The Sun. — London, England, 1824-12-24 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE. The ECCLESIASTICAL TREOLOOICAL REVIEW and ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD. Vol. 1. No. I. In the present state of the country, particu larly as relates to Ireland, a work of this nature was peculiarly wanted. We have recently seen a new power arise, and making formidable strides against the Es - r %HUSHED Cnuucu, under the title of the CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION. This Associa lion is levying contributions, and forming a fund that, no doubt, wilt be employed in all possible ways to effect the purpose of undermining the foandations of our P.:establishment in Church and State:; but, relying on the vigilance and firm ness of the Government, we shall leave the care of the National Faith to its protection, and, as far as our convenience will admit, only at pre sent, take notice of the Work before us. As we know the sound attachment and watchful at. tention of the RIVINOTONS Wall that supports the security of our Ecclesiastical Establishment, we should he induced to suppose that some alarm at the progress of the Association above-mentioned bad prompted them to bring forward the present publication, if it did not bear marks of judicious selection as to the objects which it has brought into • REVIEW, and of a deliberate investigation of the several works which form the substance of the whole. The 'works noticed in this first number , amount to forty-eight, and they all undergo ex amination in proportion to their respective merits. Some are dispatched with a few brief comments, yet not without an apparent evidence that their value has been duly weighed, and others receive an elaborate discussion. The critiques are, in • deed, appropriated to the character of the seve ral compositions, and the graver investigations are relieved by occasional touches of pleasantry,but by no means inconsistently with the dignity of the main design. Whether this work, so important at the present critical, if not alarming, period, will ex perience the same protection from Government %%hid), according to rumour, is extended to THE QUARTERLY REVIEW, WC (10 not pretend to know ; but, judging from the solid merits of the present Number, we doubt not that it will be • . able to protect itself, and be found as substan tial a Sul port to our Ecclesiastical Establishment • .as the other has been to our Political Constitu tion. At all events it must receive full encou ragement from the whole Protestant Hierarchy, and is eminently calculated to afford religious in struction, and confirm the faith of the Protestant Community. ELECTION of COMMON COUNCILMEN • LAST, DA FA RRI.NGDON WIT Those marked thus Butterworth . - 631 Tickncr . . 623 . Reeves - • - 470 Blacket - . 4.18 Crooke . . 426. „Vale . .. 412 Taylor - - 401 , Oullowny• - • 377 .Southgate - 38(1 Clrifliths 374 The first 16 VINTRY WA I Whitby (Deputy) . - 63 EICM4 - 60 . . 571 • oombs Conway - '57 lllarshali. . 58 The first nine were elected. • • scrutiny against the return of 31 the IVardmote was adjourned ti LIMB-STRBET WARD, returns Four. Price (Deputy) . 61 Sheatmau 111itchell* 611 Prince :Dys ter 'S POLL. 110 VT returng Sixteen. are fresh Candidates. Savage - 302 Patten 300 Beckwith . . 351 Roberta . . '350 Figgins . . 345 Young - 330 Turner' . . - 320 Hansard . - 302 Ramrhuw' . 227 'ere returned. I), returns Nine. Garrett A 62 larsden• - 50 Dickens• . 41 Crooke - - 34 'Woodward - 23 :—Mr. Crooke has demanded a Ir. Dickens ; on which account, ill the Ist of January. - 81 - 31 THE LATE THOMAS HANWAY IIIGGE, ESQ. We inserted the death of this gentleman in -our Paper of the 22(1 instant, but we willingly --give place to the following account (from a Cor. respondent) of the worth and excellent charac ter borne ,by the deceased, in that circle where ,his virtues and merits were most likely to be un. derstood and approcinted':— Tubs. HAN WAY anE, Esq. at the time of his death, had nearly completed the 41st year of his age. Ills complaint, though it did not phew all the symptoms, was unquestion ably of the phthisical description. He had lingered in it for some time-.-upwards of eightes.n months. The mild Air. of Portugal had been tried, but in vain. It being intended that he should pursue a commercial career, he was sent in early life, at about the age of fourteen, to the Continent, •for the acquisition of the languages. After a diligent at tention to his scholastic studies, he was placed about the year in a commercial house of eminence at Hamburgh, where . -Its necessarily acquired a considerable knowledge of general Hamburgh, owing to the war at that period, being the mind emporium of Europe. In die year 1802 he entered one of thettst commercial firms in London (the distin. guisbed house of Messrs, Solly),..ivith a view to his further per fading himself in practical affairs. About five years afterwards, vix., in the year 11107, he joined the old anti very respectable banking firm of Sir Matthew White Ridley, But., and Co., at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as a partner. In thi s h ouse the linty .devolved upon him of exercising a principal direction in the important concerns of that great establishment; and it is but justice to add, that he fulfilled those duties in a way that. gained, Min the approbation and esteem of his co-partners, at the same time that he drew upon hi mse lf t h e goo d w ill o f the public by the extreme liberality of the system he adopted. As regarded the interest! of Newcastle-upon. Tyne anti the neighbourhood. Mr. nigge took a warm and active concern; and from his great xespeetehility, his character and talents, lie was enabled to ex. arose the most salutary influence. The excellent qualities of ' hityhoert endeared hint to a wide circle in Society • and, most justly may it b e said, he concili a t e d t h e respect and esteem of ail who knew him by that kindness and candour or manner which bespeak the exalted and intelligent mind. In a com mercial sense, the premature demise Of this honourable charac ter, whose merits are but faintly pourtrayed in this sketch, is one or the most.eerious privations which could have been in flitted upon the great trading town of Newcastle-upon-j yne. Ills remains were interred in what might be termed a private manner in the family vault at Ovingham, Northumbeiland, on , Tuesday last, the 21st instant. Amongst the moinners were Mr. Bigge, jun. of Lindon, Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart., 31..1). , . Ord, Esq. M.P. and one or two other Gentlemen. Rtis'rro Coutvran v.--At a rustic merrp.anik ing, Roger was seated facing - Patty--euamoured by her beauty, and stung by the arrows of the little god, ho only vented' his passion 'in sly looks, and now and then touching Patty's toe with his foot-under the table. Patty, either fearful that the purity Of her hose might be soiled, or deter mined to make the youth express what he ap peared so warmly to feel, at length exclaimed with spirit, "'if You love me, why tell ma so ; bet don't dirty my stockings." ScntrrunAL E q uivo ekTioN.—The King wrote -under a petition for new windows in , et parish.. elturch which was very dark-.-4 Bl esse d are they which have not seen, and.yet have believed.' St. John x-r.. 29. SIIIP-OWNERS. GENERAL ANNUM MEETING.: OF THE SHIP: OWNERS' SOCIETY. A General Meeting of this Society was; yesterday held at the City of London Tai►ern, to receive the Report of the Committee, and for other purposes. • * At one o'clock GEonor—LYALL, Esq. was unanimously called to the Chair, and commenced the business of the Meet. ing, by proposing that the Report be read. Mr. Cocx, the Secretary, was accordingly requested to read it, which is so important,.-that we feel it our duty to give it entire. REVENUE AND NAVIGATION LAWS.—At length the Committee have the satisfaction of congratulating the Ship. owners upon the near accomplishment of that moat important object, to which their wishes and efforts have for several years past been directed, namely, the consolidation of the numerous laws relating to Navigation and Trade, and the separation of the Customs from the Excise. At the close of the last Session of Parliament, a Bill was in. troduced by Mr. Berries, Secretary to the Treasury, for re. pealing no less than 4f9 Laws relating to the Customs; and also four other Bills, re-enacting such of the provisions of those Laws as it has been thought expedient to retain, viz. A Bill for the general Regulation of the Customs. A Bill for granting Duties of Customs. A Bill for the Prevention of Smuggling. A Bill for regulating the Customs of the Isle of Man. Further Bills are also in preparation, - viz. A Bill for giving certain Bounties for the Encouragementof Trade and Navigation. A Bill for the Registry of Vessels. A Bill for regulating Vessels carrying Passengers, in certain cases. A Bill for regulating the Trade of the British Possessions abroad. " The Bill to repeal the several laws relating to the Customs, is intended to eff'ect its object, Ist, by particularizing those Acts and parts of Acts which are intended to be repealed, in order that they may be expunked from the Statute Book ; and next, by general description ; because, however careful the researches upon which the reference to these existing laws may be pre pared, some enactments inserted in Statutes chiefly relating to other matters, might still be overlooked. The general repeal will, therefore, obviate the possible evil of any such omission, and at the same time serve as a legal declaration that no law of a date anterior to that of the new Code, can continue to have any force. " The Bill for the general regulation of the Customs, is in tended to constitute the chief and fundamental law of the Cus toms, for the government of that department, and for the collec tion of the large revenue which is levied under that authority." Under the three . general heads of " Inwards," " O utwar d s ," and " Coastwise,' this Bill is to " contain all the Rules re lating to the arrival or departure of ships, and to the landing or shipping of goods." " It will also comprise the Law of _Navigation ; all the pro visions of which, as enforced in every part of the world, are to be re-enacted in it. Some of these may not appear to, he strictly connected with the law of the Cu s t oms o f t h e United Kingdom : but it has been deemed desirable by the Lords of the Treasury, that the whole subject should be arranged under one head; and considering how large a portion of th e L aw o f N av i gat i on is, in effect, the law of Imports and Exports, it could , seurcely 'have been classed otherwise than as a part of the general law of the Customs. " It will probably be found, when this comprehensive BM has been fully considered, that there are some subjects of' a local, temporary, or peculiar nature, contained in the Acts to• be repealed, which are not provided for in it; and their Lord ships have therefore considered that a Separate Bill to include such subjects may be necessary. The attention of Mr. 3.D. Hume, the Comptroller of the Customs, (who has been selected by the Board fig this difficult important work,) has been ace cordingly directed to a Bill of that supplementary description. " The Rai for regidating the Customs of' the rile of Man; brings together, under one point of view, all time existing Re gulations affecting the Trade and 'Revenue of that Island, pee culierly circumstanced as they arc with respect to'those of Great Britain. • The Bill for granting Duties of Customs, will be a Tariff only; and, as the duties are to be collected under the powers of the general Law, time Bill will contain no clauses except such as may be explanatory of the tables, and cannot well be made the subject of permanent regulations. "The Bill for the Prevention of Smuggling, will form an act in aid and defence of the existing laws of the Customs; its enactments pre-suppose some infraction or invasion of those laws l on some indication of an attempt to evade them. All provisions relating to the subject of the legal jurisdiction to which offenders against the laws are amenable, are to be in cluded in this Bill. "The Bill for the Registry of Vessels," and the Bill " for regulating Vessels, carrying Passengers, in certain cases," will be nearly transcripts of the Acts of the 4th of the King, upon those subjects which, in the framing of those Acts, have already undergone the process of consolidation ; but which, for the sake of uniformity, and in order that the whole Code of Cus toms Law may*commence from the same period, it is deemed necessary to renew upon the present occasion. " The Bill for regulating this Trade of the British Posses. sions abroad, will embody the various Legislative regulations to which the navigation and commerce of the foreign dominions of this country have been subjected by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. "The Bill for giving certain Bounties for the Encourage. ment of Trade and Navigation, will be constructed so as to continue further the allowance of such bounties as may be in force under any existing laws at the epoch of the general repeal of the laws of the customs." The Committee having thus recited the objets contemplated by the Bills in question, feel that any comment upon the im portant advantages that must result therefrom to the shipping interest, would lie superfluous: they are such as entitle the Government by whom they have been conferred, and the able individual who has so successfully devoted his talents and ex perience to their accomplishment, to the gratitude of every merchant and ship-owner in the kingdom. • EAST INDIA rItADIC.—The Committee regret to Itrare to state that the advantages which the Legislature intended to se cure to British ships in. the t•:ast India trade, by the Act 4 Geo. IV. cap. 80, have only in part been realized. It will be recollected, that the consent of the British ship. owners to the admission of' India-built vessels to all the privi leges enjoyed by ships built in this country, was given upon the understanding, that, in return, they were to be allowed to participate in common with the former, in the coasting and ge neral trade in the Indian seas. It appears, however, that the local Government does not feel itsM authorized to grant its licences to trade between India and China, to any vessel not owned by a trader resident in India. The Committee have laid a memorial on the subject, before his el ajesty's Govern- Merit, and have no doubt that the necessary-orders will be sent , to the Authorities in Iptlia to conform to the justice of the case, and the intentions of the Legislature. Meanwhile, the Committee have the pleasure to announce, that the lion. East India Company have so far relaxed their system, as to b,:come the exporters of tea direct from China to the British Settlements in North America ; and, as. the reasons upon which this measure is founded, apply in equal force to the export from China to the Continent of Europe, and to other puree of America, the Committee hope that the Honourable Directors will at length see the policy either of carrying on this trade themselves, or of allowing other merchants and ship. owners to participate in it with the traders of all other nations; as the case now stands, a monopoly is now virtually created in favour of the shipping and coorimerce of foreign countries, to the exclusion of every British interest. PILOTAU T.: —The Select Committee of the House of Com ;onutoortiteir, trade, having had under consideration the sub ofons pet the close of the list Session made a Report (and which it may be expected will serve as the foundation of aim Act in time epproaching Session), wherein they recommend that a reduction Should like place upon the rates of Pilotage payable to the Trinity House Pilots of London, as specified in Schedule (A) annexed to the Act of 52d Geo. 111. equal t0 . 121i pee cent. upon the ainounethereof; and a like reduction in thZ rates of the Cinque Ports Pilotage, as specified hi TeLle (II) o f the said Act. tion r a b l e Sej cet Committee hav e a l so recommen d e d th at no adde. Cinque Ports Pilots 3110111 a be appointed until the number aredhaluleitroVne,bhe2 arrive reducedat 3 t 1(, 01 1 20 • and. thet whenever the gradu a l a diminution of 21j per cent. Upon the diminished rates of pilotage shall take place ; and after the •number shall have been reduced to 120, a farther reduction of 2i per cent., making together 6 per cent. upon the amount such reduc e d rates. That the scale regulating a progressive hie creased pee tentage u pon t h e augmentat i on of the i r numbers all 4 of 26 beyond 120 shall b e repealed.; an d t h at a power shall be given to : I ).r e . l i%,Verarcdeennt. upon o the rates elf Pilotage nsvaltio ' y f the Cinque Ports to di s continue th e 41 01 )3 belonging to foreign countries in which British ships shall receive the same advantage as the native ones, in respect of pilotage, upon a notification being. made from his Majesty's Privy Council to the Lord Warden, upon the principle of " reciprocity," established by the Act 4, Geo. IV. cap. 77. BOAILDING.—On the subject of boarding, the Select CoM mittee have recommended that the first point of compulsory boarding should be Folkestone, instead ofDungeness ; that the following scale of rates should he substitOted for that at pre sent existing; and that vessels under sixty tons, and in ballast, should be exempted from such compulsion. _ . Polkestosse. Dover. Downs For Vessels. s. d. .t;, s. d. £. a. d. Above 60 tons, and under 130 tons 1 11 6 1 llto 16 0 150 — , , w 2OO---- 2 2 0 11160 15 0 200 700_ 3 3 0 .2 201 1 0 700, and above 4 4 0 3 3'o I 11 6 They have also recommended, as the means of relief from the vexation and expence attending the present mode of obtain ing redress in matters of difference between the ship-owners, or the masters of vessels, and pilots, that a power should be vested in such of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Corporation, as shall, for the time being, constitute the Pilotage Committee, to hear and determine any matters of complaint between the masters and the owners of ships and vessels arriving in the port of London, and the pilots generally ; and that such decisions shall be final. The Select Committee have further recommended that British constant traders, not exceeding 200 tons in burthen, between the ports of Boulogne and the Sca w inclusive, inward and out ward bound, whether entering the River Thames by the North or South Channel, shall be exempted from the compulsion to take pilots. The Committee congratulate the shipping interest upon the prospect of so material a reduction in the rates of Pilotage ; and trust that, in due time, They will be further reduced, as far as circumstances will admit,. Qtranari TINE 14A*A - '4..The Select Committee have also made a Report on these Laws- Adverting to the Report of a Select Committee appointed in 1819 to consider the validity of the doctrine of Contagion in the Plague, they observe, that " whatever difference of opinion may exist, in respect to danger to be apprehended from the propagation of the plague in this country, by persons or mer chandise, enough of doubt remains to make it a measure of more hazard than it would be expedient to incur, to abandon lit once the whole sy s t em o f p recaut i on w hi c h h as been hitherto adopted." As.suining then that some precaution is to be maintained, the inquiry of the Select Committee has been directed to ascertain whether the established system admits of improvement; and the result is, that they recommend to the Hon. House, that " goods coming from the Mediterranean, not included in the first class, being deemed little susceptible of conveying colts gion, should cease to be subjected to restraint ; that gods of the - first class (from which it is possible, on revision, the Privy Council may be able to erase some articles) should be alone those to which detention and precaution should be here after applied, except where goods of any other kind are con tained in packages formed of materials enumerated in the first class." " That all ships bound for London, which shall arrive from any place with foul bills of health, or on board of whi c h infec -1 to havea s t, speared g ate cduringre Creels, the n d there performance is discharge a o r f g t e h e t h v e o yae proceeds ti l o ni n ll shal enu merated goods into the Lazeretto ; that the vessels shall then perform twenty-one days quarantine from the time of having so discharged the goods; and the goods shall also remain twenty-one days in quarantine after such delivery, with the exception of fruit, which may be delivered in seven days. " That every ship, from any place, with a foul bill of health, bound for, any other port of the United Kingdom, shall pro ceed to such place or places as shall be appointed. by Order in Council, and there perform a similar quarantine for ships and goods. " That every ship arriving with a clean bill of health, and where no circumstances of sickness have occurred during the voyage, from any port in Turkey or Africa, bound to London, shall bring up for examination at the Lower Hope, in the river Thames, and there wait, without any other than official corn mutilations with her being permitted, for the purpose of a Re port to the Privy Council; and upon the answer to such Report being received, shall then, if so permitted, and after having re ceived a certificate to that effect from the proper officer of qua rantine, proceed without discharging any part of her cargo. That.every ship similarly circumstanced, from any port in Turkey or Africa, bound to any other port in Great Britain or Jr:land, shall remain at the most convenient station in or elf her own port of discharge, to be appointed by the Privy Council, or the proper,officer at the port, without any, other than official communication, till a Report shall have been made to the Privy Council, and an answer received, and shall then, if so permitted, be admitted toimmediate entry, let like manner as in the former Case. " That all other ships a rriving from any part of the Mediter ranean, with tj ear i Ea, o f health, bound to the port of Lon dm), sall bring up for examination at the Lower an and j h.iving l been exionined by the , L officer for quatine, shall, uptin receiving a certificate to that effect, be permitted immediately . to proceed; and all other ships similarly circum stanced, arriving from any part of the Mediterranean, bound to any other port in Great Britain or Ireland, shall be subject to such examination by the proper officer, before entering her own port of discharge. " That in all these cases of examination, the ship shalt be furnished with a certificate by the proper o fficer; and that no ship arriving from the Mediterranean, Turkey, or Africa, shall b, a d m i t t e d to entry at any port in Great Britain or Ireland, without producing a certificate of having • been examined and rele -- The Sub-Committee concluded their interesting Report, as follows :—" In conclusion, your Committee beg to submit to the House, that the precautionary regulations to which their inquiry has been directed, although applicable to a particular branch of trade, have been established by the Legislature for the general security and protection ; and that, as it is a national object that the trade should be carried on with the Levant, the means of enabling individuals to carry it on without danger to the country, is a matter of national interest. And notwith standing it may be true, that any charges imposed on freight or merchandise, wherever they may in the first instance, tall, must be ultimately paid by the consumers ; yet your Commit tee are of opinion that it would be more consonant to justice, As well as more beneficial to the trade, that the charges of quaran tine should be immediately borne by the Public; and they therefore recommend, that in future, all vessels subject to qua rantine should be exempted from the duties imposed for the purpose of defraying the expences arising from it, and the fees reduced. Your Committee have less difficulty in proposing this change, because it is only a return to the former system, which wax professedly departed from for the accomplishment of an object long . since abandoned. " Your Committee have only further to add, that should the suggestions contained in this Report, for the alteration in the Qoatantine Law, be adopted, they recommend the repeal of the existing Acts upon the subject, and the incorporation into a single Act of all the Legislative provisions by which it may be thought expedient that the British Quarantine should be here after regulated." - The Committee cannot omit this opportunity of expressing, in concurrence with the sentiments of other public bodies, and - distinguished individuals, their high opinion of the important services which have been rendered to the community at large, and to the shipping interests in particular, by Dr. Charles Mac lean, in his able writings, tending to establish, that the Govern. ments of Eur Ope have acted in error in burthening shipping and . . Commerce with restrictions, from► tne fear of contagion ; and the Committee hope that the ameliorations of the Quaran tine system now about to take place, may be succeeded by other measures of a-singainsture, until the whole of these restric tions wtich cannot be proved to be indispensable, shall have been abOlished. . _ .1.4014h0N PORT DUTY.—The hopes which had been fOrined of the result of the Parliamentary inquiry on the subject of the London Port Duty, have been grievously disappointed.--. From the Report of the Select Committecit appears, that the balanee still due of the debt created by advances out of The Consolidated Fund lhwei tl,iro o r nrac ti ca l k e eo i nD m inu p g t r y u i v ni e tn m er e tesi n ite t ), of the Port of London , amo unted , f: nt on the Ist January, 1023, to no less than 550,1951 . s s. 4 d. three an /elms ending with 1023 was 30,1201. th a t the average amount of 30,120/. If therefore that duty is to continue until it extin guishes the debt, the shippin tra ding to the port of London will have to bear the burthen (or many years to come. The Committee, however, hope. as the attentu.n of Government that measures may be adopted has been drawn to the tattliiect , to remove the apprehensions of its indefinite continuance. . It is obvious that if the docks, by which the improvement of the had not been constructed, the immentie Bums awarded to individuals' for " Compensations" Pert was principally effected , would not have been required ; which stuns form the great bulk of that debt; and that it is the Government, and the Proprietorts of those docks, who have been principally bene fited—the former by the additional security to the revenue, and the diminished expence of its collection—the latter by the in. c ome derived front the rates : the Committee, therefore, can. not but feel it to be a most grievous hardship that the hurthen of this immense debt should be thrown exclusively on the ship. owner. .....: STAMP utirtEs..._F r ere t h e f ee ling which pervades the shipping interest at large, on the subject of the heavy burthen of the existing stamp duty on the transfer of property in .ship. ping, the Committee extremely regret their not being prepared to tagnify the consent °ide Lords of the l'rea.sury . to the reeal thereof; but being strongly impressed with the injustice and impolicy of this tax, and at the same time perfectly satisfied of the desire of his Alltjesty's Government to alleviate the burthens of the slrip.owners as much as circumstances will allow, the Connuittee still encourage the hope that their memorial to their Lordships, for an exemption from this duty, will meet with a favourable decision in the interim of the meeting of Parliament. CLASSIFICATION OF SHIPS IN LLOYD'S BOOKS.—A Spe cial Committee, consisting of Merchants,Underwriters, and Ship- Owners, having been appointed by a General Meeting held at the City of London Tavern in , the month p fJanuarylast, " to collect the fattest information on the subject of classing Ship ping in the books at Lloyd's ; and to consider and report to a subsequent General Meeting such alterations in the present system, and to suggest .such. Rules and Relation, as they shall judge to be expedient for theluture classing of the Mer ' chant Shipping;"..-the Committee, congratulate the Shipping Interest at large upon the prospect thus opened, of the imper fection of that system being corrected. The Special Committee having received the evidence and opi nions of numerous practical and scientific Gentlemen, have re corded their unanimous opinion, that it appears to them, "that ' the opinions which, in the resolution of the General Alecting, are stated to have been entertained—' that the existing system of classing Shipping in the Books at Lloyd's, operates in juriously towards the Ship-owner; tends to mislead the ship per and underwriter in numerous instances; encourages the building of inferior ships; and prevents essential repairs ; whereby the efficiency and reputation of the mercantile marine is materially affected, to the prejutlice of all parties con cerned therein,'—are completely borne out by the evidence which the Committee have received : but that the consequences' thus stated, are in no degree to be attributed to any error or misconduct on the part of the Committees of the existing Books, but to the imperfection of the system on which they have had to act, and the inadequacy of the Funds to defray the necessary expences of the establishment.' " • From the persevering attention which the Sub-Committee have paid to the subject, it is hoped they will shortly be pre. pared to lay the result of their labours before a General Meet ing of all the parties interested. STADE DUTIES.--Mr. Robert Taylor having communicated to the Committee that a Duty is charged in the. Elbe, payable to the town of Stade, on all goods imported into Hamburgh in British Ships, from which Duty, importations in Hamburgh Ships are exempt; they lost no time in submitting an atplica tion to the Lords of Trade, expressing a hope that their Lord ships would feel, that although the principle of reciprocity in Shipping and commercial intercourse has been adopted by Haniburgli and this country, yet, that, unless the Duty payable in the River Elbe be removed, the object intended by the con cession of that principle will be defeated, and the whole of the British Carrying Trade to Ilainhurgli be lost. In reply, the Committee have had - the honour of receiving a communication from their Lordships, signifying that they have recommended to the Right Honourable Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that an application should be made to the lte gency of Ilanover, with the view of inducing it to give positive directions that no further demands of this duty should be made. TRADE WITH lIIELAND.—It having been represented to the Committee that, notwithstanding the Act of the last Session of Parliament, cap. 72, and the Treasury Warrant of the 4th Nov.182:1, vessels arriving at Dublin from Great Britain were subjected by the Boards of Customs, and of Ballast, to the same duties as nn arrival from a Foreign Port ; and that the Mer chants of Dublin had addressed a Memorial on the subject to the Right Honourable the Board of Trade, this Committee felt it their duty to support the application, and are happy to have to state that orders have been given to consider vessels so em ployed as coasters. Polo' CHARGES IN TIIE HAVANNAIL—The Committee have again brought under the consideration of his Majesty's Government, the continued charge of 2A dollars per ton on British shipping at the Havannah, whilst American only pay a duty of one dollar per ton ; and have received for answer, that measures are taking by his Majesty's Minister at Madrid, with the Otte of securing the admission of British vessels into Cuba, on as favourable terms as the shipping of other countries. Lossies OF Cauers, &c.—Heavy losses having been sus tained by ship-owners, in consequence of hempen cables, which have parted in the Downs, being frequently stolen, and it be ing impracticable to discover the delinquents, by reason of the defective state of the Police at Deal, the Committee addressed an application to the Lords of the Admiralty, requesting that Capt. Nl‘Cullock, of his Majesty's ship Ramillies, commanding the Coast Blockade, might be instructed to take an account of all fishing smacks or boats employed in picking up anchors or cables; that the buoys of vessels which have left their anchors might be carefully watched, and that persons detected in cutting them away might be secured : that in the event of any wrecked property being brought on shore, the same should be reported to the o ffi cer of the Lord W ar den; and that, in the mean while, the removal of the article should be prevented, unless taken into his possession, or released by his order. In reply, their Lordships have been pleased to cause it to be signified to the Committee, that as far as watching the pro ceedingior the Deal Boatmen, and reporting the same to the Officers of the Chigoe Ports, their Lordships have no objec tion, and that they have accordingly directed Captain .M 4 Cols lock, to give the necessary orders to the Officers under his command. The Committee trust that this interference on the part of Capt..sl‘Cullock, will operate powerfully in remo v i ng the evil in question. (JLAIMS ON THE SPANISH GOVERN M ENT. —Tn their last Report the Committe e ex p resse d a h ope , t h at un d er t h e Con cvbeinntii)oenbswatiitbhb Spain , woul e b n e te b r i e )t tl ai i n n e t t t i ) b in y the month b o u n m th ero of u ill t a ,w re i h ic , rs lin masters of ships, who, since the peace of 1808, have suffered from unjust seizures and contiscanons by the Spanish Autho rities in South America; but though the Mixed Commission (appointed in conformity with the Convention) has been sitting upwards of twelve months, such have been the obstacles and delays interposed by the successive Spanish Commissioners, that out of some hundreds of claims, not a single one has yet been admitted as valid; and the miseries of many of the par. ties, who, reduced to a state of destitution, have been all this time waiting in London to attend to their claims, when their turn shall come, have been a ggravated to a most distressing extent. Th e C om mittee, however, .are assured that the atten tion of his Majesty's Government is specially directed to the subject. ItEuisTitY OFFICE FOR MERCHANT SEAMEN.—This establishment increases in utility, and is approved in propor tion as it becomes known, and as the efforts of Mr. Dewdney are seconded by the regularity of the masters of ships in mak ing the requisite returns of their crews. SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL..—It is with the most sincere regret that the Committee have to state, that the funds of the Sea men's Hospital, into which upwards of three thousand seamen have been admitted since its institution on the 25th of October, 1821, are in such a state, as to excite the most serious appre hensions lest the necessity should arise for limiting the number of patients. Hitherto it has been an Asylum int') which every Seaman in want of medical or surgical aid, in the Port of London, has found ready admission ; and the Committee fer vently hope that the Charity will still continue to receive the necessary support from the benevolence of the public. Sir IPWTIECK INSTITUTION.—In the month of April last, an Institution was established in London, under the patronage of his Majesty, " for the Prevention of Life from Shipwreck," founded upon principles, and governed by rules, admirably adapted to its benevolent objects. The Institution is supported by voluntary subscriptions and donations. The office is at No. 12, Austin Friars. _ In conclusion, the Committee have to state, that their atten tion is at present principally directed to the several important Bills before mentioned„ which will be under the consideration of Parliament in the approaching Session ; and also to the formation of a Marine Code ; the reduction of the Private Light Dues; the London Port Duty; the fees and charges of Consuls; and a modification of the existing law in cases of Barratry. Application baa within these few days been made to the Chairman, by the Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Office, stating the inadequacy of the Fund created by the sixpence per month deducted from the Seamen's Wages, to the object of pro viding the relief contemplated by the Act 20th Geo. 11. for maimed and disabled Seamen and their ‘Vielows and Children; and requesting that he will ascertain how far the Ship Owners are willing that the like sum of sixpence per month should be collected from them, under the authority of Parliament, pro vided that they be subjected to no additional trouble or expellee in the collection, GEORGE LVA LL, Chairman. Ship Owner's Society, 33, New Broad -street, December 23, 1024. After the Report had been read, The CHAIRMAN' expressed a hope that the Meeting would be satisfied with the activity of its Committee, and that geode men present would be convinced that the zeal of those whom they had deputed to represent them had not abated. The Chair man adverted to the first part of the Report, and observed that the bills noticed in it would be of the greatest advantage. With respect to pilotage, the attention of the Committee had been constantly engaged, and had, from time to time, examined evi dence on the subject, the result of which was before the meet. ing ; and although, probably, the plan did not answer the ex pectation of all, it must be considered as a great improvement upon the old system. He should be happy to hear suggestions from other gentlemen on this or any other point. Upon the qua rantine, he thought gentlemen would feel with him, that madly improvements bad taken place, and that delay had been much shortened by the late regulations. That part of the Report re lative to this subject, printed in italics, was very important, viz. ". That the charge of quarantine should be immediately borne by the public; and they (the Committee of the house of Com mons) therefore recommended that, in future, all vessels • sub ject to quarantine should be exempted from the duties im posed for the purpose of defraying the expouces arising from' tt, and the fees reduced." As to the London Port Ditties, the Report was not so satisfactory as could have been wished.—(The Chairman here desired the Secretary to read a correspondence between the Committee and the ,Vest India Dock Directors, bearing on this point, to chew that the Conte mittee had not been unmindful of the subject.]—With re , spect to the Stamp Duties, the Committee had yet received no reply from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the appli cation made to him, but the subject would net be allowed to rest. The Chairman next called the attention of the Meeting' to a point that was of consequence to every inhabitant of the island, and was particularly so to a Meeting,of this kind.". ha meant the interests of British seamen.—( Hear l)—When he was first applied to, for the purpose of gaining the sentiments of the ship.owners by . the Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Offic e, &d who stated tot= th:alknudequacy of the fund created by the 6d. sixpence per month ucted from the seaman's wages , to the object of providing the relief contemplated by the -Act 20th George 11., for maimed and disabled seamen, and their widows and children ; and reqUesting that he would ascertain how far the ship-owners were willing that the like sum of six pence per month should he collected from them, under the authority of Parliament, provided that they be subjected to no additional trouble or expence in the collection. He replied, that no means could be adopted so satisfactory for ascertaining the sentiments of the shipowners, as at a general meeting of this Society. He could not avoid, after hawing alluded to the ad cation thus made to him, of declaring that he had possess edthe opportunity of witnessing the conduct of the Directors of ihat So• ciety, and he was happy to assure gentlemen who now heard him, that it was strictly just and impartial on all occasioni• The course pursued by that Society had been much misrepre.- sewed, or, he would rather say, much misunderstood; for, if its principles had been understood, it would have been found worthy of support. The Chairman here read extracts from the Act of the 20th Geo. 11. to show that the Society were cote wiled to act under certain regulations that they could not, un der any circumstances, depart from. He wished particularly to call the attention of gentlemen to the cases to which alone relief could be afforded, and be could assure the Meeting, that the Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Society had uniformly acted up to the provisions of the 20th of George the Secorpl. The e iactments were as follow :—For sailors manned or dis. ahltd ; for those worn out by service, or arrived at an ad winced age; temporary rilief in cases of disease. • Sailors' who bad stifle ed ship w .-eck were also included in the Act, and relief was arded to the families of such seamen as could not 'support them. Beyond these ffi li mits the Merchant Seamen's Society could not go. The best proof that lie could give of the liberality of the Institu tion was, a reference to its books. The distribution of the Charity extracted from its books, which are referable only to the Port of London and some out-ports ithmediately connected with it, are as follows : Dead Men's Wages - - -- Total amount received to Michaelmas, 1824 £179,151 1 7 519 9 3 11 2 Rum Money - - - 10, - £189,674 2 3 Total re-eipts DISBI7fiSEMP:NTS. Paid in Pensions to 3lichaelmas, 1t124 Present Relief - - - Amount of Duties received to last year Pensicns to last year - - - - £182,144 8 5 - 12,331 3 5 - 3,000 0 0 - 5,460 0 0 £203,035 13 10 The Meeting would recollect, when the Society was esta 'dished eighty years ago, 6d. per month might meet its exigen cies bu: now all the necessaries of life were doubled. It wal on those grounds the Society wanted to increase its funds. The Institution had at present on its books, as pensioners, one men 96 years of age, who received 31. per ann. ; 1 6 at G O years, "11°' received 71. per ann. ; 65 at above 70, who received 61. 425 who received 61. per annum • and 155 who received 41. per annum. It was proposed to add to the amount of the funds by, dead men's wages (not claimed) in all trades, as well as that o l the West Indies. The principle of this scheme, he thought was unobjectionable: it did not lead to prodigality; and deny stimulus could be wanting to English Ship-owners to assist British sailors, it would be found in the late tremendous plot that have encircled the shores of the island, which have deprivea many valuable men of their lives, and left desolate a numher of women and children. Mr. I.llax x 'KG observed, that after the satisfactory Me me l in which their worthy Chairman had adverted to the sevf:. topics in the Report, it would he idle in him to go into anl tails. His object in presenting himself to the Meeting was, l " per ann.; move, that the Report Just read be received. The Ilon. Gen "; man offered his tribute of praise to the Seamen's Society, an d concluded by recommending the Meeting to raise the funds the Society by Ship-owners subscribing for each ship, which would probably not amount to more than 2/. 10s. or 31. ahl; This measure, he thought, would put sufficient fun ds into ttw hands to meet every exigency. Mr. 'l'. Ws es° N WORM content himself with one obervado_ne• None possessed more daring spirit than British seamen ; a';'l they were as independent as they were daring, for they wal not bear rebuke. Sense there were in the wulk of life of cat"l . sailors who knew well how to apply for parochial relief; games; knew it not., and he hoped they never would. This relief ought! to be afferded to these brave men, not as charity, but as their right That fund which arose out of their sixpences they had a ditc c right to : and any other furnished to them by shipowners they and an indirect right to, because they served that body so well and at so much hazard. The Hon. Gentleman concluded with seconding Mr. Manning's resolut'on, for which, and the fol lowing ones, see advertisement in another column. takeinr.inlittes ite nT i„ B m e o e f ie t c h n e a tra ien de must wait till the end of the East India Company's fore any thing could he done on that point. One great point had, however, been gained. viz the trade with China being was s th a f o rgn a n , o an n d ot h i eeefehaeread beenthe c tried on direct with the colonies, instead of vessels coming t° England first, by which course the United States gained e 9 great an advantage. Mr. Blanchard hoped that as the sate° principles applied to the trade between China and the Continen t of Europe, a similar course as to that trade would be adopted , He then adverted to the necessity of assisting the Seameel Hospital Fund. • M. it ucx LE observed, that Mr. Blanchard had stated thatil feared the general questio as to the China trade must Atat, over till the close of the Company's charter; but he hoped "'" meeting would not rest satisfied with the pre-ent state of t hing! charter be:r built in this country, was with regard to India-built vessels. It would be recolleeteo that the consent of the British ship-owners to the tulmimsi° ° „ of India-built vessels to all the privileges enjoyed by Ii i 5 in return, they were to be allowed to participate in cotton(); given upon the understanding , 13 2 wish the former, in the coasting and general trade in the In dia Seas. It appeared, however, that the local Government did ele a feel itself authorized to grant its licences to mule between Indli and China, to any vessel not owned by a trader reside Viol India. He (Mr. Buckle) hoped that question, which much justice in it, would not be lost sight of. Committee The CHAIRMAN assured the Gentleman t h a t the se° woul press it as much as possible. Mr. FENDALL to the chant sown PaYi 3 g !' a and was not returned to the merchant service. This wasit pendent of the sixpence for the Merchant Seamen's _ Mr. MAur E culled the attention of the Meettngstoton,,, man to Greenwich Hospital, which went to tee natio,4nal slyvire: to state to this Meeting the state of the funds, rat u , so , funds of its Committee.. He said that it had been cubutt'X'3, last year he had not dared to do so. The p lai n n u j ie then ] that they were so low that he was aehatned to Aid not public. It should be recollected that this Society, _ te act for the Ship-owners of London alone, but for the.. ,egtW t o number of Ship-owners of all ports, and therefore all tn are contribute to it. The disbursements of the present. ),!...etipg. 945/. 4s. 7d. The meet's that the Committee had ol i nir ei , of those disbursements were 6601. Cs 7d., leaving a 0 1'- 2761. besides arrears of last year's amount, of 141/. 6 2 jad e ing in all above 400/. He then proceeded to shew,s F ilt ered meets and otherwise, the benefits that ship-owners n by urging the meeting not to suffer persons who ale wilt'' ;t itously to be left in the lurch. He particularly adve , i ,„ l e s from the labours and exertions of the Committee, antiactrtue4 efforts of their Secretary, Mr. Cock, and characterised„.tit_7o4, most zealous and indefatigable. In conclusion he ID „ e t 'r at ion that if the Committee had existed at the time of the t % l aw of the docks, the ship-owners would not now be loaded "' duties they had to pay. e 0 sO lO Mr. GILLESPIE begged for a moment to call th bout, of the meeting to a subject now a good Witco fettled ; he and put in a train, for pronpectuses have been poly wo pro• alluded to the docks on the !liver Thames, which ' t ply t ° posed to form, and it was, he understood, intended ? tnosae docks Parliament next Session to make the claim,' of t idea of e compulsory. The coal trade were" alarmed at the _ „est ing compelled to unload in docks, and had determined Ship' any such attempt. They had had an interview ivitt hs r nag yet owners' Committee, who informed them that theY, d res ist ttnY taken any step in the business, but that they egm' cks . compulsory measure for unloading sessels in the age aue deal Mr. PoweEs thought that the thanks of the meet' tones' to his Majesty's Ministers for the liberal and enlighrter ate of policy they were pursuing as to trade, and to 8 ,. a , migh t navigation laws so perfectly clefts, that any . 81111 1 • 49/ "`d theo l in a week. On the Ist Jan. 182 make his shipmaster understand tie whole tenden c Y ho e le° of t they Were will commence and it was to his Majesty's .Minieters oindebted f o or i th sk ‘ tfd e , at tl a ia d t va th n e ta ir ge ne port did not ° A llu it t e se loo t, t e Board of Customs. The fact was, every thing h a— 'tad "'— smoothly and satisfactorily with that Board, and they to treated with so much courtesy by it, having attention Pi n t of all their requests that there was no opportunity, as la Sert il l e business, which ;lone could enter into the Report! „t° r be eke °' any way to that Board ; but at the same time tne ' the Meethig were strictly due to the Members of it. mo tel Thanks being voted the Committee and Chairs die / broke up about four o'clock, • • • A: I 1: -1