have a favourable influence
in the proper official quarter ; and that he should accom-
pany this by a strong advocacy of the reasons herein
urged, as a proof of the mutual advantages which would
a.ccure to the United States of America and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and. Ireland, from the total
abolition of the import duties now levied by the latter
upon linen fabrics, threads, and yarn ; for which it may
in conclusion, be observed, a precedent has been already
established by their exemption from all duty in the de-
cenial period from 1832 to 1842.
"Belfast, Oct. 24. 1853."

"Foreign-office, Oct. 29, 1853.
"Sir —I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to
acknowledge the receipt of the memorial of the Cham-
ber of Commerce at Belfast, relative to the duties levied
in the United States on British linen fabrices ; and I
am to state to you, for the information of the memoria-
lists, that their important representation shall be imme-
diately transmitted to her Majestey's Minister at Wash-
ington, with instructions to supports its prayer.—l am,
sir, your most obedient servant,

"H. U. ADDINGTON.

"James Bristow, Esq.,
Chamber of Commerce, Bristol."

THE OIRCASSIAIV HERO SCHAMYL.

(From the Constitutionnel. )

The recent appearance of Schamyl in the rich plains of
Georgia, coinciding with the last news from the Dan-
ube, has all of a sudden given to the war of the Cauca-
susus and to its chief a European importance which they
did not possess before. The sudden attack on Tiflis by
20,000 mountaineers is not only the most recent incident
of a struggle which has lasted for half a century, but the
first episode of a grand drama, in which the whole world
takes an interest, And so public attention has turned
spontaneously towards these Caucasian summits, which
Mithridates alone was able to conquer, and which now
hold in check all the forces of Russia. Schamyl is hence-
forward the most energetic auxiliary of the Porte in
its heroic effort for independence ; and our readers will,
we think, be glad to hear some particulars respecting
'this extraordinary man. Schamyl has been often com-
pared to Abd-el-Kader, and there is, in fact, some ana-
logy between the two leaders. Both arrived at the chief
command by the prestige of their religious inspiration
more even than by their courage and personal ability.
Both have had for object the enfranchisement of their
race, and the fusion of the tribes which compose it,
under the authority of their sole chief. But Abd-el-
Kader was only hadji, and he was obliged to borrow
from civilisation a part of his resources to maintain him-
self so long. Schamyl aimed higher : he set himself up
as the second prophet of Islamism • he declared himself
sent by God to complete the work of Mahomet, and par-
ticularly to fuse into one the two great divisions of Omar
and Ali ; he persuaded his followers that Allah dictated
to him his will in periodical visions ; and in that way he
succeeded in creating around him an indomitable and
devoted body of troops, whose blind obedience does not
give way before any danger, and whose religious enthu-
siasm is capable of the greatest efforts. Schamyl is at
present 56 years of age. He is a man of middle size,
but of a determined appearance. His private life
resembles that of Abd-el-Kader, being sober and
austere, and divided between prayer and action.
His career as a warrior began in 1834. His prede-
cessors in the war were first Scheick-Mausour, then
Khasi-Mollah, and then Hamsal Bey. The death of
this last gave him, at the age of 37, the supreme autho-
rity over the Mussulman tribes of the Caucasus, and
then began that struggle of twenty years which has
already cost Russia more than the subjugation of Poland.
It would be wrong, however, to look on Schamyl as the
uncontested leader of all the tribes of the Caucasus.
That chain of mountains separating Europe from Asia
between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea is itself cut
into two parts by the narrow pass of Darien, through
which winds the military road from Musdok to Tiflis.
To the right of that pass, coming from Russia to the
Caspian Sea, extends the real empire of Schamyl, inha-
bited by Tchetchens. On the left, to the Black Sea,
the tribes known by the generic name of Tcherkesses (Cir-
cassians), do not recognise his authority, and are not
even at open war with Russia. Only, as the national
hatred and the religious creeds of these two factions of
the Caucasus are nearly the same, it is easy to compre-
hend that if circumstances favoured a general rising, the
Sultan and Prophet of the Daghestan would soon become
the Sultan and Prophet of all the Circassian districts, and
in that case the fine provinces of Georgia and of Imeretia,
left without communication with Europe, might very
easily pay Turkey the cost of the impious war now stirred
up against her. As to the incidents of the war between
Schamyl and the Russias, they are but little known. The
Muscovite policy is to conceal its internal wounds, and
to allow Europe to hear only the bulletins of victory,
often without foundation. But there are certain details
and certain results which always in the end come to
light. The war of the Caucasus has lasted for 53 years,
and has worn out the ablest generals of Russia, Zizianoff,
Yermoloff, Grablee, Sass, Neidhardt, Rosen, and Paskie-
wich. It has destroyed her best troops, and has become
a complete object of dread for the regiments sent in that
direction. It has cost immense sums to the Russian em-
pire ; and notwithstanding all the efforts made, it is at
niastidetrhehimGseeniefrasal-fien-ienhilelifs,
• 9 000 men from his PT) rrei
palacens ecne taNtVs
Too riflol tszt:oeaf f,n advanceddd oaessk o
fto to:
go-
vernment to maintain himself in Georgia. The prince,
still Governor-General of the Caucasus, if caught between
tie horsemen of Schamyl and the regular troops of Tur-
key, would find himself in a very critical position. The
Ottoman empire has three fleets on the Black Sea to
keep in check the two squadrons of Russia. It is known
already that ammunition and officers have been sent by I

the Porte to Schamyl.ld hostilities commence, the
Tcherkesses could not resis: following in the wake of their
co-religionists and yielding to the prestige of their leader,
and in that case there would perhaps commence for the
Government of St. Petersburgh one of those expiations
of Providence which aveage the public feeling. The
Caucasus, besides, has nothing to gain in ci 7iiisation by
its connection with Russia. There will always be more
true liberty, more justice, and more enlightened reforms
on the side of the young Sovereign who protects equally
all religions, and who carries out the promises of Gul-
band' than on the side of the Autocrat, who has never
respected the independence and nationality of the nations
in the vicinity of his vast smpire.

ANOTHER COLLISION ON THE MIDLAND

RAILWAY.

On Monday evening a collision of a serious nature,
though happily unattendel with loss of life, occurred on
the Derby and Birmingham branch of the above rail-
way. The details are much similar to those connected
with the late fatal collision in Ireland. It appears that
a goods train left Derby for Burton at seven o'clock
in the evening. On arriving at Burton the goods
were put into the siding at the Leicester and Swan-
ington Junction, about half a mile from Burton station.
The South Staffordshire passenger train, which should
have left Burton for Lichfield at a quarter to eight
o'clock, did not leave until a few minutes after eight ;
but) in the meantime, the goods engine had gone on
to the Leicester Junction, previous to returning to
Gloucester. After the South Stafford train had passed
the goods engine at the junction, it came out of the
siding and followed the tram. About four miles from
Burton is the Walton station, and whenever there are
passengers to be taken up, the South Stafford train is
signalled to stop. This was the case on this particular
evening ; and the train had scarcely stopped before the
goods engine ran into it at a speed of thirty miles an
hour. The guard, who was in the break at the end of
the train, perceiving
.the approach of the engine,
jumped off and saved his life. The engine struck the
guard's break, went underneath it, and lifted the body
of it on the top of the boiler of the engine, leaving the
wheels remaining on the line. Next to the break was a
third-class covered carriage, with passengers in it. Thi=
was thrown completely off the frame on to the down
line. The next, a second-class carriage, was thrown off the
line, and smashed to pieces, as was the case with
several others. A horse-box next to the engine
was very much broken, but the horse was not
seriously hurt. Shortly afterwards the down train
arrived from Birmingham and conveyed the news .to
Burton, when the telegraph was set to work, and
a special train with break-down vans, &c., under the
superintendence of Mr. Beswick (inspector), and accom-
panied by Mr. Mills, Mr. Markham, Mr. Arnold, Mr.
Gisborne (surgeon), soon arrived at the scene of the
accident. Mr. Gisborue, surgeon, immediately attended
to the injuries of the passengers, and we have his
authority for stating that none of them are of a dan
gerous character. They were shortly afterwards con-
veyed to the inns at Barton-town and Lichfield. The
driver and stoker of the goods-train immediately de-
camped, and have not yet been apprehended. The
matter will immediately undergo investigation. After
the collision, a gentleman who was travelling to Man-
chester missed a small tin box, which could not be
found anywhere. It was discovered on the top of the
engine chimney.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.