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take a tranfient view of the confequences produced by that duty.

In two years, previous to the free trade, we imported 424,831 cwt. from Great Britain.

In the three years of the free trade, we imported 361,869 cwt. from Great Britain, out of which 62,000 cwt. was imported directly from the West Indies, It is not an eafy matter for nations to fall into a new trade, but I will state: its gradations:

In the first year there was imported 137,440 cwt. out of which there was 7,384 cwt. from the West Indies, which is equal to I part out of 17.

In the next year, 152,000 cwt. out of which there was 18,681 from the West Indies, or as one to feven.

In the third year 133,000 cwt. out of which there was 34,164 directly from the Weft Indies, or as one to two and eighteen twentieths.

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In Belfast, in 1781, there was imported 14,072 cwt., out of which 1,334 cwt. was directly from the West Indies, as i to 92. In the fecond year there was 12,343 cwt. out of 3,156. In the third year, 9,183 cwt. out of which there was 3,708 cwt. from the West Indies.

But befides the gloomy predictions that had been made concerning our direct trade to the Weft Indies, which Mr. Beresford thus difproved, he went on to fhew that the declarations of the merchants and sugar-bakers, that Ireland would be supplied with refined fugars wholly from Great Britain," was equally illfounded, for he proved from the accounts for seven years laft paft, that before the free trade, the English refiner fupplied about 1-12th of our market, and at prefent even that was reduced, he fupplied but 1-13th in establishing this point, he took notice of a Mr. Thompson of Belfast, who had given evidence before the committee in previous fellions, That gentleman had said, that by a duty of 9s. 4. the Irish refinery would be undone, Mr. Beresford had lately been at Belfast, and had enquired into the itate of his manufacture, which he had the pleasure to find was much more flourishing than ever. When the new duties palfed, Mr. Thompfon had two fugar-houtes in Belfaft, and there was alfo in that town another, the property of fome other perfons. Pronouncing the ruin of the manufactory, Mr. Thompson huts up one of his houfes, and dexterously perfuades thofe other perfons to do the fame by theirs; upon which he turns over all his men to his other retinery, and carries on his trade on a more extenfive plan than ever. His importation in the last year with one fugar-houfe, was greater than in any year when he had two; and about half that importation was by a direct trade with the West Indies.

Having thus, he hoped proved, that the duty of 9. 4d. was fufficient, not by his opinion only, but by the practice of Mr. Thompfon, he faid, it was not his defign to refift giving the fugarbakers a monopoly, if gentlemen fhould think right fo to do.

Mr. Mafon fupported the facts advanced by the last Right Hon. Speaker. He would not, he faid, enter at large into a bufinefs on which at present there feemed no queftion; but he thought it juft to defend from ungenerous afperfions that honourable body, the board of trade, by whofe advice the former duty had been fixed at 95. 4d.-they had acted on the moft equitable principles, and the event had juftified their opinion: nor did he think a refpectable body of our fellow-fubjects, the fugar refiners of Great Britain, deferved the unkind infinuations that had been uttered against them; they had feveral opportunities of throwing into our market large quantities of their manufacture, which, had they intended to injure the Irish refineries, they would have feized, but which they always omitted. At one particular time they had a bounty of 125. 6. which was not counteracted by us for feveral months: yet they made no unfair advantage of this bounty, but carried on their trade with the fame uniform induftry for which English manufacturers are diftinguished. He concluded with faying, that he would confent to the duty now propofed as an expériment; but if he found that it encouraged the circuitous trade, he would move its repeal in the next feflion.

Mr. Hartley acquitted himself from intending to caft aspersion on the board of trade, but faid, they had only heard one fide of the question.

Mr. Godfrey Green approved of the former duty; he entered into a detail of many acts of combination by the Irish refiners, particularly at Cork. He feared, that if they were to obtain a monopoly, they would fall again into the circuitous track; and said, that every man who chose to drink his tea or his punch sweet, ought to vote against it.

In the laft war there were quantities of fugars in Cork, but they kept up the price. The English refiners will give nine or twelve months credit, but the Irish refiners will give only thirtyone days. They are certainly at great expence for coals in their manufacture, but I hope our own collieries may be worked, and not be under the neceffity of applying to Sir James Lowther. Whenever spices are cheap, the Dutch burn them in order to keep up their price.

Right Hon. the Provoft declared his ignorance of any monopoly in the fugar-bakers of Cork to keep up the price of fugar.

Mr. Felbam faid, he would not enter on the fubject which his Right Hon. Friend, better informed than he, had fo ably stated to the Houfe; but he declared that he never before had heard of any combination among the British refiners to injure Ireland; he

thought them incapable of it; they had indeed been of different opinions, fome approving, and others condemning the former duty. He was happy, he faid, that an Hon. Member approved of the duty now intended, and recommended it to gentlemen to be unanimous, as government had in this business advanced to meet the wishes of the people.

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Mr. Metge. I highly approve of the duties now propofed, and will vote for the motion..

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Mr. Gratton-When this business came on the laft feffion, council was called to the bar, and Mr. Sutton, Mr. Thompson, and others were examined. What was then faid appears now to be true, for we only import directly from the Weft Indies onefeventh of our confumption: Mr. Thompson faid it would deftroy the manufacture here; but, faid he, I fhall not fuffer fo much as others on account of my experience, in the bufinefs. The queftion then paffled in the affirmative....

..Mr. Hartley faid, that as on account of the recent misfortune of a Right Hon. Gentleman who had taken an active part in the bufinefs of protecting duties, it was to be feared he would not be able to attend in his place in time for having these duties inferted in a money bill, he should on Thursday next bring it on, though conscious how much he fell fhort in the ability with which that gentleman would have himfelf brought it forward.

Mr. Beresford faid, the Right Hon. Gentleman, notwithstanding his unhappy fituation, was determined to attend when that bufinefs would come on finally, but that it would be premature to bring the business into the Houfe while the committee of trade was open, and that many witnelles were yet to be examined.

Mr. Hartley asked was it intended to tack thefe duties to one of the great money bills?

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Mr. Felverton.This is a fubject of great magnitude, and deferves the most patient and thorough investigation. The Right Hon. Gentleman in poffeffion of the fubject has examined fome witneffes already, and he has more to examine. I am fenfible as foon as he is a little recovered from thofe feelings he must be under from his recent lofs, he will bring on this bufinefs. It is a queftion of importance, and every gentleman fhould have time to confider it maturely. I do not know all the articles which are intended to come under the head of protecting duties. To afk it to be tacked to the money bill, is fuppofing it to be already paffed; the whole fubject must come before the Houfe before they can agree to it.

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Sir John Blaquiere.I recommend the confideration of this quef tion, and I would have it inveftigated with the greatest circumfpection, in a patient manner. The concourfe of people crowding your avenues are not to intimidate; the dignity of parlia

ment must be preserved. As to the manufacturers they deserve the attention and encouragement of parliament.

Mr. Curren.-I wish that no time fhould be loft in this business. Your ftarving manufacturers came here as fupplicants, not as rioters. I have fuch firm reliance on the humanity and integrity of the Right Hon. Gentlemen on the other fide, that I doubt not they will become their patrons; they fhould meet with the fupport of every man in this Houfe. The Right Hon. Gentleman will not be offended at its being brought on. It will not depend for protection on the abilities of an individual, but on the wildom and juftice of parliament. He confeffed, however, that he feared the defire he obferved in the gentlemen on the other fide of the House, to poftpone this great bufinefs, boded no good; for if it was deferred till after the recefs, he feared we fhould never hear more of it.

Mr. Pelham.-I rife to inform the Hon. Gentleman who enquires whether the committee will clofe before the fubject now under confideration be difcuffed, that fo far as it depends upon me and the gentlemen with whom I have the honour to co-operate, it fhall receive the fulleft and faireft investigation. Every bill laying a duty upon goods imported is a money bill, and confequently must go through the committee; and it is not my with either to precipitate the prefent business or to give it any delay. This anfwer I have given to-day to two corporations who applied to me on this fubject. But gentlemen fay, tack this to a money bill. If they fay this by way of threat, or as having any diffidence of his Majefty's minifters, let them fpeak out. The learned gentleman has faid, we might collect the meaning and neceflity of protecting duties from thofe who yesterday crowded about this Houfe-but I fay, parliament is the only place where I will receive information on this fubject-where I will debate.it, or where I will form my opinion.

Attorney General.-I do not mean to reply to what has been faid, but I think myself called upon to declare, that I hope to receive better information upon this fubject before I form my determination, than what has yet been offered. I will never receive any information, or comply with any defire of perfons who come to intimidate this houfe. I know how they were collected-I am not ignorant of the means that are used and I lament that I did not lait night move fome refolutions to fecure the most valuable privilege of parliament, the privilege of free debate. Į think it proper to fay this, left thefe deluded, mifguided poor people fhould imagine they could gain any thing by tumultFrom what has happened in parliament, they have every reason to believe that their caufe is in better hands in this houie, than with thofe who mislead them to our doors.

The House refumed.

The committee reported they had made fome progress, and requefted leave to fit again."

Mr. Daly moved that lifts may be given in, refpecting the voters on the Galway election.-Ordered.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 19, 1783.

The petition of Sir John Brown, complaining of an undue election for the county of Mayo, was withdrawn.

A committee in the ufual form was nominated to try the Leitrim election, viz.

Thomas Burgh, Efq;

Richard Nevill, Efq;
John Reily, Efq;
Ephraim Carrol, Efq;
Henry Vaughan Brooke, Efq;
Hon. Thomas Packenham,
Broderick Chinnery, Efq;
Rt. Hon. John Pomeroy,

Henry Pomeroy, Efq;
Hercules Rowley, Efq;
Henry Stewart, Efq;
Lord Kilwarlin,
Patrick Walsh, Efq;
John Hobfon, Esq;
Lord Henry Fitzgerald.

Mr. Ogle reported from the committee for trying the Dundalk election, that the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Jocelyn, and the Hon. Robert Jocelyn, were duly elected to represent the borough of Dundalk.

Mr. O'Hara moved for leave to bring in a bill for the more equal registering of freeholders. Leave granted, and a committee appointed to prepare the fame.

Mr. Corry faid that he had felt himself not kindly treated on two attempts that he had made, to bring forward an addrefs to his Majefty on the Prince of Wales having aufpiciously attained his one-and-twentieth year. On the last day, when a previous queftion was haftily put to preclude his motion, upon barely requefting that the Houfe would pay at leaft a decent civility to a motion, which was brought forward in a decent and parliamentary form, the Hon. General Luttrell stated, that an attack was thereby made on the privileges of parliament. I cannot but congratulate the Houfe, faid Mr. Corry, on the champion that has declared himself the protector of parliamentary privileges; the privilege of parliament is a fubject upon which the Hon. General has heretofore highly diftinguished himself, and his name upon that topic, will, I am convinced, never be forgotten. He has been equally remarkable for his attachment to the privilege of parliament, as to real and adequate reprefentation of the people, and though his ideas' of real and adequate reprefentation, might not perfectly agree with those of perfons now withing for a par

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