The Sun.
London, England, 1835-01-31 00:00:00

THE TEA TRADE,

The merchants and others engaged in the trade to China
have had much of their attention drawn to the proceedings
which took place at the interview which has just been had
by a deputation from the tea trade with Sir Robert Peel.
The Gentlemen who composed the deputation were Mr.
Travers, Mr. Twining, and Mr. Antrobus ; and at the in-
terview they laid before the Premier statements to show
the impolicy of adhering to the present scale for collecting
the duties on teas, pointing out at the same time the ad-
vantages to the trade: and the revenue by the imposition of
a single duty.
Sir ROBERT PEEL, after having heard the statements
made by the deputation, assured them that he was fully
aware of the importance of the subject, and that he was
ready to come into a full investigation of the matter, in
order, if possible, to remove the objections entertained by
the trade to the present mode of collecting duties.
He wished the deputation, however, to unde.-
stand that he
ob7m.en
did not consider himself bound by previous opinions
upon this important subject. Pi.e had now the means of
f. 7., and obtaining other informa-
induced to alter that opinion he
-7ade an opportunity of stating any further
facts they-
gni nidvge shouldthe
tofficial he d
might prefer in support of a change of the scale
itownifoosnpud'el'd::;t:iei. He wished to have the opinion of the deputa-
tion on the subject of the working of the new system.
Mr. TRAVERS said it was the almost universal opinion of
the tea trade that the new system worked extremely bad ;
that it was likely to prove injurious not only to the
trade out to the revenue. The experience the trade had
now had of the working of the new system led to the
conclusion that the opinion originally formed by the trade
as to it, was correct.

Sir ROBERT PEEL said he should like to know the
opinion of the trade generally, and how the community
would be affected by a change in the scale of duties to
a fixed duty.

Mr. ANTROBUS said there were but few exceptions in-
deed in which an alteration to a fixed rate of duty would not
be desirable. An ad voloreni duty was not supported by
any parties of importance.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he wished to have the opi-
nion of the deputation relative to the imposition of an
ad valorem duty.
Mr. TRAVERS considered it would be almost impracti-
cable to levy an ad valorem duty ; the revenue might be
liable to great losses under such a duty. The duty could
be levied where there was only one importer, as in the case
of the monopoly of the East India Company ; but now
that free trade had brought forward such a number of
importers the plan would be impracticable. It would
not he difficult under such a duty for several large ;m-
-porters, by throwing a greater quantity of teas on the
market than were required, so to depress prices as to occa-
sion great losses to the revenue, and to injure the interests
of the community.
Sir R. PEEL asked what would be the proper t::,„
for making any alteration in the scale of duties, 51":ould the
result of his investigation be to recommend a course
to the Legislature ?

The Deputation stated that the trade ought to have suffi-
cient time to arrange their purel:LUses for the ensuing year,
and that the earliest perio`l that could be fixed for the
change should be the oeginning of next year. In Octo-
ber and November the purchases in China were made,
and if a change were resolved upon, sufficient time should
be given of the period fixed upon for the alteration.
Sir ReillltT PEEL inquired if it was not usual for ad-
vanco to be made in China before the purchases of teas
wore made in October and November ?
Mr. TWINING said that such was the practice, but
that would not at all prevent any change being made, as
the advances did not in any manner direct the prices at
which teas were bought.
Some observations having been made, Sir ROBERT
PEEL assured the deputation that he should enter upon
the investigation with the utmost desire to come to a
sound conclusioo, without reference to any previous opi-
nion entertained by him, and if he should alter such opi-
nioo, he would afford the trade another interview.
The Deputation then took its leave.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MARLBORO UGH-STREET.

Mademoiselle Josephine Thomas, a French damsel, con-
nected with the Opera House, was yesterday brought be-
fore Mr. CONANT and Mr. DYER, charged by M. Alex-
andre, valet, of Jermyn-street, with having committed the
following novel assault :
The complainant, in French, was coming from the city,
where he had been dining at the house of a friend, when
the defendant, who had, as he suspected, been waiting for
him, came up to him somewhere in Leicester-square, and
flung a quantity of powder in his face. Some of the powder
went into his eyes, and almost blinded him, and where the
powder touched the skin, it caused it to blister. He was
obliged to go into a pastry-cook's shop, and get the pow-
der removed from his face before he, eeuld continue '„is
walk. He called for the asiks,anee of the police a soon as
the powder wad 4tigowit at him, and the deknaant ran off,
but I.)gy.4iiii.d.ued, she fell down, and IVPS laid hold of by a
atioe man .

The complainant produced some itepowder, which he
had gathered from his clothe;,', a submitted it to the in-
spection of the Magist;atk. tt was found to be that kind
of powder kik-*Aown in apothecaries' shops by the
flan:. 0t_000,10%... _ _

t Xl\ cleft we the lady, with extraordinary volubility, at-