The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-01 00:00:00

- This is what I denominate the true theory of
free trade. It contemplates no export duties to en-
hance.the price of any natural product with the view
0r making it artificially dear to those who require
it ; but it gives free scope to industry, the common
market of the world to all, and a healthy, generous
rivalry as the result.
One word, before I conclude, in answer to those
who pretend to justify Mr. Gladstone in the course
he is intent on pursuing with reference to the
paper trade.
It is said this is the old, old tale of the corn laws,
tbe*CrtY of iheVaSsmaker, the sottpboil7r, the brick-
maker, &c. , Nothing can be jmore deliberately
false than such a statement. Throughout the
whole range of agricultural, commercial, and manu-
facturing industry there is not one instance within
my knowledge where an export duty is levied on
the raw material of a British manufacture concur-
rently with a free admission of foreign manufac-
tured goods of the same description. But if there
were a single instance of the sort, is it a reason be-
cause you- have' done wrung in one case why you
should continue your evil courses ?
And the statement that this wholesale destruc-
tion of the paper trade is right " in the interest of
the consumer " is equally false.

Who'are the consumers of paper ? Not certainly
the newspaper proprietors, nor yet the publishers;
they are -the manufacturers of books and news-
papers. The consumers of paper are those who
buy books and newspapers, those who buy tea,
coffee, and other groceries wrapped up in paper,
who buy ironmongery, clothing, and other neces-
sarimot life similarly wr2:-ped up. „..,
We Lre- told distinctly that, as far as the penny
newspaper is concerned, "no one dreams of its
becoming cheaper." Will books be cheaper because
the publisher saves a farthing or a halfpenny per
volume on the cost of his paper ? Will the working
man bay his tea, his sugar, or his coffee any cheaper
because the grocer saves ld. per lb. on his paper.
.1 admit frankly that the effect of maintaining a
differential ld. per lb. on foreign paper is practi-
cally to make paper dearer than it would be were it
repealed; but the paper maker is no gainer by this
he pays the whole penny, and something more, on
the cost of his material, and, to some extent, the
public are reimbursed by the higher price they ob-
tain for their refuse.

But let the incidence rest where it maT, the main-
tenance of a differential duty at the Customs is an
absolute necessity to maintain the trade of paper-
making in existence in this country, so long as the
foreign export duty or rag tax is• levied upon us ;
and it will be well that the Members of the House
of Commons should pause before they allow any
merely party interests or party feeling to obscure
the great and important principle of international
justice which is here involved.—l am, sir, yours, &c.,
THOMAS WRIGLEY.
Timberhurst, near Bury; July 28.

BER WICK ELECTION COMMISSION.

BERWICK-ON-TWEED, JuLr_3o.

The royal commission, consisting of Mr. James
Vaughan, Mr. Franklin Lushington, and Mr.
Thomas Irwin Bastow, appointed to inquire into
the existence of corrupt practices in this old border
town, commenced its sittings in the town-hall this
morning.

Mr. Vaughan, the chairman, opened the proceed-
ings with a short address.

Mr. Thomas Allan, sheriff of Berwick, deposed to
an election which took place on the 20th August,
1859.

Mr. J. C. Weddell, solicitor, and under-sheriff at
the last election, gave a history of the recent elec-
tions. In the last contest, Mr. Marjoribanks beat
Mr. Hodgson, the Conservative candidate, by one
vote. Berwick is an ancient borough. He said it
has returned members since the reign of James I.
Up to the passing of the Reform Act, the consti-
tuency was entirely freemen. At • that time he
could not tell their numbers. In '59 the consti-
tuency was 814. There are 376 freemen. From
his experience as an agent, he was not aware
whether • freemen or £lO householders are more
e.arr.apt. The Mutation on the subject is different.
elitss most open, it is olinerilly supposed, are
the ancient freemen. Had heard no precise number
said to be under the influence of corrupt practices.
Should think there were not 100. There might be
a considerable number. The rental of these parties
vary from £lO to £lOO. The averabe might be
from £lO to £25.

Mr. Robert Horn, town clerk of Berwick, was
then examined, and his evidence was followed by
that. of Mr. Launcelot Turner Fleming, eleution
auditor ; and of Mr. Robert Douglas, solicitor in
tierwick, and agent of Mr. Marjoribanks at the
last election.

Mr. Stephen Saunderson, also a solicitor at Ber-
wick, and under-sheriff, produced the poll-book
and register, and the inquiry was adjourned to
ten o'clock to-morrow.