The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-04 00:00:00

THE TEA DUTIES.

On Wednesday a deputation from Liverpool waited
on the Premier, in the name of a meeting held a few
days since, to bring the subject of the tea duties
under the notice of the Government. Mr. R. Glad-
stone, Mr. Brodribb, Mr. J. R. Jeffery, Mr. Crossley,
and Mr. Littledale, severally addressed his Lordship
to enforce the views of the deputation.
Lord John Russell having attentively listened to
their statements, which occupied upwards of an hour
and a half, replied that he fully. appreciated the im-
portance of the moral and social bearings of this
question, but he was obliged also to weigh well the
financial bearings, and in doing so he felt constrained
to dissent from one of the resolutions of the meeting
represented by the deputation, viz.," That this meeting
is of opinion that no direct loss would accrue to the
revenue from a considerable reduction of the duty on
tea ; but that even if a temporary deficiency were to
arise, the considerations of a social and moral charac-
ter inseparably connected with great questions are of
paramount importance to those of a mere fiscal
nature." The argument here used had been applied
in the instance of the reduction of the rate of postage,
but the result in that case hardly justified a repeti-
tion in the instance now under discussion. The motive
on the part of the executive which led to the postage
reduction partook unquestionably more of a moral
and social than of a merely financial nature; that
reduction was made, too, at the time when the revenue
of the country could comparatively well afford it ;
and though very great advantages to the commu-
nity had arisen from the measure, the revenue had
as yet failed to realise the expectations on that
score which were formed of it by its most sanguine
friends. He thought it not impossible that the
desired reduction in the tea duties would be found
' to produce a somewhat similar result, for the two
questions were parallel, and were supported, to a
great extent, by similar arguments ; and while he
was prepared to admit that the consumption of tea
would greatly increase if the tax upon it rendered it
more accessible than at present to the public, he
must guard against being supposed to acquiesce in
the extent of the consumption assumed by the mem-
bers of that and a late deputation. However, it was
in its financial aspect merely that the subject would
have to be considered by her Majesty's First Minister
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and it would be
for them, being responsible for the revenue of the
country, to see if any means could be hit upon
whereby the question could be safely dealt with.
Mr. R. Gladstone was about to indicate wherein
the analogy between the reduction in the duties on
tea and in the rate of postage did not apply ; but
Lord J. Russell declined further discussion on that
point as inopportune.

The deputation withdrew, much gratifieel by the
courtesy with which they had been received by the
Noble Premier.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, FEB. B.—Her Majesty's ship Ace
teeon, 26, Captain G. Mansell, arrived from the coast
of Africa this morning, after a tedious passage of
nearly eight weeks from Ascension. She sailed on
the 11th of December, leaving there her Majesty's
steam-frigate Penelope, Commodore Sir Charles
Hotham, K.C.8., and the Tortoise receiving ship,
The Ranger had gone to St. Helena; the Britomart
to cruise off the south coast of Africa, and the Fly-
ing Fish to the same part, with provisions for the
squadron, and was afterwards to come to England.
The Actaeon brought from Ascension Captain Hunt,
R.M., invalided from illness, and Mr. Crofton, sur-
geon ; also a number of marines who had served their
period of embarkation en the island. She sailed on
tte 11th December from Ascension, and on the 4th
January got to the Yerd Islands, and at Port Praya,
St. Jago, again saw her Majesty's steamer Penelope.
The Commodore had been from the island to Sierie
Leone and St. Jago to visit the station ; all on board
were well. She had unfortunately lost two men by
accident, but otherwise all was right. The Penelope
only remained a short time at Port Prays, Sir Charles
Hotham being anxious to go to other pfirta of hit
command. The Actaeon having landed her sl;iperra-
meraries and invalids, is to be mustered and inspO'cted
by Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, the eommander-.>
chief, and will then go in the harbour to be paid off.
Her Majesty's brig Sealark, on her passage to Ply-
mouth, has put in here with a damaged rudder. She
has been taken into harbour to have it repaired. She
is to go to the Coast of Africa, calling at the Cape de
Verds.
Dispatches from Lord Palmerston for his Excel-
lency Sir H. Seymour, at Lisbon, to go out in her
Majesty's steamer Stromboli, came down this morn-
ing, and soon after they were embarked she put to
sea. The Stromboli is afterwards to go to Gibraltar
and the Mediterranean.

3.—PROMOTIONS.—Henry Edmonds, Thomas
S. Wells, assistant-surgeons to be surgeons.
APPOINTMENTS.—To the Agincourt, John Dunlop,
surgeon ; Ernest Elliott, assistant-surgeon. To the
Anna Maria, convict ship, Henry Baker, surgeon.
superintendent. To the Blenheim, Abraham B. Brad-
ford, surgeon. To the Caledonia, James Taylor, sur-
geon ; James Hardy, midshipman. To the Chem.
' pion, John M. Hayes, commander. To the Enter-
prise, John Robertson (B), surgeon. To the Ocean,
William Remphry, clerk. To the Powerful, Thomas
R. Dunn, surgeon; Frederick Manger, ass.Litant-
surgeon ; Herbert P. de Kautzow, midshipman. To
the Queen, James Browne (B), surgeon. To that
Scout, Frederick E. Johnston, commander. To the
Star, Philip R. Crouch, lieutenant.