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    1108 THE LEADER. [No.. 497* Oct. 1, 1859

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    +- , FEANCI. Thursday, 6-30 p.m. The Uni...

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  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

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    Glancing leisurely over many of the other articles charged with duty—customs that would be more honoured in the breach than the observance—we come upon the wonderful article of " bond fide . nutmegs . " There was once a great outcry as to the meaning of a bond fide traveller , and the Latin part of the phrase has been worn somewhat threadbare of late ; but a bond fide nutmeg 1 is an entirely new and Custoin-house-ereated vegetable . It arises from the many rates of duty to which this simple product l

    is subjected . First come < nutmegs , except those commonly called wild , " which are weighted with a duty of one shilling per pound . If they are " wild in shell / ' this is reduced to threepence ; but if they are " wild and not in the shell , " this is again increased to fivepence ; and once more to a shilling , if they are " ground , mixed , or spiced . " " Note . —Nutmegs are not to be delivered at the low rates of duty , except such as are bond fide wild nutmegs . " Noble , heroic country ! and all this for less than £ 10 , 000 a-year ! the tariff is the article of

    Another flower of musical boxes , —about as productive as nutmegs , and assessed in a peculiar manner . If they are not more than four inches in length , they are made to pay threepence for each air ; but if larger than this , they are not allowed to move on under eightpence . Any little extra embellishment in the shape of an accompaniment , is as expensive as an overture , being taxed with two-and-sixpence . Pianofortes are much better treated than these harmonious mites , for , without reference to value , they are charged three pounds and two pounds , according as they are horizontal , grand , or upright , or square , although some of them may be as costly as a church organ , and others scarcely dearer than the four-inch musical boxes .

    Another article of not half the productive value of musical instruments , is boots , which not only suffer fromu protective duty , but from a very troublesome system of division and measurement . There is a distinction between boots and shoes ; another distinction between the boots and shoes of men , women , boys , and girls ; a distinction when they are lined or trimmed with fur , or other trimming , or when they are not so decorated ; a distinction between silk , satin , jean , or other stuffs , and between kid , morocco , and other leather ; a

    distinction depending upon the size of the article , another distinction depending upon the size of the quarter , and another upon the height of the vamp from the sole inside ; while , to wind up with , boot fronts nine inches high are charged with one shilling and ninepence duty per dozen pair ; and . when nine inches and a quarter high , they pay two shillings and ninepence per dozen pair I The sun never sets upon our great and glorious countryuntil we have gauged and examined a child's shoe to pay for some of our greatness .

    There is a small and useful family of farinaceous articles , such as arrowroot , mandioca flour , & c , which are charged with a duty of fourpence halfpenny the hundred weight , while plaster of Paris is perfectly free . A similar piece of patronage extended to the materials for adulteration is shown in the case of port wine , for while that liquid is burthened with a heavy duty , logwood extract is unfettered . A curious distinction , ' difficult to understand , is made between manna and manna croup , the first being free , the second paying the farinaceous rate . In the case of rice , whilst rough grain in the husk pays ninepence a quarter , urain not

    rough , or in the husk , is charged fourpence halfpenny the hundred weight , or at more than twice the rate . If foreigners were taxed upon landing in England , as well as their products ( and one duty would be about as sensible as the other ) , we should have one rate for pug-nosed men , and another for men with aquiline noses ; one rate for men who are six feet high , and another , rate for mcii who are somewhat shorter j one rate ' for men with one coloured hair , and'another rate for men with hair of a different shade ; with countless distinctions , depending upon false teeth , wigs , whiskers , ago , moustache , country , tempor , and particularly dress .

    Amongst a long list , comprising forty seeds , there is only one that has been thought worthy of taxation , and thivt is Oarraway . It rewards the Exchequer for the distinction conferred upon it , with something like three thousand pounds sterling every year ; and the only suggestions wo can make to account for its isolated condition , is to suppose thnt the financial doctors , by keeping ono child in a state of disease , were anxious to retain thoir power over a large and flourishing family . The tariff regulators have been kind to us in the shape of physio ( though with some few exceptions ) , and cruel to us in the shape of necessary luxuries . Senna , jalap , cream of tartar , castor oil , arsomo , and . various unenumeratod drugs , aro free j out dates , plums , grapes , cherries , confectionery , oranges , ana a variety of other dolioaoioa , are

    heavily taxed . Biscuit and bread , notwithstanding the triumph of free trade (?) , are very needlessly subjected to duty , for alum , potatoes , and plaster of Paris are admitted free . Corn , for whose freedom the great battle was fought , and was supposed to be won , is still a victim to a protective duty of one shilling a quarter , which at the present ruling prices is equal to two-and-a-half per cent . This is amongst the first of the twenty-one highly productive articles enumerated , and it ought to be the very first of the twenty-one to be set entirely free . A great" country , that talks so loudly about national cleanliness and sanitary reform , can scarcely be regarded as sincere while a protective duty is levied on soap and wash-balls . A careful Government would not leave so much discretion to its

    Custom-house officers , as is shown in the assessment of those two other valuable articles of the productive twenty-one ; viz ., silk and sugar . There is ample temptation , with room and v « rge enough for peculation to the extent of hundreds of thousands ; and we have yet to learn that officials are more honest in one department of Government than they are in another . A just executive would not levy the same duty—three-halfpence per pound—upon a coarse brown paper , used for sheathing ships' bottoms , as they dp upon paper of the finest tissue , gilded , coloured , embossed , and stained . ' :

    With all its oppressive , unnecessary , and protective taxation , there is nothing in which the real greatness of the country shines so much as in the duties which are levied upon children s toys . Like the steam-hammer , invented by Mr . Nasmy th , we can crush a ton of iron , or we can drop , like the breath of summer , on the lightest feather . We can rule India , subjugate Africa , punish China , attend to foreign politics , and do C > say the authorities ) without a Reform Bill at home ; and we can draw some nourishment for all this greatness , glory , and ( questionable ) power , from things so small and contemptible , as peg-tops , marbles , bats , and balls .

    Perhaps , however , it would be as well to give up some portion of this fancied greatness , and loolf to some very necessary and somewhat pressing reforms at home . If twenty-one articles of general consumption will produce within half a million the same revenue as : the whole array of four hundred and sixty , there is no just or logical reason why the four hundred and thirty-nine should not , at once , be set perfectly free . The gain would be incalculable in the real freedom and extension given to trade ; and the amount thrown up would be more than repaid by the saving thereby effected in the very -expensive administration of the Customs . It is one of the strong points of direct , as compared with indirect taxation , that it costs about one and a half to two per cent , to collect , while the latter

    shows a drawback of one hundred and thirty-four per pent . Until the country is sufficiently enlightened to demand the abolition of this absurd and pernicious system , —and until a reformed House of Commons shall give us a more , economical expenditure of the public money , -we may leave the twenty-one mainly productive articles of the tariff ( although most of them are highly objectionable sources of revenue ) to supply the real and artificial wants of the Government . While we do this , however , we must not cease to fight for the destruction of this shameless' mockery , —that in a country where ninety-nine persons in a hundred have got the free-trade dogmas on their lips , there are neurly seventeen thousand men employed by the State to ride upon the neck of trade , and spend their time in potterring over " bond fide nutmegs . "

    1108 The Leader. [No.. 497* Oct. 1, 1859

    1108 THE LEADER . [ No .. 497 * Oct . 1 , 1859

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    +- , Feanci. Thursday, 6-30 P.M. The Uni...

    +- , FEANCI . Thursday , 6-30 p . m . The Univera has commenced the week with a furious diatribe against England , proceeding from the pen of M . de la Roche Heron . The writer reproduces the fulminations of certain American organs inspired by the Irish Cathollo emigrants , and approves their denunciations of England and her So Ficy and their prophecies of her approaching ownfall with an unctuous fervour of satisfaction .

    But the choicest morsel of the piece is the translation from the Dublin Nation , of an imaginary conversation between the Emperor and Empress . The Empress being of Spanish origin and Ireland having been , in remote times , partly peopled from the ancient Iberia , expresses herself as yvarmly interested in Irish affairs , from a feeling of national sympathy , and the Emperor amiably coincides jln the sentiments of his spouse . Napoleon is severe upon England and Protestantism , and compliments Ireland in the fact that O'DonnoI rules in Spain , and that Mao-Mahon was victorious at Magenta , and Neil amongst the bravest of the bravo on Solforino ' s

    hard-fought field . These personages are certainlv of Irish descent , and Ireland may justly boast that now , as in past times , her sons , driven by political persecution from her shores , have become great in the land of the stranger . It is likely enough that they may entertain feelings of animosity against England , and there is no doubt that in the event of a war with France they would become liomani Homaniores ipsi in their zeal to destroy Carthage The writer in the Univers slily remarks that he thinks the liberty of the press is carried too far in

    England , and I think , for my own part , that the Government would not act amiss if they made these articles in the Nation the subject of a prosecution perhaps , however , to do so would be to give too much importance to productions which cannot really have much influence . The Irish here are for the most part weir affected to British connexion and I make no doubt that if a war were to arise , the people of Ireland would be amongst our best defenders . There are several Irishmen of great ability in Paris .

    Speculation is rife here about the intervie w of the King of the Belgians with the Emperor at Biarritz , but nothing is yet positively known . It is stated in usually well-informed circles that the primary object of Leopold ' s visit was to prevent a rupture between his protectors , France and England , and that he pleaded hard to fortify Antwerp , without hindrance or opposition on the part of the former of the two powers . Lord Cowley has been at Biarritz , and was in frequent communication with the mpnarchs . Count Walewski , the Minister for Foreign Affairs , was also there . This latter personage is , politically speaking ,, almost a cypher , as it is pretty well understood that his only function is to do the Emperor ' s bidding . There is a very general impression that , whatever the result of the recent conference may have been , an European war will inevitably breakout

    nexspring . The press of Paris is singularly barren of interest at the present time . Last Monday the Constitutionnel informed us that its political director , M . Amadee Rene , had retired from his post owing to ill-health , but it promises that he will continue now and then to contribute to its columns . M . Rene is supposed to be on a friendly footing with the Emperor , and is celebrated for having launched some terrible darts against England apropos of the refugee question . M . Louis Veuillot , the principal editor of the Univers , does not often contribute to the columns of that

    journal now . He was lately reported to be mad : this was denied by one of his literary colleagues , and subsequently by himself , in a leading article ; but his own denial was not such as to remove the impression that he was suffering from mental alienation . The Univera is the organ of the extreme Roman Catholic or Ultramontane party , The Gallican or Low Church party is represented by IS Ami de la Beligion , lately converted from a fortnightly periodical into a daily newspaper , and is conducted with great ability . Unlike its rival , Z' Univers , it distinguishes itself generally by its moderate and Christian-like tone .

    People here were very curious to know whether the political refugees in England would return to France . Now the question is decided ; that , following the example of Louis Blanc , they will remain where there is liberty is their country . It is not generally known , although a fact , that theLmperor , who is attached to Louis Blanc by the ties of tormor friendship , has more than once invited him to come over , but that Louis Blanc has refused these proflcrs , as he now does the general amnesty . M . Clmnes

    Blanc , the brother of the illustrious refugee , nas lately token an active part in a subscription tor a statue of Dr . Jenner , which has been placed between the old Louvre and the Seine , with an inscription on tho pedestal composed by M . Charlos Blunc , wno is a literary man of some mark . There is ft project on foot for placing statues to the great men o n nations along the banks of tho noble river wbicti runs through Paris . Another notable project is that of roofing the Palais Royal with glass , and making a winter garden of it . Both those plivns are

    quite in embryo . There is nothing new in literature > y hich roorits much notice . The last great attraction was t . o translation into French of Shakspoai-os \ rtv > i » y Mr . Charles Hugo , the son of tho great Victor . This is accounted to bo an extraordinary oiovu work , and has caused Shakspearo to ko « om 0 J ° . popular in Franco . I have noticed that an OP" *™ adaptation of the " Midsummer Night ' s l ^ eam w » been brought out at tho Opera Comiquo . A ' " " ,,, " Dumas has gone on a yachting expedition ,, *»» yacht is called Monte Chrlsto , and is mannea MJ n . Ti .,. \ - a . iUmvi T ) nm » fl /> nnrlii (! tfl a weekly periodic 1 "

    which u ., us not enjoy a largo circulation , «»" . " . " , ' I like his yacht , ie called after the hero of his coio brated romance . When he wont on hia l » t ° J ??» . i a to Russia , ono of tho comic papers oouwnou " caricature of Alexandro in tho act ot blyselng iw solitary individual supposed to subscribe to int Monte Chriato , and who was represented In tlio fto *

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 1, 1859, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_01101859/page/16/