A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
" THE SPECTATOR," AUGUST 12TH, 1837.
It is rumoured that a commercial treaty is on the point of being concluded between England and Austria. This is not unlikely, as Austria refused to become a party to the Prussian Customs League, and exhibited a good deal of jealousy at the increase of political power which Prussia, as head of the league, would neces- sarily acquire from it. The Times says, in reference to the reported treaty, which Mr. Macgreor, of the Foreign Office, is understood to have been employed in negotiating : " It is to be hoped that the interests of the British manufacturers have not been overlooked in the treaty alleged to be ratified, and that its scope is not restricted to a trifling alleviation of tonnage or differential duties upon shipping, or the concession of coal- depots for steamers, the abortive results of other commercial treaties, so long announced and so much boasted of beforehand. Con- sidering that the German Customs League has now been in full operation for several years, and is acting as disadvantageously as was anticipated upon British manufactures, it is rather to be wondered that efforts have not been made with greater promptitude to counter- act its effects, in combination with the one ereat Power equally aggrieved and interested about it." •
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