Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-09-20
ALIEN MERCHANTS.


We copy the following article from
a morning paper: A subject Of great
interest to Alien Merchants. to the
port of London and IL the Corpora
ton of the City, has lately grown in
to general discussion amongst the
commercial circles. BY an old act
Of Parliament the corporation ut the
city of London had sihe privilege OF
lcyying certain duty on all mer-
ChandiZe entered Outwards or inwards
at the Custom House. being the be-
ma fdc property of an Alien of any
description. About twenty years "a
ga the att in question was enforced
with considerable strictnrss but.
from the frequent and successful eva
sions praCtised. it was suffered by
the corporation to fall into disase !;
but the impaired condition of the CT
ty funds has recently impressed up
on the corporation of London the
necessity OF restoring all their law
full resources to state of aCh'ity and
fruitfulness. The leading members
Of the corporation have been long ap-
prised of The fact. that great carsocs
nfgoods. the property of Aliens. have
been passed in the name Of British
subjects. They are consequently
said to have prevailed apon the Kings
Ministers 70 grant permission that an
oath Shall be- rendered to all persons
entering goods, who shall refuse to
pay the package duty, for the purpose
of ascertainins the real proprietors
of the articles. Here We must beg
leave to ask-how came the oath to
be dispensed with, ifthe law enjoined
it as an obligation ? and how, OH the
other hand. can ministers impose an
obligation which the law does not re
Guirr? But it appears that doubts
are entertained as 10 the fair C0nStruc-
ton Of tie principal clauses in the
act. For the C0rpor atien of course,
interpret it in their own favor, 10y
assuming that the duty was destined
to apply to all merchandise to winch
foreigner might possess any interest
whether residing abroad or in his
Majesty's dominions. The merchants
on their part, strenuously contend that
the merchandise ought to pass duty
free, prov ided it be not the exclusive
property OF an Alicn--that is to say.
if can be made manifest that a Arl-
fish subject isa part proprietor. Inc
continental merchants have had re-
peated meetings. to consider what
steps would be most expcdient IN this
dilemma. II is urged in memorial
presented to the corporation by the
Alien traders, that the collection oil
such tax may tend to divert The ca
pital of Aliens from the Metropolis
to he outports, Where already as III
Liverpool. Bristol DC. great tempta-
tons are held forth IT, the inrcstlture
ofcapital but the force of this argu-
ment must depend on the magnitude
of the impoSt : circumstance with
regard Ia which we are not correct
" informed. In the mean time it's
matter of perfect notoriety, that the
City Revenues are in dilapldated
condition. The debt exceeds AS is re-
ported. l90,OO0i. and the strict col
lection Of the package d.ty would
yield. by estimate, considerably more
than lOO.oOol per annum. Mr.. Mel
lish had an Interview Oh Thursday
last with the collector Of the Customs
Oh this important question, but we
have not learned the result"
IPhiladsphiG 3sgisier.