The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-13 00:00:00

fair, M. Baroche's idea of selecting, as he had done, the
highest quotations as his basis." The other members
minutely investigated samples of goods, entering into ana-
lysis of prices and welzhts in corroboration of previous sug-
gestions. The results were handed to Mr. Cobden at the

close of the sitting, at five o'clock ; and during the evening
the deputies learned that 34. Baroche's scheme was deemed
"minute, diffusive, and complicated." The deputies re-
solved to oppose it to the utmost.

Tho deputies submitted patterns of cotton manufactures
under four classifications for revenue purposes. The fol-
lowing was the scheme, with appended remarks :
" Class No. 1 : Consisted of shirtings, domestics, prin-
ters, long cloths, T cloths, sail cloths, tent cloth, madapol-
lams, in all their varieties comprising, as they conceived,
75 per cent. of the weight of the entire cotton manufacture.
No. 2: Consisted of jacconets for printing, India mulls,
and other light medium fabrics, constituting about 10 per
cent. of the bulk of manufacture.

No. 3 : Consisted of velvethens, moleskins, ♦elvets, cords,
dimities, and quiltings, being about 10 per cent. of the

manufacture.

" No, 4 : Consisting of fine plain muslin and jacconet ,
book, hair, cord, and damask, comprising about 5 per cent.

of the manufacture.

"The four classes above noted form the entire cotton
manufacture of Great Britain.

" The above classes may be characterised as follows, in
relation to the fabrics and their market value .

" Class 1: Consists of goods weighing over two ounces
per square yard. The cost of the raw material varies from
6d. to 6d. per lb., being an average of 61c1. The cost of
the manufacture varies from Sid. to 9d., and the selling

price from 12d. to 15d. per lb.—Note : Upon a reconside-
. . _ _

ration of the subject of this class, and to meet as far as

practicable the views of M. Baroche, it was agreed to ar-
range the above goods class No. 1, and place them under
two categories. Those weighing 11 kilos. per 100 square
metres in one category, and those weighing from 6 to 11
kilos. per 100 square metres in another.

" No. 2 : Consists of goods weighing under 2 ounces and
over an ounce per square yard. The cost of the raw mate-

rial is an average of 71,1, the cost of manufacture about
12d., and the selling price is from 12d. to 21d. per lb.
"No. 3 and 4 : Consist of goods principally of a fancy
character, and extremely variable in quality and cost, so
much so as to defy all our attempts to arrange and classify.
"The above classes Nos. 2,3, and 4, consisting of about
25 per cent. of the cotton manufacture of Great Britain, are
obviously so far beyond all our power to reduce to order or
arrauscurent fur purposes of Customs revenue, that we do
conclude at once there is no other course for them but the
al valorem system of entry for Customs taxation."
_ _ _

At the meeting on Friday the sth, Mr. Banks, an Eng-
lish agent, residing in Paris, was introduced. That gen-
tleman had' obtained from yarn agents in Paris samples
of French spinnings, which Mr. Ross undertook to examine;
and having compared them, with regard to quality and
price, with similar yarns in England, it appeared that any
heavy percentage of duty superadded to the expanse of
transit, could not"possibly lead to business." To make
this information more complete, Mr. Banks promised fur-
ther information on the next day. In the course of a con-
versation upon grey goods, the Glasgow deputies proposed
, " that the finer division should be divided into two parts—
say all goods between loz. and 2oz. per square yard to form
one division, and all under loz. another." Mr. Mallett re-
ported that the suggestion of two divisions had that morn-
ing been submitted to M. Rouher, Minister of Commerce,
and colleague of Mr. Cobden, and that he had promised for
it his most attentive consideration.
Mr. Banks presented on Saturday the 6th, "his state-
ment of the prices of cotton yarns, and the values in Eng-
land and France were carefully compared, showing as they
did that they were nearly alike in both countries when the
charges of transit were included. The comparison on
which the deputies rested most confidently was upon Nos.
24 and 36 single, and on Nos. 70 and 140 double, being the
only yarns of which French samples were furnished for
comparison to the Manchester deputies." The deputation
had to regret that while English firms published so many
prices-current of yarns, they could not hear of one pub.
lished by any French commercial firm ; so that they were
" thus enable them to carry out the comparison to other
counts besides those named." The results of the compari-
son were pressed upon Mr. Cobden, "who was much pleased
with the disclosure, and appeared quite alive to the exact
position in which the matter stood." Mr. Cobden specially
pressed for some of the deputies to remain and assist him ;
and Messrs. Ashworth, Slagg, Anderson, Thomson, Brown,
and Beckett promised to do so. Mr. Banks promised to
send samples of all other French counts to Manchester for
examination by Mr. Ross, if such a course should prove to
be necessary. The report contains a compendium of the
tables relied upon.
M. Baroche's plan of classification was laid before the
deputies by Mr. Ogilvie on the Bth October. "After due
consideration of this plan, the deputation came to the con-
clusion that it was quite unworkable, and would if adopted
lead to endless and vexatious errors. They entirely repu-
diated it, and recommended Mr. Cobden to insist upon the
simple plan they themselves had furnished."
On the 9th, after consulting with Messrs. Cobden and
Ogilvie, it was arranged to see M. Baroche, and to endea-
vour to effect a compromise between his plan and that of
the deputation. M. Baroche came at Mr. Cobden's request ;
but he had a previous engagement, and promised to come
again next day. Several of the deputies agreed to make a
longer stay in Paris in order to facilitate the business instead
of starting for home that day as they had wished to do.
At the meeting on the 10th, M. Baroche and Messrs.
Cobden, Ogilvie, and Mallet were present. M. Barocha
gave further lengthened explanations, but he persisted in
his plan ; and he " would listen to no modification of it
which would dispense with the use of the glass, or would
effect a reduction of his categories from 20 to three or four,
as proposed by the deputies." 'White quiltings, he said,
would be admitted ad valorem; and upon mixed fabrics
a very low duty would suffice, "as the French feared no
competition in this class of goods." Again. M. Baroche
stated that "in the light class of cotton goods we must
calculate on having a higher rate of duty in proportion
than in the higher qualities, as the French manufacturer
required more protection in this class of goods than in the
heavier. This matter, as affecting a large proportion of
Manchester, but more particularly Glasgow productions,
was considered of sufficient importance to bring it under
Mr. Cobden's special notice, with a view to getting him to
exert his utmost influence to establish such a rate of duty
in this class of goods as would at least allow of a competi-
tion between the French and the English producer."
Having now been engaged more than ten days, the depu-
tation considered that they had " left on record in the
hands of Mr. Cobden a systematic arrangement, of great
simplicity, by which they conceive a large amount of com-
mercial intercourse might be conducted ;" while M. Baroche
had drawn up a plan, "of which he expressed a very con-
fident opinion that it would be found unexceptionable."
It was on the 10th of October that the fourth and last in.
terview was held with M. Baroche ; but after it had lasted
more than two hours, it was brought to a close as "one
entirely hopeless of any results." Subsequently it was
sought to demonstrate to M. Chevalier and Mr. Cobden
" the utter absurdity as well as injustice of any attempt to
establish a system of Customs' investigation of cotton
fabrics based upon the counting of threads by a glass."
Amongst other cases, these were submitted :—Two fabrics
specified as belonging to the same category would be entered
at the same rate of duty, although one was valued in the
market at 4id. and the other at 2d. a yard. Two fabrics of
like nature as denoted by the number of picks or threads
would stand as dutiable, one in the ratio of 10 and the
other in the ratio of 55 centimes per kilo. Every step only
confirmed the deputies as to the superiority of the mode of
classification submitted to Mr. Cobden about the 4th of
October.
In consequence of Mr. Cobden's urgent wish, the deputies
met again to-day, to see if anything could be done to facili-
tate the general business of their visit : or in default to give
further information to combat M. Baroche's plan to sup-
port their own. " After an interview with M. Chevalier,
it was stated that nothing further could be done until Tues-
day, the 16th; and as Mr. Cobden is now possessed of all
the facts that the deputation could give him, they deter-
mined to return home, leaving him to fight the battle."

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.—Moadow hay, £2 lOs to £5 lOs Od ; clover
do., £3103 to £5 15s ; and straw, £1 lOs to £1 18s per load.
Trade dull, at drooping prices.

CUMBERLAND..-- Meadow hay, £2 lOs to £5 10s ;
clover, £3 10s to £5 158 Od ; and straw, £1 lOs to £2 Os
per 14ad. A slow demand.

WHITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £2 10s to £5 10s Od ;
cloves, £3 10s to £6 Os Od ; sad straw, £1 10s to £1 16,
per load.

COLONIAL.

TEA.—The market has been very quiet, both buyers and
sellers deferring their operations till the public sales, which
take place to-day.
SUGAR.—There has been more inquiry for refining qua.
lities, and high rates are demanded by holders. Grocery
descriptions are steady, and in the refined market a steady
business has been done at full rates.
COFFEE.—The demand has been inactive. Good and fine
qualities of plantation Ceylon, however, maintain previous
rates. The stocks on hand, compared with those of the
same period of last year, show a deficiency of 1860 tons.
RICE.—For East India descriptions there has been a
good demand, and late prices have been well maintained.
SALTPETRE.—OnIy a limited inquiry has been experi-
enced, and no change can be recorded in values.
TALLOW.—The market has been quiet, and, owing to the
large arrivals of foreign, prices have shown rather less
buoyancy. P.Y.C. on the spot is now quoted 60s 6d, and
spring delivery 61s per cwt.

BURNING OF THE CONNAUGIIT.—A subscription
has been commenced for the purpose of presenting to Capt.
John Wilson, of the Minnie Sch;ffer, a picture of the:rescue
so gallantly effected by him of the whole of the passengers
and crew of the burning steamship Connaught. The com•
mission to paint this picture has been intrusted to Mr.
CI. w. Brierly, the eminent marine artist. Captain
Leitch, of the Connaught, who has just returned to Eng-
land, has had several interviews with Mr. Brierly, and has
famished that gentleman with particulars of the catas-
trophe which will enable him to present a faithful record of
a scene at once so honourable to Captain Wilson and so
interesting to the people both. of England and America.