The Sun.
London, England, 1820-07-20 00:00:00

TIMBER DUTIES.

MINUTES of EVIDENCE tdatire to the TIMBER TRADE,
taken before the SELECT COMMITTEE of the HOUSE
of LORDS, appointed to inquire into the Means of extend.
ing and securing the FOREIGN TRADE of the COUN-
TRY, and to Report to the House.
(Continued from our Paper of yesterday.)

GEORGE COWIE, ESQ. is then called in and
examined as follows:
What Business have you peen principally engaged in ?—A
Sycedish Merchant.

During what period I.—For twenty-nine years.
lias it been particularly in tie Timber Trade, or in Trade
generally, that you have been engaged ?—Tradegenerally.

- -
State to the Committee what fluctuations you have ob-
served in the Trade between Sweden and this Country during
that period, and more particularly with reference to the
Trade in Timber?—The fluctuations I have observed are,
that the Exports to Sweden hare very much diminished, in
consequence of the heavy Duties rendering the Import of
Timber and Deals from Sweden unprofitable to the Swedes,
which presented them from ordering Goods in return in a
great measure.
Has the Timber, during the period you hare been convers-
ant with the Trade, been principally imported in vessels:of
British or of Swedish built ?—Principally in vessels of Swe-
dish ',milt.
Has that been owing to the greater cheapness of Swedish
freight ?—Not altogether; but chiefly to there being a higher
Duty in Sweden on she Export of Timber and Deals coming
by a British ship from Sweden than in one of their own ves-
sels, and partly because must of the Exporters of Timber and
Deals in Sweden are also Ship-owners.
supposing no such Duty existed, which freight do you ima-
gine would, under all circumstances, hc. the cheapest
cannot answer that question with precision.
Do you think there would be a material and decisive dil-
l. %eller in favour of one or the other ?—Not very material.
In what mode were the Bills drawn fur the payment of
British Timber imported into this Country from 'Sweden
chiefly liquidated ?—The Bills fur the Timber and Deals
shipped to this Country are commonly drawn at seventy-five
or ninety da)s date; but Sweden has always more Bills to
remit than to draw upon England, because the balance of
Trade between the two Countries is cousidetably against
Sweden.

Do a considerable number of vessels that import Timber
from Sweden return in ballast y either return in bal-
last, or else they go to the South of Europe for salt, or in
qtirst of a freight, and some of the ships return (ruin hence
with cargoes of British and Colonial produce. ,
Are you of. opinion, that if the consumption of Swedish
Tittiltrr was greatly increased in this Country by a remission
of Duty, or any other circumstance, the consumption of Eug-
list, manufactures in Sweden would be increased ?—ln an-
swer to that, I would observe, that English Manufactures
are generally prohibited into Sweden at this morniint, and
filet aur: I cannot sayahey would be increased. There are
certain species of manufacture that are admissible, but nut
gener4ty, and of such the consumption in Sweden would no
doubt be increased by a remission of the Duty on Timber.
Did you not understand that Prohibition to have been
partly, if not principally. occasioned by the increased Duties
upon the Importation of Timber in this Country ?—I believe
they were partly so occasioned.
Ilaie you ally opportunity of knowing to 'what degree the
cousumption of English manufactures in Sweekti would be
carried, were they subject neither to prohibition, nor to any
considerable amount iit DM) ?—No, I have nut.
There are culisiderable Debts now due front Sweden to this
Count re, are there not I—There ale.
IVihnld not an increased Importation of Timber from Swe-
den ate'ord means, which do not nosy exist, of liquidating
those debts I—lt certainly would.
Is nut Sweden a particularly poor Country?—Yes, it is.
Upon what grottod do you think there would be any con-
siderable demand -for our Manuf4ctures, if there were to lie
a remis4iuu of duty t.--Lecauze tbri would hare more means

of pitying for them, if they could sell their goods to adran-
tace.
Hare von ever exported porter, rum, or cotton Yarn t°
Sweden frequently.
Of late years ; tam now exporting Cotton Yarn,
and continually export it; Rum and Porter are no"' P".
hihited.
They have been prohibited since the last duty laid on the
importation Of Swedish Timber into this Country, have WI
nut. ?—Yes, they hate.
They were prohibited immediately, were they not .2-Tei,
they were, at least I believe so.
IS not the importation of certain numbers of Cotton yarn
prohibited of late years ?-...Certainly; the low numbers, fr"ff'
No. t to 25, which they are supposed to be capable of making
for themselves.
Did not thAt prohibition immediately follow the impot;ti°3
of our last duty on Foreign Timber ?—I rather think it did.,
Had the Exports of porter, ruin, and the low numbers 0'
Cotton Yarn, been considerable before that prohibition

Yes, in proportion to the trade to Sweden generally.
tb:
You have stated, that the high duties have diminished
importation of Titahrr from Sweden, do you moan that o°7
have so done by raising the market price of Timber, or 0;
enabling the Canadian Merchants to undersell the Swedis4•
—By enabling the Canadian Merchants to undersell the Swedish.
Can you state the comparative aualitits of th" Tint
grown in Sweden, and the Timber in the other Northern
States ?—The Swedish Timber is reckoned next to the Pray.
sian Timber, the best that comes to this market.
What is it as compared with the-Norway ?—The Norw ic
Timber is, I suppose, equally good, but it is generally
smaller dimensions.
Is Sweden a Country rapidly increasing in population t.itis
all ?—No, I rather think it is stationary, or at least that t"
increase is hut inconsiderable.
Do you know what is the cause of the Norway Timber brift
shorter in its sizes than any other Timber ?—I cannot spa
to that, as I am not in the habit of trashing to Norway.
Yon- have stated that the Swedish vessels, after havn
brought their cargo of Timber here, were in the habit,...°
going to the Southern Ports of Europe for cargoes of salt.
Frequently from the Port of London.
Why was not it more convenient to them, and why did tbej,
not get their salt from hence ?—Because to proceed ("0
London to Liverpool for Salt would be both tedious and el;
pensive, and by going to the South .of Europe they won,
have the chance of procuring freight, which would be l'h",
object, and then- they Lad always a. cargo of Salt as "

deinicr resort.
Do you confine what you say now to the Port of UMW fr..
Ye,. hat
Yon •spoke of a balance due to you from the Swedes;
mo le have the Swedes, or hare they any mode of paying the
balance of Trade, comparing the Exports to them with thif
own cargoes of Timber ?—Not their Timber only, but the'.
tar, inin, and pitch.
Suppose a balance of Trade after that, giving them oval,
for those articles, have they any means of paying any balalic,
of Trade that may be against them ?—Yes, they have aleible-
of doing sa, from their profits in the carrying Trade '
the'
South of Europe, and elsewhere, and front the profits of
Commerce with UI hr r- Countries. tb°
Is it not very difficult to get such a balance?—lt is r and
Exchange is excessively unfavourable to Sweden.
Therefore, so. far, au increased Trade with Sweden w°lsOg
not be very desirable for a Merchant to engage in do "-
clearly understand the proposition.
From the difficulty they hare in paying the balance bier,
tweet) the English Merchants and them, would it be a i°t,
able thing for a British Merchant to increase his ExPort.i,6
Sweden ?—lf he had confidence in his Correspondent', 1,
would have no hesitation in doing it, because there
wealthy individuals in Sweden, who can always find 1-1.
means of remitting.
Then there is no difficulty in getting balances front 51;„,
den, when balances are due from the Swedish Merchants:
only meant to say, that a Merchant would have no
lion in increasing his Trade with those individuals in .•
den in whom he had perfect confidence, but that there i'
very great difficulty in general, at present, in consequence-0
the eachange being so unfavourable, every person who tray
with Sweden is aware. it
The question is intended as a general queition, whether.,
would tie a desirable thing for a British Merchant to inert*,
his Exports generally to Sweden; taking in those person
ri,
to whom yon allude of great capital, and the other descrii,.
Con of Merchants, generally speaking, under all the eirGithe
stances of the times, would an increased trade between
British Merchant and Sweden be desirable or not ?—lt °-
be 'desirable. off
Hare you any reason to know whether there is, or ri
a disposition at present in the Swedish Government to cube
rate a fair commercial intercourse with this country F." 4

iieve there is that disposition.
,et that th, a dirt

;laced in

rou mentioned that tre _ ay p'k, i..
Deals and Timber exported in British Ships has there
btafr
any alteration of that Duty made try the Swedish Goverilailif
since our Duties were imposed hat been oceasion,lo,
relaxed at the request of the Swedish Merchants, bat no Y
n
maitet alteration has take plac.
Are you aware whether theree i, any considerable distr.°
in Norway and Sweden at present ?—1 believe there is. 0
To what cause do you principally attribute it ?—parttiiig
the re-action of the Peace coining upon them, and del)!l'liit
them of the carrying Trade, and partly to the diminution:ifs
price. of their comniudities in Foreign Countries, abicti)
Eng' n Shea
Do you consider the high Duties laid in England tir-ft
Importation of their Timber, by preventing the FAPA'alis
that Timber from Swettea, to have contributed ate any c°
derahle degree to that distress ?—f think it has. dere'
May not therefore that distress, its a consicterable tin%
occasioned, as you conceive, by the difficulty of etcPc)ropti
to this Country that Timber, in conseqUence of the bigt!._otti
laid in this Country on the Importation of it, have contrioor
to make the population of Sweden stationary ?—1 reallYd OA/
not take upon myself positively to say that it has hit
toe
effezt, but I think it not improbable that it has 1
indurtice in that respect.
The Witness is directed to withdraw.
(To be Continued.)
0 °C
The Colossus and Queen men of war,
rat°
the oldest ships in the Royal Navy, are
area
to be broken up at Chatham, where they are
lying. faller)
For the last three days a heavy rain has be
at intervals, for at least thirty miles roups we'
Capital, and in some places the water has
rally descended in torrents.
Mg/
ATTEMPTED SUlClDE.—Yesterday morn re•
man named Churchill, a painter and glazi,e,rDoe
siding at Battle-bridge, was discovered u:bed•
of his children hanging from a hook in his
room ; the child gave the alarm and the u :sor
tunate man was cut down. Mr. • Sandal/ a tro
geon, attended and opened a vein in each fiad
using such other • means as were necessario/iilit
finally succeeded in recovering him. Laststod
he was pronounced out of danger, wren he of teli
that extreme distress, having a family use a,
children and a pregnant wife, was the- ea ,raj
his committing the rash act. About 16trcia
collected among the neighbours for the st'
family.

.1.1...1.1..... ...""
- of
-
BIRTH. 11
, ill
On Vt'ednesdav morning, in Weymouth-street, tils
././

George Wilder, Esq. of a sun.
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MARRIED. 51,.0
On the lath of rebrunry, at Madras, Trientl 193k.0'113,rrf.i7D0
the Flononruble East India Company's Service, ,laripil►'
dnuithter of the late Captain Eirell illitCliollaidi °I
SCOI lan CI. '
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—_,......—.
. DIED.
of •
On Tuesday, in town, Thomas Jacob White, g"l' .fl
Ou Sunday, J..ly
ley, in the County of Worcester. , roc°
. cut an , hol
Bookseller there. ii, f k,ficCt
On the 14th inst. at Cork, Nlrs. Hoare, re.---t,ffe 'IV,
Hoare, Esq. and formerly relict of the late Ge`)".ol 0" dIP
Esq. Ly this Lady's death, and t to the '''puerP
pursuant 2, at Brechin,S 1 d gr„lero-5
late Nir. Piers y, his estate has now beconic the Poi,
Edmond Koapp, Esq. now Edmund Knapp Pl""r' g
fl":
I.(:)Nrill)„?,Nid:stlirrci,,ntt:ll(4ll.ln..l4ll. • Or sv ,'
SCItIPPS, of N.. 7, S oath Nioltowstreet, a ~. Or
Otl:ce, No. 112, Ntrand : where Advettiseruen'`,
Gritert, Sec. (post-pail) mutt he atidregir4`
t(ia;Arci.t;STAlltS, ot by ,;v0
and publishedt Do
4,
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