The Sun.
London, England, 1820-05-04 00:00:00

FOREIGN WOOL DUTY.

Mr. STUART WoRTLEY presented a Petition
from the Worsted Manufacturers of Nottingham,
against the duty imposed during the last Parlia-
ment on the importation of Foreign Wool. The
same feeling pervaded, he well knew, the West
Riding of Yorkshire ; but as the question would
be most probably brought before the House in a
more definite shape for its repeal, all he would say
at present was, that he considered the imposition
of that duty as a most impolitic and cruel mea-
sure—(Hear, hear !)—The petition was ordered
to lie on the table. _

Lord MILTON said, he also had a petition to
present from the Merchants, Manufacturers, and
others interested in the Wool Trade of Leeds and
its neighboui hood, against the W7ool Tax, and
praying for its reOal. The character and respec-
tability of the signatures to that petition were the
best evidence of the pressure of the evil against
which they petitioned. The petition bad not ori-
ginated at a public meeting, because the persons
who were most solicitous to press the repeal of
that impolitic duty, wished to avoid any course
likely to increase the ferment and agitation which
existed on this subject in the West Riding of
Yorkshire. The tax of which they complatned,.
was not only in contradiction of every principle
of political economy, but was directly contrary
to that fundamental system of policy which for
years had prevailed in this country, and to the:
continuance of Which the faith of Parliament was
pledged—pledged, he would say, by the immemo-
rial policy of its Government—a policy which
every Statesman who viewed the question would
see was the unfailing source of wealth arid
power. When he reflected also that that duty
was imposed On the raw material, the manatee.,
tore of which constituted the employment of a
great population then suffering under the severest
pressure of distress and penury, he must add, that
such a measure was not alone impolitic, but cruel
and unfeeling. He could moreover state, that as
a measure of revenue, it had altogether failed—
as fail it must, when it was considered that a
very great proportion of the article on which it
was laid, must, by that operation, be altogether
excluded from the markets of the country. He.
assured the House, that a very important contract
for the clothing of a great part of the Russian
soldiery, was actually lost to this country in con.
vquence of the operation of that impolitic mea-
sure. He knew the house to whom the contract
had been offered under certain stipulated terms,
which, in consequence of the late tax, they assnr•
ed him they were compelled to decline. If it was
a measure for the protection of the wool growers,
it was for them to look at such effects, and to
Calculate what must such a system eventually pro.
duce.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed.
that when the question was brought before the
House in the definite manner to which allusion had
been made, he was sure it would receive the fullest
considera►ion. He had, however, in answer to the
argument of the Noble Lord, who contended,
that as a measure of revenue, it had wholly failed,
to say, that it had not yet been fairly tried. It
came partially into operation in October last, was
only extended January, while at the time there
was a large stock of Foreign Wool in the market.
After a few words in explanation from Lord
MILTON, the Petition was ordered to be printed.