Star.
London, England, 1829-09-17 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

have read in the Times Paper of yesterday

an ankle beaded " Pres Desk," copied from an Evening Paper
of the preceding day, and acannpanied by a statement of the value
of merchandise imported in each of the three years, 1828-8„
Front the stetement in question, the writer of the article shows that
the quantity of manufactured silks imported—taking Indian and
Imps= together—amounted In the year 1828 to only £676,973 ;
whilst by two other accounts, the writer states, there were silk
manufactures exported—taking Indian, European, and British
together—to the amount of £438,435: so that, according to the
writer's notion, the value of all the silk manufactures imported in
1828 was only £238,531 over and above the value exported. Now,
if from this sum—the writer states—the value of the raw material
be deducted, the value of the foreign labour employed therein will
be reduced to £180,000: and it is this feather—be triumphantly
exclaims in his own conceit—which is to overthrow the colossus
of &kith Power; not the hundreds of millions of subsidies,—not
the 800 millions of debt,—not the 55 millions of taxes, but a ba-
lance of £lBO,OOO in the interchange of ribands and bandanas!
I will let the rhodomontade of this paragraph pass; but I must
observe of the distorted construction put on the value of the ion.
port and export of silk manufactures, that it is as infamous an at.
tempt at imposition as ever the loading .Tournel put forth. Every
person possessing a practical knowledge of the external commerce
of this country, knows that India silk goods have for years formed
a considerable item in the imports from India for exportation, and
in like manner that British silk goods have for years also been ex-
ported to a certain extent, chiefly to our own colonies ; so that the
silk question, on which so much has been said within the last two
years, is not materially, nor, indeed, at all affected or altered by
those operations. The question rests on two points, via.
the repeal of the Spitalßelds Regulation of Wages' Bill, and
the admission of foreign wrought silks for home consump-
tion : and as regards the last point, for the purpose of show-
ing bow much British labour has been superseded by that
admission, it is only necessary to look at the import ; because the
export is not at all altered by that admission. The official value
then of European silk goods imported in 1828 was 4545,681, out
of which 434,152 were re-exported. Of the value of the Indian
entered for home consumption there is no positive datum to deter.
mine the exact quantity : but from such data as du appear,
the import value seems to have been about £lOO,OOO. These
amounts, however, let it be borne in mind, do not by any means
show the extent of British labour superseded by the admis-
slots of wrought silks, because it is well known that
more silks are imported clandestinely than are entered at the
Custom HOWe j whilst those that are entered an not represented
at more than about two-thirds of the value similar articles of
British manufacture bear in the market : indeed, that additional
value is put upon them by duty before they come into compe.
dtion with those of British produce, and this will bring the value
of those legally imported up to at least £900,000. Take, then,

the contraband at only, 4500,000—which is under the mark—
and it will be seen that, instead of only £lBO,OOO, more than
one million value per annum of British labour is now being
superseded in this single branch of British manufacture. Of this
the result to the manufacture at large may be more clearly inferred
from the following fact : namely—that on an average of the seven
years 1814..1820, the oalcial value of the British silk goods annually
exported was 4160,795, at an average declared valued £469,753--
or £202 declared value for every £lOO of Oda' value : whilst in
the two last years, 1827-8, the official value annually exported has
been £178,103, at a declared value of only £245,924 ; or less than
£l4O, instead of £292, for every £lOO of official value. So that,
although the quantity of raw and thrown silk manufactured has
more than doubled since 1814, it would still result—were the sub-
ject to be fully and fairly investigated—that there has been during
the two last years, and is now, considerably lea distribution in re-
muneration for labour and profits, thou there was Ns an overage of
the sews yam 1814-1820.
The infinity of considerations which the external intercourse of
nations involves, precludes any thing like ample justice being done
to a subject like the one in question, in a cannutnicadon of this
sort : but as one of the victims of the experiment for admitting
foreign wrought silks for consumption in Great Britain, without
obtaining any equivalent for the country in return. I could net
refrain from noticing the gross misrepresentation, arrogance. and

presumption, which invariably mark the dogmas of all the free-
wading fraternity ; and never more is, than in the article on which
I have been now remarking. In the hope that you will give it a
place in your Paper, I remain, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
JONATHAN WINTBRBOTHAM.
Church-street, Bethnal-green, Sept. 16, IBM
A British Cabinet Messenger passed through Brussels
on the 14th instant, on his way from Germany to Lon-
don, with dispatches.
His Highness the Margrave WILLIAM of Baden ar-
rived at Brussels on the 14th inst. from Ostend, on his
return to Baden.
From the Demerara Paper :—" We perceive from the
Colonial Papers that Mr. PRIEST, the spirited Editor of
the Antigua Free Press, was tried for a libel on the
Chief Justice of that island, and fined the sum of 2501.
currency."
We have received Barbadoes Papers to the 30th July,
but their contents are of a local nature. The Bishop of
Barbadoes had arrived at that island on the 22d.

FRENCH LAW I OF EXCEPTION id really a sub-

ject of much astonishment, that the Laws of Eiception,
conceived by BONAPARTE in his hatred against this
nation in 1807, and still continued in France and Flan-
ders, have not as yet called forth the attention of this
country, notwithstanding the great commercial detriment
we experience in consequence, and the individual hard-
ship and unlimited captivity to which our countrymen
are thereby made liable, on the smallest claim under these
atrocious, selfish, inhospitable exceptions, by which the
British subject, at the simple improved demand of the
French creditor, can be seized upon and incarcerated for
life, for . a sum originally not exceeding 31. sterling ;
and this at a time when the people of the same nation
are enjoying the protection of our laws equally with
ourselves. Surely we have a right to retaliate, or to
insist upon reciprocity. We understand that a motion
will be made in the ensuing Parliament on this very
important subject. Meantime we regret, while public
contributions have been set on foot in favour of foreigners
amongst us, that nothing of the kind has been effected
in favour of our unfortunate countrymen, condemned by
these said barbarous laws of France and Flanders, to
languish for life in their dungeons, for paltry debts--
often unjust, and the greater part for the absolute neces-
saries of life.
SPECULATION.—The furor of pecuniary speculation
has seized this nation to such a degree, that it has not
only infected our army,—long busy as the Stock Ex-
change in buying, selling, exchanging, receiving diffe-
rences, &c. but it has also crept into certain public offices,
where clerks are permitted and supported, it would seem,
in little pickings, at the expense of his MAJESTY'S pen-
sioners,—which it will behove us forthwith to expo's,—
having it in our power, from a rigorous and minute ea-
quay ea this subject, to produce a choice dish for public
=db,—but little palatable for certain pirates, and
undeestrappers in office,
An Inquest was held on Saturday, on the bodies of
the two perms who wars paeseeners is the
sad Liverpool mil at the dem of the into seeldent. )J.
Zieer-
o et the gredsmas was a liess.drapes of Wailes ea 'I"
way to Mansbeasr saseksh

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