42 Agricultural Iinplcmcnta and Produce. 



of 20 per cent, ad valorem. But the sale of a single machine 

 was, of course, a most inadequate compensation for the trouble 

 and expense incident upon the Exhibition ; nothing more, how- 

 ever, was in view. The duty on the importation of machinery 

 was so high, that it amounted to a prohibition. It was not to be 

 expected, under such circumstances, that any great zeal or en- 

 thusiasm should prevail among the English machine-makers, 

 busy at that moment in preparation for the Carlisle show. Still, 

 when notice was given of the intended trials at Trappes, at a iew 

 days' warning only, several of the makers themselves came over, 

 bringing with them their workmen, and they appeared on the 

 ground ready to contend for the honour of victory, though victory 

 should be barren of all but honour. At the close of the day 

 their conduct through the trials drew from Count de Gasparin, 

 the president, these complimentary words : — " Your countrymen 

 have indeed set an example to all. They have brought good 

 implements, men to manage them, an interpreter to speak for 

 them, an engineer to advise with. Ttiis is the way in which 

 business should be done." 



An international exhibition, w^hich had broken down no bar- 

 riei's of prejudices or partial laws, which had ended without ex- 

 citing friendly sympathies, or promoting friendly intercourse, 

 would have been but a barren display. The enlightened French- 

 men with whom I had the good fortune to be associated were 

 the first to pronounce in favour of free exchange. Our class 

 agreed unanimously to make a representation to the Imperial 

 Government in favour of a reduction of the duty on foreign agri- 

 cultural machinery. The repi'esentation was successful : an 

 Imperial decree appeared in the Moniteur of September 7, 

 making a considerable reduction in the duty on many manufac- 

 tured articles, and specially reducing the duty on agricultural 

 machinery to 15f. per 100 kilogrammes. This duty being by 

 weight, 15f. per 100 kilogrammes (equal to 2 cwt.) operates un- 

 equally in different classes of machinery. 



On an iron plough, for instance, in which the weight of the 

 raw material, in comparison to workmanship, is considerable, 

 the duty will be something above 20 per cent, ad valorem. In 

 the more complicated machines, into which labour enters more 

 largely, as in drills, horse-hoes, &c,, the duty Avill be from 15 

 to 20 per cent, ad valorem. 



This concession was accepted with much satisfaction by our 

 machine-makers ; orders to some extent were received for ma- 

 chines. The barrier, at all events, which had hitherto stood 

 between the industry of the two countries was broken down, and 

 ground was laid for a trade which may be ripened and matured 

 into results of mutual benefit to both countries. 



