The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-12 00:00:00

terial of manufactures that shall exceed 5 per cent.
That in many cases is merely nominal. In respect
to the duty on articles partially manufactured I
shall propose a considerable reduction.—(Hear, hear.)
generally, and not with regard to indi-
vidualropose that the duty on articles
partially manufactured shall not exceed 12 per cent.
Speaking
With respect to the duty on manufactured articles, speak-
ing generally, I propose that the maximum duty shall
not be more than twenty per cent. I do not mean
that this is to be applied to all. I am only speaking now
of the general principle, for there are particular articles
to which I shall call the attention of the House at
another time, and which may not be included in this
maximum duty. The course we have pursued
is this. We have arranged the whole of the tariff under
20 heads. For instance, under the first head we have
included live animals and provision of all kinds.
In the second, we have included all articles that be raised
under the name of spices. In the third class are included
all sorts of seeds. Under the 4th head, all sorts of
timber and wood for fire. Under the sth, all ores,
minerals, metals, and all those articles whieh enter
into manufactures. But in order to relieve my-
self from the necessity of going through all the
immense details, I propose to lay before the House the
amended scale of the tariff.—(Hear, hem%) It is all
prepared. It is arranged as clearly as possible
under twenty different heads, classed as nearly
as could be done under articles of the same
kind.—(Hear, hear.) The schedule will contain
five columns, the first having the name ; the second, the
present rate ; the third, the amount of duty actually
received during 1840, as contained in the Report of the
Import Duties Committee ; the fourth, the proposed rats
of duties to be levied on articles imported from foreign
countries ; the fifth, the proposed rate of duties on those
imported from the British colonies. It appears to me that
I cannot lay before the Hoase in any clearer or more
comprehensive way what we intend to propose.—(Hear.)
I cannot now attempt to go through the whole in detail
--(Hear, hear.)—after the great labour which the dis-
charge of my duty_ this night required, and the fatigue
of the House—(Hear, hear.)—but here is the paper
arranged, here is the whole of the tariff arranged,
under twenty different heads ; and on Monday morning
all engaged in commerce and manufactures will have an
opportunity of seeing what is the amount of the new
duties which her Majesty's Government have to propose.
Speaking generally, I may say that on 1,200 articles it
is proposed to reduce thu duty on 750—upon all those
which enter into manufactured articles as their chief
constituents. There are 450 articles in respect of which,
on comparing the present rate of duty with the cost
of the article it does not appear necessary
for the interests of commerce, and the interests of the
consumer, to make any difference ; but of 1,200 arti-
cles, on 450 it is proposed to make a reduction of duty,
and in many cases, a very material one. Now there are
some very material articles in respect of which
we do not propose to make any change,
partly from considerations of revenue exclusively, and
partly from this motive ; we found on entering office,
that there were negotiations pending with many
States respecting the formation of commercial treaties.
We have done all in our power to continue those
negotiations which we found on foot, and
we have entered into negotiations and communications in
respect to them, with many of those States. We have
at this moment a Treaty pending; commenced under the

auspices of the Noble Lord opposite, with Portugal, and
had it not been for recent events that have disturbed the re-

pose of that country, it would by this time have been rati-
fied. We have pending communications with Spain, for the
purpose of forming a commercial treaty with
that country, and strongly urging on Spain
the policy of an increased international com-
merce. I cannot say more than that the proposition
has been favourably received. We have negotiations
also pending with Sardinia, and with Naples, and nego-
tiations for a commercial treaty are also pending with
some of the South American States. We have intimated
to France our earnest desire to resume negotiations for
the conclusion of a commercial treaty with that
.country, founded on terms which I believe would
be reciprocally most beneficial, and would have a ten-
dency to strengthen our amicable relations. That treaty
was nearly concluded by the Noble Lord opposite, and I
wish it had been carried into effect at that time, for I do
believe that France, 13:,th morally as well as commer-
cially, would have derived great benefit from it.—
(Loud cheers.) There is. all prejudices apart, an
opportunity to each country of benefiting their industry
by relaxation of the present system of commercial in-
tercourse. I know not which country would gain the
most, but this I am quite sure,' that they would gain a
benefit ; I do not attempt to estimate what each country
would receive, but I am convinced that the benefit one
country would gain will re-act on the other to an extent
which will prove the value of just and sound legislation.
I say nothing with respect to any probable period at
which the treaty with France may be carried into effect,
but my conviction is that considerable benefit will be de-
rived from it, and I hope that the public mind will
support the Government in endeavouring to obtain such
a treaty. While th -)se treaties are pending, there are
several articles which „would enter into the discussion
connected with them, in respect to which. I advise
the House not at present to make any alteration.
With respect to brandy and wino—take the
case of brandy and wine—l won't discuss the
question whether it would be wise or not to make a
remission of duty without reference to respective
benefits ; but when we make a remission of duty, we
ought to do our utmost to procure from that country
a remission, causing a ca;Lezponcling advantage. It
rffl 111,U VO thc it Of a
satisfactory negotiation, by refusing a remission of du-
.ties on certain articles. I do not propose any reduction
on the amount of duty on brandy and wine, cherish-
ing the hope that that duty may be relaxed on
these articles, when a corresponding relaxation of
duty is made on our manufactures by foreign
Countries. So, again, with respect to various Fruits
which formed the subject of negotiation with
foreign Powers, I propose to retain the duty upon.
them, not with reference to the revenue, but for
the purpose of facilitating negotiations profitable to
British Commerce. I don't think that it is necessary
to specify the articles on which we propose to retain
the duty, because those different articles appear in the
schedule. These various reductions--the removal of pro=-
hibition—the relaxation of prohibitory duties—the
reduction of duties on articles such as ores, having
a tendency .to remove the burdens upon commerce,
and to increase the buoyancy of trade. These
various reductions may, in my opinion, be made,
conferring great and far more than pro-
portionate advantages in the manntactures of
this country, without increasing the risk of a
greater loss to the revenue than about 270,0001.
Sir, I have been now speaking of the reduction of duties
on articles which enter largely into our manufactures.
I now address myself to the question of the reduction of
duties on the great articles of consumption. Sir, the
chief articles of consumption to which those du-
ties apply are the articles of sugar, coffee, and
timber. (Cheers from the opposition.) With
respect to the article of sugar, I wish it were
in my power, consistently with truth to state to the
House that her Majesty's Government could
recommend an . alteration in those duties.
Sir, I will not deny that if we were
not embarrassed with these questions, it might
be of great advantage to propose a reduction in
these duties—(Cheers from the Opposition)—not
a measure like thot proposed by the Right Honourable
Gentleman last year, but to bring forward a mea-
sure for the reduction of the duty on sugar, the
produce of British possessions, and a reduction
also in a corresponding proportion on sugar, the pro-
duce of foreign possessions. If you did reduce
the duty on sugar, I trust you would endeavour to make
that reduction in such a manner as should lead to the
considerable ultimate increase of the consumption, with
a considerable diminution of the charge to the con-
sumer. I believe that when you do reduce duties on articles
of general consumption such as sugar, you should
• do so in such a manner as to give the profit and be-
nefit of that reduction—not to the retail dealer—
but to the consumer.—(Cheers.) But I cannot consent
nor can those with whom I act consent, to permit the
importation into this country of sugar, the produce
of Brazil and Cuba, without making some stipulations
with respect to the state of slavery in those countries.
I am bound to say that I still retain the opinion
which I expressed last year, that it would not
be for the honour or character of this country,
considering the peculiar nature of the cultivation of
those countries, considering the peculiar con-
dition of slavery in sugar producing countries,
more especially in Cuba---(Cheers.) I do not think it
would be for the honour and character of this country
to admit a competition :of slave produced sugar with
other sugar . the propuce of the British' possessions.
Again, I would ask, is it politic to admit a reduction of
the duty on sugar, the produce of British possessions,
without admitting foreign sugar into competition with it?
I greatly doubt the policy of such measure.—(Hear.)
If the competition were free, then I think it would be
greatly to the advantage of the West India Proprietor
to encourage the consumption of sugar by
a conderable reduction of duty.—(Hear, hear.)
But while the supply of sugar, whether from the East
Indies or the West Indies, does partake in any degree
of the character of monopoly, I am afraid of the conse-
quences of reducing the duty on British sugar.
Iheraemwoconte d.
afraiduld not thatbea
prly iivceereto thellimited
sumer—(Hear)—but merely a compensatory bonus to the
West India producer. I therefore do not in the slightest
degretperceive the advantage of reducing the duty on
sugar, but after having
_given every consideration to the
reductionif the
o sfnciaeps
subject, lam not able to communicate views differing
generally from those I expressed last year. There
are some circumstances from which I find con-
solation in the adherence to these rules. I. find
that in the year 1841 there had been a
material increase in the consumption of sugar
from British possessions ; the supply has been
much greater then that which was calculated
consump-
tion in the year 1840—ending sth of January, 1841—
upon. The amount of sugartaken for home
which I call the year 1840, was 4,035,000 cwt. ; the
amount of sugar taken for home consumption in 1842
was 4,888,000 cwt. The quantity of sugar which had
been calculated on for home consumption was, during
the year 1840, 3,594,000 cwt., the amount calculated
for home coasumption during the year 1841 was
4,058,000 cwt. The gross amount of duty re-
ceived of sugar, in 1840, was 4,465,0001. The gross
amount of duty received in 1841 was 5,120,0001., so that
without the admission of foreign sugar, the increase
of duty has nearly corresponded with that which was
calculated on by the Right Hon. Gentleman. Them has
been a considerable increase of consumption. I think
I may say that the consumption of last year was greater
than that of any preceding year.
Mr. HAWES—Not calculating increase of populatiOn,
Sir R. PEEL.—No, not calculating that: but caloulat-
inc,' the entire amount of sugar for British consumption in
the total it exceeds the consumption of any preceding year.
Sir, of course it is important to form the best estimate