The Sun.
London, England, 1825-01-22 00:00:00

THE COAL TRADE.

rin THE SUN of the 11th inst. we inserted the
communication of an enlightened Correspondee,
at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on the Coal Trade :
the following is by the same writer]
Upon those principles of fairness and equity which charac-
teriae the proceedings of his Majesty's Government, we do Lot
perceive how Ministers can avoid lending a favourable ear to
the prayer of the Coal-owners in the North, with regard to a
reduced duty upon Coal Coastwise, when the matter is brought
before Parliament. The Canal-borne coals have already in-
terfered prejudicially, and future collision threatens to be
still more ruinous to trade. Individuals who have vested
immense properties in the Coal Mines of Durham and
Northumberland, unless wholesome measures be adopted by the
Legislature to give a right direction to the grand system of im-
proved internal communication, as Rail-ways are now de-
signated. Only a very few years ago, the Northern Coal-
owners, or rather those whose mines are situate in the county
of Durham, transmitted a Memorial to Government, chewing
how great a quantity of coals was annually brought to Boston,
in Lincolnshire, and places not far distant, by canal and rail-
way, at the positive expence of the trade of Sunderland : that
is to say, there was a corresponding falling off in the shipments
of the Wear. And when it is stated that the quantity e•
ceived at Boston, and the other places alluded to, in o- e
year was one hundred and twenty thousand four hundred chal_
drons of coals, there is unquestionably something in the stat-
ment calculated to excite uneasiness, beyond the mere loss sus-
tained by the Coal-owner. In order to transport the above
quantity of coal from the Wear or the Tyne, sixty moderate-
sized vessels would be required, and 420 sailors, annually. It
is obvious, therefore, that the Inland Coal Trade is carried on
to the disparagement of some of the great national interests—
to wit, the shipping-interest, and the nursery for British sea-
men. It must be understood, however, that the Northern
Coal-owners are not seeking to excite any unjust clamour
against their brethren in other parts of the kingdom ; all that
they desire—and it is very natural that they should desire it—
is to be placed upon an equal footing. But this can nev2r he,
as long as the sea-borne coals are subject to a high duty, while
the others are comparatively but very slightly taxed. If the
[tight Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer will only consent
to abate the duty coastwise, there is no doubt but there will he
immediately a vastly augmented ratio of business trantactsd,
both in the Wear and in the Tyne.

In a Petition which is now in course of signature by the
Ship-owners of the Port of Sunderland, (and which will be fol-
lowed up by an energetic appeal from the Coal-owners,) the
former very pertinently observe, that—.." During the late war
they submitted to the excessive duties on sea-borne coals with-
out murmuring, being desirous to contribute to the utmost ex-
tent to the exigencies of the State ; but that as the particular
objects for which the duties on coals carried coastwise were im-
posed, do not now exist, they (the Ship-owners) have for some
time past annually anticipated the repeal of such duties, which
would unquestionably add to the prosperity of the coal trade,
and consequently to that of the nation at large."
It were nugatory to make a parade of the great principles of a
Free Trade, advocated by the Members of his Majesty's Go-
vernment, if they shut their eyes to what constitutes so great
an anomaly at home. The interests of the Northern Coal-
owners, from what has been observed; very closely identify
themselves with tat important class of the community, the
Ship-owners; and there are other reasons, indeed, why it is
high time that the unequal competition were done away with.
Were the small coals that are collected in such masses, and go
to waste at the great collieries in Durham and Northumber-
land, permitted to be shipped free of duty, thousands of poor
families all along the Eastern coast would, during the incle-
ment winter season, he furnished with that necessary article
fuel at less than one-third of the price they are obliged to pay
at present, besides the additional employment that would be
created for the shipping.
Finally, Seriously disposed as the writer of this article be-
lieves his Majesty's Ministers to be in their effhrts to establish
a system of trade both abroad and at home, upon those liberal
principles which are best calculated to advance the national
welfare, (and for what has been done and is doing in Foreign
Commerce they deserve every praise), it is most earnestly and
most respectfully submitted, that they can be engaged in no
scheme of domestic policy, on the opening of Parliament, of
greater moment than that which involves a modified legisla-
tion---adapted to existing circumstances--on that important
branch of home industry, the Coal-Trade. In this great, floe,
and enlightened country, the voice of the Senate is generally
very much in accordance with public sentiment; and whenever
an appeal is made at the National Bar, it is a rare occurrence
that he whose cause is just, meets with discomfiture. That
transcendently great Statesman, the late Mr. Pitt, it is well
known, was a staunch friend to the Northern coal trade, be.
cause he was fully sensible how much it contributed to
strengthen the sinews of the nation. A Cabinet that professes
to follow his footsteps, can, we are persuaded, feel little ;due-
tance in sanctioning what his master mind approved.