Sir,--Referring to your leader of to-day on the subject of selling Tea at home, I agree with you that Tea-growers should combine for retailing, as they have, through the Syndicate, combined for opening up new markets, but there must be the same spirit of enterprise in the one case as in the other. Now, the mere opening up of shops for the sale of Indian Teas, involving, as it would, rents, expensive establishments, and bad debts, would not afford the necessary scope, nor would it meet the case. The system of auction in Mincing Lane must with all its drawbacks continue, but it is surely possible to extract some good from it. Let agencies for such a combination as you propose be established in all the large towns in Great Britain, and weekly auctions of packets of Tea from 2 ounces to 5 lbs. or so be held in different parts of each town, so that every day except Sunday there would be an auction going on somewhere. Let the sales be _bonâ fide_ to the highest bidder and for cash on the nail, and I will promise that before a year is over, as high prices will be paid at these auctions as are at present realised by Cooper and Cooper, whilst the demand would soon greatly exceed the supply. If something of the same kind were done in the bazaars of India, the taste which so decidedly exists among natives would develop rapidly. MATT. DREWS. Calcutta, _January 4th, 1882_. I wrote the following remarks on the above to the same paper:-- INDIAN TEA SALES AT HOME. _To the Editor “Statesman.”_ Sir,--Your article of Wednesday on the above, and a letter from Mr. Drews in Thursday’s paper, have interested me much. As you truly say, it is more than absurd that the public at home should pay 150 per cent. for our Teas above the prices at which they are sold in Mincing Lane, and that this tremendous profit, minus 6_d._ duty, should all go into the hands of the retail dealer. Absurd as it is, it is still a great fact, and the absurdity can only be increased in one way, and that is, if we remain quiet, accept the position, and do nothing. That we ought to move, and move quickly, is very certain. How best to act requires serious consideration, and ample discussion. You advocate a company or association to sell our Teas retail in all the large towns in Great Britain, and advocate a subscription of Rs. 10 per month by each garden in India, until the business could support itself. Nothing _can_ be done unless we all subscribe a small sum to set it going, and the amount you mention (Rs. 120 for one year; the necessity would most assuredly last no longer) should frighten no one, while, if done generally by the Indian gardens, it would be ample. I would suggest, therefore, that we should begin the matter as set out below. The following none of the very many interested in Tea can deny:--