Schutz der übrigen Industrien. 517 
ländische, namentlich deutsche Concurrenz und man glaubte, 
es liesse sich der Gewinn der Bergwerke amtlich constatiren 
und feststellen. Zeugen von beiden Seiten wurden verhört. 
Schliesslich erklärten zwei Sachverständige, nicht aus theore- 
tischer Vorliebe für Eisenhandel, sondern in Folge ihres Ein- 
blieks in die praktischen Verhältnisse, dass es am besten sei, 
den Kunferhandel einfach ganz frei zu geben.!) 
') A, a. O. Schluss des Reports: 
Thomas Williams. Qu. What do you think would be the effect. on 
the mines and trades of this country of making the trade in copper per- 
fectly free? — To give a decided opinion upon this question it is neces- 
Sary that the interest and enconragement of the miners, manufacturers and 
merchants Should be duly weighed and considered; that the advantages of 
the copper improvements in our navy and trading ships, so essential to 
our great and inestimable commerce, should be duly attended to, and that 
the revenues consequently arising to the state from the increase and pro- 
sperity of these branches of british industry should be fully understood, 
Not having time to enlarge as I might upon the different points that 0c- 
cur in contemplating this important subject, I can but shortly observe that 
after full twenty years close attention and indefatigable labour in the ge- 
neral trade from the working of the mines to the ultimate sale of the 
copper at the home and foreign markets as well in‘ the cakes or ingots 
as in the various manufactured states for the numberless uses of the brass 
Mmakers, the Birmingham and Sheffield trades, the London, Liverpool and 
Bristol coppersmiths, braziers and other minor manufacturers through the 
Kingdom; after studying also the produce and effects of all foreign mines, 
markets and manufactories during all that time and making imports of 
topper every year previous to the present war from all the foreign mar- 
kets where I could do it without serious loss, with a view of gaining au« 
thentic knowledge of the state of the trade there, I am of opinion: 
that a perfectly free and open trade out of and into this country 
would be more beneficial both to the country and to the mines, to the 
trade, traders and manufacturers of every description, than subjecting them 
to any restraints under the idea of regulations however well intended; and 
with this idea strongly impressed in my mind I should rejoice that the 
whole trade should be laid perfectly free and open, not irom a wish of 
advantage to myself, as I am desirious and determined at the close of 
this present year to take my leave of the trade. 
Ebenso antwortete Mr. Vivian auf dieselbe Frage: 
I have no diffieulty in saying that, in order to shew that is not our 
Wish to shackle the manufacturers and to put an end to all controversy 
a free export and import of copper would be a measure in my opinion