Star.
London, England, 1824-03-09 00:00:00

himself intelligible—(Hear, hear)—he trusted the mode
of carrying those measures into execution would be
found to give satisfaction. He had omitted, one regu-
lation with respect to manufactured goods intended
for exportation which was, that all who were possessed 1
of such goods might deposit them in wa:ellouses, and
when ready for exportation should receive a drawback
proportioned to the duties paid—(llear). Having
stated this, he did not think he had omitted anything
else. He should conclude therefore with saying, that
if he gave his unqualified approval to the measures of
his Right Hon. Friend, he did not do so from any over-
weening attachment to any particular system of ppli-
tical economy—(Near, hear). He had seen too much
of the complicated nature of commercial affairs to be-
come an enthusiast to any system; but he gave his ap-
probation to the measures t)i his Right Hon.. Friend,
because he felt convinced that they were founded upon
sound principles, and that their results, with reference
to the prosperity of our commerce, both foreign and
domestic, would prove most beneficial—(Hear, hear).
If he was accused of entertaining over liberal views
upon the subject, he must plead guilty to the charge;
but be was sure that the liberality which he advoLated
was the wisest policy, as, while it removed jealousy in
rival nations, it procured highest advantages for our
own. Considered in a mere commercial point of view,
he was sure that the system, which was most liberal and
most enlightened, would be ultimately found to be most
beneficial ; and if he (Mr. Huskisson) was liberal to
ether countries, it was because he felt satisfied that by
adopting that course he best consulted the interests of
his own—(Cheers). The'Right Hon. Gentleman then
proposed the following Resolution :

" That it is the opinion of this Committee, that from and after
the tsth day of Illazch, 1824, tile several duties and drawbacks on
the importation and exportation of the several sorts of silk herein
after mentioned shall cease and determine; and also that from and
after the sth day of Jely, 1826, the probibitioas on the importation
of Silk Manuf-kctures shall cease and determine; and that the fol-
lowing duties shall he paid in lieu thereof: that is to say, on Silk
from and after the sth April, 1824, viz.

" On Haw Silk, or ICnobs or Husks of Silk, or Waste or Floss
5.1 k, the pound, :A
" On Thrown Silk, not dyed, do. 7s. 6d.
" On Manufactured Silk, from and after the Sth day of July.
1826=ror every £lOO of the value thereof, .C3O.
. _ _

" That it is the opinion of this Committee that from and after the
sth day of April, 1824, the Bounties on the Exportation of Silk Ma.
in/factures shall cease and determine, save and except on any of
such manufactures as shall base been duly shipped for exportation,
or shall hive been warehoused for that purpose on or before the
said sth day of April, 1824.
" That it is the o?ininh of this Committee that upon all Silk
imported, which the duties shall have been paid, and which
shall be warehoused on or before, and remain warehoused until
after thei2s:ll day of March, 1821, there shall be granted the fol-
lowing allowances, viz:
" On Raw S:ik imported frem any part except the British terri-
tories in the East Indies, ss. sd.
" On Silk thrown from Raw Silk so imported, ss. toil.
" On Raw Silk imported front the 'knish territories in the East
- Indies 3s. 9.1.
" Oa Silk thrown from Raw Silk so imported, 4s. lid.
" On Ere;gri thrown Silk imported not dyed, 7s. 2d."

Mr. BARING said, that although the speech he had
just heard evidently left a great impression on the Com-
mittee, he had Ihtened to every part of it, without
being convinced that the measure was not one of the
greatest danger to the count; y. lle was ready to allow
the Goveenment every credit IN- what ney JO. They
took upon themselves great responsibility, and he be••
lieved they conscientiously acted upon their hest view
of the real interests of the country. Ile hoped, there-
fore, that nothing lie was about to say would be consi-
dered in hostility to his Nlajesty's Government. Ile was
of opinion that his Right ilonourable I:_riend, in pur-
suing the doctrines to which he was so much a friend,
bad chosen a most torfortunate subject finy the exercise
of his principles. His Right Honourable Friend talked
about the silk manufactory having the curse of a mono-
poly. What had they been discussing.that night, but
the monopoly of the West India trade? If they were
to have free trade, let them have it allover the world.
But the Right Honourable Gentleman selected an in-
terest which was in a feeble state, while he dared not
touch the more powerful ones. It was admitted that
this manufacture was inferior to that of other countries,
arid the remedy proposed for improving them was, to
admit French sires to compete with them in our own
market. IL! s:.raild like to know if our woollens, and
cottons, arid oilicr manufactures had risen superior to
those of forein countries, by having admitted them
into our markets? The Honourable Member proceeded
to contend-that France had insurmountable advantages
over this county yin her localities, and in the superior
fineness of her silk over ulna of Italy. There was no
demand for our goods abtoad, excepting for silks mixed
with worsted or cottonN and for silk stockings which
were made entirely of India ~irk. If our other manu-
factures found their way into the foreign mar km, then
there would be ground for challenging a competition.
But the only mar ket they found was in the home con-
sumption; and the Right Honourable Gentleman pro-
posed to let the French in andolestroy them altogether.
Mr. WALLACE, after remarking upon the import-
ance of the subject, reminded the house that no oppo-
sition ford been made to the measure, but from Mem-
bers whose Constituents were apprehensi,e of danger to
their individual interests. He did not blame them for
taking such a course. lie had no right to blame any
man for defending what he conceived to be his own in-
terests; but there was only a certain degree of weight
to be attached to such opinions. The House should be
cautious in departing from the principles of free trade,
wherever they had an opportunity of extending it. He
• believed there must be something peculiar to this mono-
poly, which had so kept down the manufacture when
every other branch throughout the country had made
such rapid strides towards perfection. What they pro-
posed was no new experiment or untried them y,—they
were only applying an acknowledged principle to a case
which formed almost the only exception, certainly the
most prominent one, to the general system of our manu-
factures. He was ready to allow that the manufac-
ture was flourishing in a certain degree; but he wished
to see how it would flourish under a true system, and
divested of all its present restrictions. The Right Hon.
Gentleman then argued at length to shew how other
manufactures had grown up without the aid of such
prohibitions, and how the invention of machinery had
reduced the price of labour below the rate of other
countries. In the manufacture of cotton the expense of
labour was lower the.pre,ent moment than it was in
France. The Honourable Member for Taunton (Mr.
Baring) seemed to have forgotten the principles which
he had formerly advocated. He remembered very well i
speech which the Honourable Gentleman made, in pre-
senting a Petition from the Merchants of the City of
London in favour of free trade. The Honourable
Member then declaimed against prohibitions, and al-
luded to the one which was before the Committee, as
being the most prominent add pernicious.