Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-05-03
LATEST FROM ENGLAND.

NtO-ITh,' IpfH -o.-O! the snip Dd
lana, from Liverpool, we have our
London files to the 9th ult. inclusive,
which furnish us the most important
and interesting article of intelligence,
with the evidence of the further pro-
gress of the British ministry in giving
effect to the principles of free trade.
Mr. Huskisson, after carrying thro'
OH the 2lst March, his resolution for
opening the trade of the British Colo
MES to all nations, followed up his plan
on the 25th by proposing very large
reductions on the duties now existing
in England on various manufactured
articles and raw materials. The speech
in which he explained and justified
these resolutions, is too long for oul
insertion; but the substance of it may
be gathered tolerably from the summa-
ry below, taken from Bells Weekly
Messenger, from which same paper
we annex an explanatory statement of
the nature and probable effects Of the
contemplated changes.
!. The first prohibitory duty to be
reduced is that on cotton-worked goods.
The existing duties upon the importa-
ton into England of all foreign cotton
manufacture, are us, L76, los. or fifty
guineas per cent. OH their value. These
duties are now toSe reduced to ten
pounds per cent. In practice, the prn-
cipal effect of this duty will be, that it
will remove all difference Of price be-
tween India and Scotch muslins, and
as necessary consequence, will extir-
pate all smuggling. We may all re-
member the time, when India muslins
and French silks were articles Of the
first cost; and we have all lived to see
the time, when even women scarcely
knew the difference between these TO-
reign fabrics and our own. Still, so
absurd is fashion, and so eager to be
duped, that il is impossible to visit any
Of our watering places, in the summer
season, without seeing the numerous
frauds practised in these articles; that
is, by persons selling our own fabrics
for struggled articles, and imposing
them on the credulous at higher pri-
ces. Upon this subject moreover, Mr..
Huskisson made a brief statement,
which proves the enormous growth of
our cotton manufactures. In 1868, the
import of cotton wool for our manufac-
tories (and all that we use must be got
by importation) was only 900 lbs.
weight. In 1925 the import of the
same article is $50 millions of pounds
weight.
Q The next staple Of the country are
our Woollen manuiac lures. The ex-
listing duties on the importation of TO-
reign woollen goods, are fifty pounds in
one hundred pounds worth of goods.
This is now to be reduced TO fifteen
pounds on the hundred pounds. Up
on this subject, Mr., Huskisson made
similar statement TO shew the growth
of the manufacture. In 1869, we i'm
ported two million pounds weight of
raw wool beyond what we import at
present; and. in addition to this, we
now export ], $4,000 pounds weight for
the use of foreigners.
5. Our third manufacture is Linen.
Here, the existing duties ascend from
forty pounds TO one hundred and eigh-
ty pounds on the hundred pounds value
of the foreign goods. These duties
are to be reduced to twenty-five pounds,
an amount which we consider to be
still too high. But Ireland is concern
ed in this manufacture, and it cannot
be denied that, from some cause or
other, Ireland is behind even France,
Russia, and Germany, in all her man
ufacturing skill and habits.
4. The next reduction is on foreign
books and foreign paper. In these,
the existing duty is immense, and is to
be reduced on books to sixpence per
pound, and on paper to three pence
That is to say, about four pence vo-
lume.
$. The next reduction is on Foreign
Wine bottles, which now pay duty
Con the bottle merely of eighteen pence
per bottle. This duty is to be reduced
to three pence per bottle, that is to say,
the price Of Burgundy, Champagne,
and other wines usually imported in
bottles, will hereafter be reduced fif-
teen pence in the bottle, by the remov-
al of this duty only. We must here
add, that every one seems to lament,
that we have still so far adhered to the
absurd Methuen Treaty, as to put a
higher duty on French than on Portu-
guese wines. 1t seems to be the COM
mon opinion, that the duty on both
wines ought to have been equalized;
and that Government would have lost
nothing, and the country would have
gained much, if the duty on both had
been reduced to two shillings and six
pence per gallon. Taxes are the sole
cause of such large portion of our
countrymen fixing their residence "a
broad.
6. The next reduction is on French
looking glasses and mirrors-this is