Star.
London, England, 1829-05-02 00:00:00

. .
toeless. in the quantity of raw silk imported. It should
be considered. however, that it was previously subject
to a heavy duty, and that a large portion.must there-
fore haie been smuggled in. Ifs would Put this clues--
tioo—Did the operative receive an increase of wages
proportioned to the increased quantity of the raw ma-
terialimported ? Did' he even receive the same remu-
neration he was in the habit of receiving before P
The wages were now fifty or a hundred per cent. less
than they
,were f our years ago. The congratulations
therefi re on the increased importation were misplaced.
They'reminded him of the task master, a tyrant men-
tioned in ancient history, who increased the burthen of
his slaves while he lessened their allowance. He might
appeal to the decreased and decreasing consumption
of that great necessary of life with the working classes,.
beer, as a proof that the free trade system did not walk
well. He might appeal also to the increasing number
• of bankruptcies. in 1823, the number was 1,381; in
1824, 1,340; in 1825,1,345. Now the average manlier
of bankruptcies in the there years sieceedittg 1:45.
the free trade principle being in operation, was 1.109,
• tat ing an increase of about 50 per cent. In proof t the
same ill effects he might appeal- also to the Poor Rites.
The sums collected for this purpose averaged from
1822 to 1825, 5.007,1921. but in 1826 rose to 6441,8801.
He might appeal also to another branch r f national
statistics—the number-of commitments. In the three
years preceding 1825, the average number was 12.539
In the three succeeding years it rose to 16,783. Thew
wete truths which could not be palatable to the great
brokers of the country. to the great national inter-
changers, whose interests were not and never could
be the same as those of the great mast of the cons.
tummy. The change in the silk trade had not pro-
duced the consequences anticipated horn it.. It was
said that it would put an end to smuggling—that it
would extend trade—that they would soon be able to
export and to compete with foreigners in their own
Malik t. All these predictions bad been falsified. It Ap-
pealed to him that the throwsters had been very hardly
dealt with. In 1809 a bill passed declaring thestlk trade
to be a trade of protection in perpetuity. That prnciple
was" deputed trorn 'upon the ground that private in.
tmests muq. not be allowed to interefere with the public
good. It was upon a similar principle that all the
bon ors of the French Revolution were attempted to he
justified. He did not mean to deny the, justice of the
printiple, it connected with compensation; where private
interests were s.crificed. Thereat practical question
was whether the present amount of protection was
sufficient to enable the English silk manufacturer to
carry one his business with any prospect of advantage,
nod. r the relative circumstances of France and Englaodt The tax
imposed on the English artificer compared to that on the French
artificer was u 9d. or 9d. to 4d. and the difference in the expense
of hying as is. to rid. The silk trade might be as easily and as
effectually protected against smuggling as any other, and it would
be eo if the sense amount of revenue were derived from it. Tea
paid 100 per cent. duty, French brandies about 500. and tobacco
1.000 per cent. and yet there was oo complaint of smuggling in these
snicks. He must, for these reasons, attribute the distress which
now prevailed in the silk trade to the circumstance of having with.
drawn the kindly system of protection that had been previously
extended to it.
Mr. COURTENAY said, be would not go into any general
topics, but confine himself to the practical question. This mea-
sure was not proposed as part of any general system of political
economy; it was not therefore necessary to advert to any gene.
rat
.principles which might have been laid down by his Meld
Hocoorable Friend (Mr. Huskisson) in defence of it. It could
not be denied. that the silk manufacture was now io a state of great
diarists, The only cause assigned for this by the Petitioners
Was the Importation of foreign silk, and therefore they called
for probibil..n. They bad to choose then betweeis prohibition
anti duty. The Goyernmest rejected the principle ofyrobibi.
lion, because they them& it would be ineffectual to prevent
initialing, and they conceived besides that the distress did not
arise from the importation of the foreign article, whether legal or
illegal. The same dioreu prevailed in other branches in which these
was we importation, and in some also with respect to which the re.
strictly@ system was in operation. The distress in the silk trade
arose from over production. from the competition between
Englishinen and Englishmen, not between linelishmen and
Frenchmen, or any other foreigners. The utmost amount of
importation would not be sulicient to account for it. The
petitioners bad complained of the importation of foreign goods,
but neither smuggling nor the importation of foreign goods
bid produced the present distress. They were doing all
they could for the manufacturers, by lowering as much as pos.
eible the charges made by the revenue. Much cam t had
been made on the subject of free trade, but he begged Genileewse
to attend to the articles on which an increase in importation bad
taken place. They were indigo, Sax, iron, copper. brass. and other
ankles, which bad produced an immune increase in the 'sports-
Moo of British manufactured goods. The measures for the po-
made* of free trade introduced by his Hon. Friend had produced
not the least effect on the silk trade. If the silks of France bad
been admitted upon a stipulation that British silks were to be taken
in return, the British manufact ould have derived no advan-
tage from such a system. 'Die Hon. Member thought it would be
more cola Amin, when. they west into Committee, to consider-the
amendments to be proposed by the Honourable Member for Co-
ventry. it might be desirable to give a drawback to the throwater
on productions for the home market, but not on productions for
the foreign market. The Honourable Member did not wish to
digress political economy, but was prepared, if necessary, to support
the principle of free trade. He could not see that a system of re.
striction in buying and selling could be reconciled to the principles
ot liberty which Governments professed to support. He was ready
to admit with Dr. Adam Smith that all changes should be brought
about gradually, but be was convinced that the Bill before the
House would have a good effect, and-be therefore gave it his support.
Mr. RA RING was for jibing on with the Bill, and letting it go
to a Committee. for the purpose of being brought to As much per-
fection as possible. He amain it would be unwise to excite
hopes and expectations in the country by holding out the necessity
of deckling upon false principles. The Hon. Member differed
from all w ho had considered the 'subject upon abstract principles.
lie thought it stood upon general principles. Two Hon. Members
had objected to theories, at the same three they were advocating
theories of their own. The details of the Bill would be best con-
sidered in the Committee. The proposed protection to the 'browner
of this country appeared to him to be no protection at all. He con-
sidered the silk trade an unfortunate branch of trade. It appeared
to hem that nothing could be more absurd than to suppose a eees.
tion of this sort did not teat on general principles. Upset a general
view of the question, he should give Ms-support to the Bill.
Mr. M A B Ell LY could not avoid declaring his objection to the
deciametery speech of tile Member for Newark, an the theories of
the Hon. Members whN opposed free trade. He could not allow
that foreign trade deprived the labourer of his employnsent. He
unlit° teat it did so • The labour of all countries was best pro.
muted by unrestricted trade. The arguments of that evening would
have a dangerous effect in the country if they posed without cone
tradiction. He could not allow that the country had estabßined
free trade. They had 'only approximated to free trade. It had
been said.that a free trade in corn Was injurious, but Ij was the want
of system which made it Ito. It was not a regular trade. Coro
came into the country in gluts, end produced injury. A steady
trade could never bast that effect. The system introduced for the
benefit of trade was not the best; but it was difficult under the
peculiar state of Europe, to find a better. He wished the Hon.
Member for Nei/eat:iv ith his ample knowledge of trade. esinanirrees
and inanufactuitis, would come down to the House with a better
system for the— protection of trade. If the Honsurabk Member
did so, be weisifd give him support, but with be found such a system
proposed be could not depart from those principles upon which
trade in his opinion was supported.
Mr. hIONOE thought that the Etiglish anteater would receive
ino proteaion from the Bill; it would place him io a worse num
Lion than the Italian 'browner, and give advantage to the smug
gler. It was the duty of the House to make the taxes tall
on those who • could best afford to pay taxes. A modified
Property -Tel would protect the carman labiotrer, who could
not produce manufactured ankles at the prices fee which they
were sold on the Continent. Taxes ponied heavy epos all maw
twined articles. .
The marinate was then loudly called fee, and the House divided s
For coin Into Committee ..... ...... ...eo
• Pee Aft. pyler's Amendment ..... •••••411
• MIA" hi,
011 our re-admission tei the gallery we found the douse is Coin-
inifteconthe BBL •
Mr. FYLER objected to Mop op the bleak whit the bf

July, as the lase whet the DM le to cane into operadoo, and pro-
posed to insert October.
Mr. V. FITZGERALD objected to the proposal Alteration.
which after a few obssrvatoos from Mr. Alderman Watewma.
was rejected.
The other clause were agreed to with amendments. The Report
was brought op, and ordered to be received on Monday.
The other Orders of the Day were then divined of, and the
Home adjourned at Two o'CLoce ruts Moms..

LIST OF THE MINORITY
WNO TOM TOIL 111111 ANIONIMINT, THAT INN SILIC BILL to
°MUTT= !NAT DAT SII MONTI&
Atewood, M. Racoon, T. G. B. Smith, A.
Banks', Henbane. Sir W. Vyvyan, Slr R.
Bastard. Hestlicote, Wattles's'', Alders's.
Brien, H. Mooch, J. B. Wells, .1.
Davenport, —, Pallier,
Dickinson, W. Rictuses, --
Dunconsbe. Seam "
Egerton; W. ffrparar, —.
Soconibe, Lad Ilibelleep, CA

Tellers.
FTkw, T. B.
Ribissom,