[To THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR:]

to a practical test. I compared the price-list of one of the leading grocers in that city with the prices obtaining in London in houses of equal standing. The results of this comparison are so interesting that I wish, with your per- mission, to place them before your readers.

The inquiry divided itself into three sections, dealing respectively with goods of English manufacture, American products, and goods imported alike into England and America from other countries. The following tables show the results obtained :—

(1) GOODS OF ENGLISH MANUFACTURE.

London price. s. d. N.Y. price. a d.

Colman's Mustard, 1 lb. ... ... ... ... 1 5 20 Crosse and Blackwell's Pickles, 1 lb. ... ...

13 Epps's Cocoa, 4 lb.... ... ... ... ... 71 10 Field's Candles, 1 lb. ... ... ... ... 74 1 94 Herbs (mixed), packet ... ... ... ...

5

10 Huntley and Palmer's Dinner Biscuits, 2 lb... 1 5 20 liorLices Malted Milk (bottle)... ... ... 2 5 34 Seiller's Marmalade, 11b. ... ... ...

54

10 Lea and Perrin's Sauce ... ... ... ... 94 114 Reckitt's Blue ... ..• ... 6 84 Robinson's Barley (packet) ... 74 10 Van Houten's Cocoa, 4 lb. ... 9i 10

10 104 16 64

To be perfectly accurate, fd. per pound must be added to the London prices to cover legitimate charges for freight, &c. Having made this correction, the difference between the prices directly traceable to the tariff is 32 per cent.

(2) AMERICAN PRODUCTS.

London price. s. d.

Salmon (oval tin) ... ... ... 1 0 Salmon (tall tin) ... ... ... 6 Tomatoes (canned) .. ... ... 6 N.Y. price. s. d.

11 6 6 Asparagus (canned) ... ... 1 6 1 54 Apricots (preserved) ... ... 1 1 1 2 Apples (gallon tin) ... ... ... 104

11 Plums (Californian dried) ... 6

9 Lobster (canned) ... ...

1 7 Royal Baking Powder ...

1 9 Tabasco Sauce ... ... ... 1 _ 5 1 104

10 3 ...... 11 5

In compiling this table it has been impossible to be sure that the articles compared are of the same brand; but I have taken the price quoted in the English catalogues for the best quality in each case. Here it is the English price which should be rectified by subtract- ing id. per pound for freight to make a fair comparison with the New York prices. But without making this reasonable allowance, it will be seen that the American consumer actually pays 10 per cent. more for these home products than does the Englishman. This table shows very clearly that the inevitable effect of Protection is to make all goods dearer, not merely imported articles :—

(3) GOODS IMPORTED PROM OTHER COUNTRIES INTO ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

Allspice, 1 lb.

Apricots (glace), 1 lb. ... ... Arrowroot, 1 lb. ... ... Cayenne Pepper (small) ... ...

Cinnamon, 1 lb. ... ...

Cloves, 1 lb. ... ...

Crystallised Ginger, 1 lb.... ... Extract of Meat, 1 lb. ... ...

Macaroni, 1 lb. ...

Mace, 1 lb. ...

London price. aa.

6 ... 16 ••• 1 0

... Si ... 110

••• 110 ... 1 2 ••• 13 — 3 ... 38 N.Y. price. s. d.

10 34 1 54

10

211 211 1 54 18 5 3 104 Nestle's Milk, 1 lb.... ...

54

6 Pepper (whole white), 1 lb. 12 13 Pepper (whole black), 1 lb. 94 10

Peter's Chocolate, tablet...

5 74 Sago, 1 lb. ..• 2 3 Spaghetti, 1 lb. ... 4 5 Tapioca (flake), 1 lb. ... 2 3 Vanilla Beans, stick ... 5 9

17 44 24 9

Here, as the goods are imported into both England and America, no allowance need be made for freight. The difference between the prices amounts to 30 per cent. These tables might be greatly amplified, and are not made up on the Protectionist principle of carefully selecting figures to prove a case. Indeed, I have purposely omitted several items in which the difference is so great as to suggest the possibility of mistake. Here, then, is an example of Protection in being. The tariff does, indeed, exact a heavy toll, but it is from the con- sumer.

—I am, Sir, &e., E. H. GILPnr. St. Margaret's, Beaconsfield Bowl, St. Albans.