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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 33 ^ te. ^^jT^t^^feipferi.i ■•J-if-^ ■'WIBPiPIIIPf /uo THOUGHTS / ('4 H z' / ON THE IMPOLICY OF ALTERING THE PRESENT RATE OF DUTY ON FOREIGN TIMBER AND DEALS. * * • • » ••V « • • • • • • t (< « « s • I FRINTED POR J. HARDING, 36, ST. jAMES'S STREET J Uy B. M'Millan, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden. «% % ■is P33'7. 5 T399 mm ... ' . ,. ^ • * • • « • . » « • .« • >• ■ iilRiiirimii'i Wi^' ;• r THOUGHTS, It having been understood, that some altera* tion may possibly take place in the rate of the Duties levied on Norway and Baltic Deals and Timber, during the ensuing Session of Parlia- rtient, so strong a sensation has been excited in the minds of those who consider themselves interested in the question^ that perhaps the following obser\^ations on the subject may not be deemed v/holly devoid of interest. The Duties alluded to, were imposed some years since by Parliament, as it was then con- sidered, with a view to several objects of the highest importance to the welfare of the Empire. The obstacles which then existed to a free inter- course with the Baltic, and Norway, had shewu Government the importance of looking for a iupply of Timber and Deals from countries under their own controul, and within the de- pendencies of Great Britain. 9 61933 "^^r- It was supposed to be of national advantage to facilitate the settlement, and to encourage the industry of the British North American Colonies; and to blend their interests with those of the Mother Country ; but above all, it was felt to be of vital importance, to look for that lucrative and permanent employment for British Shipping, to which, driven from what- ever Foreign Port, whether by the decrees of War, or the arrangements of Peace, the Bri- tish Ship Owner, and British Sailor might look with equal confidence. As far as time has yet been allowed for the prosecution of the experiment, the justness of the views on which it was founded, has been fully proved. Throughout the lower parts of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, extensive establishments have been formed : and abundant means of subsistence have hence been afforded to its Inhabitants, from a soil and climate otherwise but little favourable to the new settler. Along the immense extent of the waters which flow into the St. Lawrence, the beneficial effects of this policy have been felt. The Wood of the Forest has been exchanged for the Woollen, the Cotton, the Earthen, and Hardware, of British manufacture; the com- forts and conveniences of life have been dif- T mmmmm fused over countries which, but for these regu- lations, must have been doomed to the scanty and ill-organized manufacture of an infant state of society. Nor has the experience of these benefits been without its effect : the friends of Canada may look with pride and gratification to the willing spirit, and personal devotion with which its Inhabitants went forward to oppose an enemy, whose avowed object was their sepa- ration from Great Britain. As respects the Shipping Interest, the ob-. ject of these regulations has been answered. At the close of the War, the number of vessels discharged from the Transport Service was very great; the less protracted voyages attendant on a state of Peace, contributed also to dimi- nish the necessity of employing so many ships; many were therefore laid up, yet there can be no doubt but that the number thus discharp-ed would have bten ruinously increased, had not a trade existed which employed, during the last season, at a very moderate computation, from eight to nine hundred sail of vessels. It seems, however, that some partial evils are complained of, and urged as motives to induce a change in the present system. It is said, that in conse- quence of the heavy Foreign Duty, the price of Timber and Deals are inconveniently high to B 2 ^«^pp ■m mmmm the consumer; that the Duties, as they respect Norway, are prohibitory ; that, though not so as the Baltic is concerned, they would, if lowered, have the effect of increasing a re- venue, which, within the last year, has been less productive than formerly ; that the latter Duties, called War Duties, were laid on as matter of revenue, and not of commercial regu- lation ; that, by way of putting Norway on a footing with the countries bordering on the Baltic, the Duties on long Deal«« should be increased, and made proportioimte to their length ; that unless we encourage an intercourse with Foreign Nations, we cannot expect that they should take our manufactures. In reply, it may be fairly asserted, that tlK3 price of Timber and Deals, since the return of Peace, in consequence of the competition be- tween British North America and the North of Europe, has been remarkably low, and if not ruinous to the Importer, so moderate as to afford but little prospect of reimbursement to those spirited Landholders in this Country, who a few years since, expended so much capital in the Plantation of Fortst Trees^ and whose patriotic exertions perhaps, deserve the continu- ation of parliamentary protection. It is also denied, that the Duties are prohibitory, even I ■HI ' mfme^. rram mmm M as they respect Norway : if any Deals are ex- cluded, they are those only of an inferior qua- lity ; the firstj and even second Christiana Deals are for sale in every Timber-yard in Lon- don, and will be found to pay at this moment, a handsome profit to the Importer, So far from the Duties acting as a prohibition, if reference be made to the Custom House returns, it will appear, that the importation of 1815, and the early part of 1816, (no doubt occasioned by the high War prices, and the long blockade of the Norway Ports), were out of all proportion great; — that to the glut thereby occasioned, to the limited wants of Government during Peace, and to the diminished consumption, which has attended the distresses of the times, and not to the pressure of Duty, is to be attri-» buted the reduced Importation which has taken place during the latter part of 1816. Those heavy stocks are, it is well known, now nearly run off, and a large Importatior may be looked to during the current year. The preceding observations will with even greater force apply to the Deals from the Bal- tic, as, though the British North American Merchants can meet on equal terms the Nor- wegian in the London Market, under the present regulation and duties, he can with little hope of "a»-r tmrnmam^ae. 8 ''^ profit, enter the lists with the Importer from the Bahic, as the experience ot" the present year, to the Ibrmer, avowedly the most favor- able, has fully proved. This is to be attributed to the distant voyage to I British America, ad- mitting of but slow return of capital, requiring large stocks to be kept on hand, and to the ne- cessarily high freights : to which may be added, that the rate of labour is much higher in Ame- rica than in the Baltic ; and finally, that from the remains of prejudice, inseparable from the tirst opening of a new trade, the price to be obtained for North American Timber and Deals, is never so high as for those from the Baltic. Hence it may fairly be inferred, that the Baltic Merchant has no founded cause of com- plaint; since from the existing wants of this Country,, a large supply will annually come from the Baltic as well as Norway, greatly to the be- nefit of the Revenue,, at the present rates; while, at a diminished rate of Duty, the gross amount of the Revenue would not be increased, though the North American Shipper must rehnquish the Trade; for let it be even supposed foi* a moment, that it were possible for Great Britain to withdraw the encouragement solemnly held out to the British North American Colonies, i ** anil that in future all Deals and Timber con- sumed in (ireat Britain, were to be imported in British Ships from the Baltic, the most dis- tressing consequences would result to the Ship- ping Interest. From the ease with which a Baltic V^oyage is performed, from the Ships previously engaged in the British North Ame- rican Trade being added to these already em- ployed in the Baltic, double the number of vessels would be disposable to accomplish half the service ; the greater part of those now ob- taining freights, woi.ld therefo^^ be thrown out of employment, to the almost total loss of the capital invested in British Shipping. The same interest of the British Ship-Owner requires a continuance of the present Duty on Short Deals; as self-interest and self-defence would seem to make it a duty incumbent on Government to support the British Sailor, and British Commercial Navy, in preference to those of Norway, a country from which, con- nected with other Northern Powers, we may at some future period suffer annoyance. It should be observed, that the Norwegians send their Timber and Deals exclusively in their own Ships, whilst the Baltic Trade, especially that from Russia, is chiefly carried on in Bri- tish vessels. ,«». 10 From the easy access to the ports of Nor- way, at almost every season, their inconsider- able distance, and the size of their ships, the Norwegians possess the incalculable advantage of being able to watch the British market, and at a few days* notice to pour in their Deals and Timber, whenever and wherever they conceive any prospect of profit to be held out. The effects of this vicinity have been felt in the ports of Scotland, where the Larch and Firs of that country have heen continually un- dersold by the Timber and Deals from Norway. As to what has been suggested respecting the Protecting Duty, as contradistinguished from the War Duty, it is to be observed, that the Committee of Merchants who petitioned for the Protecting Duty, though, perhaps, that laid upon short Deals may have been sufficient, yet were not aware that the Baltic would enter so largely as she has done, into the importation of those of the longer description; and thus, in fact, avoid one half the Duty. If, how- ever, the interest of those concerned in the employment of British Shipping in the Baltic were to be laid aside, and a change in the present Rates unavoidably to take place, the existence of the British North American Trade would absolutely require that all Foreign .\) i^^pi^iS- 11 )f Nor- )nsider- ips, the vantage et, and • Deals sr they )e held leen felt rch and ally un- Torway. ting the id from that the I for the hat laid ent, yet enter so ation of thus, in ', how- in the 3 Baltic I in the ace, the n Trade Foreign Deals should pay Duty in proportion to their solid contents, taking that paid on the 12 foot for 120 of three inches thick, and nine inches wide as the standard, being that description of Deals of which the largest quantity will neces- sarily be imported. ^ It must, however, be said, in respect to the War Duty., t!mt by the words of the Vote of the House of Commons in April last, it was made permanent. In consequence of that Vote, large undertakings in the building of Saw-mills near Quebec, which had been be- gun, and were suspended, were immediately resumed, and are now nearly completed. Many others of a similar nature have been extended ; ^nd many commenced in Upper and I^ower Canada. The same exertions have probably been made in the other Provinces, as they all considered Government to \)e pledged to them for a continuance of the Duties. ^ With respect to a reciprocity of trade between this country and those of Norway and Prussia (the latter being understood to be the only !3altic State that has made any representation 01) the subject), it is to be remembered, that ihey have never been particularly good custo- mers to England ; their surplus produce being more frequently exchanged for the luxuries of n I I France, than for the manufactures of Great Britain : nor is this to be wondered at, their "Woollens hieing in general cheaper than ours ; it were therefore vain to believe, whatever may be their interested representation, that they should ever become our customers to any con- siderable amount for that article; were even more to be expected from them, there could be httle doubt of the impropriety of encourag- ing a precarious Foreign Trade, at the ex^ pence of a greatly increasing one with our own Colonies. These Colonies have a right, in justice, to de- mand a protecting monopoly for articles of their produce in the home market, as an indemnifi- cation for the loss of that free trade which they suffer from the existence of the Colonial sys- tem : community of interest is the only efficient bond which connects political societies together ; sound policy will therefore strengthen by every allowable means, ties of so much importance to the well being of the Empire. An idea may here perhaps, without impropriety, be ha- zarded ; that it is evidently the interest of those extensive and newly-settled countries of the United States of America, which border on the lakes and waters that fall into the Saint Law- rence, (and whose opulent population will I ^-. I 13 f Great it, their ,11 ours ; ;er may at they ny con- ire even re could icourag- the ex^ our own e, to de- of their idemnifi- lich they lidl syS". efficient ogether ; by every rtance to iea may be ha-( : of those i of the order on int Law- tion will f i shortly render them invaluable customers to British manufacture), that Quebec should ever remain a Shipping Port in the hands of Great Britain, as their Inhabitants have thereby two markets for their produce, New York, and Quebec, to which they may go at nearly the same expence ; the one offering the advantage of American, the other of British Shipment. Were due encouragement held out to them through the latter channel, it is not unreason- able to suppose, that the people of those coun-^ tries would consider it their interest to check any disposition to hostility towards Great Bri- tain, which might exist in any other quarter of the Union ; and even were a war to take place, the same feeling would paralize the exertion of ^ population, on whose hearty co-operation so much must depend as to its success on the part pf the United States. To sum up all that is to be said on the subject, in few words : the simple question seems to be, whether ParUa- ment will, in listening to the interested repre- sentations of Foreigners, break in on the course of an experiment in favour of the British Colo- nies, attended with every promise of success, and thereby alienate the affection j of a people, who have unequivocally proved their attach- ment to the Mother Country whether, to Mt! I' S I 14 please Foreigners, she will give up a certain means of Revenue, in her present financial dif- ficulties : whether she will, for the doubtful sale of a few Woollens, encourage the growth of a foreign Navy, and give up the certain means of fostering her own, by employing her ships on those long, and sometimes tempestuous voyages, which are the sure nursery of a hardy, expert, and numerous body of 'Seamen, ready at her call on either side the Atlantic : whether, finally, to gratify a few interested individuals, she will bring inevitable ruin on the heads of the already suffering Ship-Owners of this coun- try, and throw into the parochial work-houses, thousands of those brave men, who so glo- riously fought the battles of that country, to which they now look for the protection they afforded her in the hour of danger. The Official Document subjoined, will serve to shew the rapidly increasing trade between Great Britain and her Colonies. '%■ h '■> - .ii i r ^n - J ■ certain icial dif- doubtfal growth ! certain ying her pestuous a hardy, [1, ready whether, lividuals, heads of lis coun- t-houses, so glo- intry, to ion they vill serve between 15 An Account qfall the Exports from Great Britain to Canada^ Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and Neuifmindland^ in each Year from 1800 to 1814, both inclusive; distinguishing each Colony or Settlement. 1 OFFICIAL VALUE OF EXPORTS. British Produce ?'oreign and Colo- Total Exports. J nd Munut'actiires. nial Merchandize. 1 £ *. d. £ *. d. £ s. d. ^ 1800 383,993 19 4 74,116 18 460,110 17 4. ':yt 1801 505,256 2 S 87,105 8 10 592,361 11 6 iWi 712,242 2 3 132,209 IS 5 844,451 15 8 1803 444,460 10 8 144,412 17 10 588,873 U 6 :* 9 1804 410,834 12 2 206,560 17 1 617,395 9 3 ■&f 1805 316,027 7 5 106,955 11 11 422,98.^ 19 4 1806 304,654 3 & 74,291 5 10 378,945 9 1 s- 1807 382,639 1 8 98,976 19 6 481,616 1 2 {J 1808 471,350 1 11 73,406 11 544,756 2 10 974,00fe 8 8 1809 831,457- 7 142,549 1 1810 844,067 9 3 135,354 7 1 979,421 16 4 1811 841,744 8 11 135,451 12 9 977,196 1 8 1812 449,590 1 11 150,437 1 11 600,027 3 10 1813 Tlie I lecords destroyed h y fire. .1314 1,436,483 10 9 462,073 1 1 1,898,556 11 10 '1800 156,096 11 2 20,987 6 8 177,083 17 10 1801 154,247 1 11 23,886 17 5 178,133 19 4 1802 160,461 12 11 18,594 17 8 179,056 10 7 B < 1803 175,940 4 11 23,551 11 2 199,491 16 1 9 H 1804 118,830 2 10 31,630 6 7 150,460 9 5 Ik 5 1805 104,000 15 7 18,324 19 10 123,125 16 5 S ^ 1806 194,513 6 35,853 2 8 230,366 8 8 mm > 1807 173,304 10 5 33,348 18 3 206,653 8 8 'Wf 1808 242,658 4 34,930 2 11 277,588 6 11 fl o 1809 326,852 10 50,453 16 10 377,305 17 8 W- 'A 1810 305,525 17 5 45,086 6 11 350,612 4 4 'M 2 1811 190,412 7 3 26,880 11 7 217,292 18 10 m H I81ij 243,856 11 10 38,243 15 7 282,100 7 5 :M 1813 The Records destroyed b y fire. !m L18II 949,586 7 7 100,279 2 5 1,049,865 10 -9 '1800 70,934 3 4 10,296 12 81,230 15 4 S 1801 53,396 10 11 5,181 10 58,577 11 9 Wm »^ 1802 7J,457 11 5 5,292 7 6 76,749 18 11 IB O 1803 54,584 3 9 4,352 12 4 58,936 16 1 ^B ^ 1804 47,035 12 7 4,196 1 4 51,231 13 li ^m «i 1805 43,012 15 10 3,114 IS 3 46,127 9 1 H- g 1806 48,665 16 7 5,189 10 ? 53,855 7 4 wM (4*i 1807 57,622 2 11 6,773 14 1 64,395 17 pp n 1808 59,332 18 8 4,683 8 8 64,016 7 4 M ^ 1809 113,554 18 2 11,676 li 3 125,231 9 5 mm S 1810 92,848 14 3 5,948 1 6 98,796 15 9 IB » 1811 266,320 9 7 7,732 1 1 274,05^ 10 8 ^B p 1812 125,371 7 9,870 6 8 135,241 7 3 H H 1813 The lecords destroyed by fire. i 460,924 6 T B 1^1814 446,336 S 10 14,588 S S I 16 11: ^ 'h Q -) 9 i O O H ^ o 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 80r HOB 809 810 8J1 812 813 314 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 8U OFFICIAL VALUE OF EXPORTS. British Produce and Manufactu-es. 3,o35 17 2 1,332 13 1,206 1,873 2,919 13,193 16,783 16 8,040 8 14,455 6 Foreign and Colo- nial Merchandize, o£ s, d. 175 1 fi 808 11 9 445 3 7 221 -; *i ^ 775 2,924 3,850 1,394 2,627 18 8 17 13 11 15 13 6 6 1 7 7 10 Total Exports. £ s. d. 175 1 5 3,864 8 H 1,997 16 7 3,679 17 701 JO 5 262 13 4 Tile Records destroyed by fire. 1,428 2,0(9 3,695 16,117 20,634 9,435 17,083 6 17 3 19 8 3 1,380 19 1 35 8 3 7 t 8 1 7 7 5,060 16 i 701 10 5 298 1 4, ZQ 18 36 18 499 6 4 57 14 7 557 11 The Records destroyed by fire. 2,212 15 5 I 376 13 8 I 2,689 9 1 .6. .f ! I S -^ 1807 aoo 2 I 1>;0(J i? I laoo r, o 17 OFFICIAL VALUE OF EXPORTS. British Produce and Manufactures. Foreign and Colo- nial Merchandize. fl800 1801 k— 1 1802 /'l 1803 T\ 1804 Q 1805 V^ 1806 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 £ 145,824 167,422 153,419 154,396 185,201 197,089 214,352 162,522 186,015 303,914 338,298 291,677 573,025 Total Exports. £ 219,399 184,278 218,105 200,387 230,137 252,826 272,958 285,732 209,445 241,015 377,735 413,398 371,527 fire. 663,993 s. d. 7 5 10 3 2 1 6 1 5 15 lO 14 10 10 3 13 12 7 8 10 17 1 9 10 15 7 JVo Uow Street, Cevent Ga-den. |