The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-02-14 00:00:00

•
apposition having been expected, be would therefore with-
draw the Resolution till another opportunity should arise,
contenting himself with moving the other -Resolutions of
Supply which he bad proposed.
The Resolution was then withdrawn by leave of the

Hone.
The following Resolutions were then moved and agreed
to, vls.;—That the usual annual duty on foreign spirits,
ender the 334 and 47th of his late Majesty, be continued
If the 25th of March, 1825—That 15 millions of Exche-
uer bills be issued towards the Supply to be raised for
Great Britain, for the year 1824.—That two millions new
in the Exchequer, part of the grant of last year, he applied
to the service of 1824—That the sum of 4.800,0001. remain-
tug in the Exchequer, paid in by the trustees for paying
the naval and military pensions, be applied to the service
of the year 1824.—That 60,0001. paid into the Treasury
by the East India Company for the defraying the military
expellees of last year in the East ladies, be applied to the
service of 1824. That such sums of money as would he
paid into the Exchequer before the sth of April, 1825;
and such balances as would be paid in by the East India
Company before that time, be applied to the service of
1824.
Mr. BRIGHT observed (in reference, we believe, to the
Resolution respecting the Duty on Foreign Spirits) that
as some alteration was made in the Distillery Laws, it was
necessary to alter or modify the duties on rum. On the
bringing up of the Report of the Ways end Means, he,
hoped that Resolution would be reconsidered.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
there might be some ground for the Hon. Gentleman's ob-
servations, if the duty on rum constituted any great portion
of those duties comprehended in the Resolution. He did
not mean to say that there was no duty at all on rum, but
not such as to make a discussion of that Resolution neces-
sary at any time.
Mr. BRIGHT said that he was never in the habit of un-
necessarily impeding the business before the house. If it
was at present inconvenient to the house, he would not
give any opposition, but would let it pass by to another
opportunity.
Mr. HUME said that this also was an additional duty ;
and if they were annual duties, the present was the fittest
time to put a stop to them.
The house then resumed, and the Report was ordered
to be received on Monday next, when the house is again
to resolve itself into the said Committee.

RICIPILOCITT 011 DUTIES ACT.
On the motion of Mr. HUSKISSON, the House resolved
itself into a Committee to consider this Act, with a view to
amend it.
Mr. HUSKISSON stated that provision vas made by
an Act of last year, to enable his Majesty, with the Con-
sent of his Council, to reciprocate any advantages that
other countries trading to his Majesty's territories were
disposed to give this country. Also his Majesty had power
to fix a duty on all goods imported in foreign ships, as if
such goods were imported in national vessels. It was,
however, necessary, since the United States of Amer.ca
continued to levy certain duties on British vessels trading
between the West India Colonies and the United States,
to put countervailing dui ies on the ships of the United
States trading to this country, equal to ninety-four per
cents. per ton, and on ships of America trading to our
color.ies, sixty cents. per ton. The object was to counter-
vail the foreign duties on British shipping. Other countries
corresponded with the spirit shown by this country, and
they did actually lessen the duties on our shipping entering
their ports. The duty on the shipping of those countries
was accordingly lessened here. America refused to do
this. An attempt, however, wrs at present making at al
negotiation on this point, and he hoped it would be suc-
cessful. Nhe Right Honourable Gentleman, after a few
more observations, which were not distinctly heard in the
gi.llery, moved Resolutions to the effect—that it was the
opinion of the Committee, that his Majesty be autho-
rized, with the consent of his Privy Council, to lay cer-
tain countervailing duties on the ships of foreign nations
entering the ports of his Majesty's dominions. That his
Majesty, &c.. may authorise the entry of foreign vessels
into the ports of his Majesty's dominions, on the payment
of a certain duty, corresponding with the duty payable
by British ships on entering the ports of such countries
to which such ships belonged. That his Majesty, &c.,
be authorised to lay upon all American ships entering
the ports of his Majesty's dominions, such duties as were
levied on British vessels entering the ports of the United
States of America.
Mr. ROBERTSON could not suffer this subject to be
dismissed without entering his protest against the princi-
ples upon which it was founded. He now regretted the
loss of an Honourable Member who was no more—he meant
the Honourable Member for Sandwich (Mr. Marryatt)--
Will/ would have brought all his talent and commercial ex-
perience to bear down upon this question. It was with
an humble petition of perpetuating the sound principles
upou which that Hononrable Member acted, that he now
rose to state his concurrence in those principles upon the
present occasion. In accordance with these, then, he should
most decidedly reprobate the course which this house had
been induced by the Right Honourable Secretary to pur-
sue last year, as calculated to ruin altogether the shipping
interests of this country. That interest had been in a
declining state for some years, and instead of the extinc-
tion which was now likely to be put upon it, wanted more
the fostering hand of protection to uphold and support it.
It was stated, and not denied, that there was now 125,000
tons of shipping, and 8,000 seamen, less employed than
bad been at a former period. This was a chilling pros-
pect for the country; but what was the course taken to re-
medy it ? Why, the Right Honourable Gentleman broaght
in a Bill, by which be, in effect, threw open the carrying
trade to other countries. France, Prussia, and the North-
ern Powers, jumped at this, naturally enough, because
they could build shtps at half our price, and did not pay
their seamen half so much wages. But America refused to
reciprocate, and it was understood that the present mea-
ger* was a sort of retaliation upon her for that conduct.
He should only say slam more, tuat the carrying trade was
the life and soul of the navy, and he hoped the house
would at length be roused to a proper sense of the import-
ance of that important branch of our trade.
Mr. HUSKISSON said he was rather taken by surprise
at bearing the Honourable Member revive the debate upon
the whole of the question, which bad been set to rest last
year. It was unnecessary to say that the present motion
did not embrace the merits of the abstract question, this
proceeding being inteddea solely to protect British ships
against the Americans.
The Resolutions were thee agreed to; after which the
house resented, and the Report was ordered to be received
on Monday.