The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-05 00:00:00

THE WINE TRADE.
The total quantity of wines on which duty has
been paid for home consumption, in the port of Lon-
don, from the commencement of the present year,
1842, up to Thursday last, according to the official re=
turns made up to that date, and to which period the
latest report is made out, is as follows, namely :
Cape—Hitherto this year 106,035 gallons, against
119,910 gallons which were cleared for home con-
sumption during the corresponding portion of the last
year, 1841, show::ng a decrease in the quantity taken
into use up to the present time this year, as compared
with the same date in the last year, of 13,875 gallons.
Claret, Champagne, Burgundy, and all other French
wines, collectively--hitherto this year, there has been
duty paid upon 188,896 gallons against 180,642 gal-
lons, which were cleared for home consumption du-
ring the similar period in the last year, 1841, show-
ing, contrary to every other description of wines, with
the sole exception of Rhenish wines, an increase in
quantity used this year, as compared with the same
date in the last ye ar, to the extent of 8,254 gallons.
Madeira—Up to the present time this year, duty
has been paid upon 36,859 gallons, against 55,736
gallons which werre cleared for home consumption
within the parallel portion of the last year, 1841,
showing a decrease in the quantity taken into use
hitherto this year, as compared with the same time in
the last year, of 18,872 gallons.
Port—Hitherto this:year there has been duty paid
for home consumption upon 486,716 gallons, against
811,376 gallons, which were cleared for home use
within the corresponding portion of the last year,
1841, showing a falling off, or decrease, in the quan-
tity taken into use this year up to the present time, as
compared with the same date in the last year, to the
extent of 324,660 gallons, being at the rate of a
minute fraction snore than forty per cent.
Hock, and all other Rhenish wines.—Hitherto this
year duty has been paid upon 28,606 gallons, against
28,456 gallons which were cleared for home consump-
tion during the similar period in Ithelast year, 1841,
showing a trifling increase in the quantity taken into
use up to the present time this year, as compared with
the same date last year, of 150 gallons.
Sherry, and all other Spanish wines, of whatever
denomination.—Up to Thursday last, there has been
duty paid upon 955,576 gallons, against 1,019,607,
which were cleared for home consumption within the
corresponding portion of the last year, 1841 ; show-
ing a decrease in the quantity taken into use hitherto
this year, as compared with the same date in the last
year, to the extent of 64,036 gallons.
Wines of all other descriptions, of whatever growth
or produce, not otherwise enumerated nor particu-
larised, nor included in any of the above classes,
there has been duty paid hitherto for home consump-
tion upon 142,639 gallons, against 155,417 gallons
which were cleared for home consumption during
the corresponding period in the last year, 1841, show-
ing a decrease in the quantity taken into use up to
the present time this year, as compared with the
same date in the last year, of 12,778 gallons.
Total aggregate decrease in the quantity of Gals.
wines on which duty has been paid in the
Port of London for home consumption,
from the commencement of the current
year, 1842, up to Thursday last, as com-
pared with the corresponding time in the •
last year, 1841 .
Deduct increase as above on French and
Rhenish wines

8,404

Total actual decrease

It may be observed that the above very remark-
able decrease in the comparative consumption of wines
occurs almost, if not indeed quite, exclusively in
those wines which are in most general consump-
tion, whereas the only increase is in such wines as
are consumed, with scarcely an exception, by the
more wealthy classes of society. The immense de-
crease in port wine may be partly, but only in part,
accounted for by the present uncertainty as regards
the proposed alteration in the duties on importation ;
but the same argument does not apply to sherry and
Spanish wines generally, which have fallen off by, up-
wards of 64,000 gallons; nor to Colonial or Cape wines,
which have decreased by upwards of eight and three-
fifths per cent.

ST. Mantires CHURCH.—The workmen employed
in taking down the steeple of St. Martin's Church have
accomplished their labours, and began on Saturday to enter
on the reconstruction: of it. About forty-five feet have
been removed, at which point the electric fluid was found
to have passed off. The stones of the steeple were dis-
covered to have been in a very shattered state. One
which had been removed from its position was about two
feet six inches long, rind projected the whole length, with
the exception of about an inch and a half, and if that had
fallen out several otters would have followed. Several
of the stones will b 3 rechiselled and again put up, but
the greater portion 'will consist of new Portland stone.
They will be joined, together by strong cement instead
of mortar, with which the steeple was formerly con-
structed, and slate (howls will be used instead of cramps.
It is expected that the steeple will be rebuilt in the
course of six weeks. Since the gilt ball and vane were
removed they have been measured, when it was fouud
that the latter was 8 feet four inches long, and the ball
about three feet in di,smeter. The bar of iron, is nearly
20 feet long, and weigNs 11 cwt. The stones that formed
the late steeple, though they have been there 130 years,
with the exception of th eir external surfaces, are but little
damaged by the hand of time. As they are taken down
they are, placed together as they were situated in their
separate courses in the s;.eeple, so that comparatively
but little wouble will be had in the re-erection
of the steeple. The height of the scaffbld from i
the clock s about 220 feet. The same tradesman,
Mr. Hemmings, who was appointed by the Sun Fire
Office to repair Brixton Church, after it was da-
=Fred by lightning, is employed in the reconstruction
of the steeple.