The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 13,1841

AFFECTING INCIDENT.

A young man, whose pale and haggard countenance re-
tained some traces of beauty and regularity, presented him-
self yesterday at the commissariat of police, to place him-
self at the disposal of the judicial authorities. He said that
he had involuntarily outraged the laws of society, and that
he now implored justice to release him from the tortures
of remorse and the ceaseless torments of his tempestuous
conscience.

On being interrogated with kindness by the magistrate,
the wretched -Dan, whose sobs and torrents of to irs bore
but too ample evidence to the truth of his sad talc, spoke
as follows :—.

"My name is Claude B—. lam thirty.four years of
age. I was formerly in the habit of contributing to several
journals, and the success of several of my publications
would entitle me to rank as a man of letters. About three
years since I married a woman, good, virtuous, and beau.
tiful ; and nlnough want and squalid misery sat with us at
our board, love never deserted our humble dwelling. For
two years we continued our hard struggles with adversity—
my wife with her needle, I with my pen ; but finding it im-
possible to obtain my livelihood in Paris; we determined to
seek for bread in the provinces. We left Paris tr. go
we knew not whither. The world was all before us, and
friendless, almost naked, and in misery, we went forth into
the wide world to seek our fortunes. I had no resources,
no calling, or profession, and what to do I knew not.
Within a few miles of Paris, on the high road, we fell in
with a band of strolling players; I joined them, and for
a time prospered, at least 1 had learned to deem that
prosperity which ensured food and raiment for myself al d
wife. The band at length was dispersed, and we were
again cast like a weed upon the ocean of wretchedness.
Gaunt famine again stared us in the face, but my wife
parried its attacks for a time by reigning herself to sing
about the cafes in the evenings, as she was an accomplished
musician. But even the few wretched sous which she
obtained by her debasing calling sufficed not to preserve us
from want and hunger. About a fortnight since W. were
at Pont- Audemar, which we quitted without one far-
thing, intending to return to Paris, and relying upon
the charity of travellers, to prevent our dying of cold
and
we were h n n g
e r
spurned the
f' yr
on ym-sitdehe.
tOn hreshTohlduday, the
srsofseve rallBth,au.
berges, where we had requested permission to sing
for the entertainment of the company. We had not
seen a fire or tasted a morsel of food, but providen-
tially we fell in with a poor labourer who procured us
admission for the night, to a stable. The smiling morn-
ing at length came on, instilling freshness and joy into all,
save the miserable wretch you see before you. Tramp,
tramp, we arose from out out. straw and again travelled
along the banks of the Eure,stowards Evreux; but our
sufferings had been greater than we could boar. Strength
and courage simultaneously f led us, and at length my
beautiful beloved. wife, who • ' borne up like an angel
against our harrowing vicisn des, turned her famished
looks towards me and said that she would lay her down
and die, for that she could no longer support the racking
pains of hunger. I tried to encourage her, by pointing
out the steeple of Evreux Cathedral, which was rising up
out of the morning mists like a beacon of hope. I tried,
by rubbing her quivering limbs, to invigorate her wasted
frame ; but it was of no avail, despair had shut up all ac-
cess to hope or consolation ; she turned and thanked me
for my efforts, and said, in a voice of angelic sweetness
which I am for ever doomed to have ringing in my
ears, ' My friend, were I even to survive this dreadful
day, and arrive at Evreux, the same thing would occur
again to-morrow or next week. We are destined to
sorrow and misery in this world. If amidst the trials
and degradations against which we have so manfully
contended, you still cherish the love which presided at
our union, do as lam resolved to do. The river rolls be-
neath us, let it be our tomb, and let it be our consolation
that we have none to mourn over our loss.' She repelled
all my exhortations and entreaties with stern resolve, and
finding all my efforts useless, I agreed to plunge with her
into the foaming torrent beneath us. With my handker-
chief I tied her feet and hands, and we embraced for the
last time. Can I ever forget that long last kiss of blighted
hopes and blasted affections? Ere yet I bad finished my
harrowing task, my wife, eager to quit a world of suffering,
sprang from the bank, and a few bubbles told me that all
was over. The trees, hills, valleys, and river, whirled
round me in mad confusion. I saw and felt no more,
until the day after I found myself in the middle of a field,
conscious that my misfortunes bad bereft me of my reason.
I walked on, at times yelling like a madman gay, but dur-
ing my lucid intervals a prey to tortures, such as I hope
no human being will ever suffer again. I have here, still
before my eyes, my gentle, uncomplaining, angel wife
springing from the bank, and I having the cowardice to
assist in consummating the horrible sacrifice."
A proces-verbal was then drawn up, and Claude B---
was placed at the disposal of the judicial authorities.—Ga.
zette des Tribunaux.

A PEEP AT THE NORTH POLE.

A St. Petersburgh periodical, Le Journal Scientffique
et Litteraire publishes a very extraordinary narrative of
an expedition to the Arctic regions, under the command
of M. Nidjnei Nitigoiwosnesenk. If the narrative be
not exaggerated that traveller would appear to have
reached within a few wersts of the pole.
The occurrences he reports are of so marvellous a
nature that we certanly cannot vouch for their veracity ;
but they are too curious not to be laid before our
readers, and we shall add that M. Nidjnei Nitigoiwos-
nesenk's memoire has been submitted by that traveller
to the, academics of Moscow and St. Petersburgb. It
is difficult to believe dud .anybedy would have ventured
to call the attention of two such respectable bodies to
facts not offering every guarantee of truth, and an addi-
tional proof that fiction has nothing to do with this won-
derful narrative is, that M. Nidjnei and his com-
panions, having arrived at St. Petersburgh on the 15th
of December, a deputation from the Academy went out
to receive them, and the Emperor was pleased to con-
fer the Order of St. Wladimir, of the 2d class, on the
head of the expedition.
" Embarked in the Catherine 11. frigate, we arrived
on the sth of September, at the northernmost point of
the Samoides' land. We were obliged to give up pass-
ing any further, owing to the enormous icebergs which
began to obstruct our course. The frigate was moored
lin a sort of creek, which we had the good fortune to
discover as we followed the coast, and we immediately
betook ourselves to preparations for continuing our ex-
plorations by other means. The sledge we bad got
built with that view at St. Petersburgh was put together
ca deck, and filled with the provisions and instruments
indispensable for the hazardous enterprise we were about
to venture upon.

At about the eighty-eighth degree of latitude, all
the dogs that had hitherto dragged our equipage were
frozen, so that in order to advance we were compelled
to use our long iron books, which was a dreadfully fa-
tiguing task. The cold made us suffer horribly, des-
pite of the seventeen bearskins which we had each
of us taken the precaution to cover ourselves with. It
was also in the same latitude, or thereabouts, that
chance yielded us one of the most curious discoaeries
that have enriched the physical sciences in latter times.
It occurred thus : for some days we had made no fire
for want of wood, when in searching our box of provi-
sions I found some Lyons chesnuts which Mr. Arego
had sent me as a souvenir. I took it into my head to
roast them. We put together some shavings which we
still had, and kindled them. A bright flame forthwith
arose, and we were anticipating the sweet sensations it
it was about to yield us, when suddenly an incompre-
hensible phenomenon manifested itself. The flame at
first so bright and crackling, seemed struck with iinnao-
bility, and was gradually covered with a solid crust. .
. . it was congealed.
" Our astonishment baffles description (a scientific
description of the ice thus produced then follows). I
broke a bit of it and put it into my mouth. Contrary
to my expectation, the sensation which resulted was
most agreeable; just fancy a little taste of barley-sugar
extremely refreshing though accompanied by a light
burnt smell. lam persuaded that when such ice shall
be produced by artificial means, confectioners will turn
it to great account.
" A little further on another phenomenon, not less
remarkable awaited us. We had for some time per•
ceived an increased rapidity in the progress of our
sledge though we used our iron hool,s but little. The
phenomenon was soon explained ; one of us having
dropped his hook, the moment he attempted to pick it
up we saw it gradually remove from us, flee before us,
and ultimately'whiz as it split the dense atmosphere
around us. Though already accustomed to the wonders
which those mysterious regions had presented to us, as
it were, at eve7y step, we stood mute with astonish-
ment,towards a eata-
but were soon roused from our ainnii,aizneemibelnetp:owoeurr,
sledge, was almost wholly made of iron, seemed
srpauuccstiir
asds we
that
ahty,ehfi
drawsirresistible,
alight
boatnd
trie._a, to stop it, but could not succeed, and
the light of an aurora
compelled to leave it to the mercy of heaven.
were
Ti4e
magnetic power of the pole produced its effect,
the sombcprieievricaotn!lemybts)oierious extremity of our
racagt
aapi,rnosogtfr variousiets.s wm e_
blue. One would have fancied the
banocrle,alaisft,er a'few hours of that
hfuapgnieetcaessstt
gwleorbee enabledt
divided into
mountains, probably
vouchsafed us unhoped-for assist-
tsocience we had tempted
beck of a gigantic zebra was rising before us. Alas!
Nevertheless, thus isolated in that vast frozen soli-
tude, colours,f
unless pure
pl
greeno.aodvsi
at oc
ont:eo:
pa aslled sist-
ance, we must
Heaven, and already did We feel its hand suspended
to crush us.
over our heads ready
dragg,ed to destruction, we were calm
bdee dashed eodf
" Nev
and resigned, so great is
,the power of the grand mys-
tude, and fatally
teries of nature over man . Some tears, only, flowed in
silence, and I heard beloved names uttered, when, sud-
Inthuestp7oUnd
denlv, a sort of barrier of icebergs heaped over one
another, made us deviate from our course, and at the
same moment, and in a few seconds, a force as powerful
as that which bad made us before devour space in front
of us, made us roughly recede We had
just fallen into d negative magnetic current.
We were saved, and saved carrying away with us the
most awful secrets of nature. It was enough to run
mad with joy. We raised our hands to Heaven."
The Journal Seieofique et Lilleraire announces
that the whole memoire of this marvellous expedition
is to be shortly published.—GazTile dre Midi.

MANCHESTER CHAMBER •OF

COMMERCE

A special general meeting of the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce was convened on Thursday morniug, for the
purpose of receiving a Report of the Directors, on the in-
jurious effects of restrictions on trek, and the necessity
of immediate changes in our comrrercial policy, arising
out of the Report and evidence of the Select Committee
of the House of Commons on Import Duties during the
last Session of Parliament.
The meeting was announced for eleven o'clock, at which
time there was a good attendance of members.
A. B. SMITH, Esq., President of the Chamber, occu-
pied the Chair. After reading the advertisement an-
nouncing the meeting, and the objects proposed by it, the
Chairman said that the question of restrictions oa trade
Was one of national importance. Hitherto the t. fruits of
that Board had been neutralized by the war t of attehtn.n
on the part of Parliament, which, during the list three
or four years, had been engaged entirely in party
struggles. The deficiency in the revenue, however, was
likely to cause something to be done on the part of Par-
liament to remove those restriesions, as there was no
other way of making up that deficiency but by encourag
ing and extending trade. There was one point in the Re-
port which bad been omitted—the great encouragement
which restrictions on tradegave to smuggling, by which. ho-
nest traders were often injured, and the revenue robbed of a
large amount which would otherwise be obtainoJ. He
did not know how,i under these circumstances, we, calling
ourselves a Christ an country, couli maintain our present
restrictions; and he did hope, that as there was a serious
deficiency in the revenue, Parliament would be induced to
take some steps by which these restrictions would be re-
moved. He would not detain them by any further obser-
vations, but would call on the Secretary to read the Report.
Tho SECRETARY then read the following Report:—
The growing importance of finding such new and enlarged
markets for the sale of our productions "as shall give the
means of subsistence to this industrious community, and sup-
ply a profitable field of employment for our capitalists," was
adverted to in the Report to the Annual Meeting of the Cham-
ber last year. This question has since engaged a large share
of the attention of the Board; and the publication in August
last of the valuable report and evidence taken before the Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, on " Import Duties," pre-
sents such a body of facts confirming the views so frequently
expressed by. this Chamber, and exhibiting, in so strong a
light, the injurious effects of restrictions on trade, that the
Board have deemed it to be their duty to call the special atten-
tion of the Chamber to a subject so deeply involving the future
welfare of our commerce and manufactures.

Before proceeding to the consideration of those reforms in
our commercial system, which have now become essential to
the full development of our national resources, it may be in-
teresting to the Chamber, and satisfactory to those who have
doubts of the policy of further changes, briefly to review those
which have been already made, in order to ascertain how far
the partial adoption of free trade affords encouragement to
carry it out to the fullest extent.
The first step in the march of commercial reform was made
to 1814, when the monopoly of the East India Company was
partially relaxed, by permitting private individuals to trade
with the Presidencies of Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay, and
the port of Penang (the monopoly of the trade to China was
continued to the Last India Company until 18341. The re-
sults of this partial opeein of the trade demonstrated the fal-
lacy of the fearful forebodings of ruin by the East India Com-
pany, as will be seen by the following comparative statement
of the increase of exports from Great Britain to India and
China :

Total value in 1814 (during monopoly) ...£1,874,690
Ditto „ „ 1833 (after 19 years of partial free trade) 3,495,301
Ditto „ „ 1839 (5 years after the East India Corn
pang trade monopoly was entirely abolished) 5,600,576
In 1815, the first inroad was made upon our famous naviga-
tion laws, which, for nearly 200 years, had been referred to
as monuments of human wisdom, and the foundation of our
naval and commercial greatness. By these laws, all foreign
produce imported into Great Britain, except in a British ship
manned by a majority of British seamen, was subjected to high
discriminating duties imposed upon both the foreign ship and
the cargo. The United States of America, equally anxious to
foster American navigation, had adopted similar laws. The
effect of these mutual restrictions upon the trade of the two
countries as, that it became necessary to have two sets of
ships employed ; that was to have British vessels to bring home
American produce, and American ships to convey our produce
o that country, each being:obliged to leave its own port in ballast.
The loss attending such a system produced in both countries
a desire to abandon these mischievous restrictions, and by a
treaty in 1815 the ships of both countries were placed recipro-
cally upon an equal footing.
Retaliation of our restrictive system, on the part of foreign
countries, at length alarmed our Government ; and in 1823,
the Reciprocity of Duties Bill, being an extension to all coun-
tries inclined to adopt it of the reciprocity treaty with the
United States in 1815, was brought forward by Mr. Huskisson.
This innovation was vigorously opposed by the shipowners, who
predicted that it would throw the carrying trade into the hands
of foreigners. The employment of British shipping in our fo-
reign trade, however, instead of being diminished by this mea-
sure, has already more than doubled, as will be seen by the
following official statement of the tonnage of British vessels en-
tered and cleared from the ports of the United Kingdom.
Inwards. Outwards.
In the year 1815 1,372,108 tons 1,398,658 tons

In the year 1839 3,101,650 3,096,611
ifn 1824 Mr. Huskisson brought forward a Bill for the alte-
ration of the laws relating to the silk trade, by which the abso-
lute prohibition of all articles of foreign manufactured silks, was
removed, and an ad valorem duty of 30 per cent. on their im-
portation substituted. The duty on raw silk was reduced from
ss. 6cl. to Id. per lb. ; and on thrown silk from 14s. Bd. to
rates varying from Is. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per lb.
The measure was strongly opposed by the majority of the silk
manufacturers, and their organs in Parliament predicted that,
" by the end of two years, which it was proposed to allow be-
fore the prohibition should finally cease, the silk trade would
be destroyed."
The groundlessness of these apprehensions is shown by the
rapid progress of the silk trade since 1824. The average con-
sumption of raw and thrown silk, in the ten years preceding
1824, under the protective system, was 1,940,9021b5. per an-
num, while the average consumption of the twelve years fol-
lowing 1824, under the partial free trade system, was 4,164,444
lbs. per annum. The imports of raw and thrown silk had in-
creased, in 1839, to 5,020,034 lbs., and the exports of silk ma-
nufactures, in that year, amounted to 868,1181., in declared
value, of which 56,0001. in value, were exported to France.
Mr. Huskisson followed up the alteration in the silk trade,
the next year (1825), by laying before Parliament his cele-
brated exposition of the colonial, commercial, and shipping
policy of the country, and bringing forward three important
measures. The first—relating to a further extension of free-
dom in the system of our commercial policy in respect to our
colonies. Second—The substitution of duties for prohibition
on foreign manufactures, and the reduction of duties payable on
raw materials used iso our manufactures. Third—Relief to
shipping interest and navigation. The extent of the alterations
in the previous restrictive system may be estimated by a few of
the leading items.

The duty on per cent.
Woollens of from 50 to 67i was reduced to 15 per cent. ad vnl.
Cottons
Linens 4O to 180 os
Glass ...80
Earthenware ... 75 ......... 15
Iron
Copper

Olive 011
Gloves previously prohibited were admitted at a duty of 90 per cent.
" The result of the alterations," said Mr. Huskisson, in
bringing forward the above measures, "which I have now
stated to the Committee, will bethis—that upon foreign manu-
factured articles generally where the duty is imposed to protect
our own manufactures, and not for the purpose of collecting
revenue, that duty will in no instance exceed 30 per cent. if
the article be not manufactured much cheaper or better
abroad than at home, such a duty is ample for protection. If
it be manufactured so much cheaper Or so much better abroad
as to render 30 per cent. insufficient, my answer is, first, that
a greater protection is only a premium to the smuggler; and,
secondly, that there is no wisdom in attempting to bolster up a
competition which this degree of protection will not sustain."
At the same time that the protective duties on manufac-
tures were reduced to the maximum of 30 per cent. the
duties on all raw materials of manufacture were also reduced.
The wisdom of these measures has been proved by the in-
crease in every branch of manufactures, the prosperity of which
was previously supposed to depend upon the fostering care of
bounties and protection.
The Linen Trade is a remarkable example that the only
real and effectual legislative encouragement which the manu-
facturer has received, has been the reduction of the import
duties on flax and hemp, and the relinquishing the absurd at-
tempts to force the growth of these products at home.
Previously to 1825 the Linen manufacture was protected by
duties amounting from 40 to 180 per cent., and for upwards of
a century bounties on the exportation of linen to foreign
countries were granted, which only expired in 1830. In 1829 the
bounty, although then very much reduced, amounted to about
300,0001. ,or to nearly one seventh part of the real or declared value
of the linen exported that year. Although the bounty afforded
the means of supplying foreign countries with linens for less
than they cost, like all other monopolies, it rendered those en-
gaged in the manufacture indifferent to improvement, and the
trade continued to languish. Mr. Huskisson reduced the
duties, which on dressed flax was 101. 14s. 6d. per cwt., and
on undressed flax sd. to 4d per cwt. upon beth, and this has
been subsequently reduced to the nominal duty of I d. per cwt
No sooner in as the trade unshackled than enterprise and skill
were directed to it ; the increase of the Linen manufacture
in Dundee has been even more rapid than the increase of the
Cotton manufacture at Manchester ; and in 1833 the exports
of linen from that port were as great as those from. all Ireland.
The article of Wool affords one of the strongest arguments
to prove the wisdom of Mr. Huskisson's policy. A duty of 6d.
per pound upon foreign Wool was imposed by Mr. Vansittart
in 1819, which amounted to about 50 per cent, upon the price
of a considerable quantity of the Wool imported, the effect of
which was to destroy a large portion of our manufactures,
which required an admixture of British and foreign Wool, and
to bring great distress and ruin upon the Woollen manufactur-
ers. It is a most remarkable fact, that the price of British
Wool, instead of •advancing from the high and prohibitory
duty imposed on foreign Wool, continued to' decline, until it
reached a lower price than had been known for a century.
The revival and snbsequent progress of the Woollen manu-
facture after the reduction of the duty on the raw material
from 6d. to Id. per lb. by Mr. Huskisson in 1825, exceeded
the most sanguine expectations.
The imports of foreign Wool in 1820, the year
after the duty of 6d. per lb. was imposed, were 9,775,6051b5.
After the reduction of the duty to Id. per lb. in
1825, the imports gradually increased, and in
1839 they reached
The benefits of the reduction of the duty on foreign Wool
were not 'confined to the Woollen manufacturer, the British
Wool grower equally shared the advantage. Notwithstanding
this enormous increase in the imports of foreign Wool, the
prices of British Wool recovered from their previous depression,
and have since maintained higher rates than during 111 i. Van-
sittart's protective system.
Whatever doubts and fears may have been originally enter-
tained of the results of the great changes effected by Mr. Hus-
kisson, in our restrictive commercial policy, the complete suc-
cess which, without a single exception, has attended his mea-
sures, is decisive of the wisdom of the course pursued. The
fears of alarmists and monopolists have been dissipated by the
falsification of all their predictions. Trade is proved beyond
, the possibility of cont,oversy. to have declined in every case
where protected, and to have increased and flourished, in pro-
portion to its approximation to perfect freedom.
It is matter of astonishment, with such facts before us, and
in an age of boasted intelligence, that there should remain on
our statute book a single remnant of the monopoly system,
which experience has proved to be so injurious to the national
welfare ; yet protections still exist, which monopolists of the.
present day maintain with equal tenacity, and with the sae
prognostications of ruin from their abolition, that were uttered
by the, monopolists in the days of Mr. Huskisso
unn.
ded en no re-
Our commercial legislation appears to be fo
l
cognized, general, or equitable principles.
in regard to manufactures is, that the publicTlinetreue laid doe n
interest requires
that in no case shall the duty on foreign manufactures exceed
30 per cent. for the ornate. of protection (.th.e.duty on foreign
w. cotton goods is 10 per ); the avowed Meet was to stis

mulate native industry, by throwing it open to the rivalry of
other nations—the sound and wholesome doctrine was dealt out
to the manufacturers—" that if 30 per cent. duty will not suf-
ficiently protect you, there is no wisdom in bolstering your in-
dustry by higher duties. But the producers of Sugar, Coffee,
Timber, and Corn, are exempted from the wholesome stimulus
of foreign competition ; their productions are fenced round with
prohibitory duties, =minting to from 100 to 450 per cent.
The object and end of all just government being to place all
on the same footing, it is inconsistent with this object that the
Legislature should impose taxation for any other than purposes
of revenue. It is obvious that the Corn, Sugar, Coffee, and
Timber duties are imposed, not with the view to raise revenue
for public purposes, but for the sole object of enabling particu-
lar interests to obtain for their commodities a price beyond
their real value, equal to the amount of the duty imposed--a
system of legislation opposed to every principle of equity, inas-
much as the increase of price operates as an indirect taxation
upon consumers, and diminishes their means of paying the
taxation required by the State. Mr. J. D. Hume says, "I
have always considered the increase of price, in consequence of
protection, amounts to a tax. If lam made to pay Is. 641. for
an article, which. in the absence of the law, I could buy for I s ,
I consider the 6d. a tax, and I pay it with regret, because it
does not go to ee revenue of the country." (1132)*
The enormous amount levied upon the community by being
obliged to pay for their Sugar, Coffee, Timber, and Corn,
higher prices than the same articles may be purchased at in
the markets of the world almost exceeds belief.
By the evidence taken before the Committee of the House
1 of Commons on " Import Duties," (August, 1840) it appears
that we could supply ourselves with foreign Sugar and Coffee
at less than half the price we psy for these articles from our
West India Colonies. Brazilian -Muscovado :•ugar could be
purchased in bond at 20s. to 225. per cwt., whilst similar qua-
lities from the British possessions were worth 545. to 565. per
cwt. Brazilian white Sugars were 245. to 265. equal in qua-
lity to British white Sugar at 625. to 665. per cwt. St. Do-
mingo Coffee in bond was worth 445. ; the same quality of
West India Coffee 925. per cwt.
The duty on British colonial Sugar is 245., and on Coffee
565. per cwt. • but the protecting duty on foreign Sugar is
625., and on doffee 140 s. per cwf.f The effect of this pro-
hibitory duty of 6.0. per lb. is entirely to exclude the use of
foreign Sugar, and to give the monopoly of the supply to our
Sugar colonies. The high monopoly price has also diminished
the consumption. Mr. Porter, of the Board of Trade, in his
evidence before the Committee on " Import Duties," says,
"'ln 1831 the nett reversue on Sugar admitted for home con-
sumption into Great Britain, amounted to 4,219,049!., and in
1839 only to 4,183,2571., although the population of 1831 of
16,539,318 had increased in 1839 to 18,524,036." (2688 )
The monopoly of Sugar and Coffee, by raising enormously
the prices, not only deprives a large portion of the working
classes of the means of purchasing these articles, but it occa-
sions great loss to the revenue. If foreign Sugar und Coffee
were admitted at the same rates of duty as British, there is
little doubt the consumption and the revenue would both in a
short time be doubled. The consumption of Coffee in 1824.
when the duty was Is. per lb., was 7,993,0411b5., the following
year Mr. Huskisson reduced the duty to 6d. per lb., and in
1831 the consumption had increlised to 22g704,6271b5., yield-
ing at the low rate of duty a greater revenue by 40 per cent.
per annum than at the high rate of duty.
The tax imposed upon the consumers, by being obliged to
give above double the prices for Sugar and Coffee to our co-
lonies that these articles can be purchased at from other coun-
tries, amounts to upwards of 6,000,0001. per annum, levied for
the exclusive benefit of the colonies, to whom a few years
ago the British people paid 20,000,0001. for the abolition of
slavery. t
The total value of British and Irish produce and manufac-
tures exported to the . British West Indies in 1839 amounted
to 3,986,598/. of which about one-fourth is re-exported to the
South American and neighbouring States, so that at the pre-
sent time, including the interest on the slave compensation
money, the British people are paying 7,000,0001. per annum
to our West India Colonies for the privilege of selling them
products to the value of 3,000,0001. a-year.
The plea set up by the Colonies for claiming the monopoly
Of the British market is that they are restricted from obtaining
their supplies of food, timber, and other products from the
cheapest markets, and that they also pay Imperial custom
duties. It seems but reasonable, that at the same time that
all protection is removed on the produce of the Colonies, that
they should also be relieved from all restrictions to a free in-
tercourse with other countries. That they may be relieved
from the payment of Imperial duties without loss to the ,colo-
nies or the mother country, appears from the astounding fact .
that these duties are almost entirely absorbed in the expenses
of collection. From the accounts laid before Parliament in
1832, it appears that the produce of the Imperial duties in the
West Indies was 75,3401. and that the charges of manage-
ment, and the payment of Custom-houses, amounted to the
suns of 68,0281. leaving only 7,3121. for the revenue.
There is perhaps no monopoly which is calculated to excite
so much surprise as that of timber. It would naturally be
expected that the greatest maritime country in the world
would take especial care to procure, at the cheapest rate, and
of the best qualities, supplies of an article necessary in the
highest degree to its welfare and security ; but a striking in-
stance of the manner in which the interests of the country have
been sacrificed by the Legislature, is afforded by the existing
law, which imposes a duty of 555. a load upon the Oak and
superior Timber of foreign countries, whilst for the benefit of
the Timber monopolists, and a certain class of shipowners, the
inferior Timber of our North American Colonies only pays a
duty of lOs. a load.
Sir Robert Seppings, one of the Commissioners of his Majesty's
navy, stated, in his evidence before a Committee of the House
of Lords, " That Canada Timber is peculiarly subject to dry
rot. That frigates built of Fir, the growth of North America,
did not average half the durability of other Timber ; and that
the Royal Navy had suffered so much from the use of Canada
or North American Timber, that its use was now altogether
discontinued, except for deals and masts."
The evidence of eminent Timber Merchants, Builders, and
Carpenters, is to a similar effect as to its purposes for build-
' ing. "It is not allowed (says Mr. Copeland) to be used in
Government buildings, nor is it ever used in the best buildings
in London. It is only speculators that use it, from the price of
it being much lower (in consequence of its exemption from
duty) than the Baltic timber."
Mr. Porter, in 1833, estimates the annual loss to the public,
through adherence to the
.present system, at 1,500,000/. which
is the amount of the pecuniary sacrifice we consent to make, in
order that our ships and houses may be inoculated with dry
rot, whilst the whole declared value of British and Irish pro-
duce and manufactures exported to these colonies in 1838,
amounted-only to 1,992,457/.§
The monopoly which star.ds at the head of all others, is the
Food monopoly. Whilst the removal of restrictions on trade
has been unattended by the removal of restrictions on corn and
provisions, the working classes of this country have obviously a
just ground of complaint, that they are thereby exposed to an
unequal competition with foreign labour. To call upon our
artisans to enter into rivalry with foreign manufactures in our
home and in foreign markets, but at the same time to compel
them to pay a monopoly price for their food, is so manifestly
unfair, that this Chamber will stand excusedin the eyes of every
reasonable and just mind, if it have evinced some impatience
under the continuance of such a partial system of legislation.
Their opinions on this question have however been so fre-
quently expressed, and are so well known, that the Board will
only now refer, in confirmation of their views of the magnitude
of the evils produced by our corn and provision laws, to the
testimony of men of official station and great experience, who
were examined before the Committee of the House of Com-
mons on import duties in July last. The evidence of these
gentlemen, unbiassed by interest, having access to the best
sources of information, and therefore the best means of forming
a deliberate and correct judgment of this important question,
is entitled to the highest respect.
Mr. James Deacon Hume, who, for 38 years, held an
official situation in the customs, and, for eleven years, was Se-
cretary of the Board of Trade (the gentleman whose assistance
in preparing his free trade measures, Mr. Huskisson said en-
titled him to the " lasting gratitude of the country,") in his
evidence before this Committee, says—" I consider myself that
food is the last thing upon which 1 would attempt any protec-
tion, and is the first thing upon which I would remove the pro-
hibition and protective duties. We want more food than we
can produce, the exclusion of supply, in such a ease, is cruel
privation" (1192. 1193.) " I conceive every limitation in the
importation of food, and every rise in the price of food, places
us at the risk of being surpassed by the manufactures in other
countries, and if ever the day should arrive that we should be
put to a severe trial as to our manufacturing power, I can
hardly doubt that the prosperity of this country will recede
much faster than it has gone forward (1198.) 1 cannot help
believing there can be no other cause for a decline in our
prosperity than other countries baying cheaper food (1199. )
The Corn-laws cripple and limit the industry of the country
(1230.) They have a tendency to throw the people out of
work, and to diminish their employment (1217.) They di-
minish the revenue, because having paid the private taxes on
food, the people are less able to pay the public taxes" (1229.)
Speaking of the burden of the food monopoly, as computed in
money, he says, " I conceive the actual money paid, and the
evil effect computed in money, would be more than the whole
revenue of the country." (1231. )
Mr. M'Gregor, the present Secretary of the Board of
Trade, in his evidence before the same Committee, entirely
coincides in, and expresses similar views regarding the Corn
and Food monopoly with Mr. J. D. Hume. He says, " I
consider that the taxation, imposed upon the country upon the
production of wealth through labour and ingenuity, by our
duties on corn and the provision duties and proibitions, are far
greater, probably much more than double the amount of taxa-
tion paid to the treasury." (1014.)
Mr. M'Gregor speaks in a warning voice to the makers
and upholders of these unwise laws. "If (says he) the pre-
sent Corn-laws are continued, the inevitable consequence will
be, that persons of capital and skill, in this country, will do
what the landlords cannot do ; that is, they will remove, with
their capital and industry, to other countries, whereas the
lands cannot be removed. The rents of those panels, without
manufactures, would decline, as in various parts of Germany,
where rents are net one-tenth part of what they were one hun-
dred years ago, occasioned entirely by the removal of manu-
factures. In Augsburg, the landlords were, during the pros-
perity of trade and manufactures, led to build some of the
finest palaces of Europe ; those palaces are now deserted, or
turned into post-houses or inns, or barracks, or hospitals ; no-
body is living in them of the name or family of those who con-
structed them. The same may be said of every town where
manufactures once flourished, and which bad laws and bad go-
vernments have been instrumental in destroing ;—desolation
has been the consequence of the withdrawal of that flow ishing
industry; and the same is to be found in every country in
every period of the history of mankind under similar circum-
stances." (1045.)
The great neglect of the Government and the Legislature,
in not following up the commercial reforms commenced by Mr.
Huskisson, has been fraught with evil consequences—capital
has been diverted into unnatural channels, both in our own
and foreign countries, and an indisposition created to yield up
monopolies, attended with the most temporary inconvenience
—manufactures have been forced in foreign "uniri'se have
petitors have been raised up where we should
y thmes"rleMsal to
had customers—our trade has been crii
take in exchange for our products the pr)Podieudctsbofother nations

evi:lenneeebefgourreetshere
" Import Duties." Cfeorimutoittteohe
onf utihnebeur
oonfsteheofqucoesintioinnoinns t
ohne
t By a curious fiction of the law, foreign Coffee, imported
from the Cape of Good Hope. is construedthe produce
of a British possession East of the Cape," and as such, is dad
into British ports at the reduced duty of 84s. per cwt.
being 6d. per lb. less duty than if the Coffee were shipped from
the foreign direct to a British port. Many cargoes of foreign
Coffee have been taken out of bend in Liverpool, shipped to
the Cape of Good Hope, landed, and then immediately re-
shipped on board the same vessel and brought back to Liver-
pool. By ibis process it is purified of its foreign origin, arid
then pays only 9(1. instead of a duty of 15d. per lb. A Liver-
pool merchant suggested to the President of the Board of
Trade, the easier expedient of purging Coffee of its foreign
oplefinofeathiins
origin by sending it three times round Ireland !
Sugar,
who
t It is a singular anomaly that foreign
bond in England, which the law prohibits tb
at one half the
re-imported Pfreortern
country from using, is allowed to be sent to tteg
thus supply themselves with refined Sugrar
pricebonfythroefimnoodthseurgacrournet-riym.
American Colonies, less price than they sell their raw says, "The Colo-
nies The exports to our North England at a much
Sugar.'' ( .75
since this
perioil, have increased; but this
arises chiefly from the in-
creased supplies of our military
It
naval establishments during
the inereast of exports will fall, It is much to be feared that
ex.penLiiture occasioned by much short of the increase of
these disturbances.