Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-07

ying IN England, some are not worth Cnst /
and charges; goods for the southern mar
kets (South Carolina and Georgia, tor ex-
ample) are unsaleable from the expense or
impracticability OF land carriage; he risQue |
OF water conveyance from the crulzcrs OF |
the enemy, and other circumstances OF war. |
The occurrence of peace and free inter-
course would make the importers great 10
sers on many of these importstions The
following were stated as the ordinary char
ges: tour per cent. export duty; two per
cent. inland charges on valuable fine dry
goods; the same charges on coarse goods
arc much greater; one per cent. for pack
ing, wrappers, &c one per cent. for insu
rance and storage against fire till shipped;
two per cent, freight on the average of fine
goods; ten per cent. on coarse goods. On
Srockery, from two hundred to three hun
dred per cent. insurance against sea risque,
&c. three per cent. on the aggregate amount
of value as usually calculated in policies;
commission for purchasing from two and a
half to five per cent one per cert. for re-
CeiviDg and paying over the Remittance.
The average of the lowest duties as cal
culated at tie custom honse, amount TO th;r-
~ three and a third per cent. on the prime
cost on crockery and glass ware, hardware,
plated ware, silks, mi!inary, &c. fifty per
cent. The duty is calculated by adding ten
per cent on the prime cost, and on all char
ges which precede the shipment, except
commission OH outside packages.
The following were stated as extraordi-
nary charges and losses one and half
per cent. for extra storage and insurance a.
gainst fire: many of the goods lay in store
for more than eighteen, months, average
storage twelve months seven per cent (the
legal interest of the state of New York; for
the average detention of one year, on the
purchase money. The goods which have
been disposed OF were sold on credit, with
out interest, OF, from six to twelve months,
average seven to eight months. A great
portion Of the goods will remain long on hand,
all spring goods at least till the SPRING.
Great charges and embarrassments have
been incurred from capture by American
privateers cargoes have been carried into
ard delivered in ports distant from those in
which they were owned, and to which they
were destined. Importers have sustained
grieveus court charges under prosecutions
directed BY the government in New York
the courts have authorised separate libel
against tue property of every importer, m
sach of which the costs have been fifty doll
lars and twenty Eve cents, tho the property
NAV not have consisted gilmore than single
package. The gross charges will average
sixty per cent on fne goods, and on coarse
they viii be greater. They admit that if
the penalties and forfetures be RENTED,
the petitioners will have a handsome profit,
not much however exceeding the usual pro-
ht of ordinary trade, and it will be the whole
profit of two OF three years of embarrassed
and otherwise losing commerce. 1.-THE bonds
be exacted it will greatly distress ell he
importers. Many it will ruin. The petit
tioners had given no orders which authoris-
ed the Shipment oftheir goods under the &C
tual circumstance which attended their
shipment. 1t was va error of Judgment in
their agents, though it was very general
error, and one which ought not to preiu-
dice the importer 1t was confidently be-
lieved in England chat the importation would
be permitted and deemed legal printed
paper, of which copy is annexed, was cir
cuiated among all those engaged ia the A.
merican trade, rs proof that there was no
danger in these shipments. The petitioners
knew so little Of the actual state of the fact
that they were, at first greatly afraid of
British capture. Those who shipped after
tse existence of the war was known, did it
to get the property out of the hands of the
enemy, choosing t. RELY rather on the ius-
tice and the moderation of their own govern
pIent, than the torbearance of foreign go
pernment and an enemy. Ii the property
bad lain in England 10 the end of the war,
it wonid have been ruinous to owners "A
portion OF their property was originally in
vested in British manufactures, because
they had no means of getting it home with
or great sacrifices, and On account of the |
actual and growing depreciation ofthe pa
per credit OF Great Britain at the time.
The petitioners have never violated any |
OF 'he laws OF the country, while their par
secular interests have often been injuriously |
and deeply affected by them.
So'oe OF the petitioners might BY a COM
promise which was Offere1 10 them by the !
a 'erican privateets which mad captured
their property, have obtained il by the pay |
ment Of only two and half per cent and |
though this would not have 81 en- them any |
Ec.Sct -ecurity. it might have enabl d hem |
actually to evade the operation Of The law.
~ they believe some persons dealing less |
fairly have done by the same means. These |
petitioners, incapable Of such an act, have
e. ''rd on the justice Of their own overn- |
p'rut. They did not believe. the citizens of |
New York generally had no idea, that rndcr !
Ihe hard circumstances Of their case their |
pwu government would either frrfeN their
property or mulct them where they inten- |
ded no violation Of The laws vi the country. |
Copy cffhe Printed paper rcfyrra 10 in tAs fo,e-
goinS Sf0femeNs
Extract from the pr sent non.importation act
Of the United States.
Sec ? And hc it further enacted, Tbat |
IN case Great Britain shall 81 evoke or nodif,
ber edic's, as that they shall Cease to violstr |
The neutral commerce Of the United states, tho |
president Of the United States shall declare the |
fact by proclamation aud such proclamation |
shall be admitted as evidence, and no Of her evi.
fence shall be admitted Of such revocation or