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Castlereagh: Volume 3
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187
OBSERVATIONS ON THE COMMERCIAL ARTICLE (6). The system is founded on the same principles as the propositions offered to Parliament in 1785, and therefore it will be sufficient to state the outline. It goes beyond the propositions, in advantage to Ireland, in some material points. The propositions were commercially approved by the House; the objection was on constitutional grounds. The object is to open the intercourse as much as possible, and it is to be lamented that the two countries cannot be at once so completely made one as that the Counties of Ireland should be like so many English Counties, and commerce be as free as within the same kingdom, owing to two obstacles, inequality of burdens, necessitating separate treasuries, and countervailing duties. Protecting Duties for Ireland. Perfect freedom of trade being an object to contend for, the exceptions to it ought to be as few as circumstances will admit, and the departure ought to cease as soon as the necessity ceases. The Article consists of six sections, viz.:— 1. The subjects and produce of either country are placed on an equal footing, as to encouragements and bounties. This secures British bounties on Irish linens, sail-cloth, exported for the Navy and merchant-ships. 2. All prohibitions and bounties to cease; and a perfect free export (corn excepted) gives Ireland all her raw materials, coal, bark, hops, tin, salt, alum, wool. England takes off the duty on salt and coals, also her prohibition from wool. Ireland takes off her duty on cattle, hides, contract wool, and linen. 3. Free import, except in the enumerated articles which have been selected as those upon which Ireland would require protective duty, to continue twenty years, the rate to be 10 per cent, ad valorem, or less, where the duty is now less. This
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secures to England for ever the perpetual free entry of her linens and provisions Provisions 2,099,261 Linens 2,600,000 £4,699,261 It also opens the English market to Irish goods. 4. The countervailing duties are merely to equalize with the internal duty paid on the same articles. 5. Goods of either country to be exported to the other, as if direct. 6. Foreign or Colonial goods to be imported through either country to the other, as if direct. Transit Trade. Effect on the Revenue. £ Loss on Imports... 32,398 Coals 17,000 Do. on Exportation 44,000 Equalization 7,166 East India 58,000 76,398 82,166
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