§ Mr. Alderman Prinsepbegged leave, without intending to oppose the present bill, to call the attention of his majety's ministers to the operation of the additional duty on the silk manufacture. Since the year 1787, the duty on silk had been encreasing, and yet no alteration had been made on the draw-backs upon that article. By the present bill, the duty would be raised from 7s.4d. on thrown silk, to 12s.; and, on the raw material, from 3s. to 5s. He thought that a draw-back should be allowed in proportion to the encrease of the duty since 1787, as an encouragement to so important a branch of our national fabrics. But as it would be competent to ministers to make a provision to that effect in a subsequent act, he should, in the present instance, be content with calling their attention to the subject.
Mr. Vansittartassured the worthy alderman, that there would be no reluctance on the part of government to give every encouragement to that manufacture, if it should appear, after a proper enquiry, that such encouragement was necessary. This, however might be done in a subsequent bill.
Mr. Barhamexpressed his approbation of the liberal and candid manner in which ministers had listened to such representations as had been made to them on these subjects. He hoped that such modifications would be introduced into the duty on sugar, as would make it possible to pay it. 904 He thought that a committee should be appointed to examine the state of the colonies, in many respects, as this at present was not well understood. The late chancellor of the who certainly was competent to form an accurate opinion on this subject, had said, that he never could learn the profits of the planters on any average price of sugar. If he found other gentlemen of the same opinion with him, he would, on some future day, propose such a committee as he had adverted to.
§ Lord H. Pettysaid that certainly, on the part of his majesty's ministers, there must be a disposition to give every sort of attention to this subject, and to listen to every important representation. He agreed that the subject was one of some difficulty, and, that an enquiry of one sort or another would be very desirable.
Mr. Rosecontended, that such an enquiry would be batter conducted by the inspector-general than by a committee of the house.
Mr. Barhamonly meant, by proposing a committee, to give assistance to government, and, if there could be a better mode than this, he would have no objection.—After a few words from Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Manning, the bill was read a 3rd time and passed.