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done by acting on liberal principles, and with a view to the common interest of the alliance.

Besides, if any of the existing duties be exorbitant, or if any of them, that are at present moderate, should be subsequently raised to an exorbitant pitch; does any one suppose that the over-taxed articles would not be immediately smuggled into all parts of the league? We, who occupy an island, and have revenue cruisers and coast guards on all the seas and shores most accessible to the smuggler, know from experience that it is not possible to hinder over-taxed commodities from making their way, in immense quantities, into our markets. But the facilities for smuggling into the territories of the league are incomparably greater. It has a land frontier of several thousand miles: and though the whole Prussian army were employed for that purpose, it would be found that it was utterly impotent to prevent the territories of the league from being deluged with such over-taxed commodities as were in demand by the inhabitants.

It must be admitted that we have done not a little to provoke Prussia, and that we had no reason to be surprised had she manifested symptoms of irritation. She has only three great staple articles of export-corn, timber, and wool. Now, of these, we admit only the last on anything like fair terms; in ordinary years we entirely exclude corn, and we lay a duty of no less than 25s. and 32s. a load on Prussian timber, while we admit the inferior timber of N. America on payment of a duty of 18. and 28.! Had, therefore, the Prussian tariff been levelled against us, we should have had but slender grounds for complaint; but such is not really the case. It may, indeed, be fairly inferred, that, by agreeing to lower the oppressive duties on timber and corn, we might prevail on Prussia to use her influence to get the alliance duties on cotton stuffs, hardware, &c. abated; but, till we consent to moderate our duties on the articles in question, it is not to be supposed that Prussia will pay much attention to the exceptions we may take to any of the duties.

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We are glad to be able to strengthen our view of the influence and objects of the Prussian commercial league, by laying before the reader the following extract from a work printed by order of the House of Representatives of the American States. "Prussia," it is there said, 'has evidently taken the lead in this wise and important measure, to which the smaller states have gradually acceded. The whole commercial policy of this enlightened power has been distinguished for its liberality, being founded on the desire of placing her intercourse with all nations on the basis of reciprocity. The commercial league of Germany is intended to carry out this principle, and not to be directed, as has been supposed, against any particular nation; as it is well known that Prussia, in her treaties with maritime powers, has invariably adopted the system of reciprocity, to whatever extent those with whom she negotiates are willing to carry it. The establishment of this community of commercial interests forms a part of the fundamental compact, by which the new Germanic confederation was created, after the dissolution of the Confederation of the Rhine; to be subsequently adopted, however, at the option of such of the co-states as should choose to accede to it. Its effects cannot fail to promote commerce, and every other branch of industry, as it removes all those vexatious and endless difficulties which previously obstructed the freedom of intercourse. Navigable rivers and highways are now opened to the unfettered use of the German people; the custom and toll houses, with their officers and barriers, have been withdrawn from the interior, and the whole intercommunication resembles that of the subjects of any one of the states within its own territories. To these benefits may be added the assured prospect of improvement in the finances of the great and smaller sovereignties composing the league. This advantage will grow out of the simplicity or unity of the new system, a saving in the cost of collection, and from the increased consumption which renovated industry and progressive prosperity so invariably cause." — (Digest of Customs Laws, vol. iii. p. 227.)

Prussian Duty on Cottons. The duty on cotton goods being that in which we are most interested, we have taken some pains to ascertain its real influence. This duty amounts (see post) to 50 rix-dollars per Prussian quintal on all cotton goods, without respect to quality or price; and, taking the quintal at 113 lbs. avoirdupois, and the rixdollar at 3s., it is equal to 74. 10s. per 113 lbs. Now, we have learned from statements obligingly furnished to us by a large wholesale house in the city,

1st. That a quintal (113 lbs.) of coarse shirting, worth 4d. per yard, contains 497 yards; it consequently costs 81. 68., and the Prussian or tariff alliance duty of 77. 10s. on it is, therefore, equivalent to an ad valorem duty of 90 per cent.

24. That a quintal of superior shirting, worth 1s. a yard, contains 457-65 yards; it consequently costs 221. 178. 7d., making the Prussian duty on such goods 324 per cent.

3d. That a quintal of printed cottons, worth 1s. 6d. a yard, contains 633 yards; it consequently costs 471. 98., making the Prussian duty on such goods 153 per cent.

4th. That a quintal of fine printed cottons, worth 2s. 6d. a yard, contains 678 yards; it consequently costs 847. 15s., making the Prussian duty on such goods 85 per cent.

It is plain, therefore, that, except on the coarsest and cheapest species of goods, the

Prussian or tariff alliance duty is very far from being oppressive; and, as the value of coarse goods is principally dependent on the cost of the raw cotton and the wages of labour, being but little influenced by superiority of machinery, it is not very probable that we should export them largely to Prussia, even were the duty materially reduced. No doubt, however, it would conduce greatly to the interests of the people comprised within the league, though we do not know that it would sensibly affect us, were the duty assessed on an ad valorem principle, and made 20 or 30 per cent. on all goods; and we should think that this might be done without any material difficulty.

The subjoined translation of the more important clauses of the customs treaty of the 22d of March, 1833, sets the principles on which the alliance is founded in the clearest point of view.

Customs Treaty, concluded the 22d March, 1833, between the Kings of Bavaria and Wirtemberg, on the one part; and the King of Prussia, the Prince Electoral Co-regent of Hesse, and the Grand Duke of Hesse, on the other part.

I. The existing customs unions between the states above named shall henceforth constitute a general Union, united by a common system of customs and commerce, embracing all the countries comprised

therein.

II. In this general re-union are also comprised the states which have already adhered, either for the whole of their territory, or for a part, to the system of customs and commerce of one or other of the contracting states, having regard to their special relations, founded upon the conventions of adhesion concluded

with the states which have intervened.

III. But there will remain excluded from the general re-union the parts separated from the countries of the contracting states which, because of their situation, are not yet included either in the re-union of the Bavarian or Wirtemberg customs, nor in those of Prussia and Hesse. Nevertheless, the regulations now in force to facilitate the commerce of these territories with the principal country will be maintained. Other favours of this kind cannot be accorded without the unanimous consent of the contracting

states.

IV. In the contracting states there shall be established uniform laws for the duties of import, of export, and of transit, except such modifications as, without injury to the common object, result necessarily from the particular legislation of each contracting state, or from local interests.

Thus, exceptions and modifications to the common tariff may take place, as to rates of duties of entry, of export, and of transit, (according as the direction of the routes of commerce may require,) established upon articles recognised as of minor consequence in extensive commerce; provided always, that these modifications be preferred by separate states, and that they shall not be disadvantageous to the general interests of the Association.

The administration of the duties of import, export, and transit, as well as the organisation of the authorities which are engaged therein, in all the states of the Association, shall be established upon a uniform footing, having regard, however, to the particular relations existing in those countries. The laws and ordinances which, according to those principles, ought to be uniform in the contracting states, and which are to constitute the law of the tariff and the regulations of the customs, shall be considered as an integral part of the present treaty, and shall be published at the same time.

V. There can neither be alterations, or additions, or exceptions, to the acts above mentioned (Art IV.), but by the unanimous consent of all the contracting parties, and in the form required for the making (confection) of the laws.

The preceding applies equally to all the ordinances which would establish, for the administration of the customs, dispositions entirely different.

VI. Liberty of commerce, and community of the receipts of customs, as regulated by the following article, will commence simultaneously with the operation of the present treaty.

VII. Dating from this epoch, all duties of import, of export, and of transit shall cease on the common frontier of the Bavaro-Wirtemberg and Prusso-Hessian customs re-unions. All articles of free commerce in one of those territories may be imported freely and without duty into all the others, except only as follows:

A. Articles monopolised by the states (playing cards and salt) conformably to Articles IX. and X. B. Indigenous articles, now subject in the interior of the contracting states to different duties, or excepted from all duty in one state, and imported into another, and which according to article II. ought consequently to be subject to a duty of compensation.

Finally, C. Articles which, without prejudice to patent rights or conceded privileges in one of the contracting states, cannot be imitated or imported, and ought consequently to be excluded during the existence of the patents and privileges from importation into the state which has granted them.

VIII. Notwithstanding the freedom of commerce, and the exemption from duties, established by Article VII., the transport of articles of commerce, subject by the common tariff to duties of import or export on the frontiers of the Association, cannot take place between the states of Bavaria and Wirtem. berg, and the states of Prussia, of Electoral Hesse, or of Grand Ducal Hesse, and reciprocally, except by the public roads, military routes, and navigable rivers. For this purpose there shall be established, on the interior frontiers, common bureaus of verification, to which the conductors of merchandise must, on exhibiting their licences, declare what are the articles which they are employed to transport from one territory to another.

This disposition will not be applicable to retail commerce in raw materials, nor to the petty commerce of the frontiers or the fairs, nor to the effects of travellers. Process for the verification of merchandise will go no farther than is required for security of the duties of compensation. (See Art. VII. B.)

XIII. The contracting parties reciprocally renew their adhesion to the principle, that the tolls, or other charges in lieu thereof, shall only be sufficient to defray the expense of maintenance and repairs of the roads; whether the tax be for the state or for private rights. It was thus that has been approved the supplement to the duty of customs, created in Bavaria and Wirtemberg, to replace the duty of tolls, paving, causeways, bridges, and generally of all analogous taxes.

The tolls, &c. now existing in Prussia, according to the general tariff of 1828, shall be considered as the highest rates, and shall not be exceeded in any of the contracting states.

In accordance with the principle thus announced, the individual duty for closing the gates of cities shall be abolished; as also the duty of paving of causeways, where it still exists; and all paved roads will be considered as causeways of a description. liable only to the duty on causeways established by the general tariff.

XIV. The contracting governments agree to unite their efforts to introduce into the states a uniform system of coins, weights, and measures; to commence immediately the requisite negotiations for this purpose; and, subsequently, to direct their efforts towards the adoption of uniform custom-house weights.

The contracting states, in the impossibility of establishing this uniformity before this treaty goes into operation, agree, for facilitating the forwarding of merchandise where it has not already been done, to revise their tariff as to weights and measures, assuming for a basis the tariffs of the other contracting

states. They will cause such modifications to be published, for the government of the public and of their custom-house bureaus.

The common tariff (Art. IV.) shall be divided into two principal divisions, according to the system of weights, measures, and monies of Bavaria, and that of Prussia.

The declaration of the weights and measures of articles subject to duty shall, in Prussia, be according to Prussian weights and measures; in Bavaria and Wirtemberg, according to those of Bavaria; and in the two Hesses, according to the weights and measures there legally established.

In expediting custom-house acts, the quantity of merchandise must be expressed according to the two principal divisions of the common tariff.

Until the contracting states agree upon a system of common money, the payment of duties in each state shall be made in the same currency as is in use for payment of its other taxes.

But, from the present time, the gold and silver coins of all the contracting states, with the exception of small money (sheidemunze), shall be received in all the bureaus of receipt of the Association; and for this purpose, tables of value shall be published.

XV. The duties of navigation upon the rivers, comprising therein those which apply to vessels, shall always be mutually acquitted according to the acts of the Congress of Vienna, or of special conventions, upon all the rivers to which these regulations apply, unless other determinations be adopted in this

respect.

The contracting states agree to enter, without delay, into negotiations for that which particularly regards the navigation upon the Rhine and the neighbouring streams, in order to effect an arrangement by which the import, export, and transit of the productions of all the states of the Union upon said streams shall be, if not absolutely free, at least relieved as far as possible from duties of navigation, under the reserve of charges of reconnoissance.

All the advantages granted by one state of the Union to its subjects, in the exercise of the navigation upon said streams, shall extend equally to the navigation of the other associated states.

Upon the other streams to which neither the acts of the Congress of Vienna, nor any other treaties apply, the duties of navigation shall be according to the special regulations of the governments interested. Nevertheless the subjects of the contracting states, their merchandise and vessels, shall throughout be treated on those streams with perfect equality.

XVI. Dating from the day on which the general custom-house regulations of the Union shall come into operation, the duties of public stores (étapes), and of trans-shipments (umschlagnechte), which still exist in the territories belonging to the Association, shall cease, and no one shall be liable to forced delay, nor to the discharging and storage of his merchandise, except in cases authorised by the common regulations of the customs or navigation.

XVII. No duties shall be claimed for canals, locks, bridges, ferries, cranes, weighing and storage; and the establishments destined to facilitate commerce shall not be allowed rent, except when actually used. Charges cannot be increased; and the subjects of the other contracting states shall be on a perfect equality with the subjects of the country having those establishments.

If the establishments for weighing and cranes are only used by the custom-houses, no charge shall be made, if the articles have been previously weighed at a custom-house.

XVIII. The contracting states engage to continue their common efforts for the encouragement of industry by the adoption of uniform regulations, so that the subjects of each state may enjoy, as extensively as possible, the privilege of seeking work and occupation in every other state.

From the coming into operation of the present treaty, the subjects of any one of the contracting states, trading or seeking employ in the territory of any other of those states, shall not be subject to any impost which does not equally affect the native similarly employed. Manufacturers and merchants who are only making purchases for their trade, or travellers who have not goods with them, but simply patterns for the purpose of soliciting commissions, shall not, when thus employed, have any duty to pay in another state, if authorised to carry on such commerce in the state where they have their domicile, or if employed in the service of native manufacturers or merchants.

When trading in the markets and fairs, or when they are selling the produce of the soil and fabrics, in any one of the states of the Association, the subjects of the other contracting states shall be treated in all respects as subjects of the same states.

XIX. The seaports of Prussia shall be open for commerce to all the subjects of the states of the Union, on payment of the same duties as are paid by Prussian subjects, and the consuls of the several states in the seaports or places of foreign commerce, shall be bound, in cases of need, to assist with their advice and support the subjects of the other contracting states.

XX. To protect against contraband their common custom-house system, and to insure the regular payment of the duty of consumption in the interior, the contracting states have concluded a reciprocal cartel, which shall be enforced as soon as possible, but, at the farthest, at the same time with the present treaty.

XXI. The community of receipts of the contracting states, stipulated by the present treaty, shall comprehend the product of duties of entry, of export, and of transit, in the Prussian states, the kingdoms of Bavaria and Wirtemberg, the Electorate, and the Grand Duchy of Hesse, comprising therein those countries which have down to the present time acceded to the custom-house system of the contracting states.

The following are excluded from the community of receipts, and remain reserved for the particular benefit of the respective governments:

1. The imposts collected in the interior of each state on indigenous products, comprising therein the compensatory duties reserved in Article XI.

2. The toll on rivers, to which are applicable the regulations of the acts of the Congress of Vienna, or special conventions. (Article XV.)

3. Duties of paving, of causeways, of bridges, of ferries, of canals, of locks and ports, charges of weighing and storage, as well as similar receipts, whatever may be their name.

4. The tines and confiscations which, beyond the part allowed to informers, remain the property of each government throughout its territory.

XXII. The produce of the duties received into the common treasury shall be divided among the states of the Association, in proportion to the population which may be found in the Union, subject to deduction, 1st, of the expenses specified in Article XXX.; 2d, of the restitution of erroneous receipts; 3d, of the restoration of duties and diminutions made in consequence of special common conventions.

The population of every state which has entered or may enter into the Association, by treaty with one or other of the contracting states, under the engagement made by the latter, to make an annual contribution, for the participation of the former to the common revenue of the customs, shall be added to the population of the states which make this contribution.

There shall be made every three years, dating from a period to be hereafter fixed, an exact enumera tion of the population of the associated states: the states shall reciprocally communicate the results

thereof.

XXIII. All restitutions of duties not authorised by the legislation of the customs, shall remain charged to the treasury of the government which shall have granted it.

Conventions, hereafter to be concluded, will regulate in what cases similar restitutions may be

accorded.

XXIV. In conformity with the object of this association of customs tending to facilitate a freer and more natural commercial intercourse, the favours accorded for the payment of custom-house duties at certain places in which fairs are held, especially the privileges of abatement (rabat privilegien), cannot be extended to those states of the Association where they do not exist; on the contrary, they shall be

restricted and abolished as far as possible, regard being had to the means of subsistence of the places heretofore favoured, and to the commercial relations which they have with foreigners; but others can on no account be granted without the general consent of the contracting parties.

XXXIII. There shall every year, on the 1st day of June, be an assembly of plenipotentiaries of the governments of the Union empowered generally to deliberate; and each state may send thither a duly authorised representative.

The plenipotentiaries will choose from among themselves a president, who, however, shall have no pre

eminence over the other members.

The first assembly shall be held at Munich.

At the close of each annual assembly, the place of next meeting will be determined, having reference to the nature of those subjects which will then come under discussion.

XXXIV. The assembly of plenipotentiaries will have under its consideration the following subjects:

A. To consider the complaints which may have arisen in any of the states of the Association, concerning the execution of the general treaty, of special conventions, of the law, and of custom-house regulations; also of the tariff, when these shall not have been adjusted during the year by correspondence between the different ministers.

B. The definitive reparation among the states of the Union of the total common receipts, based upon the observations made by the superior authorities, and verified by the central bureau, as may be rendered necessary by the common interest.

C. To deliberate upon propositions and suggestions made by the governments for the perfection of the administration.

D. Discussions upon alterations demanded by any of the contracting states, in the laws, tariffs, and custom-house regulations, as well as in the organisation of the administration, and in general upon the development and perfection of the general system of customs and commerce.

XXXV. If, in the course of the year, when the plenipotentiaries are not in session, extraordinary incidents should occur, which require prompt decision on the part of the states of the Union, the contracting parties will consult upon these through their diplomatic agents, or they will order an extra sitting of their plenipotentiaries.

ROYAL TARIFF OF THE PRUSSIAN STATES, AND OF THE GERMAN CUSTOMS UNION.
the 1st January, 1843.

To be in force from

I. Articles not liable to any Duty

Trees for transplantation, and vines; bee-hives with live bees; blood of slaughtered cattle, both in a liquid and dry state; gas of brandy (hogwash); animal and other sorts of manure; egs; clay and ore, not specifically charged with duty, as bolus, pumicestone, bloodstone, brownstone, plaster, yellow clay, &c; agricultural produce, and cattle of an estate separated by the frontier; fresh fish and crabs; grass, fodder, and hay; fresh garden produce, as, flowers, vegetables, succory (not dried), potatoes and turnips, eatable roots, &c.; poultry, and small game of every kind; potters' ore (alquifoux); gold and silver, coined, in bars and fragments, excluding foreign small coin of silver; furniture and effects, worn clothes and linen, tools that have been used by individuals settling in the country; also, by particular permission, new clothes, linen, and effects, if they belong to persons settling in the country through marriage; wood (both for fuel and timber), if transported by land and not destined for shipping; copse wood and brooms, and willow for baskets; travellers' and seamen's clothes and linen, and travellers' carriages, waggons, and boats for transporting persons and goods, furniture of vessels, and provisions used for travelling; instruments, and patterns carried by travellers for their own use only; peat and tan for fuel); milk; fresh fruit; paper chippings and written papers (deeds, waste paper, &c.); seeds of forest trees, shave

grass, reeds for rooffing, &c. refuse wool; stones, hewn and rough, chalk, slate, tiles and bricks, mill and grindstones transported by land, and not destined for shipping; straw, chaff, cut straw; all kinds of animals for which no duty is mentioned in the tariff; turf and charcoal; husks of grain and of grapes.

II. Articles which are liable to Duty on Importation or
Exportation.

Fifteen silver groschen, or half a dollar, is the general duty on importation for one quintal (hundred weight) Prussian gross weight; and no further tax on consumption is levied in the country, nor then when the article is exported.

Exceptions, however, occur with all articles, which either, according to the preceding regulations, are entirely exempt from duty, or, according to the following sections, are liable to duty; as

Articles subject to a higher or lower import duty than half a dollar for one quintal; or,

Articles subject to a duty on exportation.

The following are those articles on which the affixed duties are levied :

[We subjoin a note of the duties imposed on some of the principle articles of import. *]

The Prussian dollar, of 30 silver groschen, is equal to about 2s. 11d. sterling; but in estimating duties it is usually taken at 38. The quintal or centair of 110 lbs. is equal to 113,381 lbs.

avoirdupois.

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