The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-14 00:00:00

THE TEA TRADE.

v-terd
brae; aY there was a full attendance of the merchants and
Room 'I
Mincing-lane
with the tea trade at the Commercial Sale
4incing-lane, for the purpose of receiving a report of
emeasures taken by a Committee appointed to memo-
rialize Government on the subject of the recent Order of
teas
Commissioners of Customs, directing that Fokein bohea
I,r,!lse should not be passed as heretofore at the low duty.
-ttth
inputbhleic sales of teas recently imported, which were
aujourned from yesterday week, were fixed to be proceeded
!7iNclied with success.e%entof the application to Government being at-
tt"-ae ;fa. sTtrulim°l7PsoN, whose sales had precedence, on mounting
stated the proceedings of the Committee. A
Min...eemibot,r„ial had, in pursuance of a recommendation of Lord
Melbourne, at the recent interview,. been sent to the Lords of
rtue Treasury, stating that the public sales of a large quantity
k teas had been suspended in consequence of the inspectors
ting demanded the duty of 2s. 2d. per lb. on Fokein
rueas, although at the East India Company's last sale such
Lis had been passed at the duty of ls. Gd. per lb. The mc-
norial proceed to state the injury that would be inflicted on
the dealers and importers of tea if any such change were
tMade, especially as orders had been sent to China for the
urchasing the next season's teas. The memorial concluded
)',l3raying the Lords of the Treasury to direct that Fokein
bsheas should continue to be chargeable at the duty of one
shilling and sixpence in the pound. The result of this me-
morial had been that on Saturday the Treasurer sent a com-
tkinication, directing that the classification originally adopted
should be adhered to ; and an order to that,effect was issued
by -the Commissioners of Customs late on Saturday after-
Zioon. He (Mr. Thompson) had had some conversation with
dile of the inspectors, and had asked him what duty would
twit be put upon Fokein boheas, and he had been told
.that. they •would be rated at the duty of one shilling and six-
pence per lb.
Mr. SANDERSON asked whether any official statement to that
effect had been sent to Mr. Horsley Palmer, whose name
was first signed to the memorial.
Mr. THOMPSON said he was not aware that any communica-
lien tad been made to Mr. Palmer to the effect that Fokein
lboheas would be passed at the low duty. He would, however,
lebiind the trade of what Mr. Grant had said upon this sub-
ject on the the 2d of January, 1832. That Hon. Gentleman
then stated that he had no hesitation in stating that no greater
.qty than Is. Gd. per lb. would be imposed upon any bohea
teas sold at the sales then about to take place.
Mr. TWINING said that that might be said perhaps to relate
to the East India House sales.
Mr. THOMPSON observed that the East India Company had
thetnselves since regulated upon this subject, upon the as-
surances then held out. He had observed in the orders of
the House of Commons for that evening that the Customs
tiulr.
ties Bill and the Tea Duties stood for consideration. He
l
Thompson) had addressed a letter to Mr. Poulett
homson, asking for information as to whether any measures
would be proposed on the subject of the tea duties, but had re-
ceived no answer.
Mr. TRAVERS said something might perhaps escape Minis-
ters on the subject of the tea duties when the Customs Duties
Bill was under consideration.
A suggestion was made for adjourning the sale, but it was
not acted upon. The auctioneer stated that the boheas were
Withdrawn.
The other teas declared were then put up, and those sold
realised full prices. About 60,000 chests have been announced
or the present sales.