The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-08 00:00:00

ADMISSION OF A SPURIOUS ARTICLE UNDER TIIE TITLE

OF TEA.
Mr. THOMPSON ascended the rostrum to offer teas also
brought by the Columbia from Singapore.
Mr. J. TRAVERS said before the sale began he wished to
put two questions to the selling broker of importance to the
trade. The first was whether the tea called bohea, declared
for sale, was, in the opinion of the selling broker, bohea or
any other description of tea ?—(Hear, hear.) The second
question he was desirous of having answered was, whether
the article under the name of bohea tea had passed the
Government officers as such ? He was certain that many
of the most respectable persons in the trade would agree
with him when he honestly stated his opinion that there
was not a single particle of tea in the goods offered for sale
to which he alluded.—(Loud cries of " Hear.") He was
confident, if such stuff was permitted to be sold as tea, the
most injurious consequences would be the result, as it would
lead to the destruction of the tea trade, for it would be idle
to expect that the public would long be imposed upon by
such an article, as it could not be expected that such a de-
ceit would long be passed upon them. The effect of such
rubbish being allowed to pass the Custom House would, if
continued, be injurious to the trade and the public health.
—( Hear, hear.) He submitted most respectfully, that the
stuff misnamed tea should be withdrawn from the sale. He
was convinced be should be supported by the trade in mak-
ing the request.—(Hear, hear.) He would therefore ask if
the tea in the catalogue to which he alluded was tea at all ;
and, secondly, if it had been passed by a Government offi-
cer?—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. THOMPSON said that as he was called upon by the
trade be should answer the question fairly. As a selling
broker he did not consider himself called upon to give an
opinion upon the tea, but he would state that it had been
passed as bohea by Mr. Wybrow, the inspector appointed
by Government—( Hear, bear)—and he believed with the
approbation of the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs.
—(Cries of " Shame.") As a broker he bad an opinion as
to the teas, but as a seller he had only his duty to do in
offering them. He must, however, state that he had re-
ported to his principal that by the sale of such goods as
those alluded to, the trade was most likely to be seriously
injured. (Loud cries of " Hear.") He would frankly
state that, though the article was called tea, he had not been
able to discover a particle of tea in the composition.
Mr. TRAVERS observed that he gave no opinion in res-
pect to the other teas to be offered for sale in this the first
under the new system, and he put it to the trade whether,
at the commencement of free trade, such stuff ought to be
sold?—(Hear.) He considered the fact that such an ar-
ticle, miscalled tea, being offered for sale, was an additional
reason why there should be a fixed rate of duty on teas, as
that alone would prevent the introduction of such spurious
articles.
Mr. It. Ginus, tea-broker, was desirous to say a few
words on this important question. He fully coincided in
all that had fallen from Mr. Travers, and he gave Mr.
Thompson credit for the opinion be had given of the article.
He (Mr. Gibbs) had devoted the whole of his life in ac-
quiring a practical knowledge of tea, and he would say that
it was not tea, and that it was unfit. for sale, except as poi-
son.—(Hear.)
Mr. CLEMITSON submitted if, after what bad passed, the
tea should be put up for sale.
Mr. DELAFOSSE observed that, connected as he was with
one of the oldest houses in the trade, he could not help con-
curring publicly in all that had been urged with respect to
the article called tea, and advised that it should be with-
drawn.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. THOMPSON stated that, seeing the unanimous -feel-
ing of the trade, he would not trouble them by putting up
this stuff, misnamed tea. He thought his friends would
be satisfied with the course that had been adopted.
Mr. GIBBS said that was not the question. The most
material point, as far as the country was interested, was,
that such should have been permitted to pass by the
Government officer as tea.—(Hear.) It concerned the
public, and he would ask in what situation would the out-
ports be placed if such tin article was to pass as tea from
the Custom House.—(Cheers.)
The sale was then continued, the objectionable article
being withdrawn, the teas put up sold from Is. 10d. to
2s. Id. per lb. for cougous, and padre from 2s. 3d. to 2s.
sd. per lb.
Other sales followed by Messrs. Styan and Co. and
Messrs. Hubbert and Layton, but they showed no parti-
cular feature of interest. The result of the sale is that
allowing for the qualities of the teas sold, prices were rea.
lised on the average from 6d. to 9d. per lb. in advance o
those obtained at the quarterly sale of the East India Corn.
pany.
THE EAST INDIA TRADE.—Yesterday the East India
Company's sale of indigo commenced at the India ROMFC.
'rho Company's commercial operations are fast drawing to