The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-15 00:00:00

THE SILK TRADE.

A General Meeting of persons interested in
this trade took place at the Old London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street, on Saturday, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of laying
before the Manufacturers and others connected with this trade,
certain facts and remarks submitted to the consideration of his
Majesty's Government, the Members of both Houses of Par-
liament, and all persons who may be interested in the welfare
of this manufacture.—Wait. HALE, Esq. was unanimously
called to the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the Meeting,
stated, that it bad often before been his lot to meet those he then
saw before him, to congratulate them on the flourishing state or
the trade; but now, unfortunately, he was called upon to per-
form a different duty, namely, to inform the Meeting that they
were called upon to consider the best means of impeding an
object that his Majesty's Ministers had in view, and which,
if carried into effect, must deprive thousands of their indus-
trious countrymen of bread. The Chairman then read the
facts and remarks, which gave a history of the Silk Trade in
Europe and Asia. It stated also that the public revenue of this
country had received 800,0001. annually from duties imposed
upon the raw material, and the labour upon it has been pro-
fitably employed by an annual consumption of not less than
9,000,0001. A capital of no less than 12,000,000/. has been, and
still is, invested in this manufacture. After detailing the pro-
ceedings which had been adopted by the Committee of the Silk
Trade, and of the Deputations that waited on the Chancellor
of the Exchequer on Friday last, he then read the following
Report :—" That they bad an interview with the Chancellor of
the Exchequer for one hour and an half, and used every argu-
ment in their power to induce him to extend the period for the
repeal of the prohibitory laws on the importation of foreign
wrought silks, beyond that now fixed, viz.—the sth of July,
1896; and stated that no less than rive years, instead of the
dine proposed, could, in the opinion of the deputation, afford
the trade any opportunity to try how far they might be able to
compete with the introduction of French wrought silks ; hut
the deputation failed to make any impression on the Chancellor
of the Exchequer."
The first Resolution was moved by HUNTLEY BACON,
Esq.—" That the course pursued by the Committee of the
General Association of the Silk Trade is entitled to the cordial
approbation of this Meeting."
The second Resolution was moved by J. PATTISON, Esq.,
Director of the East India Company:—
"That it is the opinion of this Meeting, That the security
from Foreign competition, which has been granted by the Le-
gislature, in the Silk Trade, and subsequently continued by
repeated enactments, and at length made perpetual in the year
1803, has essentially contributed to that state of prosperity at
which it has now arrived, and has led to investment of large
capitals upon the faith of Parliament.
The third Resolution was moved by Mr. JoRNBALLASEIL:
" That the proposed repeal of the Prohibition Laws, in re-
gard to the introduction of Foreign wrought Silks at the fixed
period of two years, from the sth of July next, although com-
bined with an immediate reduction of duty, and a liberal com-
pensation on existing stock, is viewed by this Meeting as
threatening the eventual destruction of the Silk Trade of this
country."

The fourth Resolution was proposed by T. GinsoN, Esq.:—
"That with all due deference to the sentiments of his Ms-
jesty's Government upon the question of Free Trade, this
Meeting cannot but lament the introduction of the proposed
measures into Parliament, and is of opinion that it would re-
quire a period of not less than five years to afford the Silk 31a-
nufacturer the means of ascertaining how far he may hope,
with any degree of success, to compete with the introduction
of foreign-wrought Silks."
The fifth Resolution was moved by J. Gnoxr, Esq.:—.
" That it be referred back to the Committee of the General
Association of the Silk Trade, to watch over the progress of
the proposed measures and to endeavour, by all practicable
means, to further the objects of this Meeting."
It was stated at the Meeting that 80,000 persons at least
were engaged, either immediately or collaterally, in London
and its vicinity, in the silk manufacture,