The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-31 00:00:00

AGRICULTURE.

The great and important interests of agriculture,
which had been not only too much neglected, but
actually taxed under the protective policy, for the
benefit of other interests, have been relieved of the
burdens which that policy imposed on them ; and our
farmers and planters, under a more just and liberal
commercial policy, are finding new and profitable
markets abroad for their augmented products.
Our commerce is rapidly increasing, and is extend-
ing more widely the circle of international ex•
changes. Great as has been the increase of our im•
ports during the past year, our exports of domestic
products sold in foreign markets have been still
greater.

NAVIGATION AND MANUFACTURES.
Our navigating interest is eminently prosperous.
The number of vessels built in the United States has
been greater than during any preceding period of
equal length. Large profits have been derived by
those who hare constructed, as well as by those who
have navigated them. Should the ratio of increase in
the number of our merchant vessels be progressive,
and be as great for the future as during the past year,
the time is not distant when our tonnage and com-
mercial marine will be larger than that of any other
❑ation in the world.

Whilst the interests of agriculture, of commerce,
and of navigation have been enlarged and invigo-
rated, it is highly gratifying to observe that our
manufactures are also in a prosperous condition.
None of the ruinous effects upon this interest which
were apprehended by some, as the result of the
operation of the revenue system established by the
Act of 1846, have been experienced. On the con-
trary, the number of manufactories, and the amount
of capital invested in them, is steadily and rapidly
increasing, affording gratifying proofs that American
enterprise and skill employed in this branch of do-
mestic industry, with no other advantages than those
fairly and incidentally accruing from a just system of
revenue duties, are abundantly able to meet success-
fully all competition from abroad, and still derive fair
and remunerating profits.
While capital invested in manufactures is yielding
aiequate and fair profits under the new system,
the wages of labour whether employed in
manufactures, agriculture, commerce, and naviga-
tion—have been augmented. The toiling millions,
whose daily labour furnishes the supply of food and
raiment, and all the necessaries and comforts of life,
are receiving higher wages and more steady and per-
manent employment than in any other country, or at
any previous period of our history.
So successful have been all branches of our industry
that a foreign war, which generally diminishes the
resources of a nation, has in no essential degree re-
tarded our onward progress or checked our general
prosperity.
With such gratifying evidences of prosperity and
of the successful operation of the revenue Act of
1846 every consideration of public policy recommends
that it shall remain unchanged. It is hoped that the
system of import duties which it established may be
regarded as the permanent policy of the country, and
that the great interests affected by it may not again
be subject to be injuriously disturbed, as they have
heretofore been, by frequent and sometimes sudden
changes.
PROPOSAL OF TEA AND COFFEE DUTIES.
For the purpose of increasing the revenue, and
without changing or modifying the rates imposed by
of 1546, on the dutiable articles embraced by
is sp. iions, I again r, mmuend to your favo'ir,l'it4
consideration the expediency of levying a revenue
duty on tea and coffee. The policy which exempted
these articles from duty during peace, and when the