The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-24 00:00:00

Petition of Merchants of Montreal, in favour of Timber riLitiles.

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A PetitimOWihe there:Undersigned merchants, ale] others, of Montreal, in
the proviuce:kr'Lewer Canada, Interested iii the tlanber trade, was presented,
:and read ; s atbyee forth, That the 'petitlenert -are greatly alarmed at the prospect
.of alterationoe the 'duties, upon the import of timber acid of tier lumber into'
the . United 194110 m, which Clnerations, if :carried into '..a; law, they consider,
evill be highlyelflurioes to the Maritime and manufactuiing interests of the
another matt , and ruinous to the. British North AmericLe '..colonies ; the
yetitionerS hp,' iteen ;taught froth their infancy to believe that the 'security of
the Britila chit; 4nledeprneled upon its,maritime prepotidelince ; and that
that prepOrtdee was cherished and promoted by the navigatiedlaws, and con-
..sequent •eaupt:lnent of British ships and seamen in preferenceao foreign, as
:thereby firm, rig et Musery for a Isupply,to the royal navy;. the .colonial timber
.....1,,
',trade extensiy.y,ittrtributes to the formation and support of that'lursery ; that,
nvith such ststittmapiessions on !their minds, they view with eiitietne concern
:doctrines now usanil. ainedwhieti: are at variance with the- principles 'that have' raised
.the nation!toWdeiree of prosperity and. glory unexampled, and which tend to
4 -weaken ale 144setliat unite: the Colonies to the mother country,:bir proposing td
'transfer to faretgtters advantages to which the colonists are fairly'entiiled, under
-eke rk.,.striciio4Ofittade to which they are subjected, and cheerfully 'submit to, with
-a view to ithei—ganeral benefit; that the petitioners observe also 'with' surprise that
the alterationi In such (duties are solicited under the disguise of extending the ex-
port and consumption oi. British manufactures and colonial.producea- but they are
confident these would prove delusive if reduc d to practice, and that for every
additional pound in valu
gof :such.inantifactures-and,produee that would thereby be
exported to foreign countries, three pounds would be diminished in the export to
the colonies; and further, that foreign ships would in a three-fold degree par-
ticipate in the freight of the additional foreign export. and at least two thirds of
the British stitP.Ping:nOwPnb.Aliyid in thetAde to the Nortir Americian colonies be
thrown out of employment; the proximity of northern nations would in itself de-
Fire a great m'any slips of employment, even if the whole foreign extra trade in
timber to, breetieated by fie contemplated aherations were conv.eYed: in 'British
shipping; th:allhe nations to whom such sacrifices are to'be made ere those who,
by tbeirsil'asaity to the United Kingdom in the day of her peril, AO with a view
of sapni-eo 'Wet. -naval strettli, unintentionally revealed the sex retepf the capacity
of the Serth American cobizies to furnish supplies of timbet and
,lumber, indepen•
den'-a the enmity or caprice of foreigners, whe are now sufreringt,y the reaction
or, tleir own measu .es ; rlint the colonies are by law; as well as-by. habit, restricted
La the use of Ilritizsli mantrfacturei, and foreign production through British me-
dium, whereas fd;eign nations are by lew and by habit prohibited ajte use of many
'tai ids of Brilisiegeods; to sacrifice therefore what, under-our own control, affords
es certainty iii the one ease, for not merely a doubtful benefit,- bufaitalmost certain
injury, by the
.OPeration of foreign control, in the other case, is respectfully con-
tendeal to be neither expedient nor wisel in proof of the hazard tiebe.run by the
:adoption .of thenlieasure, it is Sonly necessary to cite the Returns laid before Par-
liament,'whereby it Will be found that the exports of British areilfili produce and
manufacturesto the British North American 'colonieS for the kit six years, have
been more than double. the like
.exports to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and
Prussia. In point of employment of British shipping, the difference is still more
in favour of the colonial trade, as in the number of ships and quantity of tonnage
employed in the trade between Great Baitain'and those nations, those of foreigners
have been double that of British, whilst last year ahore 1,50'..) ships, measuring
341,537 tons, entirely British, navigated by 17,631 seamen, were cleared out to
.the North American eolonies,.cornpasing one seventh of the whole carrying trade
Of the country, and nearly one fourth 9f-the whole export trade from the British
Isles; and the employment of which tonnage and seamen would, by an alteration
in the duties, be reduced to one-third its present amount ; indeed. it is undeniable
that no increase in'tfie foregn timber-trade can possibly takel.pl4ce but at the ex-
pence of a decrciie"iii 'the colonial greatly disproportiOnatc,'Atd of conse luences
alarming, in their natime and degree; that the ships or vessels entered inwards
and outwards :it Quebec, 'previous to 1"786, were under 'do, and previous to 1808,
when the Baltic exclusion, and great extension of the colonial timber trade com-
menced, were under. 240, but there have been years since, as well as last year,
when the number exceeded 600 ; thus the colonial timber trade is most important
ill all points of view; the northern nations are acknowledged to be too poor to
afird to, cansurne our. goods, and were they not so, they would nee be:willing to
restrict themselves thereto, in payment of'their timber, as the coletliedre ; that
the 91.te..r2f colonial timber cid, Ily results from the labour and expense of cutting
and bringing it to titre,port ef. .expertafem, and iiii-Trei-erht at .erts'irclS .to Great
Britain : the former is spent in the colonies, promotes circulation there, and is
invested in British manufactures, the capacity of the colonists to consume such
being incrcas 11 by the value of the timber when shipped. The value of the timber
before it is cut being small, may to some appear a trifling object to the proprietor
of the ground, bit when the effect of the timber trade upon the circulation and
consumption of the country is considered, and that the landed proprietor benefits
thereby in its facilitating payments, and in appreciating the value of the land and
its produce, it cannot be doubted that he derives a great advantage from that trade,
as does ever:yecoloaist, whether immediately employed or concerned therein or not,
by the increased 'circulation MIT ethisumptidri consequent therein, -gi.:•idg an in-
creased value to exe!langeablecomrnodities, and an additional field for employ-
anent; that it- is nor solid objeeted to the trade that, .a small part of the timber is
brotieht from the States, the ortinal cost, as has alre'ady been observed, is little,
but the increa•ed value in the shape of expences is material, and centres in the
colonies; the freight, which is the most material part of the value of the timber
shipped hi the colonies, whether of colonial or foreign growth, being all.in British
chips, and greatly- valet:( le in that respeet, because of its great bull:, contribntes
.ti tie lia•Weift 'iii; gi'ACiliKleiter intieeSt 4'; •WhereaS•the-freiglit- in fOreigri'llips, of,
tirtl'cieh CiiiitittOlßali_;" h.el..Thit'ell liiiiklnii; te;nds to priiiridtei the rnaritinie inapor..,
tanee Orii!itilidil,'Wli.fi 'reentiNY'fia:.qteeii; and inky' agaTh b%i•eitte eur inVeteritl
tee tads; that'ilisliV3b 'h fitiYiter 'of ge'riciuS'ednsideraffeh filet' cepifid to ii'lerge
MMinnilsiS' hilri i'iv'eiVd. in E':ll.;?Linilk antl'oili&'64.4l4liiiierits connected avilli
the Ylclltfr'Ma:!ti I .:11F,.:C.01:,11165'AR41 WAlillieierifii'etl'aiid rendered useless by
As, :%itterifi* 11:, t lelf (I.'s,-ort Pilot fraddTriitn 'the' FtihniTeS'lo- Tch-eiidn Countries
Ott fh`klieF, Ilfce ttrnb,r 'lra.!le .hili -I,W.Bhie ilf 'increased clOneetittence to Canada,
feiee'llief the Wh-ole of he flir trade tthilf ertbe 'North-s'e'at-eXceptcd).hitherin
ciljeyed LS': it,: Tin's, , v the 'bia.fation :Of - tildate's,' been' ti'ansFeried Id the United
States, "add'bi,elitrile lot tei'ilifbi-evei-.' Therpetilloners erase 16ne te'refee' td
the verietiblelifid'eonvinehrg Statemenis add d'aciihienfi crithained i'n' the psi itiiini
1.6 the ilinthe'llWei -CM 67p-4M-tiers of Tedfidbri, froth the merchants and -Othei•
en.*:icvect in'th€ltaileVitT; the 'grltish CororilbS'in North 'Aiiirica, and froth many
0' a
of atee: °tappet's', all b r wiiich exhibit snclil+eliefity cOriiicleraliOds, that the petitionere
implore the'lloffse not to consent to-el:it' the eiistilfg dtitles upon flintier ireariy
way thee may 'erti-eadVatitatees'• to fdr6grien . ureater ' than those . e 'Lich they. Tl6'o
passBl, ahe'CoritiritianCe of'the present Atiti4S being alike necessary to British and
colonial' interestS:tiftlYe'arst rilagOitudt: " ' . ' .' '
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CANADA.

rr .'f •r ~. r,

r~...,.,`..,

TO. THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

The humble petition, of the undersigned.land owners.and others,. in►iabitants.of the
-, ~ province of Lower. Canada. . •

We,..yourdllajesty's most faithful•and.loyakubjects, inhabitants of the-parishes
°tithe banks of the river St. Lawrence in the:province of Lbwer Canada, humbly
beg leave to represent-to-your - • . • -- - • ;
,at-aim;. That we have heard with: great ,at-aim; that your Illajcstys ,government pro-
posetv niake:an alteration inithe existing laws ou timber-imported into the United,
Kingtinnt,- whit-114'd adopted,- •would, -operate to the, in..;tiry of •The•timber ,tratle of
this pro..ince; Init,the-anxiety which Tour Majesty'4 government • has invariably.
:,liOwititCproarating,the welfare.and prosperity of yoor-Mujesty's subjects in every
port.,4l,the Britisiodnminions, induces •US to., hope,- that:so ruinous-a measure will-
nok,httfsdopted:- we.stry,ruirsons, because, we-, cannot furnish:timber at a cheaper.
priec,,,than-thaA -for witich-it,,s now exported,e anti- beeauge .even,with the present
dut,les iunpoeti upon-that article in Great Britain, foreigners can. •import and sell
thel-At a greater quantity of:timber .than your ..rtlajesty's:North American subjects ;
ail Avliicip,lexts arc are.informed have been submitted- to the consideration •of 'your
Majest ;ttgovernment...: .
-.We.. humbly represent, to •iyour --Majesty, that -durin,g the war with the • United
Stat.4o,,many- of your-petitioners, encouraged by,-Englisktnerchantsvetected-mills
ig:Vile4Qtu• places op .the banks of • the. river,.,where the-white pine grew in-abun-
dance, tfor.saWing, this tinther into deals, -and:also constructed a great nurnberof
vessels, fur - the purpose -of transportiug,thetleals to!the -ports of embarkation for,
Groat.l.3ritain,;T all which .tvastloue at a vast -expense, and: by dint of. great- exer—,
tionj, mid in which undertakings nothing:would have induced your petitioners:to,
but the-.expectation • of continuing to fbiajoy on its.present,footing, the trade
- • • .- ..;-. ~•-, • • !•.-.

.' iaatr.snany.
.c)f your petitioners have expended -.l4rge minis of-• money, and
be-
stttweyl oonsiderAle,pnins,•and ,labour in forming establishments ,in , the ;lower.
p4ishes,of,the:liay of St, Paul, the Falls•pf.Alalhaie.,.the Wolf Myer, -and-;other
pies; ine4titJyy, the; hope ;thatl-ounf timbet,; converted into, deals,. would amply'
indeoinify•os—thut,our lands would he, cleared --and ourselves and fatnilies.settled,
on farms, which! would in futureLoontribute to.our supp.ortinl comfort., . • ,

i:We, th,:refyre entreat• your ..alaiestyAn,refleet on , the .00nsertuences Altat would,
rtsult to -us,. if Any alteration in the,..existing duties were: made, which plug have, the
eg:ea of depiiving,. this_provittee;nfitkAimber trade;_ the capital, •labour, and time,,
lyzstovrecl the.,e)teention-:ofinills fog;saying timber, it# Atte-. eonstoetiork of- gtip*.:
for its. tranpport, and
„.in,opning !new-, esta4lishments, would be :wkoily;lost torus-;
m4.937:9C!Polrt,Petitioners,ww.dkl 1w Fkiinethiaml eli.would suffor:.rpore or less.
2.,111:04ty, to T.o.lt:e,t on • tile., poi§equences ,of such-an al-,
te3:ay;pp A:4-.ilie.muoerottael4sees,a workmen; who re.:employed in this trade, -a94;
v4ko ,A,944.lo,couseqttemet-ho thropin)o-ut v(4411 gmplup.neo‘ : :
::?4,l;kir*Vaiacril,; that the Ottrahility ,of ,the: timLeF ,pl',,hep? provinces has been,,,,
we:kupw::tlo4iopp,tinl4ep iF ..req,,dur'ahle,-,aind that, -,irt:fqety.ki,
irkk;s9:l.,•itmute,dpc,it ve,,laste*rnorptharto cotAttuff ;jn propffafwhich twormk,.,
trtii.soft,itic4esto your: 3,lajesfy!§ tichrgrntpent in the prdinaty,e9ursei,an4we,heg:.
turyt.iLtileo,gt,,t9.4.4tiorr. of yr.r.tr!Majeqtypaytiett4tufly Eq tills _ •
ihY42,41.1in4Y-: 111 g yPur.::l4AicsjyrNia.;xok,*ficti.4oAksi. fiein
.;ihe.pgfiks
a115454-4.ll,loYgfiAw yq.o.r.aujest)eo-igihor gpl4atear-...0 41rAittinitlthejr, pFudtw.tion:
ttZ .

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)n-tirectrif Kildoht in preferele tli:ltdie of other cb,)tiu s ;Ithetrod, u}c?
.of ur Ia ty's est-India Islam& trniprted without orapetttionqarut we
fiat se es, at we shall at feast Le 'permitted to partihpate as we have
hitherto done in the advantages conceded to foreigners, and that we shall not be en-.
tirely excluded from that participation by an 'alteration in the exiitihg duties' on
timber, which must be attended with such a result. •
We make with confidence these representations to your Majesty, conscious of
their justice, more especially because- we are precluded as a colony from the liberty,
of trading with other countries.
• We,-beseech your Majesty,to take-also, into consideration that we import in
English ships, and consume" inthis,,-prpvince, .a large quantity:of English mer-
-chandize, and the productions of the English.' colonies; and since all the articles
which we require are procured from the mother country, we think we -are entitled
' to enjoy greater privileges and advantages than foreigners ; and we fear, that in
tt event of such a stop to the trade as the imposition of the proposed duty would
o •asion; we shall no' longer- be:in asOndltionto import-and I)ay for thosegoods,
and shall they be abandoned ethirely7l6-inii awn resources. -
:We huiiib solicit your Majesty to direct your attention td our situation ; and
entreat that-iito alteration may be made in the existiing duties on timber. imported
into Great. I;Tritain injurious to the trade o' this colony.
yourlietitioners will ever pray for your Majesty.

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Pdtition of 11Ier-thant of'Liiniroti" trading to The British NOrtffialrferie.an- Colo-
Inies in favour of Timber Duties.

A petition o the Ithere-undersigned merchants and other's, engaged in trade
with the British ~-oloities.in North -America, and in Abe:fisheries of Newfoundland,'
Nova Scotia, and Near Brunswick, resident in London, was presented, 'and-read ;
setting forth, That the
_petitioners have observed that there has been lately pie-
sentect to the Utilise a petition from certain_meechants of the. city,of London, in
which.they subftiic their convictietrof the.int ijicy:end injutiee restrictive
system appliedetd; foreign commerce; and express their objections " to every
restrictive regulation of, trade. not essential to
...the revenue, against all duties
merely protective front foreign competition, and against tire excess of such duties
as ,are partly for-the purpose 'of revenue and partly for that of protection," and
thereftire prayiiig for their repeal ; that although-the said petitioners pray for the
removal- of such restrictions generally, yet it is evident to the petitioners that one
of theiieinincipll objeCts is to produce a change in the practiceby_which.the inter-
course with thEßritish doloniel-in-Nortli America is at, present regulated, .for the
purpose.of di veetieig aportiorLorttieTrideiif thilsti-cOlciriin .fneeige countries ,in
the North of, ENrdpe thatrie petitioners are extensively engaged in trade with the
said co.ronie4 iptEin the giheries. of" NeWfoundland, New Brunswick, and^Nova
Scotia,;and some of them have erected in the said colonies, at a vast expense,
mills arid buildings of various descriptions; and steam-engines, for sawing timber,
deals, .cc. and therefore the petitioners cannot but feel alarm at the attempts
of the said petitioners to obtain the removal of those protective duties and re-
strictions which 'hese, been provided by the le-gielattire; and t on Which the pro
sperityOf the said colonies so •greatly depends ; than the- petitioners liojae that
upon the present'. eccasionelt mill be permitted them to remind the HUitse that the
general- principle of colaniallegislation has always been one of protection and
reetrict'hm-4rotective by means of duties as to articles the production of foreign
countries similatt to those produced in the colonies, restrictive by placing the latter
at the 'disposition of, and requiring that they shall take the whole of their supplies
from, the mother country, and employ only British ships: that the chief article' of
exp ,rt from the said colonies is timber, either in masts and logsror converted into
deals, planks, stakes, &c. :the supply of whiell_lt appears to be the clesire.ef the
said petitioners to reduce and discourage, either by lowering the present duties
payable upon thp:se articles the productien of foreign countries, or by imposing a
duty upon those-the productions of the colonies; that, in whatever degree such
results would be- produced, the petitioners would be injured, and the trade and
prosperity of the colonies and British shipping be diminished; that the petitioners
acknowledge' with gratitude the protection which was afflirded to the said colonies,
and their prtiperties embarked therein; during an eventful period o• warfare; but,
at the same tinie, beg to express thee. humble hope that this country has evety
reason to be satisfied with the return whi6h has been made in the loyalty 'of the
colonists, and in,their successful exertions to furnish, supplies of timber for general
purposes, but especially for the use of-the dock-yards; to whiCh they-Were urged
by his Nia.leity:s government, when the system of exclusion adopted by the
-enemy had deprived us Of such supplies from the North of Europe; that; at the
period alluded to, assurances were given that the said colonies, as well as the
petitioners, might rely upon the permanent protection of the mother country,
and they beg on' the iireseot oecsin to express their humble but confident
reliance that they shall- not. now be deserted; or their interests sacrificed, which
could not fail to be the case if any alteration should be made in the existing
duties that would pla,e the timber of the said colonies upon a leSs favourable
footing than at present ; that the petitioners trust that the House will be of
opinion, that, in soliciting protection for the said colonies, they ask nothing
inconsistent with soundspolicy and the true interests of the mother country, as
will be evident upon an attention to.the follow:ng considerations : Ist, That the
said colonies form a most essential epPendage,to the United Kingdom, in the sup-
plies 'of. fish.and-elumber. which. they:afford- •to the colonies in. the West Indies ;
2d. That they receive, employ, and maintain an immense number of British subjects,
the surplus population of the United Kingdom, whose occupation consists princi-
pally hs cutting the timber, cultivating the soil, and fishing On the coast ; 3d That
the said colonies receive from the mother country the whole of the mainifactures and
articles of necessity for clothing, and for the general use of the colonies and fisheries
which iheyerequirte amounting to nearly two millions sterlingannuallyeand which
are all earned it BritiSh ships; 4th. That the entire productions of the colonies and
fisheries art alsb transported in British ships. alone, whether ,to, the-W,est
or the Uhited Kingdom, and furnish the only means of payment for thegoods
and necessaries ',required for their own consumption and the use of the fisheries;
sth. That the importation of timber fro it the British passesSiohs 'abroad has ever
been dee:ned of much importance to the encouragement of British shipping
and navigation; insomuch, that -in the early part of the last century, boun-
ties were paid upon such imported° s, in like manner as, with a similar
view, bounties are now paid upon vessels-engaged in the Greenland and southern
whale : fisheries ; 6th That foreign ships bein'g wholly excluded from the
trade) there were cleared out from, Great Britain for the said colonies .last
year, no leis thatt 1,,;25 ships, of the burden of 340,537 tons, and navigated by
17,6 ie mariners; that the petitioners having thus broughrdlider the Viet.: of
the House trio.§,e points sAieli they trust they will deem deserving of the most
mature consideration in deeding upon this important question, most humbly
beg tovbserve. that while they admit the principle that "freedom from restraint is
calculated to give the utmost extension to foreign trade, and the best direction to
the capitat and industry of a country," the petitioners cannot but doubt how for
that principle is applicable,: ip the
,extentled Senseprayed fir) to a country situated
like Greateßritain, a 4 island in the neighbourh ,od of many warlike and maritime
nations possessing numerous colonies, with an industrious population, fur:lshing a
demand for her manufactures, and employment to her shipping and seamen; and
the petitioners are quite satisfied. that any materi .1 diversion of the trade to
foreign countries in Europe weuld not be attended with such an additional demand
for manufactures as to compensate for the extensive and permanent injury which
would result to ;so many British interests; the petitioners, upon these considera-
tions, mosOiumbly solicit that the House, will not consent to any alteration in the
existing dirties LpoiC:timber that may have the effect of giving advantages to
foreigners greater than those which they already possess, the continuance of the
present duties being alike necessary to the state of the petitioners, and thatlof the
eolonies as well as to British shipping, and all the important and n tional
interests dependent thereon.

PETITION IN FAVOR OF TIIE TIMBER DUTIES.

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble petition of the merchants and ship-owners of Saint
John, in New Brunswick,

SHLlvrot,

. .
That the-discussions which have of late occupied the attention of Parliament, re-
lative to a,propOsed duty nprin 1.1Mb(4 in.qsOried into the United Kirigdom from the
North American colonies, have filled your petitioners with anxiety. and they in-
treat your Majesty not to concur in a measure assuredly fraught with most dis-
astrous;consequences to the commercial property of this province.
• Youf_petitioners refrain from enlarging on those peculiar circumstances which
might, }perhaps, I.)e justly urged in their favour, as having, vith their predecessors at
the peace iif 178 it from motives of loyal attachment to the , mother country,
abandoned theiri property and connexions in the land of their birth, preferring an
inhospitable wilderness ; but which, under . their persevering efforts and great
privatitins, has already become a valuable and important colony. .
That your petitioners do not conceive it necessary to enter into all the ar-
guments which may be used, in order to shew that the timber trade with the; colo-
)ties shOuld be preferred before that with foreigners in the north of Europe, All the
great and leading principles being so fully and ably elucidated in the various repre-
sentations that have, from other quarters, been lately pressed upon the consideration
of your Majesty: they beg leave, however, to advert to several matters that have
been brought before the committees of Parliament, and to notice some other cir-
cumstances which are essentially connected with the interests of this ti ade.
, It has been observed, that the imposing a duty of I 05.•5(1., per load on timber
Omported from North America, would have the effect of encouraging those countries
n the north of Europe from which timber is imported, to take a greater supply of
ritish goods, while, at the same time, it would be so small a tax on colonial timber,
hat it would not be severely felt, nor would it materially injure the trade Your
etitioners humbly beg leave to state, that the very reverse of the; latter part.a-this
observation would. be the result. Unless a like-sum of 10s. 3ff. 1*- load additional
vas placed tqion European wood, the- trade withllie colonies mustinevitably cease;
rhr, as only a certain'quantity of timber can be consumed in Britain, from whatever
ivarter, importetand as colonial Timber can now hardly compete with that from
.te Baltic, even A6tli'the duties which the latter pays, a duty. of ICs. 3d per load
pmposed on the former would,; for reasons stated in the next paragraph, effectually
1 ,decide the matter. ' . _. • : _

rT .hat the rates Of fteight on voyalzes to theseprovinees have'oflate been so low,
ithat it will be imPtisSible, with the S4lctest economy and most Arsevering efforts,
ko make any further reduction, eveii'should ship-imuerl be colipeiled to a11,,w their
vessels to deCay by the vdtarfsas, vai for the timber trade, liundte!!ls must, ere now,
have done. The price of woad in tliii country can never be reduced below the rates
at which it has this ye# been shipped. The pi-ices in N'e'.v.l.l,unswickhave, on
An average, been —for I
-

Yellow pine .
Red pine
Birch f

. 20s. sterling per Itrad.
. ditto. _-
25-s. ditto. ___

If, therergreathe, tst. f the, be taken, al to It cog acre
•jut's.' .ustichertgrt
of 50s. to Vvergoollr th. Clyde, to wh t pritilipal quantities esh d 4
and allo-w 8s f,,rloss in measure, yard rent, insurance, commission, and all other
charges,. the; wilt will amount to 7$ per load, a price I,r above what it is now
selling for in eilher of •thae:marlieis,las neither the freight nor the cost of the
timber can be reduced, and as the charges will not be lessened, it follows that 78s.
per load for yellow pine in the Clyde or the Mersey is the lowest at which it can
lie afforded : and that if any duty should be laid on colonial timber, leaving out of
the qiiestion so large a sum as 10" 3cl. pep lout the,trade must be abandoned until
the n‘arket shall materially improVe; of which, however, ther6 can-be no expecta-
tion, for the Baltic timber, as heretofore, will effectually prevent 'any high price
being given for that from the cokbies. " ' '
As intimately connected with the matter of the preceding paragraph,. and of im-
portance to their cause, your petitioners would•refento the late report Of the corn-
mittee of the House of Lords, Appendix No. 8, wherein they that Canadian
timber in 'lBl9, left the importer Tily 45.,4d: per load to pay first cost '2ss. and in
the pre,ent year the result will not be more propiiions, as, although freights have
I experienced a reduction, the sale prices have been proportionably lower. Their
Lordships moreover declare, .that they " wbuld by no means recommend any altera-
tion by which wood the growth of Canada might be entirely excluded from the
means of competitibu in the British- market." i
That, if your petitioners be unable to send timber to Britain,lthey must Imme-
diately discontinue' the iniportation of goods from thente;:absolue.necessaries ex-
. cepted, having no Other means by which to pay for thent PriOr -to 1808, when
the timber trade fist grew into importance, the scanty population of New Bruns-
wick was nearly altogether stipplied with East India, and even with many British
goods, smuggled from the lilnited States of AmericaL.a_srnall part of which was
paid for in plaster of Paris, fish, and grindstones, but the chief amount in money :
all the specie which came into the country being paid to the Ameiricans in support
of this baneful, traffic. ';;;.; i • ,
That aceordliig otNial documents laid before Parliament, exhibiting the value
of goods exporteck ti) the'_North American coloniei 'from 1799 to 1819,! the whole
amount imported into this province was, in 1807, 64,3951 ; whereas, in 1819, it
had increased to 218,7471. To the timber trade and servicesE. of employment
arising out of it, do yourTpetitioners attrilnite'this remarkable and important change
in so short a period; and they cannot omit offering their opinion, that the loss of
this trade would rapidly impoverish the country, and bring it back to the condition
of 1807. .

That if your Majesty will inspect the amount of imports and export: from this
province durin4. 18W as perstatethent furnished by the Custom lEluuse, and here-
unto attached), you will find that the number of vessels cleared, independent of
coasting craft, was 1,333, containing 257,293 tons, and navigated by 11,945 men
—an account of tonnage exceeding that of the clearances from Great Britain to the
West Indies during the same year, the latter being only 2:26,218 tons. it will also
be observed by your Majesty, that there are only four principal heads under which
our exports range, Viz. :--- ,
1

For the West Indies. J I
. , ..,.
Ist. Fish and oil, boards, peantling, shingles, staves, &c. als arttel6 brought
in under the "Free; Port Act."
•
i'or the. United States.
' 1

2d. Gypsum, certahqeser;ptions of fish, grindstones, tke..,-.;

Also, '
3d. Producelarotightfrom the West Indies,—and' :: . 1
• .-.. FOr the united Kingdom.

4th. Timber, masts, staves, deals, lathwood, oars, handspikes, &c.
The first of theseltrades your petitioners still enjoy ; but as the !returns generally
consist of West India produce, this branch of commerce can cOntribute little in aid-
ing remittances to Great Britain.
The second is worse than uaeless, and probably must so continue, until measures
shall have been adopted by Act of Parliament, for securing to Nova Scotia and
New Brunswick sonic of thos6 important benefits that might be derived from the ex-
port trade in Gypsum ; but which, as at pres nt conducted, accommodates only the
artful monopolizing policy of the Americans, and a m. st extensive system of illicit
traffic on heir eastern frontier ;—to the great detriment of provincial revenue and
the fair trade, and having a pernicious and demoralizing influence on the people pur-.
suing it.
The third is at an end ; the ports of America being shut, not only against vessels
from the colonies,.but, since the 30th of Bepteint)er last, West Indian productions
carried byf United §tates vessels from the free ports are excluded.!
The fourth, that is, the
_expOrts on timber, &c. is the only means by which your
petitioner, can payifor goods, and of which they_ numbly! trust that your
Majesty, upon due consideration, will not be inclined to deprive them. .
That while the timberahipped from the colonies to Great Britain is all conveyed in
Brilislt nss, s, and, its value returned in British goods, the timber frorriEurope is
principally imported in foreign ships, and the earg, es drawn for in bills of, exchange,
a small part of which only is !did out in the purchase of mercbandize. And as the
foreigners take manufactures in return for part only of the timber now imported
from the Baltic,. it 'appears not probable to your petitioners that a much larger
supply would be received by; them, even were a monopoly of the whole timber
trade for the- consumption of Great Britain thrown into the hands of 'the northern
powers. Should it however Happen, that, on acquiring the whole tradec they were
to take one-half more British goods than they now do, still would the exports
from Britain be lessened) as n reduction in those in the colonies, to double the
extent of the increased supplyito the north of Europe, must inevitably ensue.

That, with a vie* of encotiraging by every practicable means the use of their
own manufactures, those countries in Europe from which timberis impOrted, ex-
clude at present all finds of British bolds; unless such as are indispensable ; and
it would appear that their population and wants are diminishiag. whereas the
people of these proVincei are rapidly increasing in numbers,
. and cotisequentlY in
their need of British manufactures ; they are, moreover,Jestricted to the United
Kingdom alone for their supply. Your Majesty will be'pleased to ollsiirve, that,
according to the statements before parliament, the whrile value of,British and Irish
goods expOrted in 18 :1?, for all the northern powers (with the exception of Russia,
which affords but little timber), was smiy 720,6691., while the supplies sent to the
North Arrierican colonies-amounted to 1,523,1331.

That it: has been alleged, that British shipping, •in times of Peace, can be na-
vigated cheaper than vessels of any other country, and consequently that freights
would be given to them in preference to foreigners, should it be resolved to en-
courage the northern pdwers ito supply Great Britain -with -timber,- by iteposing a
duty on that from British America, which must put a total stop to its importation.
On this head your petitionerS humbly beg leave to state, that vessels can neither
be built nor navigated at so low a rate in these provinces as in the neighbouring
states of America; henc-c it follows, that, as-colonial vessels cost much, less than
those built in Britain, so mtist the latter be touch 'higher than American, and
consequently than Baltic shipS,'*hich are built and-navigated on lower terms than
those of any other part of the, world. British vesse's, therefore, will require larger
freights to make go ,d the charges on the increa •ed amount of the Capital employed,
and the extra loss, by the gradual' depreciation' of the property. It must also be
known to your Majesty, that, besides the just mentioned evidences, which gave a
decided advantage to foreign 'vessels in the Baltic trade, there is another impedi-
ment in the way of equality, viz. the duty which is charged in Sweden, and other
places on shipping,while no such duty is imposed on their own. !
i •
Your petitioners cannot imagine that the prOposed duty of I 05..3d. per load on
provincial imber for a reduction of 10s. 3d. per load on that from Eurr?pe, which
would have the same injurious tendency) could be an object of great moment with
the northern powers, but for the monopolizing effect of such duty. By official
returns it is stated, that, in 1819, there were imported into Great Britain, from the
colonies, 266,552 loads of fir and oak timber, which at 10s. 3d. would only make
136,7091., an amonnt too small for these power! to interest themselves about,
were they;not confident -that the provinces could then no longer support a com-
petition with them, and that they would thus acquire the whole timber trade to the
United Kingdom, and employ in it exclusively their own shipping ; thereby de-
priving of bread 17,000 British seamen, now engaged in the colOnial trade.
Your petitioners humbly conceive, that the conclusion which has been formed by
the committee of the House of Lords, and stated in their report, already referred
to, against the durability of the North American timber, does not rest upon the
basis of satisfactory proof. It is an established opinion in this Country, founded
upon observations drawn from long -exnerience, that the perishing of wood front
dry rot is chiefl3, caused-by the cutting down of trees at an improper season of the
year ; and. that certain species of timber, particularly hard wood, are invariably
liable to premature decay, if felled when the sap is rising from the root in support
of vegetation, and further suffer your petitioners to add, that this objection cannot
be urged with any just effect against the yellow pine, which is no longer used at
your Majesty's dock-yartls in constructing the hulls of ships, but is there, as well
as generally throughout Great Britain, confined to purposes in which it cannot be
affected by the dry rot.

Your petitioners beg leave humbly to state, as their opinion, that, if the colonial
timber trade is now to be relinquished, the ruinous consequences will be so gene-
rally and severely felt, that no encouragement held out by Great Britain would be
an effectual inducement to renew it, should any future difficulties in the north of
'Europe render it necessary again to resort for timber to the American provinces.
That the loss of the timber trade would prove severely injurious to the fisheries
of these provinces, one of their principal advantages being derived from the b.w
rates of freight at whieli vessels coming for timber can afford to bring:out salt;
but if that 'essential:article can be (~btained on no better terms than by sending
home vessels for it in ballast,. the fisheries of New Brunsw:cl; and Nova Scotia
must be abandoned, while the (present very reduced prices for cubed fish prevail,
without any prospect of iMproVement, in every part of the world.

Your petitioners, whilewith the highest satisfaction they acknowledge the great
Value and importance of the Canadas, cannot help remarking that the interests of
this, province should attract so ittle notice, as in a great measure to have been left
Out of sight, and:Scarcely alluded to, in the late discussions on the subject of the
North American' tirnher trade' The perusal
_of the Custom House_ returns for
1819, hereunto annexed, your petitioners humbly hope, will serve to convince
your Majesty, that the importance of this province is such as merits a share of
attention, in whatever may relate to the welfare of British North America.
Your petitioners,:with'williri gratitude, make their acknowledgments for the
:" Free Port Act," a measure %o well calculated to benefit this province and Nova
Scotia, to ,encourage and increase their navigation ; and, while combined with the
wise policy of excluding the vessels of the United States from the West-India
colonies, likely to render those possessions and these provinces of greater mutual
advantage than heretofore, and of vastly inereased value to the parent state.

Your petitioners, in 'conclusion, while they further beg to mention that their
commerce in general is in a languishing condition ; and, in some of its important
interests, suffering under recent and peculiar difficulties, most confidently hope
your 11ajesty, taking the premises into due consideration, will rescue these pro-
vinces from their present alarths, by resisting any alteration in the existing duties