The Sun.
London, England, 1821-03-19 00:00:00

desirous of offering to the-House. It has appeared in the evi-
dence, that a great proportion of the timber which is imported
from the province of Canada, is the gn.-sth of the United States,
'and has been permitted to be received into that province free
from duty, and has. 6em thenef been exported to the United
Kingdom, with all tiro benefits and immunities conceded to the
pi-ea-ace of the British territory. Tot obviate the objection-to
which this practice 'appears- to your. Committeeto be liable, they
-,areof opinion, ...that with every exportation of .timber frenti the
British prolo.tritei' in North Ainerica, a Certificate of its being
the produce of those provinces should be required, and that
timber imported without-such certificate should be hereafter
_charged with the game rate of duty as would be payable on it,
if imported directly from a foreign state.
In submitting the result of what has occurredito them in the
course of their inquiry into this • important subject, yoUrCom-'
mittce have only to add, that in the recommendations which they
have tendered, it has been their endeavour, to the utmost of their
power, to conciliate the. claims of adverse interests and the 'con-
tending considerations•of policy that demanded their attention.
If .what they propose 'falls far short of a recurrence to • those
sound principles by which all commerce ought to be regulated,
they trust it will appear to the House, that they have proceeded
as far as, under present circumstances, is consistent with an
equitable regard tattle protection due to expusive. interests that
have grown up under an established system, and which must be
deeply affected.by any material and sudden change to which that
systemis-strbjected.—March 9, 1821. • - • • •

The following are the names of the Witnesses examlned
before this Gianni;tee :—Sir Robert Seppirms, Alexander
Copland, Esq., Juba 'Whirr, Esq., Lancelot Holland, Esq.,
Nlr. Brodie Augustus M4ollie, Henry Lisburne, Esq., John
Bainbridge, Esq., William Smith, Esq., Thomas Tooke, Esq.,
John 'Caldwell, Esq., Mr. John Hamilton, Mr. Chailes
Churchill, Mr. Harlin Haigh, John. Distun Towles, Esq., Mr.
William, Wilson, Mr. David Behouse, Mr. Charles- Augustus
Dalmer, Mr. Jacob Hagen, Mr. Thomas Simson, Mr. Edward
Patztker, Mr. James Haydock Hilt, Mr. Hobert Banton
ROxby, Mr. William Tindall, Mr. John Hill, Edward Scilly,
E.; , James Borthwiek, Esq., William Price, Esq., Mr.
Thineas Mu; Mr. James Young, Mr.'Ttiumas•Forrest, Mr.
Francis Treadwell, Mr. John Lampson, John Henry Pelly,
Esq., William Stewai t, Esq.

To the Honourable the COMMONS of the UNITED KINGDOM
of GREAT BRITAIN and inreeletti, in Parliament asseme
bled.
The humble PETITiose of the UndersignedSHlP OWNERS
of LEITII, KIRKALDYt and PORTS adjacent;
SnEWETII,—That your Petitioners are possessed of Shipping
property to a very. considerable amount, in the employment of
which they experience great difficulty.
That under the regulations enacted by Parliament in the
years 1807 and 1600, the 'trade between the British Colonies, in
North America and this country gradually increased, and since
the termination of the late war, furnished to your Petitioners
and other British Ship Owners, a source of employment for
their vessels, when scarcely any other could he had.
That by official Returns laid before the House of Lords, it
appears, that in the year 1010, no less than 1,525 vesselsevhose
tonnage amounted to 33U,537, and manned by 17,634 seamen,
were employed chiefly in carrying timber from the Colonies• to
this country.. '
That the increase of the trade may be ascribed to the exemp-
tion from duty of the timber imported from the Colonies, aided
by duties imposed Upon Baltic and Norway Timber brought
into the United Kingdom.
That in the course of last Session of Parliament, it came
under 'consideration of his Majesty's Government, -whether the
existing regulations and duties should not be altered so as to
allow Baltic and Norway timber to be imported. at loiYer rate,
of ditties, but Petitions against any alteration of duties having
been presented from various quarters, and among others from
your Petitioners, no definitive proposition was made, and the
existing regulations were continued until the 25th day of this
present month of March.
That the subject has now been brought before your Honour-
able House, and as the Petitioners are informed, it is in con-
templation to impose, not only a duty upon timber imported
from the British Colonies, but also to reduce the duties present-
ly levied upon Baltic and Norway timber.
That your Petitioners being firmly convinced that such alte-
rations, if passed into law, will have the immediate effect to
destroy the trade with the Colonies;, feel seriously and deeply
alarmed at the consequences which must result, not only to
them, as Ship Owners, but to the general interests of this
country.
That the value of the timber trade with the Colonies must be
evident, when it is attended to, that it is peculiarly and pre-
eminently British—the prime cost of timber being paid for in
British Manufactures, and the freight being paid to .British
ships, so that the entire sum expended for the article in Great
Britain goes through British channels, and contributes more or
less to the benefit of native interests, and the maintenance of
the national revenue.
That, on the Other hand, the advantages of a 'more, free in-
tercourse with the Ports of Norway and the Baltic, held' out as
consequent upon an alteration of duties, namely, the obtaining
a supply of timber, at a cheaper rate, and an additional de-
mand for British goods in-return, appear to the Petitioners al-
together fellatio:nand illusory. Ford' the trade with the Colonies
is destroyed; and which any alteration of the existing reeulae
tions will assuredly accomplish, the immediate 'effect will be a
rise in price upont.the article of Timber in Norway and the
ports of the Baltic, which will not only exclusively feenefit the
foreigner, but increase the price of the timber to the consumer
in this country.
That there is no good ground. for supposing that a demand
for British manufactures would follow upon a freer admission
of foreign timber into this country; on the contrary, the fact im,
that the growers and exporters of Norwegian and Balticf timber
take but a very small proportion of its price in articles of Bri-
tish production, and in Sweden British manufactures are nearly
altogether prohibited.
That from the low rate of outfit, and mode of navigation 'pe-
culiar to the ships of the North of Europe, it is" almost impos-
sible for the British Ship Owner to compete in bringing the
timber of those countries, independent altogether of the natu-
ral predilection of the foreigners for employing their own ves-
sels in the trade.
That so far, therefore, • from any advantage being likely to
be derived, by this country from an alteration of the existing re-
gulatione,,an .evident sacrifice of its best interests would follow.
That atfirrther consequence of the alterations now contem-
plated, byedestroying the trade to the Colonies, will follow,
nandy, t* placing this country in &total dependence on Alien
Powers feresupplies of timber, and should the intercourse with
the Northern Powers of Europe be, as it once was, suddenly
interrupted by them; the country would experience difficulty
and distress for a supply of 'wood. •
That the Colonists haling themselves laid before your Ho-
nourable House Petitions against the contemplated regulationS,
your Petitioners do not intend to say any thing on the subject
of the Colonists' peculiar interests, but,they cannot help think-
ing that they haw a strong ilaini to protection from this Coun-
try; and your-Honourable House ought not to forget that they
have been eminently useful arid serviceable to the United King-
doms, at. periods when those very Powers in whose favour it is
now proposed to the alteration of Duties, were eagerly
and keenly striving to d estroy the glory and prosperity of this
Empire.

Tshat on all these grounds it humbly appears to your Peti-
tioners, that the, present Colonial Timber Trade, which em-
ploys a great proportion of the whole Shipping of this Count-y,
and nearly 18,090 hardy and valuable. British Seamen, :which
affords to the British manufacturer a sure and undivided mar-
ket for the whole value of the products sent from the Colonies,
and which both directly and indirectly contributes to the reve-
nue of this Country, ought not to be sacrificed tetAliers,/whose
consumption of British produee is partial and trifling, and
whose interests must of necessity be opposed to those of the
United Kingdoms.
That your Petitioners, in coneitision, would ea- neltly implore
your Honourable House to consider the ruinous consequences
which will fall upon them as Slip Owners, for they declare
that they know not where to looklfor a substitute, if the Colonial
trade be taken from them, and which they have every reason to
believe Will follow from the alterations proposed. Their vessels
must be laid up to rot and decay—the Seamen employed by
them turned adrift, either to beg in their native Country, or find
employment in some ,}dual State—the capital expended by
your Petitioners will be. totally lost, and your Petitioners ulti-
mately ruined.
That as it has hitherto been the policy of.this country to en-
courage and extend its native shipping, your Petitioners fer-
vently trust' that your Honourable House will pause before you
deviate from that wise policy, and, endanger the vital interests
Of so large a portion of its Owners.
Your Petitioners therefore hope that no alteration Whatever
of the duties on Foreign Timber imported into this Country
will be allowed, but that the existing regulations will be' con-
tinued in force.
And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.

CORN EXCII INGE, M
2s. lower than this day
ply; the demaand not g

RCII 19.—Markets full
week, with a large sup-
vat.

81Thelt ' 36s 63s Grey Paas .... ......... ..28s :2s
Barley 2,ls 27s Beans - ns. 3is
.
Rre 28s 323 Oats 1-7321;s
Ai bite Peasz. 344 384 Flour, per sack sos Os