Coal Trade.
The Times, 1824-10-26T00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMBS. 8ir,-The -Lord Mayor has touched a hornet's nest: one coal-merchant has already come forward, and no doubt others will be anxious to occupy your columns. I am not a coal-merchant, but well acquaintedl with the nature of the trade. and not unacquaintedl with the practices carried on, by which a heavy charge is thrown upon the public. The coal-merchant has charged the Lord Mayor with mak- ing " a hasty statement, which is false from the outset to the close." He. then attributes to him some statements which he did, not mnake, which, of course, he contradicts; and then leaves other facts unnoticed or uncontradicted. Having been present when his Lordship made his state- ment, and observing some of the reports not exactly cor- rect, and in others some omissions, I have selected from those which are nost correct an abstract of the facts, which no man, I will venture to say, can refute. His Lordship stated-" That notwithstanding the in- crease of meters and oilier regulations, antI the remission of a duty of 3s. 4d. per chaldron, coals wec higher than they were this time last year. "That at the last rnarket there were only two entire car- goes on sale. " That the supply was so closely apportioned to the de- mand, that it could not be the effect of chance, but concert. " That the coals unsold at market did not excead 10 per cent., and were often much less. " Thtat lOd. per chaldron amounted to more than 50,0001.; and it would therefore easily be ascertained how inuch an advance of so many shillings would put into pockets. " 'I'hat there has been an increase of supply during the year by about 300 ships; but this was oaly in proportion to the increased consumption, and the prices had been mo- derate. " That within the last two months there had been a de- crease of between 300 and 400 ships; and within the last tbree wveeks coals had advanced from 39s. to 48s.-that is, 9s. per chaldron. " That about lOo vessels had been driven ashore by the late winds; but they were mostly returned ships, and could not account for the difference. " Thlat if this adlvance took place before the month of NTovember, should we have a severe winter, andl similar ac- cidents occur, the consequences would be dreadful. " That he thought it proper, therefore, to submit these considerations to the Court." Your correspondent, in the face of the above facts, says, incredible as it may appear, his Lordship pays no respect to the devastation of light ships going down to Newcastle and Sunderland. He howvever admits, that the increase of me- ters has saved the public from .5s. to los. per chaldron. This, it will be recollected, was a recommendation of the Lord Mayor, and at the time strongly contested as unne- cessary. But mark what follows: at this reduced price he says " all provident persons have laid in a stock." Suffer me then to ask, Sir, how, if there be such a stockl laid in, can he account for the stranding of 100 ships saving the price 9s. per chaldron, to which accident alone, he says, the late advance is to be ascribed ? But, Sir, there is another astounding fact. The Lord Ilayor made his representation on Thursday last; on Friday there were only 18 ships at market-il6 were sold; and when, for want of supply, a further rise might have been expected, there has been a re. duotion of 3s. per chaldronl. Does not this most effectually prove that the whole is by trick and management? I re- collect when the Lord Mayor 8 or 10 montlhs ago made a representation to the Common Council respecting the then higlh prices, a similar reduetion then took place. *Vhen the public show themseves alive to these matters, it at least gives some check, and they derive some advantare from the ex- posure. I am, Sir, &G., A. B. COAL TRADE.