If perfect freedom of trade is an object to contend for, it is plain that as few articles as possible should be left subject to duty on import, and a period ought to be fixed for revising these duties, and either diminishing or altogether abolishing them as soon as the respective circumstances of the two countries may justify it. Twenty years is fixed for this purpose. It is also an object that the quantum of duty should not be greater in amount than is absolutely necessary; it is, therefore, provided that it shall, in no case, exceed 10 per cent. ad valorem, which must be admitted, with freight, &c., to be the utmost protection that ought to be granted, and where the duty is now lower, that it should not hereafter be raised. The effect of this system is as follows: Article 1 secures to Irish subjects and to Irish produce every advantage that British goods or British subjects enjoy; it gives to Ireland the full benefit of her sail-cloth export, which will then be used by the navy and merchant ships of Great Britain, and secure for ever bounty on Irish linens. No. 2 secures to Ireland all the valuable raw materials she now receives from England, viz., coals, hops, salt, tin, alum, bark, even on terms more favourable than she now receives them, as coals will then be exported duty free, which now pay one shilling and threepence. Ireland in return gives all her duty on live cattle and hides, the produce of which duties will be compensated by transfer of the coal duty. But the most important advantage to Ireland will be getting wool from England. This gives more means than she ever had of being a woollen country. England gives her this without recalling any of her protection given to her linens. Here Ireland has not one trade secured on a supposed compact of giving up another, but both secured to her for ever, it being indifferent where the wealth settles, so it is within a United Kingdom. Let it, then, be remembered that Ireland, in addition to the full recovery of the means of prosecuting the woollen trade, secures to her linens for ever the full advantages of the British market, which, at this moment, is given at an expense of nearly one million sterling per annum. No. 3. Provides for perfect free import, with the exception of 17 articles, which are to pay specific duties. This secures to Ireland for ever the free entry of her linens and provisions into England. The Irish Market is not materially opened to British goods; as the great articles, such as drapery, hardware, cottons, earthenware, tea, continue at 10 per cent., or at the present duties, if lower. It takes away all the English prohibitions and prohibitory duties, and gives Ireland the English Market on woollens and all other goods on equal duties with Comparative Value of British and Irish Commerce in 1798. Great Britain. Total Imports... Total Exports............. £47,000,000 48,000,000 £95,000,000 real value. 1 From the greatly inferior amounts assigned in this Statement to the Exports and Imports, I conclude that they must belong to an earlier year than those given in the next article. Deduct Value of Foreign Merchandize exported £14,400,000 Value of the same Merchandize included 1 year of Peace and 1 year of War. England...... .... £34,306,703] nearly as 84. 4,125,699 j 3 years of Peace and 2 years of War. England........ £75,479,460 Ireland ... nearly as 81. CONSUMPTION OF IRELAND. Eccles Street, Friday, four o'clock. Sir Enclosed is a hasty sketch of the account you wished for; it is drawn out in such a manner, as to show those values upon which the original Account furnished by Lord Castlereagh was grounded. I have the honour, &c., SAMUEL WALKER. PS. The enclosed Account might perhaps be useful to the Inspector-General in making out that Account, which is to be laid before Parliament. An Account of the Quantities and Value (according to the Market Price) of the following Articles, consumed in Ireland annually, on an average of three years, ending March 25, 1799. |