Character of Mr. Ellis's Octavo Edition of the Laws of the Customs, published in 1823. [Extract from the Public Ledger, 30th October, 1823.] "We have just seen a publication by Mr. Ellis, of the London Custom House, on the Laws, Duties, Drawbacks, and Bounties of the Customs and Excise for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the British Possessions abroad, brought up to the 10th October, 1823;' and as it is, in our estimation, a work of national utility, executed in a manner highly creditable to the practical knowledge and talent of its author, we think, by lending our aid to afford it publicity, we shall be doing a real service to the mercantile interest of the country. "That the mass of valuable information which he has brought forward, arranged, and judiciously condensed, must have occupied very considerable time, and have been attended with infinite labour, no one who looks into the work can doubt; nor are there any, we should imagine, who will have the temerity to deny its practical utility to the merchant, the officer of revenue, the ship-owner, or the general trader." [Extract from the Literary Museum, 8th Nov. 1823.] प "We hail the appearance of this publication as one of national utility, and from which all those who are connected with the mercantile interests of Great Britain cannot fail to derive considerable advantage. "If, however, we may be supposed capable of forming a correct judgment of the success that is likely to attend Mr. Ellis's publication, we should unhesitatingly say, that the patronage of the numerous and enlightened class for whose assistance it is designed will eventually prove to him that his labour has been well applied, and his time profitably spent." TO THE tel FIRST EDITION OF THIS WORK, Published in 1829. NEARLY Six Years have passed since the Compiler's First Edition of the "Laws of the Customs" appeared before the Public;-the favourable reception that work, as well as the Second Edition, published in 1826, received, induces him to think, that this epitome of the most important part of our Commercial laws will be equally acceptable; and that it will not fail to receive, both at home and abroad, its full share of patronage. The great inducement to the Compiler to publish a Manual of the Duties and Restrictions on Goods imported into the United Kingdom, and the places mentioned in the Title, is a want that is experienced by the Officer, and the Merchant (Native as well as Foreign), of so much of the Laws relating to the Customs (in a portable form), as will be found to be contained in this Edition;-at the same time the Author is aware, that to Noblemen and Gentlemen, and the Public at large who are in the habit of travelling abroad, this Publication will be a desirable acquisition; it will not only inform them what Articles of Foreign Production they may or may not bring with them on their return to their native country, but also of the Duty which they will be called upon to pay thereon, on their arrival;-this information will be equally valuable to Foreigners visiting Great Britain and Ireland, as well as to those persons who may have commercial dealings with our Colonial Possessions :--to the Member of Parliament also, when called upon to legislate on any subject connected with the Commerce and Navigation of the Country, it will De found a useful Remembrancer. Work will also be valuable as a Book of Reference from year to year, as it will shew periodically the increase or diminution of the Duties on the Imports and Exports of the Country, and consequently facilitate the adjustment of outstanding or disputed Accounts; in fact the numerous alterations which every Session of Parliament fails not to make in the Laws relating to the Commerce and Naviga. tion of the Country, renders it imperative that the various Acts of Parliament connected with these subjects should, at the close of each Session, as now proposed, be incorporated with the former Laws and Duties, so as to render to the Merchant and the Officer, that facility of reference which in business is so truly desirable;—in addition to this, the trouble of watching for and noticing the various alterations, whether emanating from the Legislature, the Government, or the Local Authorities, will be cheaply avoided, and the certainty of being correct cheaply purchased, at the annual expense of a few shillings. The Publication of such a Work, at a moderate price, and from a source on which reliance could be placed, has been loudly called for ; and in adding this to his former efforts to serve the Mercantile Public, and assist his brother Officers, the Author feels perfectly confident (from his own experience), that their liberality will always keep pace with his endeavours to merit it;-to which end his former, as well as his present and future exertions have been, and will continue to be directed. Long Room, Custom House, 25th July, 1829. INTRODUCTION TO THE PRESENT EDITION. THE seventh annual edition of this publication is presented to the public. We are at a loss to modify the expression of our gratitude for the support we continue to receive; it is, however, not only a necessary tribute from the person who receives a favour to him who confers it, but it is one which a long continuance of kindness has rendered the payment of, on our part, a pleasure-utterly distinct from the cold calculations of necessity or duty. We beg to call the attention of our subscribers in particular, and the public generally, to the prospectus of a work (affixed to this book) which it is our intention to publish at the close of the next session of Parliament. The importance of its contents warrants us in the expectation, that the patronage which has been so liberally bestowed upon the Tariff will be extended to the "Laws and Practical Regulations of the Customs." To that end, we respectfully solicit the co-operation of our friends and subscribers in making its intended publication known in their immediate circles. Long Room, Custom House, London; 10th October, 1835. |