Lords Sitting of 3 July 1820

FOREIGN TRADE.
The Marquis of Lansdownebrought up the report of the committee on Foreign Trade. In moving that it be laid on the table, he trusted their lordships would excuse him if he detained them some moments by a few observations which he thought the more necessary to be now made, as he did not mean to make this report the subject of any other motion except that it be printed. He was induced to adopt this course, not only because any bill connected with the financial situation and revenues of the country would come with more advantage to the subject from the other House, but because he thought it better that any measure of this kind should originate with those who possessed the best means of giving it effect
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and carrying it into execution. At the same time that he abstained from proposing any thing on this report, he should very ill discharge his duty, if he did not state, on the behalf of the other members of the committee, that they were all anxious that some measure should be founded on the inquiry which had taken place. That something should be done, their lordships could not but feel to be due to the interests of all classes of the community—to the manufacturing, as well as the commercial interests—to the interests of shipowners—to the interests of the colonists—and lastly, though not least important, to the interests of British consumers. All the interests connected with foreign commerce complained of embarrassment and difficulties, respecting the nature and extent of which their lordships would be satisfied when they took the trouble to examine the report. Some of the recommendations which the committee had thought fit to make were of a nature which he believed would give rise to little or no conflict of opinion. Such were the alterations and arrangements respecting duties which appeared necessary for giving consistency and effect to existing measures. There were, however, facts connected with the interests to which he had alluded, on which difference would occur. There were cases in which he felt it would be impossible at this time to effect any considerable alteration, however desirable, without giving rise certainly to difference of opinion, and probably to some dissatisfaction. But he could not doubt that their lordships would concur in adopting such measures as should appear to them calculated to promote the interests of the public at large. In whatever was proposed, full consideration was due to the interests which might be affected; and their lordships must concur in this—that the interests of those persons whose capital had been embarked in trade within these ten or twelve years ought not to be overlooked. While the committee had thought it right to lay down in their report those great principles which he conceived ought never to have been departed from, they were at the same time desirous that the means of returning to a right system should be rendered as easy and convenient as possible. To accomplish this purpose, in as far as it could be forwarded by the present inquiry, their lordships had thought lit to separate that part of the subject which had been referred to the committee

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from every other. The report was now completed, and he hoped that no unnecessary delay would take place in coming to the settlement of those important questions which remained to be adjusted. A difficulty had been experienced in returning from a course which had been resorted to only for temporary purposes. But though measures which ought to be abandoned could not be immediately relinquished on the change from war to peace, nothing could be more unfounded than the opinion that no alteration could be made in consequence of the restoration of peace, He concluded by moving that the report do lie on the table, and afterwards moved that it be printed.
Lord Ellenboroughexpressed a hope that some legislative measure should, if possible, be brought in this session on some of the objects recommended in the report. It was impossible for any member of the committee, who attended in his place, not to feel the duty of urging this. There were two points to the introduction of a measure, to embrace which he thought no objection could be made. They related to an alteration of the mode of levying the duties on timber. The first was a recommendation to levy the duty on timber by the cubic contents of the foot; the second was, to make the duty on timber which had undergone any process of manufacture higher than on timber in the log. In reference to the adoption of those enlightened principles which were recommended by the committee, it was with great satisfaction he could state his conviction that in some important instances their introduction would be attended with no inconvenience. It had, for example, been ascertained by the committee, that British ships were navigated more cheaply than any other vessels in the world, No injury therefore could arise to the shipping interest from any alteration which it might be thought fit to make in favour of foreign trade. Those who had petitioned most earnestly for the continuance of the present system with respect to the duties on timber, would therefore, if not benefited, at least not be injured, by any alteration which the legislature might think fit to make on that subject.
The Report was ordered to be printed.