The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-10

so!,, for very high prices; that these prices,
h"~erer, we're not eXactcd from desire or
determination To include in them the penal
ties which might be enforced by the go.
vernment ; but from tho great competition
which existed IN the market for the arti-
cies that fer these articles there was, to
use the words of Mr.. Irving, one of the
a ravenous demand :" THAI
1t was understood that there were three ar
my contractors ut one time bidding upon
each other i; that these articles weye lew
IN number and formed hut small part of
the amount imported that they did not eX-
coed one 9Th part of that amount: that the
were none of them in the invoices of some
Importers that Mr.. Coster. one of the pc
titioners, had imported to the amount of
nearly 20,Oc0E. sterling prime cost, and had
not received an article of this description
that the goods which commanded such high
prices consisted principally OF blankets and
Coarse woollens that these were bulky ar
ticles and paid high freight.
mat the same circumstance made them
liable to- an extraordinary portion of other
charges /; that the very high prices which
were obtained were often received by I'd
and Sd purchasers and not by the impor-
tiers; that there are three descriptions of
dealers in these goods in New York LIST, the
large importers il; 2dly, large purchasers,
who have money at command, who are
well acquainted with the state of the ma =
ket for every article. and when there is a
scarcity of particular article, monopolze
1T and raise the price these are called job
bers and 3dly, the retailers and they
stated that the very high prices alluded to.
had frequently been received by the I'd and
sometimes by the last description of persons
and not by the petitioners. Hardware,
cotton goods, glass ware, and fine goods ge-
Morally, have not been sold at high prices !;
some goods have become unsaleable from
change OF fashions some come into disad-
vantageous competition with American
manufacturers, which have grown up or in
creased in Quantity, while these goods have
been lying in England some are not worth
cost and charges; goods for the southern
markets (South Carolina and Georgia, for
eXampie) are nnsaleable from the expense
or imprscticability of land carriage, the
risque OF water conveyance from tie CRUZ
zers or the enemy, and other circumstan-
ces OF war. The occurrence of peace and
tree intercourse would make the importers
great losers on many of these importations.
lhe following were stated as the ordinary
charges: four per cent. export duty two
per cent inland charges on valuable fine dry
goods the same charges on coarse goods
are much greater; one per cent. for pack
ing, wrappers, &c. one per cent. for insur-
ahce and storage against fire till shipped ;
two per cent. freight on the average of fine
goods ten per cent. on coarse goods. On
crockery, from tw hundred to three hun
dred per cent. insurance against sea
riscue. &c. three per cent. on the aggregate
amounc OF value and usually calculated i'm
policies commission for purchasing from
two and half to five per cent; one per
cent. for receiving and paying over the re-
mittanCe. .,
The average of the lowest duties as call
cnlated at the custom-house, amount to
thnty-three and a third per cent. on the
prime cost; on crOckery and glass ware,
hardware plated ware, silks, milesary, &c
httY per cent. The duty is calculated by
adding ten per cent. OH the prime cost, and
on all charges which precede the shipment.
except commission and outside packages.
The following were stated as extraordi
nary charges and losses; one and 8 half
per cent. for extra storage and Insurance a.
gajnst ire; many Of the goods lay in store
Tor more than eighteen months, average
storage twelve months seven per ccat. IRE
legal interest of the state If New-York) for
the average detention of one year. on tbs,
purchase money. The goods which hav.
been disposed oe were sold OF a cre1l..
y.
average seven to eight months. s great
portion Of the goods will remain long On
hand. all spring goods At least til the spriug.
Great charges aud embarraSSme.ts have
been iEcrrred from capture BY American
pi1vatee!s cargoes have been carried INFO
and delivered IN ports distant from those IN
which they were owned, and to which thcv
were destined. Importers have sustained
grievous court charges under prosecutions
directed By the governments in New YORK
the Courts have authorised separate libel
against lhe property OF. every importer, on
each OF VIII iCh tho costs have been fifty dol.
lars and twenty-five cents, though the pro-
party may not have consisted Of more than
single package. The gross charges will
average esxiy per cent. OIL fne goods, and
on coarse they will be greater rhcv ad-
NIT that u the penalties and forfeituics be
RENTED, the petitioners will have a hand
some profit, not much. however, exceeding
;he usual pTali of ordinary trade, and il viii
the Whole profit of two or three years Of
embarrassed aid otherwise LOSING com
rnercc. IT the bonds be exacted, il will
greatly distress all the importers. .Manv it
viii luio. The petitioners had given no ar
dois which authorised the shipment of their
goods under the actual circumstances which
attended their shipment. 1t was an error
OF judgment in their agents, though il was
ii very general error, and ore which OUGHT
not to prejudice the importer. It was Govt,
dcnlly believed in England that the inDor-
tatOn you'd he permitted and deemed
legal n printed paper, Of which a coDy is
anneScd, was circulated among all those
.