less to those branches of industry which minister to the wants of the great mass of people, the supply of the home market to awaken industry, and in so far as natural circumstances are compatible with independence of foreign countries, to secure this independence, may possibly and partially, according to circumstance, or perhaps with preponderating advantage, attain this end; but never will a means be found to place a country in a situation to continue to sell more, and to import less from foreign countries. : If, notwithstanding the increasing restrictions during a course of years, the exports from France have, on the whole, thereby increased; such is a phenomenon we have also observed in other countries but the imports have increased, as well as the exports, and, in fact, in a much more uniform proportion than the Customs' lists show. The general increase of foreign trade in almost ́all countries proves only thus much, that the increase of productions was still greater than the influence of the restrictions, and it is particularly the extraordinary increase in the use of the productions of foreign parts with which the increase of European exportation in general is connected. In so far, however, as the limitation of the imports attains the nearest aim proposed, its direct influence on exportation will not fail to take effect, and will, in fact, exist, though it cannot be specially pointed out in the grand result of many crossing causes. There can be no doubt in particular, that the restrictions imposed on the import of German products into France have had an injurious re-action upon the export of French wines, and impeded in foreign markets the competition of her industry with the industry of other countries. Now, people are thinking again, as in England, of a return to the principles of freedom: they wish, however, not to be too hasty; with due consideration for contending interests, they aim only at a gradual introduction of the reforms demanded by the common welfare: this is, in principle, good: but, in holding back, they may miss the right measure and aim. All that has happened latterly, or that is announced as at hand, appears to us, indeed, as well for Germany as for Great Britain, quite unimportant; while from all attempts and all explanations that have been made, it is more and more manifest that the facilitating of the trade with Germany is far more urgent and less difficult than an understanding with Great Britain; and that this must even be considered as conditional upon the lowering of many heavy duties upon German productions. The removal of the prohibitions, which has been, in part, already accomplished, and is in part only in prospect, with relation to very fine woollen goods, lace made of any other material than silk, and prepared by the hand at the spindle, Cachemere not produced in Europe, Indian pocket and neck handkerchiefs, watches, scented leather, and other less important articles, is of no benefit to German industry. The diminution of duties, which has been already made to facilitate the introduction of many productions of nature, or is in contemplation, is likewise unimportant. The Corn Laws, which change in a reverse ratio to the prices, are to remain in force. The contemplated duty on mineral waters, in stone bottles, at 1fl. the 100 kilogrammes, is, indeed, moderate; but, as far as I know, it has not come into operation. The proposed diminution of the duty on fat cattle is inconsiderable. On all kinds of horned cattle, 7 centimes; on wethers, rams, sheep, and lambs, 12 centimes are to be paid; on the kilogramme of the weight of the live beast, nevertheless, the duty per head never exceeds of the existing duties (50 francs and 10 per cent additional on an ox). Swine weighing 50 kilogrammes and more are to be taxed 12 francs; under 50 and above 15 kilogrammes, 6 francs; and under 15 kilogrammes, 50 centimes. According to the diminution of duties already in operation, uncombed raw wool is burdened with a duty of 20 (of the existing duty) and combed wool, with 30 per cent of the value, together with the tithe. The ordonnance which enacts this reduction has moderated the duties upon a number of other articles, viz., flax, sulphur, green vitriol, copper in bars, and sheet ivory, mother of pearl, gallnuts, shumac, dyeing woods, Prussian blue, lake, indigo, &c. These diminutions correct, it is true, in favour of French industry, solitary mistakes in the former regulations; but they still leave, on many of the above-named articles, very high duties; (as, for instance, on lake, 50, 75, and 100 fr. the metrical cwt.; on Prussian blue, 150 frs.: on indigo, 50 centimes to 2 frs, the kilogramme ;) and cannot, on the whole, judging by the choice of the objects, be considered as a very favourable step towards the facilitation of the trade with Germany. Among the articles, the import of which has been facilitated by a reduction of the duties, we find but one which does not appertain to the requisites for manufacturing industry, and which is of any importance namely, engravings on copper, lithographic works, and music, which are relieved from the additional duty of five per cent of the value, but are still burdened with a fixed duty of 349 frs, 25 centimes (including the tithe) the 100 kilogrammes. Among the projects which in 1834 were laid before the Chambers, we find even proposals for raising the duties; viz., a proposal of laying a duty of 50 frs. on raw sample linen yarn, of 70 frs. on raw twisted, of 90 frs. on bleached and coloured simple, and 150 frs. on coloured twisted yarn, per metrical cwt. If it was gratifying not to find this rise in the Tariff of last summer, on the other hand, when we cast a glance over the natural commercial relations between the two countries, and the influence which the French Tariff has upon the occasional condition of its own land, it is certainly to be lamented in the common interests of the two countries, that the high duties, more especially upon the raw materials, which Germany has to offer, should be continued. We ask what advantage has France derived from the extension of the restrictive regulations on raw German materials? What sacrifice has she to weigh against the advantages she would derive from the removal of these regulations? We find an answer to this question which the Minister of Trade laid before the Chamber of Deputies. VOL. IV.NO. XXXIII. T T After mentioning that no duty on cattle existed before 1816, and that the duty imposed in the year 1822, when the prohibitive system was developed in all its strength, was raised from 3 fr. to 50 fr., he continues in substance as follows: "We must acknowledge that this was an extraordinary step. Still the duty was far from producing the effects which had been expected from it. It weighed, on the contrary, in many provinces, with severe cruelty. The price of cattle did not sensibly increase; foreign importation continued in about the same proportion. The reason of this is quite clear. The northern department, which drew their supply of cattle from Belgium; the eastern department, which received their's from Baden and Switzerland, continued to import them from these countries; and paid the duty, high as it was, because they could not supply their wants from Normandy or Saintonge. The duty, therefore, was an oppressive burden on certain provinces, without affording a countervailing advantage to the others." What grounds can one have for giving the slightest support to a measure on which such a judgment is pronounced? An artificial revenue has been created for one class of producers, whilst, on a great portion of the German market, the price of cattle has increased far beyond the duty, which was to be expected as the result of the free competition with the German cattle trade. But it is a mistake to look upon such an artificial rise in the price as a general advantage, even for the agricultural classes. The more opulent proprietor may derive his advantage from it; the far more numerous class, which does not possess the means of providing for the future, is oppressed by a rise in the price of cattle, by the difficulty of purchasing them. It is known, that in many parts this useful instrument of agriculture represents in the hands of the less opulent classes a passive capital, which but too frequently forms in the contracts for cattle the object of mischievously usurious transactions for the great majority of the smaller landed proprietors. Instead of rendering the acquisition |