The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-15 00:00:00

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COAL TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE S

much misapprehension appears to exist on
the causes which have produced the Various evils that
afflict the " Coal Ttade," even amongst those classes most
interested, and who, under ordin iry circumstances, ought
to be the best informed on the subject, together with the
divereity of opinions held by the same classes, as to the
best modes of removing those causes,• or averting their
consequences, that one of the uninitiated might be led
to suppose some peculiar mystery was connected with the
employment of capital in mining, and in carrying the pro-
ducts of mines to market.

It might be well, Sir, if any looker on, one, for instance,
whose head was not surcharged with carburetted hydrogen,
or mouth sealed with carbonic acid gas, who did not
belong to that very improvident class of " merchant ad-
venturers," who uniformly and voluntarily buy at a max-
imum and sell at a minimum ; it would he well, Sir, if
one so circumstanced were to recur to first principles,
which appear to have been by all parties directly interested
in this question most grossly violated. Having no con-
nection, either directly or indirectly, with any of these
classes, and fully appreciating the evils produced by an
erroneous system, I have presumed to pen the following
remarks.

It will most readily be granted—
That supply and demand best adjust themselves ;
And, That the least possible interference with t le em-
ployment of capital either by the Legislature, or by any
self-constituted bodies, is best.

These general principles I take it must be admitted by
all, and that no mode of employment of capital can exist
to render it necessary to act contrary to their dictate.
Now, Sir, bearing in mind the above stated principles,
let us inquire how far they have been acted upon, or
interfered with, as regards the case or cases under our
review.

To begin with the Legislature :--They, we find, have
exorbitantly taxed an article of consumption, which is,
taking our climate with its " pestilent congregation of
vapours" into account, with the habits, manners, customs,
and wants of its inhabitants, little less necessary than
bread, and that too so partially, that on the spot where
coal is raised no tax whatever exists, while in the metro-
polis, where under any circumstances fuel would necessa-
rily be highest in price, a tax of about one-eighth on the
usual selling price is levied. To put the effects of this tax
in a stronger point of view, in limiting the consumption
and consequently abridging the comforts and necessaries of
the community, let us put down the annual charge of a
small family near this town, and of one in London. Here
twelve fothers of coals cost, at 65., Si. 12s. ; in London*
eight chaldrons at 505., 201. ; the proportion of tax in the
latter, 21. 10s., or between six and seven weeks' consump-
tio❑ of the London family, or 46 weeks of the family in
this neighbourhood.
So closely has the Legislature adhered to those prin-
ciples, in thus, by their own act, limiting the demand
when every other circumstance might have convinced them
the supply would most unnaturally increase.
Let us next see what the collective wisdom of the
North has done. They, Sir, to use their own words,
have entered into an association to regulate their own
trade in the way most conducive to their own interests,
as all other traders do, " and as the Northern Lights
assert, they have t a legal right to do."
The baker, butcher, grocer, druggist, and surgeon may
meet, and I have no doubt some of these trades or profes-
sions, and all of them, for ought I know, do meet and
regulate prices ; but does the baker say to his customer,
take this large loaf, I can sell you no biscuits; if I do I
must know where you eat them t ; the butcher, take this
round, my offal must waste; the grocer give you vinegar,when
sugar or alspice is wanted : does the druggist offer a pur-
gative when a tonic is asked for, or the surgeon bleed
when a restorative is required? and do they not all supply
themselves at the best possible markets with what goods
they severally require, and each carry on his business at
the least possible expense ? This self-constituted body,
Sir, act very differently ; net content with fixing a price
" mostconducive to their own interests," they extend their
conservative care still further; they controul both the
quantity and quality sold, no doubt, lest a glut should take
place, and their poor compatriots, poorer workmen, or
the parishes, be injured thereby. They not only do all
this, Sir, but their system, founded in wisdoiet and bene-
ficence, extends its advantages still further. The rich
citizen must pay one price, the poor Irishman and medi-
ocre Scotchman another ; it even does not end at John
o'Groat's House. This most conducive and enlightened
body extend their care to every corner of the known
world, and should the march of intellect aid them with a
convenient tram road" o'er the abyss of profound chaos,"
himself might, I have no doubt, be made conducive to
their interests, so ingenious are they in expedients.
The Secretary and Chairman of this conducive body
state that some collieries cannot be carried on but at a cost
of from 30 to 40 per cent. more than others ; and that
thus a price proportionable high must of course be had by
all, that those poorer brethren may be kept above ground.
Delectable beneficence ! This is the first time I have, Mr.
Editor, seen this principle admitted by the participators in
the spoil, who are contented to confess they thus take from

" Eight chaldrons of coals, London measure, are equal
to four Newcastle chaldrons, or twelve fothers.

t In opposition to the presumed, and often asserted
right claimed by the coal-owners, that by law they have
a right to do with their own what they please, I beg
leave to submit the perusal of the following act, which is
still in force, to the consideration of the public, vie., the
9th of Anne, chap. 28, entitled, " An Act to dissolve the
present, and prevent the future combination of coal-
owners, lightermen, masters of ships, and others, to ad-
vance the price of coals, in prejudice of the navigation,
trade, and manufacture of this kingdom, and for the fur-
ther encouragement of the coal-trade" :
" Whereas the cities of London and Westminster, and
other places, are chiefly supplied with coals brought by
sea from the counties of Durham, Northumberland, and
town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and having
the same at cheap and reasonable prices, tends greatly to
the improvement of the manufactures and increase of trade
and navigation of this kingdom, by breeding and employ-
ing many thousands of skilful mariners for the service of
his Majesty, and defence of the realm, and to the relief of
the poor ; and for that end, and for the better advancing
of the duties upon coals granted to her Majesty for the
carrying on the present war against the common enemy, it
is necessary the same shall not be monopolized, but the
coal-trade shall be free and open, and that all prejudices,
hinderances, and obstructions, that may any ways affect
the said trade, should be removed, prevented, and hindered.
Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most excellent Ma-
jesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal and Commans in Parliament as-
sembled, and by the authority of the same, that all and
every contract or contracts, covenants and agreements,
whether the same be in writing or not in writing, and
whether heretofore made or entered into by or between any
coal-owners, lightermen, fitters, masters, or owners of
ships, or vessels, crimps, coal-flu-tors, or other person or
persons whatsoever concerned in the said coal-trade, for
engrossing coals, or for restraining or hindering any per-
son or persons whatsoever frotn freely selling, buying, load-
ing or unloading, navigating or disposing of coals, in
such manner as they lawfully may, shall be, and are here-
by declared to be illegal, null, and void, to all intents and
purposes ; and further, that if any coal-owners, lighter-
men, fitters, masters or owners of ships or vessels,
crimps, coal-factors, or any other person or persons
whatsoever, shall at any time or times from and after the
Ist day of Jane, 1711, keep up, continue, act in, make,
eater into, sign, seal, or be knowingly entrusted or con-
cerned in any contract or contracts, covenants or agree-
ments, before by this Act declared to be illegal, null, and
void, or shall erect or keep up any office or offices, cham-
ber or chambers, or other place or places far the manage-
ment of such contract or contracts, covenants or agree-
ments, as party or parties to, or knowingly inti rested in
the sante, or shall any way act or officiate therein, as
office clerk, agent, or servant to or for the persons
so contracting, agreeing, or acting, contrary to the
true intent and meaning of this Act, the person
or persons so offending shall, fur every such of-
fence, forfeit and pay as follows, that is to say, every
coal owner or owners, or proprietor of or in any pit or
mine or mines of coal, the sum of 1001. ; and every fitter,
whether acting for himself, his agent or servant, the 811I11(if
30/. ; and every master or owner of any ship or vessel,
the sum of 201. ; and every
officer, clerk, agent, or ser-
vant, as aforesaid, the sum of 201."
t It frequently happens that when a ship owner or mer-
chant applies to the coal owner for to purchase a cargo of
coals, he is immediately asked what he is going to do with
them, where he is going to send them to, &c. as on a sa-
tisfactory answer depends the price to be charged. As a
further illustration of this system, I will name a transac-
tion which took place recently at Newcastle :—A mer-
chant bought a cargo of coals of considerable magnitude at
ss. per Newcastle chaldron, which he had engaged to send
to Ireland ; the contract was not carried into effect, and
he was obliged to send them to London for sale ; on appli-
cation to the coal office for certificates to comply with the
regulations of the London market, he was told that if the
coals were sent to London the price would be 14s. per
clialdron instead of 55., a pretty specimen of the effect of
an association to regulate flair own trade."