The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-17 00:00:00

futrtul -11iL

LONDON, TUESDAY. AUGUST 17, 1847.

Poor unfortunate Mr. SPOONER has had a godsend
at the eleventh hour, and such a godsend as must
afford unspeakable gratification to the Honourable
Gentleman's friends and relations. Virtually kicked
out of Birmingham, he has been almost as igno-
Mminiously kicked into North Warwickshire. For
"Rant of a better candidate—and this shows the•desti-
tution of their cause—he has been chosen by the local
Protectionists as the representative of that county
constituency. While in the very paroxysms of his
grief at being compelled to leave Birmingham he is
hurried to the hustings at Coleshill, and has the spurs
of knighthood screwed into the heels of his boots.
While lamenting, like LATINCELOT GOBBA, he is con-
jured away into a state of luxury as unexpected as
that of CHRISTOPHER SLY. His good fortune is so
sudden and tremendous that his breath is taken away.
His gratitude is gasped out with the most miserable
iteration. " Gentlemen," he exclaimed, "I beg to
assure you all, from the inmost recesses of my soul,
that I thank you—l thank you—l thank you."
Whereupon, says the reporter, there was " much
laughter," and we don't wonder at it. Such a wind-
falm such a dilemma is enough to bewilder such a
politician.

There can be little astonishment that the a icul-
''',„2! rat:pceanand of
ur triumph at the return g:f Mr.
Di3isiviswpiozn
of
Warwickshire.
Shr.oonnu for the Northern
'reverses in the English counties itAmfteis'osrbtuotfrasoti!onmar toy
expect that they would make the
Lancashiret eir vic-
tory. They forget the disasters in and
Yorkshire, and: Middlesex, in the first flush of their
success in Warwickshire. Nor can we feel much
amazement if they are so far carried away by exulta-
tion that they forget the decencies of language as
Lord J. SCOTT forgot them, when he termed Sir
ROBERT PEEL " the great JUDAS ISCARIOT of 1841."
The Liberals must be prepared for these extrava-
gances—they must regard them as the necessary ac-
ompaniments of the harmless spleen of the Protec-
tionists. They are merely the hissings and splutter-
inbe forgotten
scotched adder, for it must by no means
that the adder of monopoly has merely
been scotched—it yet remains to be destroyed. The last
Parliament has the credit of first opening the gates
which impeded international commerce. The new
Parliament must acquire the
d glory of taking those
gates away altogether, of widening the road of
gltrade between ourselves the other nations of the
obe.

In our observations yesterday on the Report of the
Select Committee on our Commercial Relations with
China, we stated the great falling off of our trade
with that country, the ruinous losses suffered by our
merchants on their dealings, and that these untoward
results were not owing to any want of demand for
our manufactures, or from the increasing competition
of other nations. England, in fact, at this moment
enjoys no less than four-fifths of what may be termed
the legitimate trade ; the whole of the imports into
China (exclusive of opium) amounting in value to
20,390,734 dollars, of which 16,073,682 dollars was
the value imported in British vessels, 2,909,669
dollars in American, and 1,413,433 dollars only in
the shipping of all other countries. In ad-
dition to this, the enormous sum of twenty-
three millions of dollars were estimated for the
opium imported from British India on English
or American account. The entire of this vast amount,
exceeding 9,400,0001. sterling, has to be provided for
at present by tea, silk, and silver—a hope is, how-
ever, expressed that sugar and China grass (as a
substitute for hemp) may at a future period form
important elements in the calculation.

From the peculiar nature of the traffic in opium,
it being to a certain extent unrecognised, and, there-
fore, a prompt settlement of all accounts respecting
it being rendered absolutely necessary, the whole
available silver is absorbed thereby, and consequently
the legitimate traffic depends on our taking
tea and silk in payment for our goods.
Silk is at present moderately and fairly taxed in this
country, and, almost as a natural consequence, the
trade is steadily improving, the exportation thereof
from China to England, in the year 1846, having
amounted in value to more than 1,200,0001. It is,
however, an article of mere luxury, and we cannot
hope that a rapid increase of consumption will enable
us to extend our transactions therein to an extent
sufficient to counteract the influences we have already
alluded to. To an increased consumption of tea,
therefore, and to that alone, can we look for the
means, not merely of extending, but even of main-
taining a profitable trade with China, and every con-
iideration urges us to adopt such measures as may
tend to that result. It is scarcely necessary
to dwell upon the reasons that render a general use
of tea in this country in the highest degree desirable :
it would provide the best remedy for the degrading
vice of intoxication that is unfortunately too preva-
lent ; it would lead the hard-working artizan or
1
labourer to spend his evenings in the bosom of his
family in place of in the public-house or beer-shop;
it would make him enjoy his home, where, with his
wife and children, he might quaff the cup " that
cheers but not inebriates." and thus increase the
social and domestic happiness of the people in general ;
and, by interposing a guard against the demoralization
and temptations to which a poor man is exposed while
partaking abroad of unwholesome and intoxicating
drinks, would materially lessen the amount of crime,
and diminish the national expenditure in its most
objectionable form—viz., police, prisons, penal
settlements, &c. These reasons alone should be
sufficient to induce our Legislature to spare no exer-
tions to attain so desirable an object. The Committee
justly state that it can only be effected by a consider-
able
reduction of the present rate of duty, which, on
the average qualities of tea, amounts to over 200 per
cent., on inferior qualities to 350 per cent.; and,
although it is not so stated by the Committee, we
believe that we are justified in saying that it amounts
to fully 800 per cent. on the boheas, the qualities
chiefly used by the humbler classes in our country.
Such a reduction would be but a matter of justice
to the Chinese, who do not in any instance
impose a higher tax on our productions than an
ad valorem duty of 10 per cent., while the average is
but from five to seven per cent. Our dealing with
teas also forms an exception to that adopted with
respect to almost every other article of commerce; for
while duties on other articles have been reduced with
the happiest results, they have been considerably in-
creased on teas. By taking decennial periods we find that
in 1801 the duty was 20 per cent. where the value was
under 2s. 6d. per pound, and 50 per cent. above it ; in
1811 it was 96 per cent. on all values ; in 1821 and 1831,
96, and 100 per cent. ad valorem, and in 1841 2*. Id.
per pound, or over 200 per cent. on average qualities,
while in 1846 it was 2s. 2id. The only difficulty
therefore in the way of a great reduction is the exi-
gencies of the Exchequer to which the duty on tea
during the year 1846 produced 5,110,8971.
Should the desired reduction occasion a consider-
able loss to the revenue, we contend that Parliament
would be bound for the reasons above cited to sane-
it, and, if necessary, to provide for the deficiency of
revenue by the imposition of taxes of some other
description. We have long since stated our views on
this subject, and have proved that a property-tax is
not only the fairest, but the most eligible mode of
raising the chief portion of the revenue. There is
every reason, however, to suppose that if the duty
were reduced to half, or even a quarter of its present
amount, there would not only be no loss, but rather
an improvement to the general revenue. We have
had the experience of the last six years, by which it
appears that, notwithstanding a reduction and aboli-
tion of duties to the amount of 7,620,0001., there
is an increase of revenue from the same sources.
This alone would prove an unanswerable
argument in favour of the experiment, but
a still stronger analogy is afforded by the articles of
coffee and cocoa, on which various reductions have
been made during a series of years. In bothi o i
these instances the revenue has benefited con-
siderably by the reduction; and it cannot be
said that tea is at pirteseenotuldas
beexteonbsitvaeinlyeduseadt
as it would be if
a more reasonable rate ; for, while our average con-
sumption is but 1 lb. 10 oz., that in Guernsey
and Jersey amounts to 4 lb. 4 oz. per head.
It must also be borne in mind, that for every
additional pound of tea brought into use, five pounds
of sugar would be required, so that the revenue
would receive a vast addition from this branch also,
and the prosperity of our West India colonies would
be materially advanced.
These remarkable facts fully justify the Committee
n their earnest recommendation that the duty on tea
s hould be reduced from 2s. 21d. to ls. per pound
and their belief that the revenue would not be injured,
thereby. The only part of their report from which
we dissent is, that which recommends a fixed in pre-
ference to an ad valorem duty, whereby the wealthier
classes contribute less in proportion than the more
humble. This we conceive to be the very worst po-
licy, although it is that which pervades our whole
system of taxation. It will, we trust, however, be
materially modified by the new Parliament, whose
first and t
important duty will be to give their
most attention to the mode by which the re-
'venue is collected, and we trust that in so doing they
will pay that respect to th.ueaybodveeserrveep I
.ort which its 1
justly importance and ability so 3

While it is surprising that men of education and
apparently of common sense adhere with a dull per-
tiP.acity (called by themselves consistency) to prin-
ciples that to everybody else are miserably obsolete,
it is in no way surprising that they should attempt
to defend their position in a most grotesque and pre-
posterous fashion. It is only in keeping with their
character. Convinced that they are destined to be
the means of preserving the country from perdition
by bringing it back to the commercial folly and finan-
cial ignorance of the " good old times," it is but natural
that, like Alderman 'Cum, they should determine to
t, put down" free trade and free-traders,f and evwerey.
thing else that is good and reasonable.
only to select some achievement of a less impossible
kind, they might acquire the fame of exercising a
certain degree of influence over the affairs of their
generation. Like the eastern potentate who rose be-
fore the dawn, and bad the sun, with an authorita-
tive air, ascend the heavens from the eastern horizon,
and descend to the western, they might obtain the
applause of the least discerning as the imaginary
cause of a movement immeasurably removed from
the reach of their authority. Unfortunately, how-
ever,
they pursue a course directly the reverse of
that followed by the Oriental prince. They command
the sun to rise from the west and to set in the east,
and consequently draw duwn upon themselves uni-

The Aug sburgh Gazette states that grave disturb-
ances have broken out at Lucca, in consequence of

TEE SUN, LONDON,

AM'
versal contempt and intolerable ridicule. Ask the endeavours of the reigning Duke to establish
any dispassionate observer whether the talent himself as absolute, in spite of the constitution of 1806
of the once powerful party of Conservatism is disco- guaranteed by the Congress of Vienna.
verable among those who are called Peelites, or
among those who are called Protectionists. Can
there be any hesitation or uncertainty as to the
reply? Is it not obvious, that with a few stray and
eccentric exceptions (like that of the nobleman
christened by O'CONNELL " Hurdigurdy," or like
the brilliant Member for Buckinghamshire, whom
Punch seems to regard as the eloquent antithesis of
HAMPDEN), the talent of the Conservatives is almost
concentrated among the Peelites. Even at the latest
moment the more sensible of the supporters of Sir Ro-
BERT have acknowledged their former errors of judg-
ment, and have come over to the side of Reform
and Liberality as boldly as Mr. MONCKTON MILNE&
There is no doubt that the courage evinced by the
ex-Premier has materially emboldened the more
timorous among the converts to the popular doc-
trines, and there is no doubt, on the other hand, that
the audacity of such adventurous spirits as Lord
GEORGE BENTINCK has confirmed the obstinacy and
deepened the obtuseness of his Protectionist brethren.
Altogether, from these considerations we are satisfied
that as the wiser members of the Conservative party
have been guided to free trade by argument, so the
more frivolous can only be convinced of their obsti-
nate absurdity by a system analogous to that of the
reductio ad absurdum. They must be laughed into
common sense by being shown the ludicrous nature
of their position.

The Swiss Diet was occupied on the 10th, 11th,
and 12th, in discussing the propositions of the Com-
mittee relative to the dissolution of the Catholic
League. We have already published these proposi-
tions. The Deputies of the Catholic League sur-
passed all their former sayings in the violence of their
language. The propositions, however, were carried
by a majority of twelve States and two half States.
The following were the votes :

FOR - Zurich, Soleure, Schaffhausen, St. Gall,
Argau, Tessino, Geneva, Vaud, Thargau, Grisons,
Glaris, Berne, Basle (country), and Appenzel
(outer).
AGAINST—Uri, Unterwalden, Zug, Valais, Neuf-
chatel, Fribourg, Schwytz, and Lucerne. Appenzel
(inner) did not vote.

As a specimen of the spirit by which the Sonder-
bund, or Catholic League, is actuated, we may mention
that, according to the new constitution, which the
members of that League have proclaimed in the can-
ton of Valais, Protestantism is not henceforth to be
even tolerated in the cantons, and the refusal of the
Diet to sanction this intolerance is complained of by
the Sonderbund as a grievance. The liberty which
they desire is the liberty of persecution.
Madrid papers of the 10th have arrived.

The Afrancesado Heraldo, after a long eulogium
on the moderation of Don FRANCISCO D'ASSIS, again
announces the approaching reconciliation of the KING
and QUEEN.

An abortive attempt had been made to assassinate
General SERRANO by means of an infernal machine.
There was again a talk of an approaching change of
Ministry.

We have received the Paris papers of Sunday.
The announcement of the appointment of the Duke
D'AUMALE as Governor-General of Algeria is con-
firmed. The KING signed the ordonnance of appoint-
ment before his departure for Eu. His MAJESTY
wished to appoint him Viceroy, but it was thought
too dangerous a step to take at first, more especially
in the present state of the public mind in France ;
therefore the Duke D'AUMALE will, according to the
Revue des Deux Mondes, " be simply a Governor-
General, placed, like every other public functionary,
under the orders of a responsible Minister, and him
self responsible for his acts." Knowing how unpo-
pular this appointment will be in France, the Revue,
which speaks from the inspiration of M. Gnaw'',
endeavours, by way of a diversion, to excite the
Anglophobia of the French, by declaring that the
appointment will give umbrage to England, and that
after the marriage of the Duc DE MOSTPENSIER it is
the most hardy act of M. GulzoT's policy for some
time. We do not agree with the Revue on this
point. M. GulzoT was much more hardy when, in
the case of M. DE GIRARDIN, he read from the
tribune a private letter and betrayed a confidence, to
put down a political opponent. He was much more
hardy when from the tribune he boasted how adroitly
he had " fenced" with truth in his interviews with
the Marquis of NORMANDY. He is much more
hardy in refusing all investigation into the charges
of corruption brought against himself and his
colleagues. We believe that this attempt to
render palatable a most unpopular appointment, by
endeavouring to excite a jealousy of England, will
fail. Instead of the false and hollow entente cordiule
between the two Courts, we have an entente coraiale
between the people of the respective nations, who
will no longer suffer themselves to be the dupes of a
designing intriguer. France and England have
ceased to be each other's Mrs. GRUNDY, and if the
appointment of the Due D'AUMALE is contrary to
the interests of France, the nation will not submit
to it one jot the more readily because M. GUIZOT,
speaking with his usual regard to truth, may choose
to represent it as likely to give umbrage to England.
The Commerce says that the DUKE will set out
forthwith for Algiers, to be installed in his new
dignity. He will be accompanied by two Lieute-
nant-Generals and a brilliant staff. His Royal
Highness has announced his resolution of retaining
the services of Lieutenant-General BEDEAU, as he re-
gards the General as his first and most essentia
auxiliary in the administration or the colony. The
civil :administration of the colony is to be entirely
re-organized.

The trial of D'EsQUIVILLY for perjury has termi-
nated in a verdict of guilty, and he has been sen-
tenced to ten years' imprisonment. In allusion to
the scene with DE BEAUYALLON on the previous day,
the President, in summing up, made the following
observations :—" It was not without emotion that we
yesterday heard the man who appeared before the
Court at Rouen, to answer a most serious accusation,
and who may eventually have to answer another ac-
cusation of an equally serious character—it was not
without emotion that we heard him say-4 It is, then,
a duel between M. BERTRAND and myself that you
wish for.' No ! there can be no question of a duel
here—no duel is possible with a man who, in a
former meeting, has made use of arms which justice
must characterise as fraudulent. Such a man as this
does not deserve an honourable adversary, and men
may henceforth refuse to accept any provocation
from him without the lea.* ghi in upon their honour."

The Prince DE JolNvr landed at Toulon on the
11th, and set off immediately for Paris. His health
has suffered so seriously, that he has been obliged to
give up the command of his squadron, and place
himself under the care of Baron I'IIS4:WIER, the chief
surgeon of the KING.

The Baron MARTINEAU DE CUENEZ, Under-
Secretary of State for the War Department, is to be
appointed Vice-President of the Cour de Cassation in
the place of M. TASTE.

The French Three per Cents. were done on Sun-
day, in the Passage de l'Opera, at 76f. 75c., the clos-
ing price of the preceding day.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, AUGUST 16.
Boulogne and Amiens, 14—Dutch Rhenish, 2q—Louvain
a la Sambre, %—Lyons and Avignon (Constituted), 2%-
-Northern of France, 11—Orleans and Bordeaux, 434—
Paris and Lyons, 3%.

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