§ Mr. Huskissonsaid, he was about to present a Petition of very considerable importance, on which he begged leave to say a very few words, and he trusted that his right hon. friend near him would favour him with his attention while he did so. The subject to which the petition related was of great consequence to those merchants who carried on trade with South America and other parts of the world, and who were obliged to import large quantities of Bullion. The petitioners stated the great loss and injury to which the trade was exposed, in consequence of the high rate of freight charged by King's ships and Government packets, whenever, for safety, Bullion was sent home in these vessels. By an order 763 in Council, King's ships and Government packets were allowed to bring home the precious metals, and the captains of them were empowered to charge two per cent upon Silver and Gold sent to this country from the Mediterranean and South America. The petitioners complained that this tax of two per cent took away a very considerable portions of their profits; and they further observed, that in the event of such ships being employed to carry Bullion for the King's service, only one per cent was charged, although, in each instance, the responsibility was the same. Now, why there should be a double charge on the merchant, as compared with the public, he could not understand. Not long since, one of these vessels went from Vera Cruz to one of our colonies, with thirteen tons of Silver, or about 120,000l.; on this the commander received at the rate of two per cent, or 2,400l. for taking charge of that treasure during thirteen days. The carriers, it appeared, were likely to make much larger profits than the merchants, who were obliged to run all the risk of bringing this silver into the country. Now he contended, and he could prove to his right hon. friend, that these packets were not better manned, or better found, in any respect, than the packets were formerly, before they were taken from the Post-office and placed under the jurisdiction of the Admiralty; and at that time only one per cent was charged. He did think that it was not right, when those packets were removed from the Post-office department, and placed under the directions of the Admiralty, that an additional duty of one per cent should be charged to those who dealt in this species of merchandise. But that was not all. According to the Order in Council, if one of those vessels carried Bullion from Colombia to any of the neighbouring Islands,—a sail of not perhaps more than thirty or forty hours,—a charge was made of 1½ per cent; and therefore, when it arrived in this country, the charge was between three and four per cent. He contended, that if one per cent only was paid by the public, no more ought to be exacted from the merchant, That certainly would be a very ample remuneration for the Lieutenants commanding these packets; but it was preposterous that 50l. or 60l. a day should be given to those individuals for taking charge of this treasure. He did think that that House ought to interpose, as far as its 764 power permitted, to amend this system. The situation of this country, and of the different States of the world, was such, that we ought to give every possible facility to trade, and remove, to the utmost extent of our ability, all the impediments which stood in the way of commerce, otherwise we should lose those openings for the disposal of our manufactures which it was so important that we should turn to our advantage. He hoped that his right hon. friend would take the subject into his consideration, and that, in future, the same rate of freight which was now paid by the public for the transmission of treasure would be charged to private individuals who imported the precious metals into this country. There was nothing of greater importance to our connexion with South America than that of lowering, as far as possible, the duty on that article which formed the chief medium by which their commercial dealings were carried on—he meant the produce of the South American mines. By doing so, the Legislature would give increased facilities to a reduction of the value of those materials of which money was made.
The Petition of the Merchants of London engaged in the trade with the West-India Islands and South America, was read and laid on the Table.