The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-05 00:00:00

and of the 17,000 hectolitres of fine wines more than
8,000 are likewise Spanish.

It is under these circumstances that the Govern-
ment proposes on the occasion of the Law on the
Budget to tax foreign wines on their arrival in
France with a duty of 12f. the hectolitre, a duty
which, according to the preamble of the bill, is to
bring to the Treasury an additional revenue of
1,170,000 f. In order to obtain such a result the
consumption must rise to 106,000 hectolitres a year.
An examination of the preceding figures will
show that such a result cannot be obtained. If with
an average duty of 25f. the hectolitre a duty which
was only 15f. for wines arriving by land (and all
Spanish wines may arrive by land) there entered
only 690 hectolitres a year from the year 1850 to
1853, how can it be expected that with a duty of 12f.
—that is, of only 3f. the hectolitre less—there can
arrive nearly 100,000 hectolitres—that is, nearly

150 times as much ? On common wines 15f. the hec-
tolitre, and the decime represented 162 c. the litre,
12f. and the decime will represent 133 c. The dif-
ference to the consumer will not be felt, and no im-
portation will take place. The hopes expressed in the
Budget must consequently be reduced to their real
value, and we must admit that the importation of
ordinary wine will fall to the old figure, or nearly
so-690 hectolitres—it may reach 800 or perhaps
1,000 hectolitres, and the Treasury will receive at
most the sum levied previous to the year 1854,
viz., 20,0001. As for fine wines, an article of
luxury of which the value is so high that a dif-
ference of 131-e. the litre will not stop the con-
sumption, it may reach the average of late years,
viz., 17,000 hectolitres, which will produce, at 12f
and the decime, 225,0001., which, added to 20,000 f.
gives 245,000 f. ; being an increase of 134,000 f.
over the produce of the existing regime, which is
111,000 f. Thus, with the supposition of a large
importation of fine wine: equal under the regime of
duties to that which took place under free trade, a
surplus may be expected, not of 1,170,000 f., but of
134,000 f.
Can a surplus of 134,000 f justify a measure so
opposed to the liberal principles proclaimed by the
Government ?
Six years' experience had proved that the
free introduction of foreign wines could not injure
the wine production in France, as in the year when
importation was greatest (610,000 hectolitres in
1857) there only entered an inferior quaatity by
1-1-- per cent. of the annual average production of
France (45,000,000 hectolitres). This experience
was a good example given by the agricultural in-
dustry to manufacturing industry. Not a com-
plaint was heard, not a voice demanded the re-esta-
blishment of the duties, no agricultural or commer-
cial interest was found injured. On the contrary,
the consumer profited by the influence of the im-
portations on prices, and the people by an abundant
and wholesome product. Commerce had large pro-
fits ; the marine and railroads were largely employed,
and the payment abroad was effected not in money,
but by the exportation more and more active of the
proaucts of French industry. The proof of this last
fact would be easy to give, for Spain particularly.
These favourable results are not the only ones. The
influence of the foreign market has maintained a
normal equilibrium in the prices of our own markets.
The deficiency of our harvests could not paralyze
our export trade, and the progress which the
French themselves taught to Spain in the art of
getting in and preparing the wine made of the
Peninsula a sort of annex to our wine-producing
districts. These districts see with pain that in a
fiscal paint of view, which certainly will not be
satisfied (and which, even were it satisfied, will be
in all cases without real importance), they are ex-
posed to the risk of losing the advantages of a liberty
which, with so much reason, is sought to be con-
ferred on all the articles of international traffic.
They hoped, on the contrary, that, strengthened
by the Treaty concluded with England, by the ini-
tiative which it took in 1854, in admitting foreign
wines for French consumption, our Government
would demand especially of Spain to reduce to a
reasonable rate the duty of about 1501. the becto-
litre, which was levied on the wines of France.
The taste for articles of luxury is progressively
developed in Spain ; and the day that a treaty
will open freely the Pyrenees to our Bordeaux and
Champagne wines a great exchange trade will be
established, and will contribute, by all the indirect
means of public prosperity, to enrich the Treasury
much more than the re-establishment of an illusory
duty of a nature to inevitably paralyse transactions.
We mention Spain particularly, because its wines
enter for more than in the entire sum of the imports
of France ; but the same reasons for exchange exist
with all other wine countries. The more importa-
tion is facilitated the more shall be developed
the exportation not only of the wines so esteemed
and so various of all the wine-producing countries
of France, but also that of the other products of our
agricultural and manufacturing industry.
. Ordinary wine is an object of current consump-
tion, bought by a class who can pay a certain price,
but who cannot go beyond it. The price of ordi-
nary wine is from 30 to 45 centimes the litre. A
duty of ln centimes is a duty of 30 per cent. at the
minimum, and which may be raised to 45 per cent.
When the principle of prohibition has just
been abolished, when every duty exceeding
30 per cent. has been declared to be a prohibitive
one, it would be a matter of regret that to the detri-
ment of the consumer, to the detriment of commerce,
in opposition to the Interests themselves of the
French wine producers, a prohibition which nothing
can justify should be established. We believe that
it will suffice to indicate to the Government the
true state of the question to induce it to giee up a
measure to the consequences of which it behoves
us to direct its most serious attention, in order that
nothing should occur to diminish the satisfaction
felt in these parts of the country at the liberal and
salutary measures which we have been the first to
welcome.

(Signed, in the name of the committee.)
i
ARM AU DL A LAN DE, Delegated
PAUL MESTRIZAT, Commis-,,.
ALEXANDRE LEON, sioners.
Bordeaux, April 21.
BOURSE, May 4.—The market has been steady
on ltente, with restricted business. Threes, after
having been done at 71f. 25c. and 71f. 35e., receded
to 71f. 25c.; Mobilier varied from 700 f. to 710 f. ;
Orleans, 1,350 f. to 1,355 f.; Northern, 995 E to
997 f. 50c, ; Lyons, 90f. to 932 f. 50c. ; Eastern,
625 f. to 622 f. 50c. ; Southern, 526 f. 25c. to 525 f.
The following are the last quotations:—
II per Cents. .... 96 50 Credit Foncier.... 800
--I Do. end month .. Belgian 41 .. --
3 per Cents 7l 30 Piedmontese (5) .. 81
Do. end month 7l 35 ; Roman B5 25
Bank Shares 2860 Austrian
Credit Msbilier .. 715 Spanish Threes
Do. Acceunt