The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-21 00:00:00

additional 5 per cent. to which he was liable, as also for the
expense to which he was put by the Excise regulations, and
for the disadvantage under which he laboured through the
restrictions placed by other countries on the export of rags.
In 1853 the Chancellor of the Exchequer contemplated an
equalisation between the Customs' duty and the Excise ;
but the paper manufacturers of this country complained
that they would be exposed to an unfair competition if such
a measure were adopted. When the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer this year proposed the total abolition of both the
Excise and Customs' duties on paper, our manufacturers
were again thrown into consternation. The Foreign Secre-
tary intimated that the Government would use their best
endeavours to induce other States to repeal or modify their
restrictions on the exportation of the raw material, and the
house was glad to hear the announcement that the French
Government had consented to substitute for their previous
system of prohibition a small export duty on rags. The
home manufacturers thought, when the House of Lords
rejected the bill for the repeal of the Excise duty, that the
proposal to deal with the Customs' duty on paper would be
abandoned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But they
they had now been undeceived, because the right hon. gen-
tleman had given notice of a motion to reduce the Customs'
duty to such an amount as would exactly compensate for the
Excise duty, and for the expense occasioned by the Excise
regulations, but leaving no protection to the English manu-
facturer for the existing restrictions on the export of the raw
material from ether countries. Under these circumstances
he begged to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
whether her Majesty's Government had succeeded in obtain-
ing from any of the Continental Governments the abolition
or modification of the taxes or restrictions imposed by them
on the export of rags ; whether it was true the French Go-
vernment had abandoned its project of substituting a duty
on the export of rags for the prohibition which now exists ;
and, whether any communication had been received from the
French Government, claiming that, under the recent treaty
of commerce, the Customs' duty on French paper imported
into this country be diminished.

Lord J. RUSSELL—I undertook to represent to foreign
GoVernments that it would be the desire of her Majesty's
Government that some change should be made with regard
to the export of rags, that where there was a prohibition it
should be abolished, and that where there was an export
duty that duty should be reduced. I am sorry to say that
those representations have not been successful ; that,
although some of the Governments promised to consider
the matter, no efficient steps have been taken for that pur-
pose, and that many Governments replied that the paper
manufacturers objected to any diminution of duty or re-
moval of prohibition. That is the answer which we have re-
ceived from Austria and from other Powers. With regard
to the second question of the hon. gentleman, I stated some
time ago that the French Government proposed to change
their system of prohibition into one of duty, and accord-
ingly they submitted to the legislative body a project for
such an alteration. We have no official information upon
the subject, but we understand that great opposition was
made to that project, and there are great doubts whether it
will be carried. It, therefore, does not appear at all certain
that the French Government will persist in the proposition.
' With reference to the last question, I imagine that, the
treaty of commerce having been sanctioned by Parliament,
the French Government will expect that our obligations in
that respect should bo fulfilled. They have made no com-
munication upon the subject, but I imagine that they con-
sider that, as a matter of course, we shall comply with the
obligations of the treaty. (Hear, hear.)

KENSINGTON GARDENS.
Sir J. V. SHELLEY said that the right hon, gentleman
the First Commissioner of Works had no right to say that
those who had made representations to him upon the sub-
ject of the new ride in Kensington Gardens were actuated
by a desire for vestry renown. The deputation which
waited upon the right hon. gentleman was headed by the
Recorder of the City of London ; and the time for the sig-
nature of the memorial had been limited in order to antici-
pate, and, if possible, prevent any agitation out of doors.
Ile believed that the right hon. gentleman had made this
alteration under the impression that it would excite no
opposition ; but, as it would undoubtedly do so, he trusted
that his right hon. friend would at once reconsider the de-
cision at which he had arrived. Of all the miserable places
which he ever saw this ride, which was now a swamp, and
in dry weather became so hard that no one could ride upon
it, was the worst. It was altogether a mistake, and the
sooner things were restored to their original condition the
better. (Hear, hear.)