The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 1819.

It would indeed be strange if it were otherwise, as
that could only be in case the amount of the produce
of one particular country, required to supply the
wants of another given country, should always be
equal in bulk and value to that part of its owu pro-
duce which this country could dispose of to the foreign
country.

But-there is another fact shown by the tables just
mentioned, which is, indeed, not immediately ap-
plicable to the question which we are discussing, but
which may nevertheless be quoted here as an example,
affording some insight into the wants of the nations
of the western hemisphere. It is proved by these
tables that, with the exception of the German immi-
grants into the United States of North America,
the nations of Spanish descent are the great-
est consumers of German manufactures. This
circumstance may partly be owing to the habits
which the Spaniards brought with them to
the New World—for, at one time, Spain was
our best customer as regards the produce of our
manufacturing industry—but more especially to the
preponderating number of the free white labourers in
those countries. The states in which negro slaves
form the great majority of the working population,
scarcely take any German manufactures, whilst
Mexico and the countries south of the Brazils, and
on the west coast of America, purchase more from us
than they sell to us. On account of their superior
quality and higher price, German manufactures can
only find numerous customers among a free and
prosperous population. The working population
of Java is hardly superior to negro slaves ; here
German manufactures will not so soon find a
satisfactory market, not even when assisted by
differential duties, and it cannot be supposed that
the population of Germany, until such market
shall be found, will renounce the use of Java coffee,
which has now become an article of necessity for
them. _ . _

...,....
The great increase of emigration from Germany,
with the causes of which we have here as little to do
as with the injuries which the withdrawal of so
much capital and labour may eventually inflict upon
the country, will probably in future call forth an in-
creased demand for German manufactures on the
other side of the ocean ; for these emigrants will take
with them German habits, German manners and
customs, and German wants ; and wherever a com-
pact German population is established, the products
of German industry cannot fail in time to find a con-
stant market. Of more importance, at least for the
present, are however the German, and more particu-
larly Hanseatic commercial settlements effected in
the seaport towns of the United States of America,
at the period of the declaration of their independence,
and since then in the other parts of the globe also, and
which very frequentiy enter into connexion with the
retail dealers among the German immigrants in the
interior. Towards the end of the year 1845 there
were in the trans• Atlantic countries 343 German
houses of business, 227 of which were Hanseatic ; in
North America (Texas included) 137, in the West
Indies 34 (27 of which were Hanseatic), in Mexico
48 (40 Hanseatic), in South America 99, in the East
Indies and China 14, and. in Africa 11.

Nothing has contributed more to the extension of
the markets for German industrial produce in these
distant regions than these establishments, founded
and directed by Germans, who, leaving their native
land in the flower of their manhood, and possessing
the necessary knowledge, h bits of industry, and
capital, settle there and keep up a constant commer-
cial intercourse with their native place ; while, on the
other hand, when in later years they return home
they never break off their commercial relations with
their foreign establishments.
May we be allowed to remark on this occasion
how often we in Germany undervalue our own capa-
bilities; how often we envy foreign countries that
which is in fact anything but enviable, as, for in-
.tance, the excessive development of their manufac-
turing power, or that which we have in reality already
ourselves attained, as, for instance, a prosperous
chipping trade, and flourishing commercial intercourse
with transatlantic countries. The statistical proofs of
the latter will be found in the tables which we have
so often quested.
But we must now, in a still more decisive manner,
direct attention to the state of the trade of the two
most important ports in Germany. The estimates
relative to Bremen are publish( d in the April number
of the llandels Archiv, No. 350, and are here given
in Table XXIV., where, however, the sum total only
of the exports by sea, mentioned severally in the
Handels Archiv, is noted. These regularly-increasing
exports amounted last year, according to an approxi-
mate valuation, to a sum of more than 12,000,000 of
dollars of gold. or of more than 13,500,000 Prus-
sian dollars. The exportation from Hamburgh by
sea is still more important, for this amounted last
year, according to Table XXV., to the value of
10,000,000 marks banco, or 40,000,000 Prussian
dollars. This table, which is prepared by the Sta-
tistical Uflice, and is based on the customhouse
register, gives at the same time a general statement
of the value of the exports and imports by sea
and by land ; and Table XXVI. gives an ac-
count of the imported goods. It must be re-
marked, relative to the correctness of the nurn-
hers given, that those indicating the value of im-
ports from trans-Atlantic countries are most to be de-
pended on, because all the articles appertaining there-
unto are liable to duty, and their value, according to
the exchange prices, must in consequence be declared
on oath (even when they do not pay the duty, but
are only declared for transit). The estimates of the
exports to trans-Atlantic countries are less to be de-
pended upon, because among the articles appertaining
hereunto there are several which are not liable to
duty, and which it is, therefore, unnecessary to sub-
ject to the burdensome control of the Custom house.
In many cases the value of these is probably stated
too low. In every inquiry concerning the compara•
tive value of exports and imports, there is, besides,
mother important circumstance that must be taken
into account—namely, that in the statements of the
value of goods imported, the costs of freight and
insurance, and even the amount of eventual
profits, are added to the market price, while,
.with regard to exports, no such addition takes
place ; and, consequently, the value of exports
comparatively to that of imports, seems in sta-
ristical tables less than it is in reality, In Hamburgh
.t least this is decidedly the case, and we might per-
naps even justly assert, that the real value of our
xports to trans-Atlantic countries is quite equal to
chat of imports from those countries. In examining
•:re statistical tables relative to Hamburgh's European
rade, it is still more necessary than with regard to
her trans-Atlantic trade, to take into account the
e,reat number of duty-free articles, the value of which
is not subjected to control ; this is more particularly
applicable to the imports by land and by river in the
ear 1345, which are specified in Table XXVII. h is
in this table which principally affords a standard by
which to measure the exports of German produce
rorn Hamburgh, for in the register of exportation
,his produce could not be distinguished from goods of
fereign origin. Whatever goods were imported into
llarnburgh by land and by river (consequently from
Germany) were again, after deduction of the
comparatively small quantity consumed by this
city—which is in itself, moreover, to be reckoned
among the customers—exported hence, and
amounted (according to Table XXVII.), in the
year 1845, to a value of 112,000,000 marks banco.
Though they may be found on the list of gods
reaching us by land or river, some that are not of
German origin, such as Swiss manufactures, raw silk
from Italy, and the so called northern products
(brought from Aussie by way of Lubeck), these may
on the other side be balanced by the :orses and cattle,
which we know form an important item in the ex-
ports, but which are not included in the list we have
alluded to, as are not either the minor products of our
country (such as poultry, eggs, fruit, and vegetables),
which are sent in large quantities to England. If the
sale ;of German goods effected through Hamburgh
could be balanced against the value of the foreign
goods which Hamburgh imports for the consumption
of Germany, it would no doubt be proved how un-
founded is the accusation so repeatedly made against
the Hanse Towns—that they inundate Germany with
foreign goods pithout caring for the sale of Ger-
man produce. This " inundation" is most frequently
alluded to relative to English manufactures. We will,
therefbre, in reference to this subject, quote Table
XXVIII., which shows pretty accurately what are
the relative proportions as regards spun and woven
goods. Of these kinds of goods from the interior,
Hamburgh yearly effects a sale to the amount of about
35,000,000 to 38,000,000 marks banco, whilst she
imports by sea (vide Table XXV.) woollen, cotton,
silk, and other manufactured goods of the same kind
to
°En tphnertasrfliount of 25,000,000 marks banco only, and
of these goods only a minor part are destined for
consumptionnenittneeG, esurmgearn,ya.ndThtoebwaohoool?e
doof Hnoatmb amounturgh's
to the value of what we export in German tissues
alone. That we,
geanintshteuio,natrsary, impo.rt. foreign yarn
to the amount of from 30,000,000 to 35 000 000
will not, we trust, be made the subject
,fmarks
accusationnco,
long as this yarn is in-
dispensable for the German weaving trade.
It cannot be denied that the picture of
f tbhye com-
merce of the Hanse Towns, as presented
statistical notices, is most satisfactory. But we must
remember that this commerce is the result of a gra-
dual and natural developement of commercial indus-
try, unaided, but also unchecked, by artificial mea-
sures, established and carried un independent of legal
regulations, owing nothing to patriotic suggestions,
but everything, as is quite in the nat re of trade, to
'he well understood interests of the merchant, and to
pia knowledge of the superfluities and of the wants of
the nations in both hemispheres.
But to return-to- our subject. The sale of goods is
reguleed not by abstract principles as to the reci•
procal action of exports and imports, but by the actual
circumstances o 4 the country (and, as regairds mann- 1

factured goods, it is also in a great measure regu-
lated by the zeal of the producer in attending to the
wishes and even to the caprices of the customer).
That there does exist a reciprocal action between
exports and imports will, however, be denied by no
one ; on the contrary, this action is of great import-
ance, and is the essential condition of the commercial
intercourse of nations, but it is not the standard by
which their trade is regulated. If ever so many
German ships brought coffee direct from Java, and if
they brought still more coffee direct from the Brazil•,
these countries would not therefore consume one ell
more of German tissues.

The example of Bremen, which is particularly
dwelt upon in the conclusions come to by the Prus-
sian Department of Trade, of which we have above
given an abstract, affords no proof of the contrary.
If the proposition placed at the head of these deduc-
tions were literally applied, it would, with regard to
Bremen, run thus :—The Americans send their pro-
duce to Bremen ; if they find their manufactured
goods, which they have reason to hope they
may dispose of at home, they will purchase
these goods and not seek another market,
as, for instance, the English market ; they would
thus promote the exportation of German produce,
and, consequently, benefit German industry. But, in
reality, the matter does not stand thus. It is not the
Americans, but the inhabitants of Bremen who carry
on this trade, as may be seen by the relative number
of the ships engaged in it. Out of 118 ships
which came last year from the United States to Bre-
men, only fourteen were American, and ninety-eight
belonged to Bremen. The proposition must, conse-
quently, be reverse; the citizens of Bremen send goods
to America, and as they find there goods which are
consumed in Germany, they purchase them there, in-
stead of going to the English markets in quest of them,
which would be of no advantage as to the exportation
of German produce. Were we however, to frame
the proposition thus :—The citizens of Bremen
dispatch ships to the United States to fetch
colonial produce, and are, therefore, obliged,
in order to freight their outward-bound ships, to
send German produce thither—we would still not hit
the right point. The fact, as is well known, is this :
—Bremen sends her ships to the United States to
transport thither the immense number of German
emigrants who have for some time past been accus-
totned to leave the country by that port, and to these
transports, which can in themselves not be consi-
dered as a direct means of promoting German in-
dustry, is linked all the subsequent commercial
transactions. Of the 225 ships that went from
Bremen to America last year, 223 were emigrant
ships, carrying over 31,000 passengers; their cargoes
out were completed with goods, most probably of
German produce, and their return freights con-
sisted of colonial produce. The extraordinary ac-
tivity with which Bremen has carried on this novel
kind of business is owing to several circumstances
which do not require to be further developed here, and
which are so little connected with the measures which
we are here discussing, that it can hardly be supposed
that an increase of this business by means of differ-
ential duties is contemplated. Independent of these
particular circumstances, there is no reason for
quoting Bremen, where the exporter and shipowner is
perhaps often the same person, as a proof in favour of
the proposition that the amount of direct imports
gives the measure of the amount of the exports of
German produce. It is indeed proved by experience
that the relative proportions of exports and imports
are not more favourable in Bremen than in Ham-
burgh, where the business of exporter and shipowner
is not so often in the same hands. On the contrary,
the proportions are rather in favour of Hamburgh,
for while, according to Table XIX., relative to the
trans-Atlantic trade during the year 1845, the relative
proportion of exports to imports was as 11 to 25, in
Hamburgh it was as 26 to 37 million marks banco ; and
if we deduct on both sides the value of the goods
appertaining to persons emigrating, the proportions
will he still less favourable to Bremen. Conse-
quently experience also teaches that the union of the
business of shipowner is not of such very great
advantage with regard to the sale of German pro-
duce. Should even the shipowner, relying on ad-
vantageous return-frieght, and not liking to let his
ship make an entirely profitless voyage out, load it
with German produce, without much prospect of a
profitable sale, such a circumstance would at all
events not exercise any considerable influence on the
course of trade. As a general rule, it may be said
that if the export business is profitable, it would be
so independently of its being carried on by home
shipping (as is daily experienced in Hamburgh);
and if it be not profitable it will soon be given up by
our shipowners, who certainly cannot be expected,
out of zeal for the promotion of German industry,
to go on with a business that proves itself profitless.
The above quoted numbers, showing the propor-
tions of the imports from transatlantic countries to
the exports to those countries, also refute the asser-
tion contained in the statement of the Department of
Trade, that the trade of Hamburgh is not of much
benefit to German industry, because even the direct
imports to this city from transatlantric countries are
made by means of foreign vessels; for those state
ments give the value of the exports of German pre-
duce from this port to transatlantic countries, only ex-
clusive of those to Europe ; but even independent of
this, the correctness of this assumption may be
doubted : first, it is incorrect that the greater part of
the transatlantic imports into Hamburgh are made in
foreign vessels, for (vide Table I.) of the 380
loaded vessels coming to Hamburgh from ports
out of Europe, 200, according to the general
practice, are German, 50 Danish (consequently
partly German), and only 130 are foreign. It
can with as little truth be maintained that the Eng-
lish, Danish, and other ships, do not export ;German
produce, as it is evident that they would not enter
the port of Hamburgh if they were not able to find
return freights there, but were obliged to leave it in
ballast. Should it be objected to this, that even if
they do take in return freights here, these do not
consist in German manufactured produce, this objec-
tion will be obviated by a glance at Table XXII:,
which shows the number of ships that have left for
transatlantic ports. A comparison drawn -from this
table and from Table I. will also show that the Eng-
lish flag in particular has, during the last ten years,
been much more active in the export trade of Ham-
burgh
.to transatlantic countries than in the import
trade, and that, on the contrary, the German flag
imports more than it exports. In addition to this,
these tables also show that a large number
of ships (sometimes 8, sometimes 30, and even
76), and more particularly of German ships, yearly go
out empty from this port to transatlantic ports,* a
fact which it is difficult to reconcile with the reason-
ing of the Department of Trade. Finally, were it
even true, as the oft-mentianed deductions assert, that
the products of German manufacturing industry are
being more and more supplanted in transatlantic
markets by the manufactures of other countries, this
circum thrice would in itself he the most striking re-.
futation of that argument, as it has been shown (vide
Table I. and VIII.) that contemporaneously with
this supposed diminution of our exports, our imports
from those countries, as well as the number of our
ships engaged in trade with them, have greatly in-
creased. This clearly proves how little the sale of
German goods in foreign ports is connected with the
direct importations to Germany from those ports, or
the amount of German shipping engaged in trade
with them ; at all events, it proves how doubtful a
means of promoting the former would be the in-
troduction of differential duties in favour of the two
latter.

To the uncertainty and the improbability of a fa-
vourable result comes thus a still more important
consideration—namely, the probability of an unfa-
vourable result.

If the differential system be consistently carried
out, its injurious effects w]l in the first instance be
manifested with regard to the supplies of raw mate-
rial used in manufactures. It has already been shown
that the action of differential duties in favour of di-
rect imports of colonial goods would, in fact, be re-
duced to a mere nothing, if the chief articles, such as
cotton, indigo, and sugar, which are at present prin •
cipally imported indirectly, were to be withdrawn
from their influence, and that it is nevertheless abso-
lutely necessary that German manufacturers should
be allowed to continue to avail themselves of Euro-
pean markets for supplying themselves with these
articles.

The promotion of our cotton manufactures is what
public opinion in Germany most strenuously demands.
But a system which would prevent the German
manufacturer from supplying himself with cotton
from those markets which afford him the greatest
choice, or, in other words, would prevent him from
drawing his supplies from England and France if he
could get them cheaper there than in America, seems
but little reconciloable with this object. Since it has
become usual for English commercial houses to have
agents in the interior of Germany, the indirect sup-
plies of cotton which are brought hither are generally
obtained from Liverpool, by order and for account of
our own manufactures ; but this is only done when
cotton can really be obtained cheaper in that market
than that which is directly imported. The English
houses are obliged to make offers at fixed prices, and the
German manufacturers are at liberty to accept or to
reject them. But extensive purchases for German ac-
count are also often made in Havre, because the sellers in
this market—which principally supplies Alsace and
Switzerland, where the finest cotton goods are manu-
factured, and where, consequently, the most superior
qualities only of the raw material are required—are
obliged to dispose of the inferior qualities of American
cotton which remain on their hands at proportionately

* These ships frequently go empty to Bremen to take
in emigrants there. The number of ships laden with
goods only, trading to and from this country and the
transatlantic countries, can never be equal, because, in-
dependent of every other consideration, manufactured
goods are of so much smaller bulk and weight than colo-
nial goods.

low prices, by which the German manufacturer is
greatly benefited. It can hardly need further proof
how injurious it would be to German industry, under
such conjunctures as those of last year, for instance,
were this market closed against us, and we should be
obliged to have recourse instead to the markets of the
distant producing country, whence offers at fixed
prices cannot be made in Germany, and where very
frequently the orders of the German manufacturer,
when they arrive cannot be executed, because they
have been fixed at too low a limit. On
the other hand, the protective duty on cot-
ton yarn, which has lately been raised one Prus-
sian dollar in the Zollverein States, would soon be
neutralised if the German cotton-spinners were ex-
cluded from the markets of Liverpool and Havre, and
should he forced to pay the higher prices which would
at once be established in the German seaports, in con-
sequence of the exclusion of the competition of those
markets ; while foreign spinners, continuing to pur-
chase in those markets, would perhaps be able to offer
their yarns at a reduction of price exactly equivalent
to the amount of the increased duty imposed by the
Zollverein. It has already been shown above that the
new system will not immediately lead to an equalisa-
tion of price in different markets, and in particular
that we cannot immediately expect great supplies
from India, with which country we have hitherto had
very little connexion ; but should this even take place
after the lapse of some years, German manufacturers,
which under existing circumstances are gradually
opening new markets for themselves, will by that time
be entirely driven out of those markets, and our
cotton manufacturers will have received a check from
which they will not easily recover.
For cloth manufacturers, indigo is of the greatest
importance. The new system would also consider-
ably increase the price of this raw material. Of the
30,000 chests of indigo which form the amount of
the yearly produce of India, 20,000 chests go to
England, to he there disposed of at the great quar-
terly sales, where the owner is sure to obtain the
price which the state of the European markets war-
rants. Germany must draw her supplies from Eng-
land, and should she be debarred from this, her cloth
manufactures, which are at present in so flourishing
a condition, that German cloth has almost superseded
the English manufacture in the markets of America,
would immediately be crippled and checked. The
same may be said of other dye stuffs, such as cochi-
neal, &c.
Finally, sugar, though imported directly in great
quantities, as has been shown above, is also partly ob-
tained through indirect channels, when those prove
most profitable. It would be most imprudent to
check these indirect imports at the very moment when
the free admission of sugar into England will pro-
bably occasion a considerable increase in the supplies
brought to that country, and a consequent glut in her
markets, which would enable our manufacturers to
purchase there at a cheap rate.
In considering the rise in the price of raw mate-
rials which will be caused by the imposition of diffe-
rential duties on indirect importation, we must not
forget to take into account that which will be added
by the additional duty on imports in foreign Alps,
and the consequent rise in the rate of freight. This
has been more fully dwelt upon above, and we will
therefore here only make the further remark, that
should even raw materials be exempted from differen-
tial duties, the latter would still exercise an indirect
restraining influence on their importation, by occa-
sioning inconvenience in assorting the goods destined
for Germany in the European transit markets. For
instance, in dispatching a lot of goods not subject to
the new duty, to Germany, exporters would be pre-
vented from completing their cargo with such goods
as would be subject to this duty.
As it is of the greatest importance to the manufac-
turer in making his purchases to have access to the
greatest and best supplied markets, we must further
insist upon the circumstance that the projected system
of differential duties would not only prevent the
German manufacturer from availing himself of the
French and German markets, but would even injure
the existing great German markets on the North Sea,
as has been shown above when treating of the injuri-
ous influence which the new system threatens to
exercise on the import and on the transit trade.
Large markets and transit trade are equally im-
portant for the sale of the industrial produce of Ger-
many. In order to make this evident, it will be suf-
ficient to recal what has been said above concerni: g
the transit trade of Hamburgh and Altona with Ner•
way. The best means to form to oneself a perfectly
correct idea of this trade would be to examine the
account-books of the Norwegians, who every spring,
when the navigation recommences, crowd to Ham-
burgh to make purchases there, for the reports of the
commerc'al travellers, who every year leave Germany
in great numbers, and spread over Denmark and the
Baltic countries, offering there for sale the goods of their
respective houses. In Hamburgh may be seen a
varied mixture of goods of all kinds, for which sales
have been made in this manner. But this very
variety is the most essential condition of the prospe-
rity of the place, for were the Norwegians not sure
to find in this market all that they require, colonial
produce as well as manufactured goods, at a cheap
rate and in the greatest variety., they would no doubt
resort in preference to the English market, which is,
besides, nearer to them. There they would indeed
find none but English manufactures, but these would
in most cases be substituted for German without any
inconvenience. For the sake of German manufactures
alone, they would certainly not take the trouble of
coining so far ; but under the existing system of free
trade in Hamburgh, they find here the goods of all
countries, and when making their purchases of co-
ionial produce, imported indirectly as well as directly,
they provide themselves at the same time with Ger-
man manufactures.

We have here adduced but one example out of
many. The manufactured produce of Germany can-
not suffice alone to encourage the trade with the north
and with the Baltic countries, nor is it sufficient for
the export trade with the non-European countries.
Here, again, liberty of action with regard to the
completing of cargoes becomes a matter of great im-
portance, for just as a single commercial house, which
through its connexions with distant countries effects
extensive sales of German manufactures, would be
crippled in its undertakings if it were forbidden to
complete its cargoes with English goods; so also
would the export trade in German goods of a whole
commercial city be greatly checked if merchants
were prevented by artificial regulations from supply-
ing its market with all kinds of goods which would
he likely to meet the wants of purchasers, and be in
accordance with the actual necessities of trade.

That German ships are not exclusively used for
the exportation of German manufactures has been
shown above; it is just as certain that it is not only
the merchants in German seaports who carry on the
export trade, but that foreign merchants also very
frequently order shipments of German goods to be
made for their account. Both these circumstances
afford new grounds for not preventing foreign mer-
chants on their side from sending hither colonial
goods from European markets, and for not hindering
foreign ships from seeking freights in German ports,
where their competition serves to reduce the price of
freights outwards, and consequently to facilitate the
exportation of German produce. Nothing can be
more desirable with regard to the promotion of the
German export trade than an accumulation of the
cheapest means of transport in German ports.
Finally, it must not be overlooked (and indeed we
have already called attention to this point) that
Germany is not to dispose of the surplus of her pro-
duce to trans-Atlantic countries only, but also to
European countries; and not only to those of the
north, the importance of which with regard
to our trade has already been mentioned, but
likewise to those of the west; for all German
seaports, Bremen perhaps excepted, their trade
with Europe is of superlative importance. It will
hardly be necessary to refer to Tables XX. and XXI.
to prove, that the great majority of ships that have
left Germany have been destined for European poi ta ;
and though the ships engaged in the European trade
are frequently of lEss tonnage than others, yet it
cannot be doubted, that even with regard to tonnage,
the greatest amount of exports takes place to Euro-
pean ports. Among the western countries, England
is decidedly the most important customer with regard
Ito German produce. German manufactures are in-
deed almost excluded by high duties, but even these
will make way for themselves, in spite of all custom-
house barriers, when the circumstances connected
with a particular branch of industry in the one coun-
try and the wants of the other country render it pro-
fitable. Such is, for instance, the case with the
hosiery of Saxony, which is introduced into England
and is able to compete with English manufactures of
the same kind, though the cotton yarn used in its
manufacture is partly of English origin, and is con-
sequently subjected to double duties and burdened
with double transport expenses. This may, how-
ever, be an exceptional case ; according to the gene-
ral rule, it is agricultural produce that is exported
to western countries, and to such a vast extent,
that thereby the value of the general exportations
from Germany, throughout the year is rendered al-
most equal to that of the importations. The corn
exports may be calculated to amount to 100,000
lasts,* which, estimated at 100 Prussian dollars,
would give the sum of 30,000,000 marks banco. Of
clover seed there was last year shipped to England
from Hamburgh alone, about 24,000,000 pounds, at
a value of 6,000,000 marks banco. If we add to this
30,000,000 for wool (about 24,500,000 by way of
Hamburgh alone), and for zinc, from 3,000,000 to
4,000,000 (about 2,500,000 by way of Hamburgh),
we have still only named the principal articles of ex-
portation. But if foreign European nations purchase
so largely from us, while their manufactures are, by

* The Stettin memorial against differential duties.
(Berlin, 1847) calculates that the exports from the
Prussian Baltic ports alone amount in good years to
150,000 lasts.

high protective duties, excluded from the greater part
of Germany, we ought at least not to prevent them 1
from maintaining the balance, by providing us with
colonial produce. If the maintenance of such balance
be rendered difficult, the natural consequence is, that
the rate of exchange will become unfavourable,
German produce will in the consuming countries be
rendered dearer, and the foreign consumers will thus
be obliged either to reduce their supplies of these
goods, or to draw them from other states instead of
from Germany.
But even this danger is of minor importance when
compared to the much greater eril that would ensue,
should the European states look upon the proposed
German customs law—and, particularly upon the no
tice to determine all treaties, which must precede its
introduction—as a hostile measure; and if, instead of
being induced thereby to follow a more liberal sys
tem, they should adopt more stringent measures even
than hitherto against German vessels and German
imports in their ports; what an incalculable loss
would it not entail upon Germany should, for in-
stance, Holland and Belgium feel themselves called
upon to impose higher duties upon German corn than
upon American and Russian corn; or if, in England,
German clover-seed were taxed higher than the
French—German zinc were placed under disadvan-
tages in comparison with Polish or Belgian zinc, and
German woal should be superseded by Russian and
Hungarian, or even by American wool, which might
under these circumstances soon be able to compete
with it. It may, perhaps, be objected hereto that
such fears are exaggerated, and that the different
European countries could have no legitimate reason
for such retaliation, because Germany avails herself of
measures which they have previously enforced against
her. It may also be that foreign states would be de-
terred from adopting retaliatory measures by consi-
derations similar to those that make us deem the pro-
ject unadvisable for Germany. We must not, how-
ever, overlook the circumstance that the articles here
enumerated are such as will in future not be consi-
dered so indispensable to other European countries ;
that further, the project in question here appears in
the light of a coercive system, which cannot be exclu-
sively applied to the states against which it is parti•
cularly meant to bear ; and that, finally, the European
states cannot help seeing that the practical workings
of the system will injure their trade, while it favours
the trade of transatlantic countries; for throughout
our inquiry we have supposed that the difference be-
tween indirect and direct importation was to be consi-
dered only as a difference between Etiropean and trans
atlantic produce. Should an attempt be made to go
further—which would however be but consistent—and
also to impose higher burdens on imports of such
goods from American countries as should not be their
own produce, the transatlantic countries might like-
wise be induced to adopt retaliatory measures, which
would complete the ruin of German industry ; because
it cannot for a moment be doubtful that the United
States, for instance, would resent any measures by
which their transit trade should be obstructed, when
we consider how strictly those states adhere to the
principle of reciprocity, and what great quantities of
goods are brought from North American ports to
Germany, which are not the produce of those coun-
tries. We have already alluded to the Brazilian,
West Indian, and Asiatic produce, which reaches us
by this route. Should this route, however, remain
unimpeded by the new system (as has been presup-
posed during the whole course of our investigations),
these measures will lead to a kind of custom house
warfare declared against the transit trade of European
states in favour of that of transatlantic countries—and
this will be a reason the more for the firmer to have
recourse to retaliatory measures.
Herewith we conclude that part of our inquiry
which relates to the effects of the projected system of
differential duties, without the attainment of a uni-
versal system of free trade. The conclusions come
to by us are, that a German navigation Act, for the
promotion of direct trade with transatlantic countries,
and for the benefit of the German shipping interests,
would, with regard to these two points, be partly
superfluous, partly ineffectual; but, with regard to
commerce, it would be ruinous to the import trade as
well as the transit trade, while its beneficial effects
on German exports and German industry would be
very dubious, and at all events, more uncertain and
less important than the dangers with which its intro-
duction threatens these sources of public prosperity.
Under such circumstances the introduction of such a
system would be perilous, even were it certain to work
out its ultimate object—namely, the abolition of the
restrictions which are imposed upon the foreign com-
merce of Germany. That such certainty is far from
existing, we mean to prove in the third section, where
all that we have to say will be grounded upon what
has been already said in our first and second sections.
(To be continued.)

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
MANSION-HOUSE.

John Harvey, a well-known, insolent beggar, who
goes upon crutches, was charged by Mr. Leddington,
of the King's Head Tavern, in the Old Jewry.
The defendant walked into the complainant's house
at twelve o'clock that day, and demanded a penny-
worth of meat or soup, and, on beiag told that he
could not he supplied, tried to break a large plate-
glass window ; but not succeeding, on account of the
thickness of the article, dashed his crutch through a
pane worth about 103.
Mr. Lloyd, relieving officer to the City of London
Union, said the defendant was a resolute beggarman,
who could not be prevailed upon to stay in the parish
in which he had claim, and had been passed to
Somersetshire a short time ago, soon after which he
appeared in the streets of the City.
Mr. Leddington—l offered him some bread for
nothing, but he said he didn't want bread, and must
have the meat or soup.
Tly.• defendant—What he says is true enough. He
offered me bread.

The LORD MAYOR—And how could you do an in-
jury to one who had offered you bread for nothing ?
The defendant—Why, I wanted to see your Lord-
ship. .1 belonged to the Masonic Order for upwards
of forty years, and I thought you might do something
for me.

The LORD MAYOR—You belong to a very bad
order evidently. The defendant—Why, the worst
order is the want of money order, and that I cer-
tainly want. I had plenty of it at one time, but now
it's all up. _ _ _

Mr. Leddington—l do not want to punish him, my
Lord.

The LORD MAroa—But I do ; he is a thorough
rogue and vagabond, and he must go to Bridewell for
two months.

BOW-STREET.

An omnibus conductor, named Thomas Shouler, ap-
peared to answer No summonses charging him with
using abusive language to a passenger, and refusing
to show his badge.
Mr. Stafford, a solicitor, of Northumberland-
street, Strand, got into a Putney omnibus at Chelsea,
(No. 2,236), intending to alight at Charing-cross.
On reaching the Haymarket, he found the driver
taking them round by the National Gallery and
Duncannon-street, upon which he called to the defen-
dant to put him down at Charing. cross, through
which the omnibus was bound to pass. He refused
to do so; and, a;ter some remonstrances, both from
the complainant and other passengers, exclaimed to
the driver, " that there was a fellow wanting to go
to Hungerford-market for 3d., and he'd see him some-
where else first." As there was a lady sitting close to
the door, complainant insisted on seeing defendant's
badge, but he refused to show it, and used disgusting
languae. The driver, however, turned down to the
Charing-crosa post-office, and complainant was put
down there, the defendant continuing to abuse him as
he got out. The complainant added that he had fre-
quently had occasion to complain of omnibus con-
ductors, but had forborne to summon them at
the request of the company of proprietors, who
undertook to inquire into the complaints, but who, in
the last instance, took no notice whatever of his com-
munication.

Mr. HENRY feared there was little chance of any
remedy emanating from that quarter. There could
be no doubt that the cheap fare system had given rise
to increased abuses, and daily impositions upon the
public • and passengers who would take the trouble
to prefer these complaints really did a public service.
The defendant, who had expected the solicitor of
the company to defend him, offered no excuse, but
admitted that the statements of the complainant were
correct.

Mr. HBNRY felt that he ought to commit him for
two months, for his conduct was most disgraceful.
The only circumstance in his favour was the appa-
rent fact that he had not been convicted before. His
Worship then fined him 31. for the abusive language,
21. for refusing to show his badge, and ordered the
suspension of his license for two months, or, in de-
fault of paying the fines, to be committed for two
months.

One of the conductors of Wilson's " Favorite"
omnibuses was fined a similar amount by Mr. Henry
a few days since, for abusive language to Mr. M'Crea,
a barrister, of King's Bench- walk, Temple.
WORSHIP-STREET. _ _

A powerful old Irishman, named Richard Richard-
son, was charged before Mr. liammill, with the
following brutal outrage on his own daughter, a
middle-aged woman, named Mary Briant :
The complainant, who presented a very shocking
appearance, her hair being completely matted with
blood, which had poured from a fearful gash in the
side of her head, run down her face and bosom,
and thoroughly saturated her clothing, stated
that she had sometime since, out of natural affection,
taken her father into her house, and provided him
with board and lodging, but that ever since she had
done so he had conducted himself so offensively that
he had been the constant cause of discord and quar
rels between herself and her husband; in addition to
which he was of such a violrit and uncontrollable

'emper, ' that, upon her venturing to remonstrate
with him in three or four instances lately, he had
upon each occasion seized the first implement that
came to his hand, and either knocked her down with
it, or beaten her so severely that she had been
seriouily ill afterwards. After breakfast that morning
he again renewed his annoying behaviour, and made
such a disturbance about her daughter (a girl of 13)
going to school, that she told him she would endure
it no longer, and requested him to get a lodging
somewhere else; upon which the prisoner flew into a
violent passion, loaded her with the most disgraceful
epithets, and finally ran to the street door, from be-
hind which he took a heavy stick, and, raising it in
both his hands, dealt her such a terrible blow on the
head that she was instantly felled to the ground al-
most senseless. He then threw himself upon her,
placed his knees upon her chest, and was proceeding
to further acts of violence when she partially re-
covered herself, succeeded in gaining her Net, and,
covered with blood, struggled with him and clung to
him until assistance was procured, when the prisoner
attempted to escape over a wall in the yard, but was
caught by a constable and taken into custody.
The stick spoken of by the daughter was produced,
and was certainly a very formidable bludgeon ; it was
nearly an inch in thickness, had a large knob at the
end, and it was a matter of surprise that the woman
had escaped as she had.

A lodger in the house corroborated the daugh-
ter's statement, and said, that hearing a violent
struggle in the passage, and loud screams of "Mur-
der" in the complainant's voice, she ran down stairs
to her assistance, and found her engaged in a furious
contest with the prisoner, the blood streaming down
from a terrible wound in her head, inflicted with the
stick produced, which the daughter had just wrested
from him.

When called upon for his defence, the prisoner
at first pleaded that he was a poor old man, 67
years of age, who did everything he could for his
daughter and her child, but in the very next breath
entered into a long tirade against the former, re-
plete with the foulest abuse and most scandalous in-
sinuation, which the daughter indignantly refuted;
upon which
Mr. HAMMILL told him, that whatever cause of
complaint he might have against his daughter, the
violent course he had taken was not the %%ay to re-
dress it ; and as it was obvious, from the very ap-
pearance the complaint presented, that he had been
guilty of a scandalous outrage which nothing could
justify, he should not be doing his duty if he did not
inflict upon him the highest amount of penalty he
could impose, namely 51., or in default he must stand
committed to the House of Correction for two months.

Upon hearing this decision the prisoner Exclaimed,
with an air of insolent defiance, "Five pounds, eh ?
Why, you should not have five farthings out of me if
I hyd five thousand pounds. I would rot in prison
first ;" and to prison he was accordingly conveyed in
the van.

CLERKENWELL.
Dominique Mansell, an Italian, framemaker, of
39, Charles-street, Hatton-garden, was charged by
Mr. George Oram, razor-strop manufacturer, of 25,
Hatton-garden, with having maliciously attempted to
stab him.

The prosecutor deposed, that on Tuesday night last,
about ten o'clock, he was passing through Leather-
lane, Holborn, where a mob of Italians were quarrel-
ling near the King's Head public- house. The prisoner
pushed against him violently, and on remonstrating
with him he seized him and attempted to pull him
down. He swore at him, and taking out a clasp
knife, made a stab at him. The point of the knife
came against his stomach, but by an effort he pushed
away the prisoner's arm and prevented the weapon
injuring him. He called out "Murder ! Police !"
when two constables arrived on the spot, and he gave
the prisoner into custody.
Edward Francis Adams, 146 G, said, that on his
arrival he found a large mob of Italians. The pri-
soner was conducting himself in a very violent man--
tier, and he took from him the knife (now produced)
with a spring at the back or it.' He took him into
custody with the assistance of Miles, 45 G, and he
was locked up in the station-house.
Miles, 45 G., confirmed this testimony.
The prisoner, in his defence, said, he had been on
board a ship drinking, and he did not know what he
was doing at the time.
He was fully committed for trial.
SOUTHWARK.

Mr. Edwin Lathin, described as a man living on his
property, was brought before Mr. Cottingham, charged
with threatening to murder Mrs. Elizabeth Moor, of
Montague-place, Southwark, and attempting to set
fire to her house.

The complainant attended at the opening of the
court this morning, and represented that the prisoner
had not only threatened to murder her, but had at•
tempted to set fire to her house, and that she went in
bodily fear of him; adding that he was then on the
premises, and that she sought the magistrate's protec-
tion, as she was afraid to return to her house.

The magistrate, upon hearing the statement, im-
mediately issued his warrant against the accused,
which was placed in the hands of Guest, one of the
summoning officers, who proceeded forthwith to exe-
cute it, and after encountering considerable resistance
he brought the prisoner to the court, when he was
placed in the dock.

The prisoner is a man of gentlemanly appearance,
but he was evidently under the influence of liquor
even at that early hour of the morning.
The complainant, on being sworn, stated that the
prisoner and his wife had occupied apartments in her
house for the last 11 months, and that during that
period they were in the constant habit of quarrelling
and causing disturbances there. The complainant
said she was most anxious to get rid of such lodgers,
although they owed her a considerable sum for
arrears of rent, and had repeatedly warned them to
quit the house. In the course of that morning
she went up stairs to request that the prisoner
would leave the premises, but she had scarcely
opened her lips when he rose from his chair, and,
with an oath, swore he would murder her and set
the house in a blaze. She was alarmed at the threats
and hastened out of the place, but had not been down
stairs many minutes when she smelt fire, and on
running up perceived volume; of smoke issuing from
the prisoner's apartment, and on entering with other
persons she saw a portion of the bedding on fire, and
also a table cloth which was spread on a table near
where the prisoner was standing. Means were im-
mediately taken for quenching the fire, while the
prisoner stood a silent spectator of what was going
forward.
The bedding which had been on fire was here pro-
duced for the magistrate's inspection.
Guest, the summoning officer, said, that when he
went to apprehend the prisoner, he found the apart-
ments he occupied in a state of the greatest possible
disorder—that the china, crockery, and ornaments,
were all smashed and strewed about in all directions;
that the prisoner threatened to use violence if any
attempt were made to remove him, and it was found
necessary to have further assistance in order to take
him into custody.
The prisoner here exclaimed that the facts were
grossly exaggerated; that he had been confined in
the Queen's Bench for a debt of 5,0001., every shil-
ling of which he paid before he was liberated ; and
that after leaving the prison he went to lodge at the
complainant's house, and intended to pay her every
farthin he owed her; but that he was disappointed
in receiving his rents, and that caused her to make
his situation disagreeable.
Mr. COTTINGHAM-Blit what have you to say in
answer to the charge of threatening to murder her,
and to that of setting some of her property on fire—
the articles produced plainly evincing that they have
been burnt ? _ _

Prisoner—l never intended to do one or the
other. These things I dare say accidentally caught
fire ; for if I had intended to burn the place it is not
probable that I should have remained in the room to
allow myself to perish in the flames. I shall make a
proposition row, and that is that I will pay Mrs.
Moor immediately every shilling I owe her and quit
her house.

Mr. COTTINGLIAM said, that he could not listen to
any proposition of that kind, for he was too dan-
gerous a character to be admitted to go at large with-
out proper sureties to keep the peace; and that he
was bound to protect the woman who had made such
grave charges against him.
Prisoner—l can give bail if it is required ; and I
promise to quit the complainant's house immediately.
The complainant said that she was afraid to return
to her house if the prisoner went there, as she had not
the slightest confidence in his promises, both himself
and his wife being continually under the influent of
intoxication ; and that there was no knowing what
desperate act he might commit while in such a state.
As further proof of the prisoner's violent conduct, a
servant girl living in the house said, that on the pre-
vious morning he threw a poker at her, and she pro-
duced the broken parts of it to show the force with
which he flung it at her • that the weapon fortunately
missed her, otherwise she might have been maimed for
life.

The prisoner said that the witness told a falsehood,
and declared that he threw the poker at a cat which
had scratched him on the side of the nose.
Mr. COTTINGIIAM having severely censured the
violent conduct exhibited by a man in the prisoner's
situation of life, ordered him to be imprisoned in de-
fault of heavy sureties to keep the peace.
LAMBETH.

Sergeant Hoskins, 1 L, reported to the sitting Ma-
gistrate, Mr. Norton, that on the preceding evening-,
between the hours of six and seven o'clock, two little
boys, named Edward Hornblower and John Torrent,
were found lying on the pavement in the Lower
Marsh in a state of helpless intoxication. They were
carried to the Tower-street station, and were found
in such a state that it was deemed necessary to send
for Mr. Wagstaff, the divisional surgeon. That gen-

tleman promptly attended, and instantly s pplied the
stomach pump to both the lads, and ejected a quantity
of spirits from the stomach. He then dire cted their
immediate removal to the Lambeth workhot Ise, which
was done ; and though closely attended all night by
a medical gentleman, they still remained i. a so elan. .
go-ons a state as to render it unsafe to remo we their
Indeed there were some doubts whether the y wow 4d
recover. _

The father of one of the boys here said he, hadl~een
to the workhouse to see the lads, and h e had VI •ry
considerable doubts whether they wou'id rec GI Ter.
The poor man, who seemed much affected, said, , t hat
from what could be learned from the little fe'
who were but 12 years of age ,each, it appe d that
a person i❑ the garb of a gentleman had prevt ile. I upon
them to drink a whole bottle of giv.

Mr. NORTON observed , that the act Was of of
most shameful description, and desirtd that the little
fellows should not be removed from the work house
uutil they were thoroughly recovered.