] 830.] Increase of Consumption and Revenue. 667 



lative quantities of British spirits and rum consumed in the United King- 

 dom during 1829, and the difference of duty levied on each : 

 British Spirits. Rum. 



Gallons. s. d. Gallons. s. d. 



In England . . . 7,700,766 at 7 duty 3,302,143 at 8 6 duty 

 Scotland . . . 5,777280 2 10 152,461 8 6 



Ireland .... 9,212,223 2 10 21,262 8 6 



It thus appears, that the effect of a triple duty on rum in the latter 

 countries, has been to prevent its consumption almost entirely ! The 

 gross injustice of this regulation at a time when, owing to the restric- 

 tions imposed by the mother country, no other efficient market is open, 

 is too palpable to require any comment. The supply of these liquors 

 for consumption in the United Kingdom during the said year, would, 

 if divided into 100 equal parts, be 



22,718,150 galls, by the United Kingdom, equal to 85.75 parts 

 3,775,866 do. Rum by the Colonies, do. 14.25 



Total 26,494,016 gallons equal to 100 parts 



It thus appears that the quantity of rum consumed in the United 

 Kingdom, including the whole supply to the navy, is not a sixth part of 

 the spirits furnished by the British and Irish distillers. The latter 

 complain that they cannot produce proof spirit on the same terms as the 

 West Indians ; and that the proposed regulation of duty, whereby corn 

 spirit would pay 8,?. in England, and 3.9. the gallon in Scotland and 

 Ireland, whilst rum remained at a duty of 8*. 6d. y the additional 6d. paid 

 on the latter is not a sufficient protection to the British distiller. 



The West Indians, on the other hand, assert that they are subject to 

 the expense of a cask for every 100 gallons; and to heavy freight, 

 leakage, and charges equal to about Is. < 2d. the gallon, all which is saved 

 to the distillers of the United Kingdom ; and that rum with all the ex- 

 penses that attach to it before it can be offered for sale in the British 

 market, costs more than British spirits ergo, that no protective duty 

 for the latter is necessary ! 



The British distiller further complains of the regulations imposed 

 upon them by the excise laws. But when we look back to the ma- 

 noeuvres practised for the last thirty or forty years, we can scarcely 

 sympathise with them. We have even heard, some years ago, of ta- 

 lented officers of excise, who, contrary to their pecuniary interests, 

 solicited to be employed at a distance from a large distillery, on the 

 plea that their health was not adequate to the constant vigilance and 

 anxiety necessary for the protection of the revenue. Were we asked 

 what disposition on the part of the distillers rendered the task so difficult? 

 we would refer to the excise records, and to some of our northern friends, 

 for a solution of the question ! 



We have been a good deal amused by the inflated vituperation, and 

 ignorance of their own interests, displayed by the Irish demagogues and 

 writers on this question. Do these gentlemen know, that against the 

 trifling quantity of 21,000 gallons of rum, for which, taking it at 1*. Qd. 

 the gallon, they pay the West Indians the enormous sum of about 1825/. 

 the latter take in return, Irish beef, pork, butter, and hams to the extent 

 of two or three hundred thousand pounds, and linens to the value of about 

 one hundred and thirty thousand pounds annually ? And that the whole 

 foreign exports of Ireland last year amounted to 763,0007., three-fifths 

 of which, viz. to the value of 428,000/. went direct to the British West 



4Q2 



