Star.
London, England, 1826-12-01 00:00:00

711 BE TRADE.

Sir H. PARNELL moved for an account of the
quantities of Foreign Goods imported in 1824 and
1826, the duties on which were reduced in 1825. The
Hon. Baronet said, he thought if the duty on foreign
goods was lowered much more, by which importation
would be increased and smuggling prevented, in that
way a considerable revenue would be produced. High
duties too, by preventing importation, prevented also
exportation, by which the commercial and manufac-
turing distress of the country was greatly increased. It
was his full conviction, that this country had nothing
to fear from free intercourse, and the manufacturers
of this country would be benefitted by the abolition
of all duties. The only interest the House should
consider, was that of the consumer. The only
cause that could justify laying duties on the impor-
tation of foreign manufactures was, the raising a
revenue, not the protection of manufactures. He
hoped the House would take the whole question
into consideration during the present Session, with a
view io the reduction of all duties on foreign pro-
auctions. He thought no duty could be on a worse
footing than the timber duty, which raised the price
Tay much on the consumer, and brought very little
revenue. He also hoped that the duty on French
wines would he put on a better footing now that the treaty with
Portugal was at an end, and that we were at liberty to admit French
wines attire same duty as those of Portugal.
• Mr. WARBURTON said, the present price of
timber in the ports of the Baltic was Ns. to 211 s. a
load, and the duty on importation here was 21. 15s. And
the duty on planks was charged in a most absurd
manner. A plank, six feet long, and half an inch
thick, paid as much duty as one 16 feet long and three
inches thick. Gum Senegal was an article of first
necessity to our calico manufacturers, and was formerly in/ported
direct from France. Some of our late regulations has prevented the
direct importation, and now the gum Senegal was sent from France
to New York, and brought from thence to this country. The
French retaliated,by preventing our indigo being imported directly,
and indigo was in consequeuce exported from this country to Os-
tend, and from thence to France; in this way each country injured
itself to injure the other.
Mr. HUSKISSON said. that as he did not mean to
object to the motion, and as he did not think this a fit
occasion, either in respect to the state of the House or
the Session, to enter into a consideration of the prin-
ciples which ought to regulate the commercial policy
ut the nation or its navigation, he hoped he should stand
excused if he did not follow the Hon. Baronet and the
Ilun. Member through the details which their observa-
tions embraced. Perhaps he might just be permitted
to say, in reference to these who out of doors had
raised a senseless clamour against the measures he had
felt it his duty to recommend to the House, as being
destructive r f the trade and commerce of the country
—that the two speeches which had just been delivered,
from the first sentence to the last, contained neither
snore nor less than a direct complaint that nothing
had been done—(Hear, hear !) Between such con-
flicting accusations he knew not how to choose. He
would only add an expression of his astonishment, that
room should persevere in the most mischievous and

groundless statements, mis•directing and mis•informingi
the suffering portions of the community as to masons,
calculated to alleviate their suffcrings,and not to contri•
bute to their increase. These was one point mentioned,
by the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last upon which be,
would say a word—he meant the Treaty with Portugal.
It was true that a period was fixed by the Treaty when
either of the contracting panics, the Government of
Great Britain, or the Government of Portugal, might
declare any wish they shmld entertain for its alteration;
and that the period so fixed had arrived. It was true
also that Portugal had expressed a wish to have cer-
tain alterations made, which must be disposed of by dis-
cussion between the two countries. Before that was
done, the Treaty stood ; foi it was in itself perpetual, and only
liable to these contingent alterations if both parties consented.—
The Hon. Baronet would, therefore, see that the/ were not in a
condition to go further in altering the duties upon French wines.—
With respect to the timber and the other articles which had been
mentioned, that was not the time for entering into such details.

Mr. Alderman THOMPSON expressed his opinion
that nothing effectual could be done for the relief of
commerce until the Corn Laws were placed in such a
condition as to enable the home manufacturers to
compete with those of foreign countries. lids Got
determination was to support the Right Hon. Gentle-
man in the line he had taken, and from which he hoped
be would net be induced to &part. It was inipossible for any too
who looked calmly and steadily at the stagnation in trade which
had existed for the last six or nine months, and attribite it to the
system which had lately been adopted in lowering the duties
certain articles, or to any thing else but a spirit of over -s
Mr. BROWN thought that the present time was ndt
the proper occasion !or going into it discussion of the
measures in question. Though he highly approved of
the improvements effected by the Right Hon. Gentle-
man (Mr. Huskisson), he would support a scale of pro-
tecting duties, till experience should have probed their
inefficacy.
Colonel TORRENS was convinced that this country
could stead done without the aid of protecting duties.
The brikish manufacturers had no reason to fear foreign
comps:idea—with their machinery and energy, they
might aspire to be the workmen of the world, if they
got food at prices as moderate as those of other coun-
tries. But, in order to effect this, it would be necessary
to modify the existing Corn Laws. At that late hour,
he would not trouble the House any longer than by
declaring his protest against the neceuitt of protecting
duties to the prosperity of British 'Mann fac tures.
The Return was then ordered.

OP SUMT.

Oa Mr. Haman' modoa, the House melted itself lots a Coat-
mktee of Supply and, after passing a fevritems, reamed.
Mr. HERRIkfI pm notice of a medoo, tomorrow' that the
House resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and ]deans for his
Majesty's supply. •

INDOIIIIITT MILL

Mr. HUSICIiiiON moved the Order of the Day, for a Com-
mittee of t►e whole Home en the Oats Importation Indemnity BM.
The House having gone into a Committee, and through the useal
forms, resumed. After a few weeds from Mr. HOWL and Mr.
Housueorthe report was ordered to be received te-morrow, and
the House adjourned at Enos o'Cums.