MR. SOMERSET BEAUMONTsaid, it had come to his knowledge that a Circular had been addressed by the Board of Trade to the different Chambers of Commerce throughout the country, requesting their opinion with reference to a commercial treaty with Austria. The subject to which this circular referred was of more than ordinary interest at the present moment. It had been represented that Austria had notified her wish to join the Zollverein. Directly this was known in England apprehensions were excited, for it was supposed this was a further step in the direction of protection. As the circular stated that Austria was disposed to negotiate a treaty of commerce with the most liberal country in the world, these apprehensions had now been removed, and he hoped the noble Lord would be able to say that there were good grounds for this. The commercial relations between this country and Austria had hitherto been affected by the high protective tariff of Austria. This was manifest from the terms in which they were alluded to by the Secretary of Embassy at Vienna. The hon. Member then read the opinion expressed by Mr. Fane, to the effect that the spirit which animated the commercial legislation of Austria was thoroughly protectionist. Her Majesty's Government had been so successful in negotiating treaties of commerce with different 1205 countries during their tenure of office that they had stimulated the attention of the commercial communities in that direction; and he trusted that they would be as successful with Austria in this matter as they had been with Belgium. It was astonishing how limited the trade was between this country and Austria, compared with the trade between France and England; yet there was no reason why our trade might not increase with Austria as it had done with France, to the advantage of both countries, if the protective duties were lowered. There was this advantage attending sound commercial relations between this country and Austria—that whereas if war broke out between us and other European Powers, our commerce with those countries had been interrupted; but as England and Austria never went to war with each other, our commerce with her would always remain uninterrupted. The produce of Austria and Hungary was just such as we required, comprising cattle, grain, wine, tobacco, leather, wool, skins, &c.; while our cotton, cloth, hardware, machinery, and other manufactures might be readily exchanged for them. Of late years Austria had progressed in liberal institutions, and it was to be hoped that her people would adopt free trade and that the commercial intercourse between England and Austria might become more commensurate with the capabilities and resources of the two countries. Our commercial relations with America had been so seriously compromised that the Government could not grant a greater boon to our mercantile communities than by endeavoring to find new markets for their goods. His excuse for bringing that subject forward so late in the Session was, that the circular issued by the Board of Trade had come under his notice only the other day; and so much harm had been done through the delay in discussing the Commercial Treaty with Belgium in that House, that he thought he should have failed in his duty, as the representative of a large commercial constituency, if he had not on the earliest occasion drawn the attention of the Government to this important matter.