5 0 0 the lb. 0 16 0 5 0 0 Cloves Mace 20 0 0 0 1 0 the lb. the tun 8 80 the produce of or imported from any part of the the ton 2 10 0 the lb. 0 0 the lb. 0 2 the lb. 0 0 the lb. 0 0 Spirits, viz., liqueurs, the produce of and imported from not being of greater strength than the strength of - the gallon 09 for every gallon of such spirits, or strong waters, of not being spirits or strong waters the produce of any Spirits or strong waters, the produce of any British Spirits, or strong waters, the produce of any British 0 0 4 5 0 0 the oz. the oz. 0 2 6 Tails, viz. buffalo, bull, cow, or ox tails Tea the cwt. 1 0 0 Teak wood 0 15 0 Succades, the produce of, or imported from, any foreign country . the lb. 0 0 6 the cwt. Sweet wood, the produce of, or imported from, any foreign country the ton the cwt. the lb. the load 1 4 0 2 10 0 0 0 2 0 10 070 0 0 6 Teak wood, imported from any British possession within the load 0 0 1 the oz. the cwt. the produce of and imported from any British pos. session the cwt. Rice, rough, or paddy, the produce of the west coast of Africa, imported from a British possession on that coast Rice, rough in the husk, imported from the west coast of Africa Rosewood Tin Water, viz., mineral water 0 00 Wax, viz., bees' wax, unbleached, the produce of the TARIFF, (AUSTRIAN.)—Subjoined is the tariff of the import, export, and transit duties charged in the Austrian empire on some of the most important articles of trade and consumption. It came into operation on the 27th of February, 1838. The duties imposed by this tariff, though, in some instances, considerably lower than those formerly charged, are still, speaking generally, very heavy. The duty on cotton and woollen goods, for example, is 60 per cent. ad valorem; while that on coffee is 388. the English cwt., that on raw sugar for consumption, 32s. the cwt., and so forth. There is, in fact, a singular contradiction in the commercial policy of Austria; in some respects it is as liberal as could be wished for, while in others it is selfish and illiberal in the extreme. In all that respects ports and shipping, the legislation of Austria may be advantageously contrasted with that of almost any other nation. All articles are freely admitted into Trieste and Venice, and may be consumed in them, or warehoused and re-exported without being liable to any duty, the port charges being at the same time very reasonable. But the moment that it is attempted to introduce any article from a free port into the interior, it is loaded with oppressive duties, and subjected to vexatious regulations. These have been imposed in the view of protecting and encouraging domestic industry; but it is, perhaps, unnecessary to say that their effect in Austria, as in all other countries, has been precisely the reverse. Instead of trusting to their own exertions, and bringing the inexhaustible resources of science and ingenuity to their aid, the native producers, deprived of the stimulus of competition, depend for success on the efforts of the customs' officers to exclude foreign products, and to secure them a monopoly. There is, consequently, but little improvement. Every thing has about it an air of languor and routine. Most part, also, of the foreign products to be met with in the interior, have found their way there through clandestine channels. The mischievous influence of such a system is, indeed, too obvious to be disputed by any one not interested in its support. The recent modifications of the tariff, and the commercial treaty negotiated with this country, may, we hope, be regarded as the forerunners of still greater changes. A reduction of the duty on most foreign articles to a third or a fourth part of its present amount, would do more than any thing else to promote the industry of the empire, to stimulate commerce, and to increase the customs' revenue. Now that the navigation of the Danube is being opened, a reduction of this sort is more than ever necessary. The introduction of a taste for the productions of foreigners is of all others the most likely means by which the long dormant energies, and immense productive capacities of Hungary, Transylvania, and the other eastern provinces of the empire, may be stimulated and developed. Unluckily, however, the exist ing duties must either go far, by excluding foreign products, wholly to prevent the formation of such a taste in the countries referred to, or if they should be imported, it will only be in limited quantities, and through the agency of the smuggler. The latter derives employment and wealth from this vicious system; and were it intended for his advantage, it might be said to be well contrived, and the means judiciously adapted to bring about the desired end. But it is directly opposed to invention and industry; paralyses the manufactures it was intended to protect; and either annihilates all commerce, or makes it redound to the advantage only of those who trample on the laws. No system can be more completely at variance with the paternal intentions of the Austrian government; and its downfall may be expected the moment they become fully aware of its real nature and practical influence. The great drawback under which Austria labours, is the situation of by far the larger portion of her provinces in the central parts of Europe; and separated from the great markets for their produce, either by a wide tract of intervening country, or by high mountain ridges, Austria is naturally an agricultural country; and, unless compelled by circumstances to divert a portion of her energies to manufactures, will, no doubt, continue such for a lengthened period: and hence, as the products of agricultural industry are at once heavy and bulky in proportion to their value, the advantage of opening improved channels of communication with other countries. In this respect, the free navigation of the Danube is of much importance, though more stress has been laid upon it in this country than it probably deserves. The expense of carrying corn and timber from Hungary to the Black Sea, and thence to the ports of Western Europe, will, we apprehend, always be found too heavy to permit of England or France ever supplying themselves, at least to any considerable extent, with the corn, flax, or timber of Hungary or Transylvania. The cost of conveying produce from the interior of the continent to the nearest shipping ports, is a most important element, which is too generally lost sight of in this country. To show its influence, we may mention that, on the 28th of November, 1838, wheat sold at Lemberg, one of the principal markets of Galicia, for 15s. 2d. a quarter; when its price at Dantzic, on the 20th of the same month, was 41s. 6d.; the difference, amounting to 26s. 4d. a quarter, being occasioned by the difficulty and expense of conveying corn down the Vistula, from Lemberg to Dantzic. We may remark, by the way, that this fact sets in a very striking point of view the absurdity of the statements so frequently put forth in our newspapers, contrasting prices in this country with those in foreign markets, and ascribing their excess in England wholly to the influence of our corn laws. The Austrian government and people have long been alive to the many advantages that would result from opening a communication between Hungary and Fiume, and other ports on the Adriatic. And notwithstanding the obstacles opposed by the interposition of the Julian Alps, and other mountain ridges, an excellent road has been carried from Carlstadt to Fiume. Still, however, the expenses of the carriage of bulky products are too great to make this route sufficiently available; and the advantage of further improving and cheapening the communication is too obvious to need being pointed out. TABLE of Import, Export, and Transit Duties levied in the Austrian Empire on the following Articles, as modified by the late Imperial Ordinance in force from the 27th of February, 1838. Duty in English Money and Rates. Duty in Austrian Money and Rates. One Vienna pound = 1·235 lb. avoirdupois, hence the centner of 100 Vienna pounds = 123·5 or 123} lbs. avoirdupois. The Austrian florin of the standard of 20 to the Cologne mark, is almost exactly 2 shillings sterling. In the Lombardo Venetian kingdom, the centner of 100 kilogrammes is still the weight used in levying the duty, the difference between 100 kilogrammes 78.8 lbs. of Austria being allowed. TARIFF (RUSSIAN).-By comparing the following important document with the late tariff, it will be seen that nearly 100 articles that were formerly prohibited are now admitted under payment of duties; and that the duties on several articles that were formerly admitted have been materially reduced. The publication of this tariff is evidence that sounder and more enlarged opinions on commercial affairs have made their way into the cabinet of Petersburg. The duties on many imported articles are still, no doubt, quite oppressive; but it may be fairly presumed that the advantages resulting from the increased commerce which the present measure will certainly occasion, will most likely lead, and probably at no very distant period, to further relaxations. No European country possesses half the resources, or means of adding to her wealth and population, that are possessed by Russia; and nothing will do half so much to excite the industry of the people, and to make them avail themselves of the vast capacities of production within their reach, as the establishment of a liberal commercial system. Russia has already reaped very great advantages from her foreign trade; but they are trifling compared to what they would be, were she to renounce al! attempts prematurely to bolster up the finer descriptions of manufactures, and to allow her industry to be employed in preference in the numerous departments in which she is either equal or superior to others. Having by far the largest share of the foreign trade of Russia, it is pretty certain that the new tariff will be decidedly more advantageous to us than to any other foreign power. The Russian government was, no question, fully aware of this, and the concessions are on that account the more creditable to it. No one acquainted with the history of this country during the last half dozen years, can fail to know that a party amongst us have exerted themselves to the utmost to embroil the two countries; and have even gone so far, in furtherance of their object, as to establish journals apparently for the sole purpose of abusing and misrepresenting the government and people of Russia. We are not going to undertake the defence of that power, but we have yet to learn what she has done to injure us; and her conquests, how objectionable soever in some respects, have, in most instances, materially promoted the interests of commerce and civilisation. The Russian government has, however, acted wisely as well as magnanimously in despising the abuse alluded to. Instead of being enemies or estranged from each other, there are no two nations between whom so intimate a friendship ought to prevail as Russia and England. They have no really conflicting interests; she cannot injure us, nor we her. The products of the one country are admirably suited for the markets of the other; and a farther modification of protecting duties in Russia, accompanied, as it should be, by the adjustment of our regulations as to corn and timber on sound principles, would add prodigiously to the intercourse between the two countries, and establish it on foundations not to be shaken. TARIFF of the Articles of Foreign Merchandise, the Importation of which is permitted into Russia, and of various Articles the Duty upon which has been reduced or modified. Description of Merchandise. considered as non-transparent, or demi-transparent, and seeing the great difference in the custom house duties on these articles, it is ordained, that in the number of goods of this description, of which the duty on the non-transparent is fixed at 70 copecs, and on the transparent and demi-transparent at 2 roubles 20 copecs per lb., those shall be considered as non-transparent which, in the pound weight, contain less than 93 archines square; those, on the contrary, which contain more than 94, and not more than 12 archines square, shall pay rouble 40 copecs, instead of 2 roubles 20 copecs, in silver money, per lb. The minister of finance is furthermore authorised to make, during the year 1838, such changes as may, by the practice of the interval, appear necessary with regard to the contents of the weight of the above-mentioned articles, by giving the trading public due notice of his determination. He shall, besides, send to the custom-houses, and give them the necessary instructions upon the subject of the duties to be levied upon those goods which until now have been considered transparent, even when these objects cannot be assimilated to the above rule. [It is self-evident that this rule does not extend to the cotton goods, upon which a duty has been imposed of more than 70 copecs per lb. on the one description, and of 2 roubles 20 copecs per lb. on the other; nor upon those specifically mentioned, as tulles, pettinets, and lace of Turkish fabric, admit. ted exclusively into the ports of the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azof.] Import Duty. Rbis. Cps. per berkov. 1 per lb. 4 free. • per lb. Chalk Cheese Cork Cotton, hempen, and other wicks, for lamps or 0 candles Enamel-paintings upon enamel, except images 5034 Cotton Goods, and goods half cotton, mixed with Colours, for artists, with the wooden, tin, or papier mache boxes in which they are packed Stockings and nightcaps, coloured Cotton goods, dyed, of one colour, and embroi dered (those excepted which may be mentioned in another part of this tariff) Handkerchiefs of the same description All cotton goods, of various colours and designs, whether striped or woven, made up and em broidered, &c. (except those specially men. tioned elsewhere) Handkerchiefs of a similar description [Observations.-1. Nankins and all sorts of cotton and half cotton goods, woven and printed, whether transparent, non-transparent, or demi-transparent, with the exception of those hereinafter named, remain prohibited. 2. Turkish goods, up to this time prohibited or not named, are to be included in the list above mentioned. 3. As doubts often arise whether white cotton goods, when checked or striped, or otherwise similarly designed, are to be VOL. II.-3 F free. 1 50 Earthenware, white, or if one colour without gold 2 0 or silver design or border 2 0 50 Ditto, with gold or silver borders, ornaments, &c. ankers 1 20 1 60 6 C - per lb. 8 0 Ditto used by upholsterers, and that made use of in Import Duty. Rols. Cps. grafting trees White lead (English) and cremnitz Whalebone (fanons) Ditto, purified Ditto, worked Whips (coachmen's) Description of Merchandise. Handkerchiefs of a similar description to the above Tablecloths, napkins, and towels of linen; ditto with an admixture of cotton, white, coloured, flowered, woven, and embroidered Stocking and nightcaps, of hempen or flaxen thread, either of one or of many colours Ditto, embroidered [Observation.-Every other article of flaxen or hempen manufacture printed, with the exception of the above-mentioned, are still prohibited.] Galanga, in dust Groves, of cotton or demi-cotton, with threads of flax or hemp, white or coloured, woven or knit Similar gloves, embroidered Gloves of flax or hemp, white or coloured Ditto, embroidered Ditto of white silk, half silk, or a mixture of silk, woven or knit Ditto, coloured . Ditto, embroidered [Observation.-Chamois gloves are still prohi bited.] Ginger, whole or ground Gum elastic, in lumps or bladders Garnets, natural and artificial [Observation.-Mounted garnets are still prohi bited.] 0 Watches, pinchbeck, copper or plated Ditto, gilt ditto Woollen goods : Cloths, cassimeres, ladies' cloths, drapery, rat teens, &c., of black, blue-black, dark green, white, light blue, &c. Table covers, quilts, &c. Carpets, great and small, of woollen fabric or mixed with linen thread, hemp or cotton, with fringes sewed Cloths and woollen sacks used in pressing out oil [Observation.-Every description of printed woollen or half woollen goods, with the exception of those specifically mentioned, remain prohibited.] Wax tapers and all articles of white and coloured 3 0 50 50 per barrel of 9 lbs. I 20 • per lb. • per pood 4 Leathers, prepared skins of the elk and the stag Meerschaum, worked and mounted Macaroni and vermicelli of every description Machines containing any chemical inflammable matter, in cases, boxes with painted ornaments, or bronze, &c., the whole weighed together Marbles and porphyry, worked, without bronze or other ornaments Masks of every description Metals-copper moulds for the making of macaroni, vermicelli, and scent boxes - per lb. 1 1 4 - per pood 6 [Observation.-Moulds for macaroni and vermicelli, arriving with and making part of the appa. ratus for the manufacture, pass without paying duty.] per lb. The following articles are freed from the additional custom-house duty of 12 per cent.. imposed in conformity with the Ukase of the 11th of November, 1831: Cinnamon and cinnamon flowers; cocoa in beans; coffee; caraway seeds; cloves; cubebs, roots of; ginger; galanga, roots of; lace, blonds, tulles, &c.; metals, viz. lead, tin, and quicksilver; mace; nutmegs; pepper of every description, whole or ground; tea (Kirpitchnii, Lougan, and every sort of tea of inferior quality); vanilla. Besides the above, the seeds of turnips, rape, as well as of various oleaginous grains, which are not specifically mentioned in the tariff, and which are known only by their local names, such as sourepa, 0 rigey, &c., will be freed from all custom-house dues on exportation for a period of six years, commencing from the 1st of January, 1837. per bottle 0 40 General Rules. 1. The provisions of this tariff will begin to be put in force from the 1st January, 1837, and in the more remote custoin-houses to which they cannot be communicated by that period they shall come into operation from the day on which they shall have been received. 2. All imported goods that are specified in this tariff that may remain bonded at the custom-houses, and upon which the duty shall not have been paid up to the aforesaid 1st January, 1837, or to the Oday upon which this tariff shall have been received at those customhouses at which it may arrive later than that day, shall enjoy half the reduction of duty herein specified. In the same manner there shall be collected only one half the additional duty of 123 per cent. upon those species of merchandise from which it has been by a previous provision of this tariff altogether removed. With respect to 0 50 those species of goods, limited in their number, of which the import ation was already permitted, and of which, from peculiar considera tions, the duty was either altogether removed or recently modified, such of them as are allowed to remain bonded to the 1st of January next shall pay duty under the old tariff. On the other hand, such of these species of goods as may be imported after the 1st of January, shall be subject to the regulations of this tariff. In the meantime, 40 however, a discretion is vested in the Minister of Finance to admit 50 even this latter species of goods under the former regulations, when it shall be proved that their shipment took place previously to the 1st of January, or in ignorance of the change in the tariff. per chetvert 0 50 [Observation.-The importation by land is free of duty.] Paper of every description which is not specifically exempted in another part of the tariff Pearl, mother of, and imitation of per lb. - [If mounted in gold, silver, or other metal, they remain prohibited.] Pimento, English Pepper, Jamaica Ditto, white, black, or red, ground Pens, writing Riding whips, simple or mounted Slates Scent bags, of silk 10 - per pood 4 Scented waters of every description, in bottles of cut and polished crystal, with covers and stoppers of metal, and with ornaments in general, as well as in bottles not polished, but with moulded ornaments, the whole to be weighed together Skins of the American marten or rats Ditto, bears Ditto, tigers, panthers, lions, zebras, and leopards Ditto, lynx Ditto, musk rat. Sago, Indian Silk goods, either wholly silk or mixed with cotton, &c. not transparent, with coloured designs woven, embroidered, excepting those specially designated Silk, not transparent, interwoven with gold or silver threads, &c., except such as are specially designated [To this duty are assimilated silk goods of Turkish manufacture, the entrance of which was for merly prohibited.] Silk handkerchiefs, white or coloured, not transpa rent, excepting those specifically named Ditto, flowered or embroidered Ditto, with gold or silver threads Ditto, table covers, &c. Ditto, nightcaps, coloured and flowered Ditto, ditto, and stockings, embroidered Ditto, carpets [Every sort of silken manufacture not included in the above, as well as the ribbons of orders of nobility, are prohibited.] Ditto, tale Tooth picks of every description 40002AA 1 4. The additional duty of 12 per cent., from which the abovementioned articles have been freed, will not be levied upon mer. chandises of the same description hereafter admitted to importation in a raw state. On the contrary, until a new disposition shall be made, it will be collected upon all the other merchandises comprised in the present tariff, with the exception, however, of those customO houses in which the collection of this duty has not taken place at all. 0 80 5. Merchandises, the importation of which is permitted by the O present tariff, shall be admitted upon the payment of the duty at O those custom-houses at which articles of the same kind have hitherto paid duty. Merchandise hereafter admitted may be imported through 0 15 all the custom-houses of the first class. 6. The operation of this tariff is confined to those merchandises of which the duty is levied under the European tariff; and amongst the objects of the Asiatic tariff only to tea of a peculiar description, Congou and others of inferior quality. 7. Merchandises, the importation of which is permitted to the Trans-Caucasian Provinces by the Black Sea at a lower duty than that imposed by the present tariff, shall pay in the said provinces the same duty as before." 8. In the Trans-Caucasian Provinces every species of cotton manufacture, non-transparent and half-transparent, shall remain subject to the same duty as heretofore. 9. The fifth of the customs' duty levied at Odessa, for the benefit of that town, will be collected conformably to former regulations. But the duty of all merchandises passing into the interior of the O empire through the custom-houses about Odessa, shall be paid under the provisions of the present tariff, beginning from the 1st of Janu ary, 1837. 0 10. With respect to merchandises, the importation of which, 0 hitherto prohibited, is henceforth permitted, and which shall be seized as contraband after the publication of the present tariff, they shall be dealt with as goods permitted, but fraudulently imported. 11. It is left to the Minister of Finance to give instruction, such as may be deemed proper, to the custom-houses respecting the deduction from the duty on account of tare. per pood 2 822233 12. Any question that may arise upon the construction of this tariff shall be referred for decision to the Minister of Finance. The original is signed by the President of the Council of the Em. Q pire. |