The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-07-11 00:00:00

the first h

4' 1843

648,740 bags, and

dalt year o: was ~ nags, _
that of the same period in 1842 was 568,570 hags,
the fact that there has been an increased consump-
tion of upwards of 80,000 bags is one of those
truths " which nobody can deny "—nobody, at
Least, who has studied Cocker. Again, the Tir4o.*
loquitur

" So great an increase as this proves (what indeed is
generally admitted) that the last half year has been one of
...c„,•turers, and
activity and prosperity to the cotton manu.—
though business is at present rather duller in the cotton
districts than it has been for some time, yet it will be
seen from the extracts from one of the monthly circulars
just published at Manchester, which we give in another
column, that there is even now no reason for complaint."
Increased consumption of cotton proves the existence
of increased " activity" of manufacturing. The
conclusion is most logical and undeniable, and
worthy of our philosophic contemporary. We
rather apprehend, however, that increased con-
sumption does not always " prove " increased
" prosperity" to the manufacturer. This question,
however, we leave our contemporary to discuss with
his free-trade friends. The fact may be true; the
proof is not so apparent. We leave out some twad-
dle, and proceed :
" The accounts from Canada, brought by the Acadia,
prove, beyond doubt, that there can be no importation to
any extent either of American or Canadian grain or flour
into this country, except when prices are much higher
than they are at present in England."

Very old news this ; and we rather imagine that,
even with prices " much higher than they are at
present in England," we shall have, under a system
of free trade, as little American or Canadian impor-
tation as may be. The free-trade friends of the
Liverpool Times will again thank him for cutting
from beneath their feet their favourite argument—
the extent of the importations to be derived from
the United States ! Go on again with our most
candid contemporary
" Owing to the dull state of the timber trade, and the
large arrivals of shipping in the St. Lawrence, flour can
now be brought to this country at half the usual cost of
freight, that is about 2s. 6d. a barrel, and yet scarcely any
is coming, the price at Montreal being such as to render
the shipping of it unprofitable even at that unexampled
rate of carriage. And this, it must be remembered, is
not the result (flailing crops either in America or Canada,
for the wheat crops have been quite as good in both these
countries during the last two years as they ever are." (!)
Good again ! When, we ask, are we to have our
extensive imports from the United States, which
are so materially to benefit our export trade to that
country ? What becomes of all the trash-upon-
stilts which we have had spouted about the " fertile
plains of the West," &c., &c. ? Messrs. Thornely,
Ewart, Rathbone—tell us what ! Ye have told us
that America could supply our millions with corn
cheaper than any other of the nations of the earth ;
but hear what says your candid philosopher, the
Liverpool Times :

" The truth is, that the general range of prices in
America is much higher than is usually supposed, (!)
high wages there adding nearly as much to the cost of
production as high rents and taxes do here, and though
farming produce is occasionally sold at wonderfully low
prices in remote districts, that proves no more as to the
general rate of prices than the equally wonderful cheap-
ness of the remoter districts of Scotland, and Wales,
and Ireland." (!)
Excellent blunderer ! You have as fairly cut your
throat, or your reputation, as a free-trade authority,
as any philosopher within our remembrance ! But
the gem of the production is to come. Hear it, all
the wiseacres of the Anti-Monopoly Association,
and at your next sitting award the cap and bells to
its erudite author !
" It is quite certain that, without an exceedingly low
rate of duty, or entire freedom, THERE CAN NEVER BE
ANY CORN TRADE OF IMPORTANCE EITHER WITH
CANADA OR THE UNITED STATES, except when prices
are high in England." (!!)
The freight of American or Canadian flour from
Montreal is only 2s. 6d. per barrel. The differen-
tial duty now payable is an absolute protection, and
a large one, against the cheap corn of Europe.
And yet, with these advantages, the flour of the
St. Lawrence cannot be profitably imported into
Great Britain, " except when prices are high in
England," unless under " an exceedingly low rate
of duty or entire freedom"—unless, in fact, you
WITHDRAW THE ADVANTAGE WHICH THE DIF-
FERENTIAL DUTY AFFORDS ! Excellent logician !
Tell us how " a low rate of duty" (which they have
at present), or " entire freedom," will better enable
the countries on the banks of the St. Lawrence to
supply the British market, when that " low rate"
or that " entire freedom" are enjoyed by their con-
tinental competitors ?
We recommend this production of the Liverpool
Times to the consirlPratinn of the Anti-Monopoly
Association at its next sitting.