The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-22 00:00:00

CUSTOMS' REGULATION BILL.

The Earl ofSHAFTESBURY moved the third
reading of the 'Customs' Regulation Bill.
Lord GODERICU wished to make a .few ob-
servations' upon one of the clauses of•the Bill. The
clause to which he referred was that which continued"
to next year the present rate of duty on the importa-
tion of silk goods from the East Indies. That rate
Of duty would. have expired; by the precept .On
the. 10th of October next, and on the expiration of
that duty, silk goOds from. the East Indies were to
be charged an ad valorem duty of 30 per cent. The
objection he had to the clauie was, that the duty to
be charged under it would turn out to be consider-
ably more in its operation upon the article than 30
per cent, which was considered the maximum of duty
which silk goods could pay without creating a great
chance of smuggling. By the present law this ad vct
lorem duty of 30 per cent. would commence to be
charged on the 10th of October next, and individuals
Concerned in the trade with the East Indies had
made arrangements for the importation of silk goods,
upon the assumption that they would have to pay no
higher rate of duty than 20 per cent. ; whereas, by
the clause he had adverted to, the duty would be
between 40 and 60 per cent., a duty much too high
ror the article to bear; and which would lead to illicit
importation, and would operate disadvantageously to
those individuals whose orders had *been sent out
upon the understanding that they yvere to pay a duty
of 30 per cent., but whose goods would now be .sub-
jected to the increased duty by the pperatiOn of that
clause. He objected to the clause, also, because
there existed no real necessity for it. The-appre-
hensions which had been felt on the score of the
change of system had not only not been realized,
but so far froni it;the facts turned out to be diame-
trically the reverse. Our manufactures had im-
proved, and the machinery, which was our only de-
fect, because, he believed, there was a monopoly in
the trade, was now equal to any that was used. The
quantity of raw silk now manufactured in this
country, as compared with any former period, had
increased in, the proportion of three to two,—an
amount exceeding the most sanguine expectations
of those who were favourable to the change of
system, and putting to flight all those apprehensions
of ill consequences which it was said would proceed
from that change, against Which So much had been
said., That change in system, however, had turned
out to be a most beneficial measure for the improve-
ment of one of our most important branches of ma-
nufaetures. He was sorry, therefore, to see the
Clause to whith he had alluded in. the Bill; but he
had no intention _of moving an amendment; the fate
of which he was pretty sure would be unfortunate;
and which,' if sticcessful, would .be inconvenient-in
its operation on the Bill itself. He placed reliance
upon the Noble Duke at -the head of the Treasury;
that though this high duty should continue for a
time, it would only be for a time, and that he had
no intention of: departing from those
principles
which had proved .so beneficial to the trade, which
would continue to prosper under the free system
adopted in 1824.
The Duke of WELLINGTON informed the
Noble Lord, that nothing further was intended by
extending the operation of the present law from
October next to the folloWing year, than to allow
more time for inquiry on the subject, and he could
assure the Noble Lord that Government, as at pre-
sent informed, had no intention of making any alter-
ation in the system which had been adopted for the
admission of silk goods from the East Indies.—
Adjourned.'

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MoranAv, JULY 21.
At six o'clock there were about fifty Members
present ; but no Speaker. Mr. Ley, the Chief
Clerk of the House, then addressed the Members
present, and said it was his duty to read a letter he
bad received from the Speaker. He then read a
letter to the following effect :
" Sir—l request you will acquaint the House of Corn.
;sons the great concern I feel at not being able to attend

their service this day, in consequence of the death of the
Archbishop of Canterbury this morning at, I 1 o'clock.
" Your's obediently, •
(Signed) " MANNtRS SUTTON."
Mr. PEEL . said that. although ',iinder ordinary
circumstances they shotatt feel it- rtteuMbetie on them
to adjourn for at least . three "Or fold ?ilaiS, the .pre-
;sent state of pubqe. hosibass 'would render -.such a
.4.lelayin the highest IncOtiVetient.''He there-
fore hoped that the Speaker might be prevailed on
to come down for a short time to-norrow,when an
aWiiiiineitt would be moved.—The House then rose.