§ MR. CLAYasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can give any 235 information as to the progress of the inquiry promised by him into the taxes levied on British Shipping by, or in the name of, the Russia Company?
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, that inquiry had been made at St, Petersburg, and three or four reports on the subject had been received. He believed that these reports showed that these dues were supported very much by the principal merchants' houses in St. Petersburg, and he did not think that any interference, in a direct manner, on the part of Her Majesty's Government would be either useful or practical. So long as the merchants themselves supported the system it was not necessary that there should be any interference. Although the dues were heavy, yet the charges paid by British shipping were not heavier than the charges paid by the ships of other countries, and therefore could not be regarded as differential charges upon British shipping.