The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-03-19 00:00:00

DUTIES oar-SAL?,`•LVATIlirti'44

The sum raised by the Salt Duties "mouth to
about 1,500.000 f. ; but although it had-pigmented to
floe times that sum, abundant reason might be found
for abolishing them els ogether. lint if Mitaisters ere
determined on having a Salt Duty, let them consent
to its reduction to Is. or a bushel ; and met are
convinced, that, from the amazingly increased con-
sumption, it would then )ield nearly as muck; if not
more, than at present when tatted to the eatent of
15s. Supposing, however, that it should not, what
great inconvenience would be experienced ? Weald
not the iessing of a few mere Exchequer Bills, or a
little additional ezertion on the pert of the Hank
Paper-mill, easily compensate the difference ?
These duties were originally imposed as a Teseo-
FURY tax in the reign of William 111. and were at
first very moderate. But it was soon found to be too
lucrative a source of revenue to be given up, and in
the early part of the reign of George 11. they were
made perpetual. At the accession of his present Ma-
jesty they amounted to only ss. a bushel ; and con•
tinued et that rate until 1798, when Mr. Pitt,
" knowing to gag, and skilful how to tax," raised
them to 10s. a bushel. In 1801, a Committee of the
House of Commons, of which Mr. Vansittart was
_Chairman, was appointed to enquire into the effects
of the Salt Duties ; anti in their Report, drawn up
bey Mr. Pansittart, they strongly and urgently re-
commended their modification, or rather total repeal,
on the ground of their being `' hierty detrimental to
the Public, in a degree far exceeding the payment of
the tax itself." The " heat/el-born" Minister,
however, not only &spiced the recommendation of
the Committee, but, in 1805, added an additional
third, or ss. 'bushel, to the already exorbitant duty !
However we may deplore that servility in our Par•
!lament which could arm the servants of the Crown
with power subversive of tllit'first prineiples of the
Constitution, however we may deprecate their sanc-
tion of the unjustifiable hirliatities committed under
the shelter of chat authority, we rejoice to see that
the spirit of independence is not wholly estiact. On'
the motion of Lord Alohorpe, leave has been granted
to bring io a Bill for the repeel of the Leather Tax.
While we rejoice that this Fax, which hes borne so
heavily on a particular branch of the community, is
on the road to abolition, few we are persuaded will
not agree with os that the Duties upon Salt bear more
oppressively upon almost all classes. The fanner, who
rears his cattle for the market, is deprived of • rich
source of commerce by the dearness of salt. Cheese,
butter, bread, and all the products of his industry, are
sulijict to the heavy penalties of this article—Salt. So
in proportion to the espence of this commodity
must be the prices of every necessary of life in which
it is used. Salt is nut a luxury—it is become indis-
'tensible to our subsistenre. The labourer, the me-
chanic, all feel the neelgqiity of Salt as an essential
part of their fond. But when we consider the effects
of the abolition of these heavy Duties—when we
consider the acquisitions that could he made to our
too Iona:, too much neglected fisheries—when we
consider the source of employment they might al.
ford—uhen we consider how many idle seamen
might in this vocation obtain an honourable subsist.
tence—e hen all these things are considered, we are
I astonished how such a,i impost, such a barrier to the
I commerce arid industry of the People, should have;
! been suffered to continue so long. %%lien we behold
the flourishing state of the Dutch fisheries on our
very coaste, when we estimate the quantity of fish
which is continually pouring into the markets of our
Metropolis from Norway and other countries, whose
easy access to this single commodity renders it a pro.
Mollie traffic, we hete no reason to regret that great
capitalists do not employ their money in the cultivation
of waste commons—we need no longer Isment that our
idle seamen sinslahnurers are not et:Titled in making
new roads, railways, &c. The remedy lies within
our grasp. Remove the Duties upon Salt, and we shell
see our fisheries productive—remove the Duties upon
Salt, and we shall see the wages adequate to the
provisions of the labourer, because all the Ismael
ployed hands in the kingdom will be ia immediate
requisition for those fisheries, and, of course, the de-
mend for labour would find its level. When such •
prospect presents itself, it is too mach to anticipate
disappointment. It is a groveling policy, and ill be-
fits the character of a great nation to bear down the
prosperity of the People from the temporary revenue
to be derived from any necessary of life. The po-
verty and nnn-employment of the People can never
enrich the treasury of the country. It is not the ne-
cessaries bat the superfluities of life which ought to be
the objects of taxation. We trust if the cause of
humanity has not sufficient inffoence, the policy of
the measure will afford sufficient inducement fur its
immediate repeal.

At the late sitting of the Institute and Royal Aca-
demy ..f t;tietsce, the geld medal, tounded by the late
M. DE LALOIDE, wet awarded to Mr. POND, the
Astronomer Royal, at Greenwich, for his interesting
researches relative to them:nal parallel of the flied
stars.

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