The Sun.
London, England, 1821-04-27 00:00:00

houses; because we find, that under the present practice, these
warehouses have been left open, and under the sole care of the
proprietor or his servants; that there has been, in other re_
spects, much neglect.concerning thern, and that many of the
articles allowed to be deposited in them are subject to high 'du-
ties, and of great importance to the Revenue.
The foregoing observations and recommendations have rela-
tion-to the custody and examination of goods previous to their
delivery from the warehouse for home consumption or -expor-
tation.
In the case of home consumption, the delivery of the goods
is intrusted to the lockers, and there is nothing before us to
warrant the conclusion that this part of their duty has been im-
properly performed. •
The conduct of those officers, whose duty it is to examine
warehoused goods entered fur exportation,' and to take charge
of such goods flan the warehouse to the exporting vessel, came
next under our consideration, and the result of ourinvestiga-
don makes it itcambent upon us to state, that the public service
requires a more constant and regular attendance of the several
officers employed on this duty than what now takes place, and
that a more strict examination of the warehoused goods en-
tered for exportation (to be executed with as little delay, and
inconvenience to the merchant as the case will admit of) ought
to be enforced.
As a: first step to introduce , greater regubrity into the busi-
ness relating to the exportation of gaods'a-Wa think the SurVeyor
of Searchers should be made to exercise the same superintend-
ence and cbntroul over the Searchers, and be subject to the
same responsibility for keeping them to the strict performance
of their tiaties, as we have suggested with respect to the Land-
ing Surveyors; a controul which does not appear hitherto to
have existed.
It is obviously of much importance, although we fear not
hitherto invariably attended to,- that goods delivered &Om the
warehouse for exportation should not be out of the charge of an
officer until placed on board ship, or under the 'care of a licensed
lighter man (where such are employed).
The increased strictness with which we recommend that the
duty of the , Searchers should be exercised, need not, we con-
ceive, lead to any impediment or delay of business injurious or
inconvenient to the merchant. As a remedy for any delay that
might arise from the re-examination of goods, so-far as this of-
ficer is concerned, we think that the Searcher, upon notice being
given to him that a re-examination of goods about,to be deli-
vered for exportation is deemed necessary, should 'attend at the
warehouse to witness the operation, after. which he should only
have to ascertain the identity of the packages in their passing
from the warehouse to the ship.
Having thus laid before your Lordships the several improve-
ments which have occurred to us as being requisite -in the va-
rious Warehousing Departments which have come under our
consideration in the Fifth, Sixth, arid present Reports, and the
effectual introduction of which (if your Lordships should adopt
our suggestion) will principally depend open the ieal: and: in-
dustry of the Commissioners of Customs, concerning which we
entertain no doubt, we feel it our duty to recal your I.andShips'
attention to the general view of the Warehousing Act, winch
we submitted in our Second Report, and the extension of the
system itself which we there recommended.
We think that some increase of commerce, and some addi'-
tional employment to the induStrious classes connected with it;
might be derived from a measure of that description, such as
would at all times be 'of national importance, but at present
wouldhe more particularly advantageous.
We are aware, however, that the extension of our suggestion
would require the previous consideration of many important
questions, as the portS into which various articles may be
brought for the purpose of being warehoused ; the 'places (in
London) where they may be allowed to be deposited; the time
during, which the goods may be perMitted to remain there; the
countries to which certain articles may be exported directly frOni
the warehouse • and the various securities and regulationswhich it may be necessary to adopt.
. It only remains for us, in concluding our present Report, to
advert to a question upon which your Lordships have' required
our opinion, but upon which we are not enabled at present to
offer any specific suggestions, because the whole of the mate-
rials upon which our judgment must be founded, are not before
us. We allude to' the question' concerning the• expediency of-
renewing or modifying the exclusive privileges en;oyed by the
several Dock Companies after the expiration of the Acts under
which such privileges are now secured to those companies ex-
clusively.
Your Lordships have referred to us a Report of the Commis.
sioners of Customs on this subject, and we are informed that
the opinion of the Commissioners of Excise upon it' will like-
wise be laid bethre us. When we shall have maturely consi-
dered the remarks, of these two Boards,. we may probably find
it expedient to communicate with the heads of the respective
companies, or other parties interested, before we-submit any
suggestions in detail upon this question to yoOr Loniships—
ln the mean time, we take this opportunity to observe, that
in pursuing our inquiries into the various objects of our com-
mission, we have received much information relating to the esta-
blishments in question, the effect of which has been .to create a
strong impression on our minds of their great public utility.
We are fully satisfied that they afford the means ' of protect-
inn the Revenue, not only more elVetually, but more economi-
cally than it could, under any regulations, be secured, if the
vast transactions now conducted within the docks were carried
on as formerly upon the open quays; and We find it' generally
admitted on the other hand, that they have been highly useful
to thamercha.nt, by the safeguard which he has found in them
against the frauds and pillage to whiCh his goods were fOrmerly
exposed.
These are advantages of great value, and more especially
under a general warehousing system. It is, therefore, in our
view of the subject, most desirable that the Dock establish-
ments should be maintained upon the present respectable foot-
ing. But we are, at the same time,,far froni being prepared to
state that, for that purpose, the continuance of the whole of their
exclusive privileges would be necessary or expedient. We are
sensible, on the contrary, that the interest of the mercantile
community is deeply concerned in bein enabled to obtain the
accommodation which those docks afford (and to which, for the
advantage of the Revenue, they are compelled to resort,) at the
cheapest,rate at which it can be yielded ; and after all the consi-
deration that we have hitherto been able to bestow upon the
subject, we are not aware of any other mode of securing - that
object, than by opening a competition between the several Dock
establishments and other warehouses and quays, such as cannot*
exist consistently with the exclusive rights by which the former.
are now otected;and which rights hava been granted for certain
periods aspr a fair remuneration to the proprietors 'for the ex-
pence of the original undertaking.. By what modifiCations of
their several privileges at the expiration of those periods, this
competition, which in our judgment can alone protect the Mer-
chant against arbitrary charges, may best be effected, we pro-
pose to consider, and submit to your Lordships in a future.
Report.

(Signed) CHARLES -LONG.
GRANVILLE C. H. SOMERSET.
R. FREVaN.
J. C..IIERRIES.
W. J. LUSHINGTON.
Office of the Commissioners for inquiring .
into the Customs and Excise, 29th
April, 1820.
(Copy.) Nath. Thorns, Sec.

Copy LETTER from S. R. Luszir-NoTcn.r, sci: transmit-
ting Copy of Treasury Minute on Seventh: Report of the
Commissioners of Inquiry into Customs and Excise:
• Treasury Chamers, 21st July 120.
GENTLEMEN,-_.I herewith transnlibt for your informa Btion,'
by command of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty!s
Treasury; a Cony of their Lordship? Minute of the 13th
on your Seventh Report. I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient tServant, •
(Signed) S. It. LUSHINGTON.
To CommiSsioners for
inquiring into CustomS, &c. •

Copy of TREASURY MiiqurE above referred to, dated 13th
July 1020.
My Lords have under their consideration the Seventh Re-
port of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the exist-
ing regulations for 'the conduct of the business iii every Depart-.
went of the Cnstoins,
.and of the Expoit and Import Depart-
ments of the Excise, with
.a view to suggest such, alterations
therein as may be considered necessary for facilitating the dis-
patch of business, for affording accommodation to- trade; and inr
securing and improving the revenue.
LiirdS entirely approve of the diff'erCnt suggestions. of the,
Commissioners of Inquiry, and are pleased to direct a coily. of
the Report to be transmitted to the' 1.3&:..d- Of Customs, with in-
structions to prepare such measures as' may be necessaryfoi•car
ryinithd sameinto-effect; ifura-Ciftiainting them that niy Lords