The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-06 00:00:00

THE BALTIC TRADE.

The Belfast Chronicle says :—" A natural uneasi-
ness exists at present in the minds of merchants
and shipowners engaged in the Baltic trade, lest in
case of war Russia should place an embargo on
British shipping and cargoes coming from the Bal-
tic this month with flax and flax-seed. For the
purpose of, if possible, removing the apprehen-
sions so generally prevalent, or at least of obtain-
ing some reliable information, Mr. Davison, M.P.,
addressed the following letter to Mr. Cardwell,
President of the Board of Trade "
"Belfast, 24th Sept., 1853.
My dear sir—l am sorry to trespass on your va-
luable time, but I do so at the instance of some of the
leading merchants of Belfast, engaged in the Baltic
trade, who naturally enough begin to entertain serious
apprehensions for the safety of their ships and cargoes
coming next month from the Baltic with flax and flax-
seed, should the pending negotiations fail amicably to
adjust the Eastern question. As the subject is one
which deeply affects one of our great branches of com-
merce—the linen trade of Ulster—l feel I shall readily
be excused for troubling you with this communication.
" 'The value of flax-seed imported annually here from
Riga may be estimated at something about 70,0001.,
whilst the flax brought from the Baltic may be taken at
five times that amount ; and this is the season at which
merchants generally send forward their ships, or orders
for supplies of seed. The value of property, therefore,
at stake in the United Kingdom is very considerable,
more especially when we include the value of the ships
conveying it.
" ' The merchants apprehend that, in the event of
war, the Russians might confiscate their ships and car-
goes ; and this apprehension is increased from the fact
that there is no British fleet of the line in the Baltic
capable of affording them protection. I know not how
far it comes within your province to quiet such alarms,
or to satisfy the mercantile community that the Govern-
ment will afford them all requisite protecaon ; but,
having been requested to make this communication, and
concurring in its necessity and importance, I should. be
culpable if I omitted a post in submitting the. s 9 !et.a!!s
for your consideration. Hoping that you mil favour.
me with an early reply on this all-important subject, .
have the honour to be, my dear sir, your very obedient
servant,

" RICHARD DAVISON, M.P. for Belfast.
" 'To the Right Honourable Edward Cardwell,
President Board of Trade, London.'
" In reply to the foregoing document, Mr. Davison
has received a communication from Mr. Cardwell, Pre-
sident of the Board of Trade, acknowledging Its trans-
mission, and stating that Government would give the
subject due and full consideration."

---
By a new regulation,
—the Lords of the Treasury,
CUSTOMS APPOINTMEIbS;
approved
years
which has been
it is directed thaaptp
must be 18 and under
character, and will produce
certificates of age and..
examination in writing and arithmetic ; and, should it
-t from such examination that they will be qualified
a
A probation, they will be Placed on duty for a
iler p p e a r
cmonth. If not qualified at the end of that time their
appointments will be cancelled, and in that case they
will not be paid the uzual allowance for the time they
were on probation ; but, should their conduct have been
in all respects satisfactory, the Board will have to con-
sider whether half the pay of an extra clerk should not
be allowed. In all cases the principal officers are to
satisfy themselves, as far as practicable, that the persons
are proper to be admitted into the service, and to state
their opinion as to their age, when reporting to the
Board the result of their preliminary inquiries, in cases
where they have reason to believe that they are either
over or under the ages specified.
THE NEW ASSESSED TAXES.— Before Monday next
the articles, &c., now exempted from the assessed taxes,
which will in future be taxable, are to be discontinued,
or the parties will be charged with the new duties for
the year beginning in April next.