The Sun.
London, England, 1833-01-22 00:00:00

to the obtaining of a drawback upon a greater quantity of soap
(
than is really exported ; to prevent which it would be necessary
to have the packages when landed here opened and re-weighed.
The slight examination that now takes place is no obstacle to
such a proceeding."
Mr. O'CONNELL said that all soap imported into this coun-
try was adulterated ; that its specific gravity was increased, and
as the soap was only measured in its liquid state, the conse-
quence was that a considerable gain resulted to the English
manufacturer.
Dr. BALDWIN said that a Cork manufacturer had told him
that the reason one soap was heavier than another was, that one
was made with mineral and the other with vegetable alkali.
Mr, CALLAGHAN took the liberty of stating that the
Government was quite aware of the advantage of 10/. per cent.
which the English manufacturer possessed over the Irish ma-
nufacturer. In consequence of the representations of Mr.
O'Connell and himself, Mr. Rice promised to bring in a Bill to
do away with the injury; but he subsequently excused him_
self by saying that the Reform Bill had prevented him. He
would take the liberty of stating why this ten per cent. had
been originally granted. About sixty years ago, before the
science of soap-making hail become so perfect, they made what
was called mottled soap, and ten per cent. was allowed for
what was called shedding, that was, for what the soap lost in its
weight ; but since they began to employ palm oil in the manu-
facture, the soap did not waste any. The hon. member then
entered into a calculation, to show that a manufacturer in
Liverpool, with a thousand pounds capital, working as fast as
he could, and turning his capital as often as he could, would,
by the mere operations of the present system of excise, in the
course of a year, have an advantage over the Irish manufac-
turer of 3,600/. He was convinced that nothing but absolute
prohibition could give fair protection to the Irish manufacturer.
Mr. O'CONNELL said, that however unwilling in some re-
spects the English Government, was to make prohibitions,
in many instances, they had made prohibitions to the prejudice
of the Irish manufacturer.
Mr. CALLAGHAN said that Mr. Hawes, one of the most
extensive soap manufacturers in England, was in Parliament,
and that they would havehis assistance.
Mr. FINN suggested that it would be well that the opinion
of the manufacturers throughout the country was ascertained,
in order that they might act in unison.
Mr. O'CONNOR (of the deputation) stated that they had
a Committee appointed for that purpose.
The deputation then withdrew.
THE PAPER TRADE.

The deputation from this trade being then called forward,
Mr. SULLIVAN said that he and another gentleman had
been deputed to represent to the National Council the state of

the paper trade. From the harassing mode of collecting the
duty it would be almost impossible for any manufacturer to con-
tinue in business twelve months longer. The operation of the
present system of collecting the excise was such as to paralyse
the exertions of the manufacturer. He was himself one of
the most extensive manufacturers in the country, and had
expended several thousand pounds in the improvement of his
factory, by which means he would be enabled to give ern.
ployment to two hundred persons more than he employed
at present. At present he gave employment to an hun-
dred persons, but if he were not interfered with by the
present oppressive system, he would be able to give em-
ployment to three hundred persons, and at least three times
that number would be supported by the produce of their
labour. Many other persons had given up business in conse-
quence of the over taxation. On yesterday a most outrageous
act had been committed on himself. Whilst he was attending
on some business in the Rolls Court, he was informed that the
revenue officers were at his stores. He immediately proceeded
there, and found three revenue officers, whom he asked what
they wanted. They told him that they had information of

illegal paper being in his stores. He pledged them his honour,
that there was not any there, and that they were misinformed.
They then asked for the key, which he had not about him; but
conscious that there was no illegal paper there, and wishing to
afford every facility of inquiry, he did not put them to the
trouble of going to the office for the key, but forced open the
door himself. When they entered, one of the revenue officers
said, "Is this your paper ?" he replied it was. Then, said
the officer, 1 seize this paper. They took then ninety-three
reams of paper, and lodged them in the Excise stores, and
where the property might, perhaps, remain for twelve months;
and so help him God, one single sheet of that paper was not
irregular or illegal. He was not told why the paper was taken
away. It was all regularly stamped and labelled.

In reply to a question, Mr. SULLIVAN said that the paper
duty amounted in Ireland to about 600,000/. a year. The offi-
cers were all English and Scotch, and after the expense of col-
lecting, he did not think the surplus very considerable. He
then proceeded to describe the operation off` the tax on the price
of paper, and stated that the description of paper generally
used in school books, which was a coarse article, paid an ad
valorem duty of 100 per cent., whereas the superfine article was

not taxed more than ten per cent. It was totally impossible
to pay those taxes, according to the harassing mode in which
they were collected. The consequence would be, if the system
were persisted in, any one who had any remnant of property
left would retire from the trade. They had the English ma-
nufacturers to back them. When he went to London he
called on Mr. Dickinson, who was the most extensive paper
manufacturer in the world, to ascertain his opinions, and they
were fully with his. At the meeting which took place in Lon.
don one hundred and fifty of the most extensive manufacturers
attended, and some of them came even five hundred miles to
be present. They all agreed that the duty ought to be taken
off. They sent a deputation to Lord Althorp, who said
that they could not afford to dispense witls it; but that if it
turned out to be a good year, they would take measures to
get rid of that duty, as it was a direct taxation upon know-
ledge. Mr. Sullivan concluded by stating that a meeting of
the paper manufacturers would take place on Tuesday, at the
Commercial Buildings, at which the Lord Mayor had promised
to preside, and he hoped the Irish Members would attend it.
Mr. CALLAGHAN said, in consequence of representing a
commercial town, he knew the hardships this trade was sub-
jected to. He knew an instance where a small manufacturer
rented mills, for which he paid 1001. a year ; he was charged
with having evaded the duty, and the revenue sued him for
2,500/. The lowest suns in which the Magistrates could con-
vict was 7501., and he could not have it in his power to appeal
from that decision to Courts above without first depositing the
money. He might as well have been called upon to pay the
national debt. He appealed to the Excise Board, and from the
Excise Board to the Treasury—he appealed over and over
again, but without effect. The consequence was, his mill was
sold, and he was made a beggar. A whole village, that de.
pended for support on the employment they derived from this
mill, were for a year idle, and the man himself is at pre.
sent going about amongst his friends, as they call it, on the
shaucrhaun. The Honourable Member proceeded to state other
instances within his own knowledge of the oppressive operation
of those laws.

Mr. SULLIVAN said, that there was an inducement held
out to this system of persecution, for half the amount of the pe.
nalty went into the pocket of the informer.

Mr. O'CONNELL said, the present was a case in which they
would have the English manufacturers joining them. One
hundred and forty-seven of the Radicals in the House were
distinctly pledged to do away with the taxes on knowledge, and
on this subject they would have many of the Conservative
Members joining with them. He thought that they would
get at least 80 out of the Irish Members.

Mr. CHAPMAN thought it would be exceedingly well, if
possible, to get rid of the tax, but if it could not be got rid of,
he wished to ask, was there any mode of collecting the duty
which he could suggest that would prove satisfactory ?
Mr. SULLIVAN had suggested a plan to Lord Althorp in
the shape of an engine duty, which would reduce the expense
of collection to about 101. a-year. Lord Althorp and the
English Solicitor of the Excise had admitted its excellence,
but the Reform question then occupied so much of the atten-
tion of the Government, that it could not be attended to.
A long conversatioc took place, in the course of which Mr.
O'CONNELL explained the hardships and difficulties to which
the Irish manufacturer was exposed, in prosecutions on the
part of the Excise.

Mr. BLACKNEY stated that when they had this subject
before them last year, it was stated, as a fact, highly and
strongly illustrative of the poverty of Ireland, that the rags
had latterly been so much worn, that when they came to the
manufacturer, they were almost without substance. He wished
that fact could be put forward strongly.
It was ultimately suggested that the paper manufacturers
should get their petitions ready, stating their case, and the re.
dress they sought. Most of the Members present, before the
deputation withdrew, expressed their determination of being

present at their meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting was proceeding to adjourn, when
Mr. O'CONNELL said, that as the room in which they
were assembled was entirely too small, he would suggest an
adjournment to the Corn Exchange.

DAVID ROCHE, Esq. was called tf.., the Chair, and thanks
voted in a marked manner to the Hon. Colonel Butler, for his
conduct in the chair, after which the Council adjourned to 10
. .

o'clock this day.

AWFUL EXPLOSION.-Yesterday morning,
at ten minutes past ten, the town of Dartford, in Kent,
was th own into the utmost consternation and alarm, in
consequence of an explosion having taken place at the ex-
tensive powder-mills of Messrs. WICKS and Co. It would
be impossible to describe the star, of the inhabitants, wbo
were running in all directions to reach a place of safety.
By eleven o'clock the town was nearly deserted, the prin-
cipal part of the people having gone to Crayford. The
damage done for miles round is immense, and in many in-
stances, in the immediate neighbourhood, in a number of
houses not a pane of glass is left whole. Some idea may
he formed of its dreadful effects by the fact that the shock
was felt at Greenwich (ten miles from Dartford). At
three o'clock, Mr. PEARCE, son of the High Constable of
Dartford, arrived at Mr. CARTTAR'S, the Coroner, and
stated that, up to half-past one o'clock, seven bodies had
been found, but it was impossible to say how many were
missing, or the number that were killed, as the ruins were
then smoking, and that the workmen were up to that
time unable to make any search, in consequence of the
dangerous state of the premises. The Coroner has issued
his warrant for the inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate
sufferers this day, at the Bull and George Hotel, Dirtferd,
—Another account says that 20 lives are known to have
been lust; that seven distinct explosions took place, and
that several houses in the neighbourhood have been thrown
down.