Star.
London, England, 1814-07-07 00:00:00

DUTIES ON COTTON•

Mr. pLACKUURN said lie held in his hand a
Petition from the Merchants, Manufacturers, and
others interested in the Cotton Trade in the Town of
Manchester, the prayer of which was, that the duties
be taken off the raw cotton imported. The Honour-
able Gentleman obs, rved, that the quality of cotton
imported from the East Indies was found interior in
quality to that fri,m our West India Settlements
nut duty on the latter, it imported in British built
ships, was equal to '24. per lb. and in foreign built
ships to ad. ; and the whole was equivalent to 3'J per
cet.t, on the article when nunutactuted. The result
muicipmed in the Petition was. that an undue adv.in-
i.uge would be given to the futeigq trader, who paid
no duty on the raw material.
Mr. BARING considered this to be one of the
must important questions that could occupy the at-
tention of Parliament. He would a-,k Ministers what
were their ideas of the manner in which the Manu-
facturers of this country were to meet the competition
of the foreigner ? It was certain that if it were in-
tended to continue those duties, the cotton trade of
England would be in considerable danger. In ordi-
nary times, the duty on Llattchester Goods was eltial
to one-littil or their value. The French, (luting the
war, had made astonishing progress in the inanutic%
Lure of cotton ; and it our Manufacturers were not
nAbled to maintain a competition with them, it was
natural to crpect that they would withdraw their ca.
pital, and form new establishments in other countries,

wbere labour Ins cheaper. Under every view the
duty coMplained of was most unwise and impolitic.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, that, as the Act would not expire till the sth of
July nest, it was unnecessary at present to enter into
the general principles that might govern Ministers as
to its revival. He could conceive no occasion for any
sudden alarm amongst our manufacturers about fo-
reign competition. It was satisfactory to know that,
prophecies respecting the ruin of our cotton trade by
the progress of the foreign manufacturer, had been
continued for these 150 years, and had always been

falsified.
Mr. FINLAY contended that the British manu•
facturer deserved at the present time the eminent
protection of Parliament, as he laboured under heavy
disadvantages. He could not see on what principle
the raw material was allowed to he exported without
duty, and the manufactured article to be fazed.
Mr. J. P. GRANT coincided in opinion with those
who were alarmed at the progress of the French ma-
nufacturers. He entreated Ministers to turn the sub-
ject well in their minds.
Mr. PHILLIPS spoke against the continuance of
the duties. He had conversed with several intelli-
gent Gentlemen lately returned from Franc; who
had seen the state of the French manufactories with
astonishment. The continuance of the duty would
certainly induce our manufacturers to take such st •ps
as would effect the ruin of our trade : he therefore
hoped the duty would be taken off.
Mr. FOILIMS, Mr. Eimer; and Sir C. M. 131:1111BLI.
'severally spoke in favour of the Petition.
Alderman ATKINS was also decidedly in favour
of the Petition. He stated the amount of cotton con-
sumed annually in the manufactories of Normandy
and the neighbourhood of Paris to amount to 90,000
bales. He hoped Ministers would encourage the
growth of cotton in pur own Colonies, and alio* it to
come in free.
The Petition was then !nought up, and ordered to
lie oar the table.
Mr. TIBRNEY, after g few olmeritations, moved
for accounts of the expences of the last quarter, in
the departments of the Lord Chamberlain, the Lord
Steward, the Master of the Horse, atul the Board of
Works.—Ordered.
Sir J. C. tiI.PLISLEY moved for extracts from
certain Letters of the Governor and Council of Bom-
bay, and the Court of Direetors, inhume to the Ca,
(holies in India.—Ordered.

771 E PUOCESSION.
Lord CASTLEREAGH moved that the souse
Jo, at its rising, adjourn till to-morrow morning, at
eight o'clock.
The SPEAKER said, the Howie would have the
goodness to recollect, that they were called on to at-
tend for the purpose at joining in the ?recession. He
should propose to take the Chalr precisely at halt-
past eight, and at nine o'clock shouts' begot to Fail
over the names, not as on ordinary occasions, but
according to the alphabetical arrangement of We
counties.

OUTIGIGE MELANIN
Sir H. PARNELL alluded to an outrage which
took place on the •Zbdi of last month at the village (It
Castietown, in Ireland. A tair having been held there
some disputes arose amongst clue loft t;r orders ; a cit..
cumstance very common it. that country ; ou which
SCUM Magistiams thought proper to call out the mills
Lary. They were directed to toad with bait cartridge,
and without any notice to the mob to disperse, or the
leading of the Riut Act, they were ordered to tire,
by which tour persons were shot dead, and several
uthrrs wounded. Considering this act to be most
outrageous and uncalled tor, the Hon. Baronet. wished
to know whether any steps had been taken to enqUoe
tut° it

Mr. PEEL said, that as Government meant to in-
stitute an enquiry, be should abstain nom any expla-
nations. But he could assure the Hon. Baronet, that
the outline of the 'lair was totally different from tine
ex parte statement which be had Amen. A riot was
expected, and the military bad been called out to
prevent bloodshed. Alluding to the reservatill which
tie had made on bringing tot ward the Preservation
of Peace Bill, to ptopuse any farther measure that
might be necessary, the R4lit. Holton' able Gentleman
gave noticc, that on Imlay he shout.* submit some
additionat regoiatiuns, having In view the prevention
or suppression ut rioting.
Sir H. I'AgNiA.L. tli reply, said, he had such
confidence in the tauvernment of litland, and the
1 Right Hon. Gentleman, that after what nau been
said, he should urcltnu bivutb notice tot a motion
which he had intended Sd tnaae on die subject of the
outrage alluded to,