Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-10

of cotton goods in this country, an increase which
he would venture to say, At the present moment
surpassed the whole consumption of woollen goods
throughout the country. This show ed how much
the facilitating of trade, and relieving it from the fet
tiers of legislation, increased the means of home
consumption, and extended the commerce of the
nation. He would here notice what he left out of
his statement upon former night, and that the
constant evidence supplied by these inquiries, show
ing how much the want of people always increas-
ed with their means. 1t therefore by cempe-
tition and rivalry with foreign manufactures, that
they should increase the means of their own coun-
try in the extension of its commerce, and conse-
quently of its wealth. He should N ext proceed to
another great branch OF our manufactures-that of
linen. The laws upon this article were also
merous that he should not trouble the committee
with describing them, but confine himself to stat
ing the duties payable upon foreign articles manu-
featured OF linen, and which embraced almost every
scale OF the book OF rates. The lowest was 40 per
cent, and the highest amounted TO somewhere "a
bout $50 per cent. upon the value. In order to
simplify these duties, he had to the determine
ton after frequently consulting the parties interest
| ed in the matter, of proposing that uniform ad
udiorem duty OF twenty-five per cent. should be
paid upon all articles of linen manufacture import
ed from foreign countries. And when he preserv-
cd this rate OF duty, he knew he rather consult
ing the fears and prejudces of the linen manufac-
turers than any necessity for such protection. But
he was anxious, on many considerations not to ex-
cite alarm in the minds of the parties chiefly inter-
ested in this trade. The next article was that of
paper. Upon paper the duty paid upon mporta-
ion three four times it's value, and necessa-
rily acted prohibition upon the importation of
| foreign bsoks He would put it to the good sense
of the committee whether tins restriction ought not
| TO be removed. He thought he should be doing
a service to the country, without niuring our pub
fishers, if he permitted bound and unbound books
be admitted upon paying double the duty paid upon
paper In answer to question put across the Ia
bic, the right hon. gentleman sid, that copyright
would still be protected by the prohibition of books
printed abroad, wherein copyright existed in this
country.) Al present all books were in fact prohi-
bited and In removing the general restriction, a
proper protection should be given TO authors. He
proposed that the duly paper of the kind upon
which books were printed, should be three pence,
and that upon bound books six pence per pound The
next article was that OF glass bottles. He beev-
! ed that since the reduction wine made by his
right hon friend, the empty bottle paid half rs much
duty the precious liquor which it had contained.
! His intention to fix the duty somewhere about
the price OF bottles in this country, so as to pre-
vent injury to the bottle manufacturer. He should
propose that instead of lSs il should be reduced TO
3s.; and the present price of bottles at home was
somewhere about SIS Cd. per dozen. Upon plate
glass and other articles of glass which came into
domestic use, he should also propose reduction,
so as 10 bring the duty to 20 per over and a.
| bove the excise duty paid here. To earthenware
the same principles applied, and he should deal
with 1t IN the same manner; reducing the present
duly of 10 to somewhere about IL or I5 Ear
thenwares, generally speaking were manufactured
here cheaper than in any other country; but upon
the higher classes of manufacture, such as porce-
lan the foreign manufacturer possessed cert1n ID
vantases, md The duty upon these would require TO
be higher; but at present they could only be brought
into this country by the smuggler, and he should
propose such moderate dut as would bring the
trade into its proper channel, and make beneficial
to the Exchequer. There various other arti-
Giles, such as turnery and fancy work, upon which
he thought general duty of so per cent should be
paid. Having now gone through the prohibitions
relating to the great branches Of our staple MANI
features, he sho lid proceed the consideration oil
another scarcely less important class---namely,
those upon metallic substances. In his right hon.
friends (the Chancellor OF the EXchequers) finan-
cial statement for the year, the announcement oil
an intention 10 reduce the duties iron was re-
celved with great satisfaction by the house. The
intended reduction OF that duty from g. los
to 81. Os. and IL was one VIII ch he thought would
be highly beneficial TO the country. He recollect.
ed that when his right honorable friend made his
statement, an honorable member, very largely
connected with that trade, very dsinterestedly de-
clared his opinion that the reduction would be high
y advantageous 10 the manufacturer and 10 the con
surner, whilst the injury done 10 the ron-master
would not be great to prevent the house from
e adopting the measure. But since the honorable
alderman (Mr. Alderman ThompsonO made tina
declaration so greatly to his credit, he Mr. Hus
kisson) must in candour state to the committee that
he had seen many other iron masters who professeC
10 have very different opinions. These gentlemen
were like all the Others whom he was constantly
the habit OF meeting upon these subjects They
were most anxious TO have free trade in ever,
other description of article but that which they pro
? duced--( laugh) And in that they considered
j nothing so desirable a strict and exclusive mo
: nopoly. He could scarcely hope to satisfy thes
q iron-masters; but as he knew he should be piveI
additional Facilities of the manufacturer, and in
the comforts Of whole people he should fee
i 1t his duty to persevere. Re his personal know
G ledge the manufacturers of Birmingham were il
: possession of orders from the United States anC
{ from ). America, which, owing to the exorbitan
price OF British iron, they unable to execute
n consequence OF this they now had workmen en-
T. ployed in making models TO be sent 10 Germany
= where the orders were transferred because the,
e could not obtain them in this country.-( Hear
J. lledr) He believed that in point of revenue so IA
e from these reductions being an injury. they woul
q prove an advantage. He was sure the manufacture
e at least would fund it great advantage. The iron
e from being smelted with coal in this country, wa
inferior to foreign iron, and particularly by that
y Swedenj but IN consequence OF the high price tn
:; manufacturers had been obliged to use the nfero
article, and thereby deteriorated their manufacture.
Iron was an article of general use in all depart
. ments Of life, aud it was highly important that
should be placed within reach, and that the nuait
should be preserved. In shipping II came into larg
u consumption, and the best article was reauired-
$ For the cables Of ships It was highly necessary a
this shoudbe attended to- as the safety of the sbin
: often depended upon it. The next Of the metaii
Is substances was that of conner The d,,t,, ~ II,