The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

BURDENS AFFECTING LAND.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE
OF LORDS, TO CONSIDER THE BURDENS

AFFECTING LAND.

The following are the recommendations contained in
the report of the Committee of the House of Lords, ap-
pointed to consider the burdens affecting land:—
" 1. The improvement of the law of real property;
the simplification of title, and of the forms of convey-
ance; the establishment of some effective system for the
registration of deeds.
"2. An extension of the measure of 1835, by reliev-
ing the counties and boroughs from the portion of ex-
pense to which they continue liable for criminal prosecu-
tions, as well as the maintenance and conveyance of pri-
soners. This measure, however, should be accompanied
by an adoption on the part of the State of an effective
control.

"3. The adoption of the liability of the owner of
houses under the annual value of 101. to the rates at
which the same are assessed.

" 4. Where establishments exist or may be required
for the support of lunatics, and where there are obvious
reasons, both of economy and of humanity, for central-
ising the administration, and where, above all, the re-
sources of the State can be made available, without any
risk of aggravating or increasing the evil proposed to be
remedied, the Committee are not prepared to justify the
imposition of the whole cost upon one description of pro-
perty. The Committee, therefore, submit that the
charge for the maintenance of pauper lunatics through-
out the empire ought to be undertaken by the public.
" 5. To a certain extent the observations made on
lunatic asylums may be applied to some branches of the
expenditure for the maintenance and relief of the poor.
Mr. Cooke shows, from official documents, that the
establishment charges, inclusive of salaries, amount to
17 per cent. on the total expenditure for the relief of the
poor, and states that these charges might be provided
by the Government, without leading to any evil conse•
quences in the administration of the poor-law.
" 6. A charge is periodically cast upon the land for
the militia rate; this is not now levied, the militia being
disembodied; ut, considering the object of the militia
to be general, and not confined to any particular class,
the committee are of opinion that this charge should be
provided for by Parliament, care being, however, taken,
that if the public assume the responsibility of the charge,
the Government should have authority to insure the effi-
ciency of the force.
" 7. It is most desirable that the experiments for test-
ing the process of malting barley for the purposes of
fattening cattle should be repeated, with the co• operation
of persons of acknowledged skill in agriculture.
" These measures appear to the Committee to be ne-
cessary because they are just. They have confined their.
recommendations of change in the sources from which
certain charges should be defrayed to matter in which
every interest is equally concerned, and the expense of
which ought to be shared by all.
" The committee considered themselves limited to an
inquiry into the relative burdens on different descrip-
tions of property within the kingdom ; a more im-
portant consideration would probably be the proportion
of burdens on the cultivators of land n this countr • as
compared with those borne by the cultivators of foreign
countries intended to be admitted into competition with
them in the same market. On this subject some infor-
mation has fallen from Messrs. Cramp and Banfield,
who have been acquainted with the condition of farm-
ing in countries bordering on the Baltic and in the
north of France, but the committee were of opinien their
instructions precluded them from following up this de
scription of inquiry.
" The committee have directed the minutes of evi-
dence,
with an appendix and index thereto, to be laid
before your Lordships."
One Noble Lord,
a Member of the Committee, who
drew up anotherreiort as agreed to by the Com-
mittee,did not approve of the
to be printed, and whichcontains, wthheicfhollheleviecgausree:-1
com,,naLenTdhae tions
improvement of the law of real property,
cat i o n oef titles
a andgene r
aolfotffiheeefofromrs ;31f conveyance,
tt hh ee
establishmentsimpli
of deeds ; thus applying principles alret de registration
adopted in
Scotland, Ireland, and almost throughout the Continent
of Europe, whereby the security to landed property has
been increased, and its value augmented several years'
purchase.
"2. An extension of the measure of 1835, by reliev-
ing the counties and boroughs from the portion of ex-
pense to which they continue liable for criminal prose-
cutions. The measure, however, should be accompanied
by an adoption, on the part of the State, of an effective

"3. The revision of stamp duties, not with a -view to
the reduction of revenue, but to a better appointment of
burdens—an adoption of an ad valorem scale of duty,
relieving small properties from the present unjust and
disproportionate charge, and making an equitable dis-
tribution of all duties on the sale and transmission of
property real and personal, whether during life or after
decease, both on ordinary conveyances and in the shape
of probate or legacy duties, so as to remedy all existing
inequalities, and to repeal all undue and partial exemp-
tions.

" 4. The adoption of periodical and compulsory re-
valuations for the levy of all local rates, so as to avoid
the injustice and inequality of the present most anoma-
lous system. This is consistent with the recommenda-
tion of the commissioners on local rates, and with the
evidence now taken.
" 5. The consolidation of the present numerous rates,
levied by multiplied and sometimes conflicting authori-
ties. There now exists in law, if not in practice, 24
rates, and 54 species of officers for their imposition,
levy, and administration. The number of these officers
is now estimated at 180,204. The fact that many of
these officers perform gratuitous service does not neces-
sarily vary the case ; it is far from being universally
true that gratuitous service is always the cheapest.
"6. It has lnen explained by Mr. Blake, that t'ne
expense of erecting gaols, bridewells, shire-halls., and
similar buildings in Ireland, is provided for 'oy the
public. Advances are made by the Treasury to meet
these heavy branches of expenditure ; these advances
are made on the security of the county-rate, and are
repayable, without interest, by easy instalments. There
appears every reason why this system should be extended
to Great Britain.

" 7. Where new establishments are introduced, as in
the last session, for the support of lunatics, and where
there are obvious reasons, both of economy and of huma-
nity, for centralising the administration, and where,
above all, the resources of the State can be made availa-
ble, without any risk of aggravating or increasing the
evil proposed to be remedied, the committee are not
prepared to justify the imposition of the whole cost upon
one description of property. The committee, therefore,
submit, whether the charge for the maintenance of luna-
tics in public asylums throughout the empire ought not
to be undertaken by the public.
" 8. More hesitation should undoubtedly be felt in re-
spect to any part of the expenditure for the maintenance
and relief of the poor ; but, to a certain extent, the ob-
servations made on lunatic asylums may, with proper
safeguards, be made applicable to other branches of
medical relief.

" 9. A charge is periodically cast upon the land for
the militia rate ; this is not now levied, the militia being
disembodied ; but, considering the object of the militia
to be general, and not confined to the interests of a par-
ticular class, the committee are of opinion that this
charge should be provided for by Parliament, care being,
however taken that if the public assume the responsibi-
lity of the charge, the Government should have autho-
rity to ensure the efficiency of the force.
" 10. It is most di-esirable that the practical experi-
ments for testing the chemical conclusions to which Pro-
fessor Graham, Thompson, and Dr. Lyon Playfair have
arrived should be repeated, under proper superinten-
dance, but with the co-operation of persons of acknow-
ledged skill in agriculture. Without impugning the
scientific acquirements of the eminent men consulted
by the Government, it is highly interesting that this
question should be disposed of in a manner to leave no
reasonable doubt on the decision which may ultimately
be pronounced.

These measures appear to the Committee in them-
selves to be defensible because they are just ; but at the
same time, in making these suggestions, they are fully
aware that the burdens imposed by law directly upon
land in England do not bear so high a proportion in
England to the whole taxation of the country as is the
case in many foreign states. So far as Prussia and parts
of Germany are concerned, this fact may be deducted
from the evidence of Mr. Bonfield. The same results
may be found in respect to France, the Netherlands,
Denmark, Sweden, and other foreign states. This fact,
however, ought not to vary the views which may be
taken either of justice or policy, neither shou.ld it be in-
ferred that the proportion of land taxes borne by foreign
countries enters into the cost of produaion, or raises the
price of produce abroad, any more than similar taxation
has been shown to do at home. The facts are, therefore,
referred to as bearing upon the principle of apportion-
ment between one class of the community and another,
and not for the purpose of suggesting that the cost of
raising corn and other agricultural produce is governed
by one principle in England, and by another principle on
the continent of Europe."

control. The establishment of an office of public pre,... arid; "The Scotch Colly." They are both pictures true
secutor, and the conduct of all prosecutions, is recciral... to life, and finely executed. The anecdotes are illustrated
mended in the strongest manner by the ex.amplf, of by about twenty of these plates, independent of a great
Scotland and of Ireland, as well as by the reaflon e.f the variety of sketches appropriate for the subject.
case. _ . . -

GUIDE to the INVESTMENT of 'CAPITAL ;
or, How to Lay out Money with Safety and Profit.
By G. M. Bell.
To those having capital to invest this little work will
prove most useful. They will find in it " a true and
particular account" of the relative advantages and dis-
advantages of in vestments in lands, houses, the public
funds, joint-stock banks, railways, :hipping, insurance
companies, mining companies, discounting bills, bonds
and mortgages, and foreign funds. Mrs. Glasse, of
" domestic cookery" immortality, commences her receipt
for cooking a hare in these words—" First catch your
hare." So should Mr. Bell have commenced this book
—" First get your capital ;" and if he could teach us
an infallible method of getting capital to invest he
would be conferring on the majority of mankind a
greater obligation far than he has already conferred on
the minority by teaching them how to invest it.

COMMEUCIAL ROUTES TO THE

EAST INDIES.

Un%ier the above head (Handelswege ;melt Ostindien) the
foll.dwing article has just appeared in Lloyd's Austrian Ca-
Witte :—lt is scarcely necessary to say, that Austria looks
with longing eyes towards the East, and that she hopes some
day to see her favourite child of the Adriatic the central
depot for the East Indian market in Europe. Trieste is
rising rapidly, and it is but lately that two East Indian ships
have landed their cargoes at that port. Trieste is the pivot
on which Austria's commerce turns. "A single glance at
the map will show that London Trieste, and Suez, on the
Red Sea, are in a direct line. This route to the East Indies
and to China will gain doubly in importance, and render
Trieste the great market of Indian commerce in Europe,
when the proposed canal across the Isthmus from Suez to
Tines is carried into execution ; a work, which the universal
interests of commerce render indispensably necessary. The
British troops in India have just gained new victories on the
Sutlej, and have trodden on the ground which witnessed the
triumphs of Alexander of Macedon, the rich land of the five
streams (Punj-ab.) The navigation of the mighty Indus
and its tributaries, will be the consequence of this great step,
and British commerce will stretch from East India in a
north-westerly direction towards Central Asia to Bokhara,
and there meet the Fnglish goods which come there by Tre-
bizond to Teheran, and thence find their way through,
Persia to Central Asia."

The Singapore Free Press states a fact which is of some
importance for the development of East Indian commerce :
—" The Danish Government having sold their East Indian
possessions, Serampore, in Bengal, and Tranquebar, on the
coast of Coromandel, to the East Indian Company, are now
bent on occupying the Nicobar Islands, so advantageously
situated for the purposes of navigation. The history of the
East India Company, the greatest commercial company of the
old or the new world, contains many useful lessons for com-
mercial policy. The mainspring of this body of the state,
before the English Government had an indirect influence on
its affairs, was a wide-extended system of egotism, which
manifested itself in the oppression of its own subjects, by
monopolising the gains, and by excluding and putting down
all commercial competition. Even at the present day, when
the field is open to all, immense difficulties are thrown in the
way of any attempt to establish new lines of commerce, and
it requires great commercial intelligence to overcome them.
"The company, as a conquering power, had taken possession
of the lands and the rights of the rajas. They are lords of
the land. The Indian agriculturist (kuli) is but a limited
leaseholder. The monopoly on tobacco, salt, opium, and arrack,
which the Hindoos extract from the palm, is still practised.
The taxation was formerly of the most oppressive nature. The
influence of the English Government on the affairs of this
company for the good of the country, the welfare of mankind,
and the advantages of commerce, is becoming more powerful
and evident every day, and the time is not far distant when
the English Government will substitute a wise and moderate
system of administration for the present management of the
company. _

".The commercial monopoly, such a length of time in the
hands of the company, was a blow to commerce in general,
without being of any great benefit to themselves. British
subjects, to whom all commerce to East India and China was
prohibited, were even worse off than the subjects of other
states. In 1814, the commerce between England and India
was partly thrown open ; in 1834, the whole commercial
character of the East India Company underwent a change;
the monopoly of the commerce with China was raised. The
commerce with India, China, and the East in general, was
thus thrown open to competition. This was a most important
event ; the right of trading with all the possessions of the
East Indian Company is now open to every state within the
regulations prescribed by the English laws of navigation, and
the limits of private treaties. Another important point is
that the company have not the faculty of entering into com-
mercial treaties with European powers, that they may not in-
terfere in the politics of Europe, a privilege which belongs
solely to the Crown ; the company may not even declare war
against an Asiatic prince, if this latter has a treaty with any
European power, without the permission of the English Go-
vernment, lest it might cause a misunderstanding with the
mother country.
" After the death of Tippoo Saib, the possessions of the
company increased gradually to their present extent. The
Carnatic, and all the lands between the coasts of Malabar and
Coromandel, became English provinces. The Emperor of
Delhi, the King of Oude, the Nizam of Deka, the Nabobs of
Bhopal, of Sorondj, of Kumol, those of Lutchin, the Sultans
of Mysore and Cochin-China, and numbers more, pay tribute
tdom thes,t theyof r
eighty-threeul e ve over l2omillionindependent
ssouls. kin g The-
King of Nepaul, in the Himmalaya, has alone maintained his
t
independence.
ocompany,and
e populationh a
" The wars in Sinde, Caubul, and Affghanistan, four years
ago, terminated happily, although at a great sacrifice of human
life and money; but the plans which lay in the background of
the advance on Caubul were given up for a time. Those plans
were in all probability an expedition against Herat, Bokhara,
and Khiva, the conquest of Persia, and the acquisition of a firm
footing on the Caspian Sea, to thwart the dangerous influence
of Russia in Central Asia ; but the disastrous result of the
Russian expedition against Khiva was in itself a severe blow
to Russian influence in those parts.
The truly brilliant success of the Chinese war has put the
power of England beyond a doubt, and has opened a new field
to Asiatic commerce, whose limits it is impossible as yet to
define. Hong-Kong became a British settlement ; the
Chinese ports, Canton, Amoy, Fu-tschen-fu, Ningpo, and
Shanghae, have been thrown open' and commercial enterprise
advanced boldly at once. The glorious victories against the
Seikhs will, sooner or later, subject the Punjaub to Great
Britain, confirm on a surer footing the commerce with Bok-
hara, and the influence of England in Persia.
" As the British Government is gradually taking the reins of
the administration in India from the hands of the company,
and will, in all probability, take the sovereignty over the lands
between the Indus and the Ganges, it is not improbable that
England may grant a new charter to the company for the con-
quest of the rich lands of the great peninsula on the other side
of the Ganges. The kingdoms of firma, Anam, Cambodja,
Tonkin, Assam, and Siam, would then unveil their riches to
European enterprise.
" Under such circumstances, England will undoubtedly neg-
lect no opportunity to establish the shortest and most direct
line of communication with East India. What has been done
in the last twelve years speaks well for the future.
" Thirteen years ago the correspondence with the East
Indies, as well as the transport of goods, were carried round
the Cape of Good Hope. An answer to a letter from London
to Calcutta was never expected under seven or eight months.
The magnificent idea of discovering a shorter route, as well by
the Persian Gulf and the Euphrates, on part of the old ca-
ravan route through Syria, as also by the Indian Ocean
and the Red Sea, through Egypt, was not as yet developed.
The latter route, which offered but few obstacles, was soon
carried into execution. A line of steamers was established
between Bombay and Suez, having for central point Aden, at
the most southern point of Arabia. British enterprise, seconded
by the energies of the Viceroy of Egypt, soon established com-
munications between Suez and Alexandria, by Cairo. A line
of steamers was established from Alexandria to London, by
Malta and Gibraltar. To save time, the letters were sent
through France, and, owing to late experiments, it is probable
that in future the overland mails will pass by '1 rieste through
Germany, so that a regular monthly communication will be
established between Lonon and Bombay.
" But whilst the correspondence is thus rapidly forwarded,
the transport of merchandise is principally effected in sailing
vessels, which double the Cape of Geed Hope ; there is, there-
fore, an immense disproportion between the correspondence
and the transport of merchandise, and this causes often the
most disastrous results. Thus bills can be sent between East
India and England in one-fourth the time of the merchandise.
The sudden rise or fall of prices in London is soon known at
Calcutta, and has influence on the credit there, and a com-
mercial house which has goods on the road has not always the
means to meet the emergency, which would not be the case if
the merchandise arrived at the same time.

" Those persons—wl;;;;;-IrTany—wa.y interested in East
Indian commerce are endeavouring to discover the shortest
road for the transport of goods, and no doubt in a few years
merchandise will be sent by the Red Sea and Egypt, instead of
round the Cape.
" Trieste and Venice will profit considerably from this new
direction given to East Indian commerce, as they are the
nearest ports for Egypt and Syria, as well for Austria as the
greater part of Italy and Germany.
"The shortest route would be decidedly that by the
Euphrates, if navigation on that river did not present almost
insurmountable difficulties. It is well known what obstacles
Colonel Chesney met with, who was the first who endea-
voured to establish steamers on the Euphrates. The shallow
state of the water, the numerous sandbanks, and the preda-
tory habits of the wandering tribes on the banks, which
eoon
defied all chance of establishing coal-deposits, were obstacles
enough to deter the most enterprising. But as the stream of
the Euphrates is evidently the shortest route to East India,
England has' in no way entirely given up the idea. After
Csolf.a ras Chesney,
it
ascendedltirONn.h,oats n s
ttrhue ct
edn
pEuphrates,ur .
a
pose ; one of them only drew 16 inches. The steamers on
the Euphrates proceeded from the mouth of the river, from
w as Capt.
navigable,Ly nchin,
Bassora, by Hillah, Hit, Hans, and Bakka, as far as Bir in
the Pachalik of Marasch. From Bir, Colonel Chesney hoped
to establish communication by land to Antakich, turning to
account the lake of the same name, and then on the navigable
Orontes, to where it runs into the sea at Suvadia. The Bay
of Suvadia was formerly but little known, but contains one of
the best anchorage in the Syrian waters. From the mouth of
the Euphrates a steamer went direct through the Persian Gulf,
and past the important commercial town of Maskat to Bombay.'
Should this route never be established still the enterprise de-
serves attention!

" The route by the Red Sea and Egypt is undoubtedly that
which offers the greatest advantages. This route was already
made use of before the passage round the Cape was discovered.
Indian commerce was then in the hands of the Arabs. The
Venetians and the Genoese brought the produce of India to
Egypt and Syria, and provided the rest of Europe with Asiatic
goods.
" The Red Sea, which extends from the Straits of Bab-el-
Mandeb to the roadstead of Suez to the length of 13 to 30
degree north latitude, was deemed scarcely practicable for Eu-
ropean vessels, owing to the numerous shoals. The Arabian
coasting vessels are badly built, at most half-decked, and are
piloted by men who do not steer by compass but by the dif-
ferent mountains and points of land along the coast, and
always cast anchor at night. From such men neither sufficient
speed nor safety is to be expected to entrust them with the
transport of merchadiso. Six or eight English and North
American merchantmen, from 300 to 800 tons, go yearly through
the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb to Mocha, where they take in
cargoes of the so-called Mocha coffee. But a European vessel
has seldom advanced so far as Flubeida.
" About thirteen years since an attempt was made to estab-
lish British steamers on the Arabian Gulf, and there is now a
regular line between Suez, Aden, and Bombay.
4, The great seats of the Anglo-Indian empire, Bombay,
Madras, and Calcutta, were already in communication by
steamers, to which a new line was added between [long-Kong,
Singapore, and Calcutta; so that, at the present moment, the
whole of Upper and Lower India, and China, with the excep-
tion of the comparatively short land-journey through Egypt,
are in direct communication with Europe by steamers twice in
every month.
46 Between Alexandria and Cairo, on the canal of Alahraudia,

as far as Atph, and then on the Nile to Bulakh ; to Cairo
there are various means of transport, comprising flatbottomed
iron steamers. Between Cairo and Suez, on the desert, every-
thing is provided for a swift and safe conveyance. At Suez
there is an English Consulate, and everything arranged for the
comfort of travellers. The steamers between Bombay and
Suez carry goods as well as passengers.
"It has been lately proved that the Red Sea can be navi-
gated, not only by steamers, but by European sailing vessels,
of a certain amount of tonnage, and a moderate draught of
water.
" The first European merchant vessel that navigated the
Red Sea in its full length was the Englisb brigantine schooner,
the Clown, in 1843, which arrived at Suez from Calcutta in
seventy-two days, with a cargo of Indian merchandise, and
having shipped a. cargo of European good, returned by the
same route to India. This example was followed soon after by
a vessel from Bremen. It is therefore proved beyond a doubt
that when the canal is cut through the Isthmus of Suez,
steamers as well as sailing vessels can enter direct from the
Mediterranean into the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. This
junction of Asia with Europe is simple, grand, and according
with the interests of Europe in general. After cutting through
the Isthmus of Suez, t he commerce of Europe with East India,
China, the Phillippine Islands, and Australia, will pass princi-
pally by the Mediterranean.
" The different ports on the Adriatic, especially Trieste and
Venice, would be considerable gainers by this route,
and would become the great staple markets for the com-
merce with India, and the different railways now in con-
struction through Austria and Germany would be turned to
account."
The writer then treads more particularly on Austrian
ground :—" Already in this last century the Austrian flag
fluttered in the Indian seas. Commercial expeditions were
sent from the Austrian Netherlands. In 1819, a commercial
company was formed at Ostend, and their affairs prospered in
Guinea and East India. Emperor Charles VI. established by
'
France, England, Prussia, and Sweden, the patent was with-
drawn 727 Nevertheless, until the death of Joseph 11.,
ma
epractiearlit
Coonmtphaenly9, thbuDt ecoewminbgert,ol7t2h2e, ajnealEouassyt lonfdiaHnolCAlarid:
in 1 .
in the East,
that remained in possession of her conquesfollowingts Nicobarndths
eanidosssomoe;
the Netherlands, and during the
wars, these possessions were given up, but not the right
to them. _ - • - - -
facto
factories
st o
osnay'thine pcoosassetssioofn Cofortohme

" After the re-acquisition of the Austrian coast-lands, and
commerce beginning to flourish, an Austrian corvette set Fail
for Canton, in 1817, with the intention of opening a direct
commerce with China.

" If these attempts were not renewed at a later period, the
fault is certainly not on the side of the Austrian merchant navy,
which has increased yearly, and now ranks among the first in
Europe. Austrian merchantmen not only trade with the prin-
cipal ports of America on the Atlantic, but they double Cape
Horn and advance into the Pacific to Porto-Callao, and other
markets of western America, even to California. Uragua,
and the states north of La Plata, are of the greatest import-
ance for Austrian navigation ; it were well if Austria entered
into treaties relative to commerce and navigation with those
free states, as England, France, Sardinia, and even Spain have
done. Enterprise and energy are not wanting among the Aus-
trian ship-owners, and they only await the word.
" Our industry," says the Austrian writer, "demands a
wider field, and we need no longer be dependent on others for
the produce of the tropics. We must import in our own bot-
toms, and pay the produce as best suits us, with our own wares;
thus opening a new field to our commerce; and we will ourselves
become the mediators for sending the produce of India to the
rest of Europe.
" Three years ago a mission left Trieste fer East India, to
inquire into all the particulars concerning commerce and
navigation in those parts. Almost at the same time, the
Austrian brig, Zoachimb, set sail for Bombay with a cargo of
Austrian manufactures. Last year the Austrian flag might be
seen in the waters of Sunda and Singapore. The conditions
imposed on Austrian vessels are, it is true, very hard. At
Calcutta the daily expense of an East India merchant vessel,
not belonging to Great Britain, is about 201. Large vessels
pay less in proportion. The duty on English wares in
English vessels is five per cent., for foreign wares in English
vessels ten per cent., and for importations on foreign vessels
twenty per cent. on the value. Owing to the treaty of 1838,
between Austria and England, relative to navigation, Austrian
vessels ought to be treated in Indian-British ports on a better
footing."
Since the above was written three different expeditions have
left Trieste for East India, but the result has not transpired.