Star.
London, England, 1822-04-18 00:00:00

THE LEATHER TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

SIR—As yon were pleased to consider my state-
ment upon the beating of the Leather Tax deserving
of a place in your Paper of Saturday last, and as some
of the Public Prints have represented this Tax to bear
very lightly upon a single pair of shoes, I send you
estimates of its real bearing in this respect, derived
from the same unquestionable authority as my for-
mer estimates—the evidence given bcfore.ihe Com-
mittees of the House of Commons upon this Tar.

The weight of the rough leather on which the duty
is paid of a pair of shoes worn by the agriculturist,
is stated to he 41bs. which, at 3d. per lb. is 12d. The
restrictions necessary to secure the collection of the
tax are stated to cost the tanners more than the
amount of the duty, which the Public must pay for,
and which is a real loss of the property to the coun-
try, and makes the amount paid on account of the
tax 24d. The tanners' profits for their extra capital
and risk, at 10 per cent. are 21,4 d. within a very
small fraction, making 261/2d.; the curriers' profits
upon 261,4 d. at the same rate, are more than 23/4d.
making 291/Bd. on which the shoemakers cannot lay
less than 10 per cent. more, which is rather more than
2 N,d. making 2s. Bd. for one pair of shoes worn by
the agriculturists.
If it is calculated how many labourers are em-
ployed in a farm, and that the farmers and labourers
have wives and children, that leather is considered a
necessary of life, and the various ways in which the
agriculturists consume leather, it will be found that
the above calculation is consistent with my former
one, and that the bearings of this tax upon a farm.
are much heavier than the late Agricultural Horse
Tax, or than any tax which pays more than twice
as much to the Revenue.—(See pages 26, 39, 47, 52,
and 120, in Report of 1816, and 138 in Report of 1818).
Be it remembered, though. I stated the amount of
this tax paid to Government to be £600,000, that I
did not deduct the drawbacks allowed upon the ex-
portation, or the Government expenses for collecting
it, which probably would leave to the Revenue but
little more than £500,000; for which, in your Paper
of Saturday, I shewed the Public pay £1,597,200.
Tire revenue upon this tax, instead of increasing
with the population of the country, ever since the
additional tax has gradually decreased, as shewn by
the official accounts up to the sth of this month ;
and, of course: this great staple manufacture, in its
various branches, continues to decline.
As to the observation, that if the Leather Tax
were repealed, the tradesmen would not immediately
lower their prices, I shall only reply, that it appears,
from the evidence before-mentioned, the taking off
the restrictions alone, would cause large quantities
of leather to be immediately brought to marker,
which must lower the price; and that the circum-
stance of the loss of profit, upon the account of the
tax and restrictions, it is well known prevents the dif-
ferent branches of the leather trade from being more
urgent for the repeal of the tax.
The weight of rough leather of a pair of gentleman's
walking shoes, in the same evidence, is stated to be
I%lb. and the duty upon the same to Government is
5 Ad. which, with the amount of the restrictions and
the tradesmens' profits, calculated as the before-men-
tioned article, amounts to 14d. being less than half
the amount paid by the agriculturist.
It is a well-known fact, that an additional tax upon
leather was often suggested to Mr. Pitt, who as otten
rejected it as being most impolitic; and Lord Stan-
hope, in the House of Lords, from its great pressure
upon the poor, denominated this tax—" The Poll
Tax doubly distilled."

SUMMARY.
Amami' TAM ON ONO TAM OT AGILICCILIttarreS SNOT&
Amount paid to the Revenue on one pair of Agri-
eulturist's shoes . - .£0 1 0

Amount paid to the Tradesman on account of the
Restrictions, which is a total loss to the country
Amount paid to the Tradesmen for profit upon the
Tax and expense of Restrictions

0 1 0

0 0 •

Total paid on a pair of Agriculturist's shoes 0 2
Total paid on a pair of Gentleman's shoes, calculated
in the same manner as the last article - - 01 2
Your obedient servant,
I N VESTIG ATOR.

Sennett Deavit.—Testtrday evening, between Ave and six
o'clock, as Mr. Waxtott, a Common-Councilnian of the Ward
of Aldersgate, was passing along Tottetchani.Court-rond, appa-
rently In good health, be tell down, and instantly expired.

1,/

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