The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-02 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
- -FROM TILE EVENING PAPERS' OF YESTERDAY. 1
GLOBE.—The powers that be, protective of white
crops, seem sadly inveterate against black diamonds.
An anti-commercial instinct, however, seems to rule their
fiscal measures in both cases. They- tax corn that, we
may not buy it, and they tax coals that we. may not sell
them. How it ever should have entered into the heads of
men professing commercial liberality, and intimating that
they were only withheld from carrying it 'farther by
respect for great vested interests—men professing a
. desire to untrammel trade, and throw then` imposts on
. realiied property—to fish for a miseiable plum—the,
-
savings of some single grocer—by taxing an increasing
export trade, dependent solely on extreme cheapness,Of
production —is one of the greatest mysteries of
Peel policy. Providence, we know, has its, mysteries;
and a zealous Peelite has reminded • the world that
Providence and Peel both begin with P. - But we
trust it is something short of blasphemy to: point out
'the inconsistency of this wretched coal-tax:— and the
Minister's arguments for it—with the fair side of what-
ever else he has done. Sir . Robert; Peel. actually
gave as a reason for this stupid impost, that it was aS
well to keep cheap coals for ourselves, instead of 'letting
our rivals have them. This froM the Minister who
wasactually letting in rival products at lowered duties,
and making a merit of it ! This from the Minister
who was sanctioning the exportation of machinery.
Well 1 what have been the consequences of this
miserable and miserably motived coal-tax ; and what
are_ likely to be the consequences of the new coal-tax
contemplated" is the port of London ?—for the purpose,
forsooth, of defraying the cost of a Thames embankment
along the Middlesex side, and affording the Londoners
- splendid and gratifying views of sheds, wharves,
and chimnies in Surrey. We have before us- the statistics
of the French and Belgian Coal and Iron Tradespublished
by M. Leon Faucher, in his work entitled " L'Union: du
Midi" It appears from these, that in 1840 our coal was
displacing that of Belgium in the north ofFrance, andpar-
ticularly at the great manufacturing depOt of Rcinen. In
1837 the French tariff had lowered the duty on ell foreign
coal in equal proportions—viz., English from 110 to, 55
_ -centimes, and Belgian from 33 to 16i per hundred
kilograriimes. At these latter rates, the consumption of
English steadily gained on that of Belgian coal, and
had increased 15 per cent. during the subsequent three
years. The quantities of the entire consumption ,in
France stood thus in 1840 :-
- Quintals. -
. French native coal, 30,033,820.. 1
Belgian, ,
English, 3,800,000 . .
We had . here an important, and rapidly increasing,
export trade with France, in almost the only article
left open by her Tariff ; and this has been spoiled by
Sir ,Robert Peel's most injudicious and obnoxious
export duty. Since 1842, the decline is stated as having
been even more rapid than the previous increase, and
Rouen is again being supplied with coal from Bel-
gium. Many of our readers may not be aware of the
great consumption of coal in France.. The native
mines began to be worked in 1719: - the quality of the
coal obtained from them is inferior both to oar own and
the Belgian coal. On a rough calculation; the propor-
tion of coal to wood used in France as fuel is one
sixth, or, in calorific power,: about one-third. We
now come to the threatened' new tax on coal in
the port of London. iSirR. :R..-Peel must ' surely have
•
mistaken the sturdy Csonse 0f,.. thern,grimy), people in-
terested ._ in
,Aleesssisea-bornes Coati T.radat for : officers'
widows ; or be better- woirld. imitate ventured- thus to
aim blow afeeehlow et, their ;eietstenceSe 'lite - tell him
very respectfillly thatstheYrystiirtbStatcd-itsz: The Thames
it not quite the:Neva yet,itnif Enfitilie- contented, as in
the days of -the Critic,' te'llow betwdeu Its" own banks,
without expecting stone' ones fronfrnipexa„Ltyranny.
London will not have an additional COalstexPaepetuated
upon all its poor, as the Minister thinks, .tet/perpetuate
hie income-tax on all who -are just abaventhe - poor.
Twa such presents are quite too much of a good thing
from one minister. We are content with the one ; we'
do not mean to submit to the other. -
. STANDARD.—The subject of harbours of refuge,
and let us add of rendezvous, for armed vessels, whioh
came under the consideration of the House of Commons
last night, is one of the most important that can occupy
public attention. This is not the first time that we have
said:so, as.will be seen by the following extract from a
numberof this journal published some years ago.ovhith
we find in Mr. Stewart's report addressed to Captaia
Brandretle of the Admiralty:— . - . - _
• " CirANNEL HARBOUR OF REFUGE.—We rejoice to see
that the subject of a refuge harbour in the Channel has
• been again revived. This is a project of Mk. Pitt, which,
but for, the demands of the war of 1793, would have been
realised almost half a century ago; and it is a project, the
importance of which it is impossible to over-rate. Arefu.ge
harbour in a prominent position in a frequented part of the
Channel, and in deep water, would obviate ninesteuths of
the wrecks that annually occasion so much sorrow aid such
great losses- To such a harbour all vessels would in threat- 1
ening weather boldly direct their course, without looking IQ
lite doubtful sesurity of bad ports, that prove so often
treacherous and fatal. The value of such a harbour is,,.
therefore, not to be measured by the losses that have oc-
curred in its immediate neighbourhood ; it will be the means
of safety to the whole Channel navigation. Dover is , the.'
site which we have heard preferred by most naval mese
- and a refuge harbour at Dover would at once render harrals
the Goodwin Sands, except in cases of gross mismanaT
meat or indiscretion. We prefer to dwell upon the 'peel c
advantages of such a harbour, but its uses m time of war
Would be, so great that it were injustice to the subject to
..
omit them. A dozen line-of•battle ships, and a dozen firgt-_
claSs war steamers, with transports, &c., riding in dep
water at Dover, with the faeilities of rapid approach, new
about to be secured by railroads, would leave the whole
west coast of Europe, from the Baltic to the Tagus, abSo-
hitely at the mercy of Great Britain. Had we possessed
' these advantages at any time in the twenty years from 1793
• to 1813, how promptly could we have terminated the war
that so long tormented Europe, and cost this country
2,000,000,000/. Such an easy outlet to the incalculanie
- power of England presents a prospect which it would be the
extreme of rashness even to sketch in outline." t .
- This passage expresses what is still our opinion, with
.' regard to a Channel harbour, but we confess -that whet
Sir Robert Peel said last night considerably extends ojir
. views, It is not the English Channel alone. whih
calls for such a means of safety fur commerce a*d
of defence for the country. Every side 'af
• England ought to have the advantage of a• • caps-
- does *deep-water harbour in a salient position, not
- only for the security of our commercial 'marl+,
: 'lint for the purpose of national defence in the time pt
war. The expense ought to be no "consideration, fhr
the difference of costs between the wear andsteer bf
fleets riding at anchor in smooth water, and cruising in
, all . seasons and all weathers, would cover -the expenr
in • two or, three years of war, -and- this. With° t
taking into account the security against -such "fright-
fut casualties as the loss of Admiral Christian's fie ts. ,
The misfortune is, however, that in -this Counts
as in every Other free country, great efforts 11
rarely be made, even for the most useful objeets; eXce t
' under some feeling of high excitement, or in Cases 1
imminent necessity. Hence our wars are,morefreque 1
' than they would be if we were -better prepar ;
• • they last longer, and are imMeasurably, mo e
expensive.. As we have lately had ' occasion e
- - remark, wars among civilised countries- are noise
scarcely ever undertaken with a view. to cop-
- ghost— they are generally resorted AO as a mealis
''- of extorting some advantage by a prodess of colt-
- paratively small injury and temporary , anno -'.
since ; but the nation which is best secured., fro
- thin vexatious molestation must plainly, be .t e
-nation least subject to attack, especially when h r
ultimate power is known to be invincible, s Naples) t ,
. in the plenitude of his power, and -in-• the most
frenzied stage of his ambition, never fancied there fr
• his projected invasion of England than a- run to, LOpdo ,
the utmost effect of which would be to detach- Engle d
from her allies, and thus leave the 'pontineutast his'
mercy. We need scarcely say, . hosirever, thin
- a stout fleet riding at anchor at Dover • would
have expelled even this dream. . Hone- much in
pounds, shillings, and pence would- the , country
have thus saved by the possession of as capacious, deeps
water harbour at Dover, another at some salient ppint a
the North Sea, and another in St George's Chasm° ?•
- The possession of three such harbours :must,. wh e
' England shall maintain her maritime. superioritys, retve
• der for ever ridiculous any attempt to -molest hiir,
- even in a slight degree; and then, what could lead air
• ' nation to the folly of engaging in a quarrelsivhen-all the
injury must fall to its own share? Steara;• it is true
.' has greatly modified war, and given-• • t4B - this
. country immense advantages ; but • still'. sailint-.
!vessels of large size must be empoyed, and in a military
view such harbours as we speak of are aeoessirystogiye
• ' 'full seope to their efficacy. The rea.sons.for establislaing
lzarboursof refuge for the commercial Marinseare so4n
.•
`'waste
or 800 annual shipwrechsswitb•a; miserable
' Waste of human life.
... ~.......t
MARKET IN''."...—..7M!`k-Ut:t.'ii(-62. -
(From the London New Price Cciereneoflffarch-.1 ) I
. Sus:mi.—The market bag each day been-lituall7' bleared bf
the Sugar on show; the prices paid are.6dspiriektobever ticee
of 4ist Friday for all sorts ; indeed, on brornianalitsis,The •aits''
• wince in some cases has been ls. To-days aesssisisinsity f..
West India Sugar sold was 200 hhds, which nnualbesisgard dlf
] - Ile a good business, considering the quantity•en:Olter;--pti -I
are still going up, and closed Is above those•' of ilaitsFeiday •fbr
- browit and low yellow, and 6d per cwt for all: other aortbr
• This afternoon Antigua Sugar at 61s to 61s6d for dingy yellow.'
Rzeirszu...-Te-day large parcels of Reined Goodi• were
taken by the home trade ; brown lumps .77s eds-and'standard
. lumps 78a 6d t0,79s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar is much
' . wanted, and 26s 6d per cat is the nine -of largeparcelsi • 'Bas-
tards and pieces in great request at 17s to 24s per cwt; ' - '
Ma uairies.--sThe trade have been- ready purohasers of all
Ibis
paying an advance on former rates-ofsed,per ewt.
This afternoon there was no public sale ; privately, several par-
cels of yellow were sold at 60s to 68. 64 per cwt. ss, , -
EAST INDIA.—This afternoon Bengal Sugar sold at full
rates, fine strong yellow Dobah fetched 70s, gOod.6Bs-6d to
es, rnid,66s 6d to 671, low mid yellow 62s ed to 63. 6d, fine
white 70s; good 684 to 69s mid 66, 6d to 675, low 65s to 665;
-damp and way 62s to d9s per cwt. Singapore•Sugai, duty:
paid, at 51, to 61s 6d per cat.
• Fos, to H.—There was much activity. in . dies market .fdr-
measly all descriptions of Foreign Sugar since.Fridayslasb, and
' a further advance has taken place in prices, Thitafterneon
white Havannah, sound all taken in at stiff rates, good, white
. at 28s to 28s 611, mid 26s to 27s 6d. ord 24a 6d to ees 6d ; the
damaged sold at the full worth : slightlydansaged•fetched 22s
to 25s 6d, damaged 211 to 23, 6d. - ••• , .
Coes:PA.—Foreign is held for the previous, worth, but few
ibuyies are to be met with. An increased desire has been
ehawn to purchase West India, and the better qualities are
•
• rather b.;gher.
SAGO.-.This afternoon at public sale 118 boxes of good
large Pearl were sold at 17. 6d, and 150 boxes of good small
-:Whei. Pearl at 213 6d to 225.
' ' orizz.—All clean sorts of West India are much wanted,
btit the market is still scantily supplied, and there are more
-. larders than can be executed ;by private contract-the business
transacted bits been at stiff rates. This afternoon Ceylon sold
' AO* former rates, good ordinary pale at 68s, ragged 659 to
•7s, :real good ordinary rather coloury 695, damaged in the
enuntry 630 to 66. 64. ‘Pslncill .Witbdrawn,• -the broker not
lasing received peti.tiye inateuetinettoselL , Padang:taken in
at 30 for ordinary Raul. ' " leiß diltsetakeiriniststerfor
good otAillarlgteenlib 4,5441 i V; aria
sold at 3:*4 to 321 6d for goes!' o 'nary.