The New Hampshire Gazette

NEW TARIFF OF DUTIES.
Copy of a Circular Letter from the Secretary of
the Treasury of the U S. to Mercantile Houses
in the different large Seaports.
Treasury Department, Aug. 18, 1815.
Sir-Permit me to request the aid of your
practical experience, and that of your friends as
whom you may consult, in forming the General
Tariff, which it will be the duty of the Secretary
of the Treasury to report to Congress at the
next session. it will be my object to propose a
simple, but effectual system of duties on imports,
in order to raise the requisite amount of reve-
nue, with the greatest convenience and certain-
ty, in the mode of collection. It is therefore,
desirable to obtain correct information upon the
following enquiries.
1. What articles of importation into the U.
States admit of being charged with higher duty,
and to what amount?
2. What articles require a reduction in the
duty now charged, and to what amount?
3. What articles now free may be advanta-
geously charged with a duty, to what amount,
and in what manner?
4. What articles, classed under general de-
scriptions, admit of a more definite and specif-
ic arrangement?
5. What articles now charged with duties ad
valorem may be advantageously charged with
specific duties, to what amount, and in what
manner?
6. What non-enumerated articles of importa-
tion may be advantageously specified, and charg-
ed with a specific duty, in what manner, and to
what amount?
I am persuaded, sir, that for the accomplish-
ment of an object of such public importance, you
will cheerfully and candidly contribute the por-
tion of information that has been derived from
the trade and commerce in which you are par-
ticularly engaged; and, therefore, I only add a
request that you will favor me with an early an-
swer.
I am, very respectfully, sir, your most obedi-
ent servant.
A. J. DALLAS.