The Sun. — London, England, 1824-07-09 00:00:00

A • . * .. . , A. 1 - ,. . ... I •••••••••••• i f N4‘‘ .ll • ••1 t • . • .. . c - -1 :canc. afqs , c 4, i1 4' , , ... ~,•.tt,,,- p._x 4. 0r - ,--- ----4. ... _.......„,,„f • ..i ~ /- 6/1 3 e .0.r..,....4,_0 ...:0-, , ip,'5" , ,._ 4 , 1 . 5 0 s, • ,---,,, •Ilt•—.0 - ' e Nt e 0 • 4' I • ' . . - ' • • l .4t '•rr Nt;mßErt 9929. FRIDAY, .IULY 9, 1824. PiticE SEVANPESCE; LAST WEEK. ROYAL ACADEMY, SOMERSET PLACE. NOTICE is hereby given, that the EXHIBI TION of the ROYAL ACADEMY will finally CLOSE TO -MORROW, the Inth Instant, at Seven o'Clock precisely. Admission (every day from Eight o'Clock till Seven), Is. RECIPROCITY OF DU 11 ES his Majesty's Most Hono ura bl e P r i vy Council.—(Vide Ap pendix E.) On the 27th of February, a Reply was received from their Lordships, intimating that his Maiesty's Government felt it their duty to act on the palters vested in them by the Recipro city of Duties Act.—(Vide Appendix F.) • Such are the facts connected with the history of a proceeding, which at once strikes a t t h e root of the principle on which our Navigation System is founded. When •it is considered, how intimately the growth and' pr ogress o f t h at System , are asso ciated with ,the brightest d ee d s an d most pros p e rous eras of British history, and with w h at j ealous care i t h as b een f os t ere d and cherished as the bulwark of National strength, h the most eminent of British Statesmen, i ts su b vers i on ma y we ll give rise to apprehension and alarm. Nnether, however, the departure from its policy be, as modern Economists assert, the substitu tion of sounder and better principles of commercial intercourse, involving no hazard of National security; or, as the Ship Owners believe, a dangerous hnd ill -judo:4 experiment, strik ing a vital blow at the best interastislif -Country, time must now determine. But waving for the present, the question of the relative merits of the- two Systems, the Ship Owners con ceive they have just reason to complain that they are singled out for this dangerous experiment; and that the consequent ruin of their property is disregarded by the defenders of other interests, who shrink from it when about to be applied to themselves. British Agriculture, and British Manufactures, are as much protected by Duties and restrictions, from Foreign competition, as British Freight : All tend equally, in principle; (and the former infinitely more in amount,) to increase the cost of coin moditiem to the consumer ; and all are alike calculated to excite Foreign jealousy : Yet Agriculture and .llanufacturescontinue to be protected bAr Duties and Prohibitions; while Agricul turists and 3lanutacturers join in the removal of the protection hitherto affbrded to Shipping. The Manufacturer, seduced by the prospect of an increase of Foreign trade, throws his weight into the scale of the economist ; the Agriculturist, dazzled by the specious theories advanced in its support, contributes his assistance to the establishment of what is called a liberal sys tem of Commercial intercourse ; and the Ship Owner, mire presented and unconnected, becomes the first victim of the de lusion. • ships, and is made to pay heavy Duties on some of the most important articles used for these purposes. That the Ship Owners of the Ports in the Baltic and Norway, have the means of building, equipping, and navigating ships at infinitely lower rates than the Ship Owners of this Kingdom, the former having all the materials for these purposes at hand in their own countries, and being permitted to consume them free of duties : the wages paid to their seamen being not one 'half the amount paid by British Ship Owners to seamen in the same voyages, and the cost of victualling In foreign ships being ' also much less. That the present protecting duty in favour of importations in British ships, is not found even adequate to enable them to sus tain the competition to which they are exposed ; the propoi-, tionate number of foreign ships employed in importinggoods to this country from Prussia, Norway, Sweden, and Holland, having within the last three years materially increased over the proportionate number of British shipping employed in the same. trades. That ship-building has been rapidly on the decline In this country, as will appear from the following returns for the last live years Tons. minute inquiry ;—the- examination lof- nunterOus witnesses on behalf -of the Merchants,- and. others engaged in trade with the • North! of Europe ;+-and the most deliberate consideration of the subject' by Tour HOnotirable House; and if it was not then deemed 'expedient to 'make' so important a concession to foreign countries, your' Petitioners confidently hope that your Honourable House will not deem it to be ne cessary or proper at the present period ,' when the shipping of those countries Is increasing with the increase of their trade, and the shipping, of this kingdom engaged in trade with the North of Europ e , i s evidently on the decline. That your Petitioners are not insensible, - that attempts are making by Foreign countries tor induce Ibis nation to with- , draw the protection hitherto afforded to her shipping, by:mtak. M 'g distinctions in the d ut i es on goods which they import, to the - disadvantage-of British shin s ( w hi c h proce edi ng they affect to consider as founded on a principle of reciprocity); and that ' the effect of persevering in that system, and of the adoptioU by this nation of the necesary measures of counteraction, by in creasing the (Wats on 'goods imported , from thence in the ships of such countries, Must eventually be, that the importa tions would be made in British ships, and the exportations in ships of those countries the return voyages, in both cases, being in ballast. NAVIGATION. _ Catalogue, Is. HENRY HOWARD, R.A. Sec. E►thibitors arc requested to send for their respective Works on Tuesday", the 13th, or Wednesday, the 14th Instant. The PROCEEDINGS of the SPECIAL COMMITTEE of SHIP OWNERS of LONDON, appointed to oppose the Adoption of the Principle of Admitting Foreign Vessels to Trade with this Kingdom on the same Terms as British Ships. FOR ROTTERDAM. With a BAG of LETTERS from the POST - OFFICE. THE KING of the NETHERLANDS, Steam Packet, Captain JOHN SLATER, will proceed from off the Custom-house every Saturday Morning, at Eight O'Clock, returning from Rotterdatu every Wednesday Morn ing, with Passengers, Carriages, and Luggage. . The Proptietors beg to announce to the Public they are bow l uilding a Second Ve-sel, which will be got ready with all possible dispatch to afford the accommodation of a con. teyance twice in every week between London and Rot. terd.sm. The earnest and unremitting efforts of the Special Committee of Ship Owners tin opposing " the Reci procity of Duties Act," having unfortunately proved ineffec tual, and his Majesty's Government having intimated their in tention to regulate the future commercial policy of the country by the principles and under the—provisions of that Act, the Committee deein it their duty to lay before the general body of British Ship Owners, the Correspondence and Memorials by which they have endeavoured to effect the object of their appointment ; together with such remarks as appear to the Committee to arise from the alarming introduction of a prin ciple, striking directly at the root of that protection under which the British Shipping InterNts have attained their present mag nitude and importance. To this measure the Committee are impelled equally, by an anxiety to arouse the attention of Ship Owners to a consideration of the perilous situation in which their property is placed by the abrogation of that pro tection on the faith of which their capitals were embarked, and by a desire publicly and solemnly to record their own humble protest against the adoption of a system, which they conscien tiously believe must, if extensively acted on, have the effect of increasing the Naval Power of Foreign Nations, by the destruc tion of the British Marine. For further particulars, and to secure places, application to be made at the General Packet Mice, 358, Strand; or at the Steam Packet Office, No. 37, Crotched Friars. In 1818 the amount of Tonnage built in the British _ . - 104,366 1819 Dominions 1820 _ - 112,173 . - - 84,582 1821 . 74,847 1822 . - 82,534 That since the restoration of peace, British shipping has de clined in value full one half, and the remaining half has fur the most part been unproductive of income to the owners. That under these circumstances, any decrease of the protec tion now afforded to British shipping, appears to this Meeting to threaten its gradual and certain decay ; and so to deprive the empire of that resource for seamen for the supply of its national marine, which the commercial shipping of the country has hitherto been made the means of affording : That the principle of protection to domestic industry from foreign competition, has been recognized by successive Legis latures from the earliest p er i o d s o f our history, and has from time to time received the sanction of the highest authorities. That under the operation of this principle, British shipping, as well as many of the mo st valuable branches of native pro ductions and manufacture, have been fostered into Importance, and are maintained in existence ; that its relaxation, therefore, in favour of foreign shipping, to the injury of British naviga tion, (while its protection continues extended to agriculture and manufactures), would be a manifest act of inequality towards the Ship Owner. That this inequality is rendered doubly severe by the exten sive restrictions in manning and navigating, to which, for ob jects of national policy,. heis subject, in addition to the bur thens he sustains in common with other branches of the com munity. That if, therefore, it be now deemed expedient to alter the laws upon the faith of which British Ship Owners have been induced to embark their property, the principle which has been so frequently recognized in other Acts of Parliament, Of in demnifying vested interests, ought in common justice to be extendeit - to the present proprietors of British shipping. That a Petition founded on these Resolutions be presented to the !louse of Commons, and that Thomas Wilson, Esq., M.P., be requested to present and support the same, and that the other Members of the City 'of London, and. the Members for Middlesex, be solicited to give it their earnest support. That your Petitioners are no . less sensible h ow greatl y such a system of Commercial whrfare, would be to be regTetted ; but • your Petitioners are notwithstanding of opinion that such a state of things, supposing that any Foreign Country should think fit to persist in that system, (but which, from a regard to its owti interest, it is conceived that no Foreign Country is likely to do,) would be infinitely preferable to that of supersed ing the employment of British ships,. in the trade of Edrope, by the operation of the said Bill ; as this nation need never be at a loss for an adequate supply of the articlei ' which such country produces. That the principle of affording protection to domestic indusa try froni Foreign :cimpetitiOn, has been recognized and acted upon from the earliest periods of our history, and under its continued operation, the British Shipping Interest, as well as others of the most valuable branches of native productions and manufactures, have been fostered into importance : your !led-. tioners theref ore humbly Submit to your honourable House, that the relaxing that principle in favour of Foreign Shipping, whilst protection still continues to be afforded to Agriculture and Manufactures, - would be such a procedure towards the Ship Owners, as your Petitioners confidently trust that your Honour. able House, in its justice,' will not agree to sanction, without at the same time resolving to compensate the Shipping Interest at large, for the ruinous depreciation of their property to which they will thereby be exposed. - That under these circtimstancts, your Petitioners humbly hope that your Honourable Ho u s e w ill not t hi n k fi t to di m i n i s h the protection width the existing Laws afford to British ship ping, by passing the Bill - in question into a Lair; 'since the effect must be, to expose hn important branch of- it to' gradual but certain decay; and so far to deprive the Empire of that resource for Seamen for the supply of the National Marine, which the Commercial Shipping of the Country has hitherto been made the means of affording.; but, on the contrary, your Petitioners humbly entreat, that your Honourable house will discountenance every measure calculated to deprive British Shipping of protection from Foreign competition, until the former can be relieved from the burthens and restrictions to which it is at present subject; and instead of a power being given to his Majesty to equalize the Duties and Drawbacks upon Articles imported or exported in British and Foreign Ships, as proposed by the said Bill, that his Majesty may be enabled by your Honourable House, to effect the purpose there. by intended, by an authority to m ake such alterations in the Ditties and Drawbacks as may from time to time be found ne-' cessary, to countervail those differences of Duty which may be made in Foreign' ports, to the discouragement of British Shipping. And your Petitioners willever pray. London, 27th June,_ 1623. ( To be continued.). • On the lit of August will be published, In Two Volumes, avo. TALES of . a TRAVELLER.-- By the Author of The SKETCLI BOOK. Printed for John Murray. Albemarle-street. BRITISH ANNUITY COMPANY.-Ca pita! £3,000,000, in 60,000 Shares of X5O. each. DIRECTORS. PETER MOORE, Et S. B. M. BARRETT, Esq. Colonel Henry Curzon Nicholas Dennys, Esq. Lt. Gen. Sir Rufane Donkin, K.C.B. Major James Jones R. Lane, Esq. Wm. A. Maddock', Esq. M.P. George Magnus, Esq. John Mendam, Esq. :sq. M.P. Chairman. M.P. Deputy Chairman. William Newman, Esq. Samuel Page, Esq. Colonel Palmer, M.P. Nathaniel Wm. Peach, Esq. lion. William Powlett, M.P. A. A. Sutlers, Esq. Colonel Talbot, M.P. John Windt), .Esq. AUDI _TORS. Henry Clarke, Esq. • • • John Horlor, v Burrage Daenpoit, E I sq David MiLean, Esq. imothy Francis Power, Esq. BANKERS. ' Sir William Kay, Bart. Price, Nfarryat, and Cidemau. Sir John ['erring, Bart. Shaw, Barber, and Co. SECRETARY-James Mitchell, Esq. A.M. SrANDINQ CouNsgi.—Samuel Girdlesiorie, Esq. Soi.lcurott—John Wilk's, jun. Esq. COVSULTINO SUROEONS—Genrge Buckley 13olton, Esq. William flesvicke Lynn, Esq. SultvEvoas—Joseph Gwilt, Etq.; Edward I,Anson, Esq.; James Savage, Esq. This Compriuy has been established under the authority of an Act of Parliament, for the purchase of Annuities secured upon Freehold, Copyhuld, and Leasehold Estates, Money in the Government Funds, Parish Bonds, Turnpike Tolls, and other eligible Property. T he - Company i s now ready to receire•Tenders to any amount. and to advance Money on unusually liberal terms. Blank Forms will be' delivered, on application to the Scare-- tat y at the: Office, to whom all Letters must be sent post paid. JAMES MITCHELL, Secretary. 31, New Broad street, London, Bth July, 1824. ( - - To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Utitain and Ireland in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the undersigned Ship Owners of the Port of London, . . COUNTY FIRE OFFICE, AND PROVIDENT LIFE OFFICE, REGENT - STREET, LONDON. • PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES. The DURK of RUTLAND •• The MARQUESS of NORTHAMPTON EARI. GREY LORD BRAYBROOKE • LORD KING, &c. &c. &c. DIRECTORS. a. T. Barber Beaumont, Esq. Hon. Thos. Parker Francis Const, Esq. William Matti, Esq. Sir John Doyle, Bart. - Lieut. Col. Samwell Sir George Docket, Bart. James Sekwick, Esq. Sir John Harrington, Bart. Hon. W. Shirley Sir S.B. Morland, Bart, M.P. Sir W. R. Welby, Bart. Sir David Ogilby Sir Robert Wilson, M.P. • &c. &c. CAPITALS, A MILLION STERLING and upwards. The PROFITS are divided amongst those who now insure, as well as the original Members, in lust proportion to their respective Payments. In the FIRE-OFFICE, RETURNS, during the last ten years, to the amount of ,C 41,000, have been paid to all Per sons who have continued insured Seven Years, upon Annual as well as Septennial Policies, and whether they have been Sufferers or otherwise. In the LIFE OFFICE, BONUSES of .1:18 Bs. and £26 per cent. hare been divided during the last Fourteen Years; and other very peculiar Advantages arc afforded. IMPERIAL LIFE INSURANCE OFFICE. SUN-COURT, CORNHILL, and (SAINT JAMES'S STREET. Capital—Z7s9,ooo. DIRECTORS. CORNELIUS BULLER, Esq. Chairman. SAMUEL DREWE, Esq. Deputy Chairman. Charles Barclay, Esq, Daniel Mildred, Esq. John Bourdieu, Esq. Jeremiah Olive, Esq George Brown, Esq. Robert Slade, Esq. Andrew Colville, Esq. Henry Smith, Esq Robert Lang, Esq. . John Smith, Esq. M.P. Richard Lee, Esq. - Henry Starry, lisq. Ebenezer Maitland, Esq. John Henson Tritton, AUDITORS. Sir Charles Piice, Bart. I John Baker Richards, Esq. John Tritton, Esq. CONSULTING PHYSICIAN. H. Lidderdale, M.D. Falcon-square. Two-thirds of the profits of the Company are periodically added to the sums specified in the Policies effected for the wh o l e teem of Life; at. the same time the insured are pro tected, by the Deed of Settlement, and the above ample ca pital, from every chance of loss, by the responsibility which attaches to those who become mutual insurers of each other. Lives insured are allowed to pass by Sea from one part of the United Kingdom to another; and also, in time of peace, to pass in King's Ships and Packets, .or other decked Vessels, between British Ports and such Foreign Ports as lie between Ostend and Havre de Grace, both included, without extra psemiun► or special leave of the Directors, as is usual ly required. No extra Premium is required from Persons engaged in the Army or Navy, unless when called into actual Service. No Entrance Money, nor Fine cat Admission, is charged, except in the case of non-appearance. Attendance is given daily at the Company's (Mice. from Ten till Four o'Clock, where Rates and Conditions may be had, or at any of the CoMpany's Agents in the principal Towns throughout the Kingdom. By Order of the Board, JOHN GREY, Aittnary. TtticTuiths cuitt4a) B Y a new Method the above troublesome Complaint is entirely eradicated, (without the uje of Bougie or Caustic), whether of long or shott standing, ex cept constitutional, as well as all weaknesses generally RC. oompanying it, and in a short time the whole system is re.. eetahlished, being one of the greatest discoveries ever made. By JOHN LYNCH, 44, Duke.qtrert, St. Joint:et.. Respectable references will he given, if reqiiii ed.--All Let, tors post.paid. Ccl•The price of the Medicine is Four Pounds n parcel. Aiterfect Cure for Pilions Affections and Obstru c ti ons in the Rowels. * * it Secrecy will be observed. Just published, price 51:8d. Bvo., the Third. Edition of A PRACTICAL TREATISE On NEVUS, ewS, and INFLA MNI ATORY AFFECTION S, R wit O nh a BILIO Method Of Curing Strictures, without the use of Bougie 'or Caustic. By JOHN LYNCH.—To be had of the Author, 44, Dube- Street, St. James's. From the first introduction to Parliament of the principles of freedom of Trade, the Ship Owners have felt that they have had peculiar reason to complain of the severity with which those principles have been applied to their injury, while other interests, possessed of more powerful means of enforcing their claims to exemption from the operation of the system, have obtained the attention and relief they have sought. The alteration in the Timber Duties, struck the first im portant blow at the principle of protection, on which the very existence of British Shipping depends. The New Navigation Act (3 Geo. IV. Cap. 43.) proceeded another step towards its subversion ; the Warehousing Act (4 Geo. IV. Cap. 24.) fol lowed in the same track ; and the Reciprocity of Duties Act appears to put the seal to the declaration, that in the future policy of this country, Naval pre-eminence is to be consider ed subordinate to the encouragement of Foreign Commerce. In the latter part of the year 1822, the Ship Owners re. ceived the first intimation that it was in the contemplation of his Majesty's Government to recommend to the Legislature, the enactment of a law adopting the general principle, " That " the vessels of foreign countries should be allowed to import " into this country all articles whatever that may legally be " imported, on payment of th e sam e duti es on ly as are pa i d 4 ' by British vessels importing similar articles, provided that " British vessels are allowed to import goods into the poits of " the country to which such foreign vessels may belong, on " paynient of the same duties as are charged on similar im. " portations by vessels of such countries." Deeply impressed with the importance of such a measure ; alarmed by a conviction of the injury that must result to every interest dependent on the prosperity of British shipping, front the admission of a principle involving a sudden and entire abro gation of that protection which It had been the policy of ages to extend to those interests; and feelingly alive to the injustice , of exposing them, thus unprotected, to a competition, rendered hopeless by the burthens anti • restrictions to which that same policy continued to subject them. the Ship Owners urged on , his Majesty's Government the consideration of the principles on which our Navigation System was founded : that the protection it afforded to British shipping was only an equivalent for the burthens and restrictions to which, for objects of great national policy, it was subjected : that any measure therefore which should withdraw that protection, ought to be accompanied by a 'removal of all those burthens and restrictions from which the foreigner is exempt ; for that, without such removal, it *ould •. be obviously impossible for British shipping to sustain the , competition to which it would be exposed. In thus confining their first remonstrance against the princi ple, to the consideration of its injustice alone, and waving alp argument on the general policy of Its admission, the slap Owners were neither in sens ibl e to i ts i nt i mate connexion with • the great question of National Security, nor ignorant of the ut ter impossibility of their being placed on a footing of real equa. lity with Foreigners, by any remission of direct taxation, wile-, ther on materials used in the building and equipment of Ships, or in the shape of charges incident to their Navigation. Aware that, by the effect of national restrictions, and the pressure of indirect taxation, the expences of building, equipping, and navigating British Ships, defied all possibility of succe,sful competition with their Foreign Rivals, the British' Ship Owners might have urged the impolicy of hazarding,..by the ruin of our Commercial Marine, the future naval supremacy of Britain ; but conceiving that by simply placing in the strongest light, the intimate and inseparable connexion between restric tion for National objects, and proportionate protection for their interests under that restriction, they were adducing an argu ment unanswerable, (and therefore, as they hoped, sufficient;) and were at the same time pursuing a course the most decorous and respectful to the Executive Government, they rested their protest on this argument alone. Nor indeed did they then conceive it possible, that on re consideration of a question so important in all its bearings, the illusions of theory could triumph over thepractical testimony borne by experience to the soundness and wisdom of our Navigation system they felt convinced that a sense of justice must continue to them the protection of that System, so long as the restrictions it imposes on building, equipping, manning, victualling, and navigating their Ships were retained ; and they were satisfied that prudence would forbid the abrogation of those restrictions : how great then was their surprise at the introducti on i nto Par liament of the Reciprocity of Ditties Bill; and how serious their alarm at discovering, that while it proposed to abandon them at once to Foreign competition, it contained no provision whatever for that relief, by which even its supporters must admit, that coin. petition can alone be maintained I—A General Meeting of Ship Owners was convened, and some declaratory resolutions, anti a petition against the bill were unanimously adopted.—(Vide Appendix A and B.) Notwithstanding the strenuous opposition of several enligh. tened Members, to whose exertions the Ship Owners at large are deeply indebted, the Bill passed the House of Commons on the 4th of July 1823 ; and at the very close of the Session was hurried through the House of Lords with a rapidity admitting neither of opposition nor discussion, and which actually pre vented the presentation of several petitions against it. The Bill consequently passed into a Law • but in the course of di scuss i on in the House of Commons, it did not escape notice, that state. ments were .made of the comparative expences of building, equipping, and navigating British and foreign ships a—of their respective durability ;—their relative capacity; and other cir cumstances, on which the power of competition must obvineci, dep en d ;—which were so utterly at variance with the experience of' the Ship Owners themselves, as at once to excite surprise that information so erroneous should have been adduced, and mortification anti regret that no opportunity then remained for disproving it in Parliament; since it could not be doubted that, in sanctioning the Bill, the House had been influenced by those statements, on which its policy and propriety had be en d e f en d. ed. Sang u i ne h owever in the expectation that as the Law only empowered, without rendering it obligatory on, the executive government to act on its principle, a refutation of the statements referred to might still prevent the actual infliction of tile evil, the Ship Owners once more embraced the alternative of an ap peal to his Majesty's Government, entreating them " not to ex. ercise the powers vested in them by the, Legislature under " the Act in question, until opportunity had been afforded the it Ship Owners of proving in what manner and degree the in " terests of British shipping would be thereby affected." This appeal was contained in a petition to the Lords of his Majesty's Most . Honourable Privy Council, dated the 4th of August, 1823.—( Vide Appendix C.) To this communication a Reply was received on the 14th of August, intimating the readiness of their Lordships to receive such further evidence as the Ship Owners might be prepared to adduce, and containing an assurance that it should be brought under the notice of his 31ajesty's Government, in reference to the exercise of the discretion vested in the Crown under Act referred to.—(Vide Appendix 1').) From this period till December, the Ship Owners were en. gaged in obtaining evidence to substatiate the allegations con tained in their Petitions, by reference to the most authentic sources of information, British and Foreign. The result of their labours is contained in the Report of. the Special Com mittee, which, agreeably to the resolution of a General :Ileet ing) was forwarded without further comment, to the Lords of But surely it must be obvious that the same arguments which are now applied to his destruction, must recoil with unanswer able force on the other great sources of National Wealth, should the principle of unrestricted Freedom of Trade be once gene. rally established. .In vain will the Agriculturist then contend, that as the expenses of cultivation are raised by political causes over which he has no dontroul, to double the amount of those which are incurred by his Foreign Rival, he is entitled to pro tdetion from their competition; (he will allege no more than the Ship Owners have proved, although ineffectually.) In vain will the Manufacturer urge the necessity for the like protection, on the plea th a t h e h as em b ar k e d hi s ca pi ta l on the faith of the existing system, and that if it be abrogated, he is at least en titled to compensation : the property embarked in Shipping has been vested on the same faith; yet the Ship Owner is condemn ed to hopeless competition, and his property to uncompensated depreciation. Should the antiquity of the protective system, as applied to the other sources of National importance, be pleaded, the Ship Owner can adduce the most ancient Laws in his sup port. Should their association with national wealth be brought forward, the Ship Owner in addition may plead his connexion with national security as of much greater importance than' na tional opulence : in short, it is perfectly apparent, that if the new principles be adopted, which' it is the avowed object of the political Economists of the day to establish, and if consistency be maintained, the consequences to all classes must, under the existing circumstances of she country, .be as destructive to other interests, as its first application bas been, and must prove to British Shipping. But if, relying on the influence by which the Corn Laws have been retained • by which silks, and woollens, and gla , s, have been exempted from the operation of the Warehousing Bill ; and by which, even when admitted to competition, a protective duty of 30 per cent. on foreign silks is to be continued ; the agriculturist and the manufacturer imagine they shall be en abled to avert from themselves the injurious operation of the principle of freedom of trade, thes4urely will admit that it should not be applied to the ruin dr one class, for .the purpose of favouring. another. If the soundness of the principle be such as its advocates assert, it should surely in common justice : be extended to all ; while if the theory be brand unsafe for general application, those who are now selected us the victims of - it, may reasonably expect that it should be aban doned. Before closing these remarks, it is deemed proper to advert to another more recent instance of inconsistency, in those who advocate the principle of fair and equal competition in trade. It is well known that the Coal Trade, as the most valuable nursery for seamen, has always been cherished with peculiar care, and accordingly, for its encouragement, coal (except in very limited quantity), has been prohibited from being brought by inland carriage, into the metropolis. That attempts would be made to remove this prohibition, and to place inland and sea borne coal on the equal basis of open competition, was to be ex pected from the present disposition to under-rate the importance of Naval Power, and to disre gar d the claim* of the proprietors of Shipping ; but it was scarcely to be expected that, instead of an equality of Duty, the Legislature should have been in duced to sanction the almost entire rembetion of Duty on In land Coal, leaving that which is brought Coastwise subject to a Tax of six shilling per Chaldron ! To subject the Ship Owner in one Session of Parliament by the Reciprocity of Duties Act, to the injury resulting from the general principles of Free Trade as regards Foreigners, and to enact a law to his detriment in the succeeding one, founded in violation of the most obvious of those principles as applied to the Home Trade, forms at once an inconsistency and a hardship, to which it is not easy to find a parallel. In conclusion, the Committee would earnestly intreat the particular attention of Ship Owners to the documents herewith submitted to their consideration: to the uncontradicted state; anent of facts therein exhibited : to tl proof they afford, that most of the assertions by which the 'Reciprocity of Duties Act was recommended to the support of the Legislature, were un founded ; that our Foreign rivale enter the lists of. competition with an advantage of 40 per Cent, on their Capitals employed in Shipping ; and that, whit the existing their respective expences, all hope enormous disparity i n of successful competition is vain, and must continue so, even under any remission ofdirect Tuxation which It is in the power of the Legislature to grant. And s ince it is plain that in sanctioning the measure in question, the House of Common, were influenced by erroneous representations on these subjects, it must be obvious, that if any hope ex i sts o f inducing the Legislature to retrace its steps, it must be throu g h the medium of decisive refutation of those representations. That refutation the Committee conceive is now offered ; and it must rest with those Ship Owners who have weight in the Mari t i me P orts re p resented in Parliament, to urge on their Representatives, a consideration of all the hearings of this interesting question. Such a remonstrance cannot be made put Members on their guard, in the event of further measures in vain. It will at least induce:an inqui ry, oppressive which cannot fail to to Shipping Property being proposed. It must teach caution in admitting assertion as p roof , „, 4 the at . cessity of inquiry iron' alleged facts, bvtbre they are allowed to become the basis of LegiellitiOn. Those effects be more ex tesubjectsatisfied, y will, ti thee moreCmi itself is in vestigated : it remains to be seen how f ar un i te d exert i ons for n e e s iprtxluced,i om minutelyttee are th e the theseinination of truth, may avert the further evils of a course of policy which the Ship Owners believe to be founded in error, and feel to be attended with injuetitte. London 30th May, 1824. APPENDIX. (A.) At a Special Meeting of Ship Owners of London, held at the City of London Tavern, the Ifith June, 1823, confomiable to public advertisenient, to consider of the hill proposed to be introduced into Parliament, to authorise his Majesty in Council to equalize the Duties on Goods Imported or rot ported in British and Foreign Resolved—That The Bill which iv proposed to he introduced . into the House of Commons, to authorise his Majesty's Go vernment to admit the Importation of Merchandise in Foreign Ships at the same rates of Duty as Importations in British Ships, from rountries m `the Governents.whereof may think fit to act upon riAimilerprinciple, appears to this Meeting to con. template a departure from the British Navigation Code, fraught with the mcst dangerous conSequent4:B to the British Shipping Interest. That the British Ship Owner is not in a situation to maintain an open competition with the Ship Owners of those countries which will be principally affected by the proposed measure. That, for objects of great national policy, the British Ship Owner is , by legislative enactment, subject the plait rigti restrictions in the bilildirg, equipprz, and navigating, hi.. Sheweth—That your Petitioners have seen, with the utmost alarm, that a Bill has been introduced into your llonourable House, entitled a " Bill to authorise his Majesty, undo. cer tain circumstances, to regulate the Duties and Drawbacks on Goods imported or exported in foreign vessels ;"'which declares it to be expedient, " that his 'Majesty should be empowered to allow the importation or exportation of any Goods, Wares, and Merchandise, in foreign vessels, upon payment of the like Duties, and with the like Drawbacks, Bounties, and Allow, ances as are now by law paid or granted upon s imilar Goods, Wares, and Merchandise, when imported or exported in Bri tish vessels, from or to those countries in which no other Duties are charged, or other Drawbacks, Bounties, or. Allowances granted, upon the importation or exportation of any Goods, Wares, or Merchandise, into or from such country, in British vessels, than are charged or granted upon such Goods when imported or exported into or from such countries in foreign vessels." That as it cannot be doubted that a role by which the foreign shipping interest will be greatly benefited ;—which subverts a principle that has been acted upon by this country during the last 200 years; --and which has so essentially conduced to the establishment of her naval superiority, will he readily and exultingly adopted by every nation that has the means, and is desirous of possessing an extensive Marine, your Petitioners are unable to contemplate the proposed alteration in the law, in any other light than as a change of system, directly tending to the exclusion of British ships from all participation in the trade of those countries. That your Petitioners trust that such also will be the convic-• don of your Honourable House, when you take into your con sideration, the British Ship Owner is subject to heavy Duties on some of the most important Articles used in the construction and equipment of his Ships; and, that three fourths of the crews must be British Seamen, whose wages are higher than others ; whilst the Ship Owners of the Baltic and Norway, have the means of building, equipping , and na v i gat i ng t h e i r Ships at an infinitely less cost, having all the materials at hand, free of Duty ;—the expence of victualling their Seamen being much less ;—and their wages not being one half the amount paid to British Seamen on similar voyages. That even the existing differences of Duties and Bounties on particular articles, in favour of British Ships (the removal of which is contemplated by the said Bill), are not found to be suf. cient to enable them to sustain the competition to which they are exposed in the Trade of the North of Europe, as will be seen on a reference to the official Accounts ; by which it will appear, that of the considerable increase in the tonnage entered from Holland, Flanders, Norway, Prussia, and Sweden, in the last three years, the largest proportion has been in the Ships of those Countries, viz. Tons Brit. Tons Forn. In the Year 1820 160,288 137,336 1 181,484 136,432 2 199,484 - 187,181 the removal therefore of such difference of Duties and Bounties cannot but be attended with the most injurious consequences to your Petitioners. That since the return of peace, British Shipping has fallen in value one half, and has been, for the most part, unpro3 ductive to the Owners; and the consequence is, that the num ber of Ships is annually diminishing ; and that Shipbuilding is rapidly on the decline ; as will appear from the following extracts from the Official Accounts : Number of Ships, Tons, and Seamen employed in Navi gating them, belonging to the British Dominions: ... Ships. Tons. Men. In the year 1818 25,507 2,674,468 173,607 19 26,482 2,666,396 174,373 20 25,374 2,648,593 .174,414 21 25,036 2,560,802 169,179 22 24642 2,519,044 166,333 Number of Ships built in the British Dominions : ' Ships. Tons. In the year 1818 1,049 104,366 19 1,125 112,173 20 883 84,582 21 879 74,847 22 723 62,534 That your petitioners observe, that in the votes of your Ho nourable ,House,. the said Bill is termed the " Reciprocity of Duties Bill ;"_ but your petitioners humbly beg to submit to your Hon. House, that there is no " Reciprocity" in an equality of Duties and Drawbacks, so lon as British Ships are subject to heavy burthens, or various descriptions, from which Fo reign Slops are exempt ; And as to Foreign Countries retaliat ing uon British Ship s , in their Ports, the higher Duties which, for ti e protection of Briti s h Shippin g , , are p a y a ble upon cer tain raciest when imported into this count:yin Foreign Ships, , ( t he 'Obits of which it is proposed to avert br removin g such difference of • Duty) your p e titioners humb ly beg to remind your Eton. House, that almost every Ship that arrives from those colititries imports a Cargo ; whilst not one in three of them takes back any (foods from this country: ....• _ Vow: petitioners beg further to point out to your tionaiouse, that all equality of Duties, as proposed by the said Bill, would, ih effect, he a repeal ti the most important part of the• Act of the first ii rtl second of his present Majesty, Cap. 37, altering ' I V. - T -Ll'l s L.:l 'limber ) w hich was passed atter the most SCOTCH AND IRISH IN CANADA. Details of a Riot which took place amongst the Irish and Scotch Emigrants in Upper Canada:— " QuEnrc, MAY 24.—1 am convinced that many rumours will be afloat respecting a most unpleasant, and I might say unfortunate, which has recently taken place in this dis trict. I say unfortunate, because a life or two has been lost ; and, if report be true, two more are missing, - who are supposed to have gone over the rapids in the Mississippi, in endeavour. ing to make their escape in a canoe. A great many most violent assaults and batteries had some time previously been committed by some of the Irish emigrants who lately came out with Mr. Robinson. This gentleman was engaged by the English Government, at its expellee, to convey some emigrants from Ireland to form a settlement in Upper Catania, under its auspices. On the 23d, after the muster of a wing of one of the militia regiments was over, a serious quarrel took place between these people and the Scotch, and an attack was made on the house of a Mr. Morris, of Murphy's Falls;. the win dows were broken to pieces with sticks and large stones, and several people severely hurt ; a shot was fired from Some one within, and being loaded with slugs, wounded no less than three of Mr. Robinson's people • unfortunately, one who had nothing to do in the affray. As 1 was not with that part of the corps, I will not pretend to say how the quarrel commenced, or who were the aggressors : the reports are various. On the Monday following a large body of Nott's settlers assembled, to the number of one hundred or one hundred anti fifty, many of them with arms, and the others with shilelas, march ing with colours and music; and having arrived at the scene of the former riot, they recommen ce d their attack on Mr. Mor ris's house, who, after making the necessary repairs, had fled to Perth, broke open the window, entered the house, and de stroyed almost every thing they could lay their hands on.— These circumstances having been reported to the Sheriff, a meet ing of the Magistrates were convened by his request, and it ap peared that a lawless banditti were going about, destroying the property, and thwatening the life of' the honest and industrious man ; that manylndividnals had already been beaten in a most ba'barous manner, which called for immediate steps to put an end to such disgraceful proceedings. In consequence of which an armed party was sent ()Wunder the Deputy (the Sheriff him self' being unable, from extreme illness, t o go ), accompan i e d by Colonel Marsh all, Dr. Thorn, and W. Graham, who were sent for the purpose of taking depositions, and of issuing warrants against such as were found implicated ; it .being known that many, if' not all, were absolutely afraid to come its Perth to obtain redress, in (tread of the threatened vengeance of these people. On the party's arrival at the depot below, it was divided into two divisions to prevent the escape of any of the other party. On the approach to a house of one of our's, a shot or shots were fired from within, was slightly wounded; another of our wC'heek.iOnon. en tering the house, and slightly wounded on t (e ant, two Or in, it was found that one man was killed i nside,t fire f the latter is Since dead.— and one of the matt tnt outside three wounded report says one e• . a We have about ten or eleven of ,thou now 4", gaol • with we prevent the recurrence of scenes of so s I have been made ac quainted: but, are the particulars, as far as . ; al will be m a d e. in this affair, a no doubt, further invest-go-I( • be sent off to his Excellency the Lieutenant have to hope that the very severe check er th io es u • s n a m n . e at n u i r e e t . wit T h h w e i s ll e report of which will Governor." e l t o p T j li f P o o ) eo gnawer or G whichATxL sNV..7. t a lywirri.ttlieLls.)yr o :_. rtlvi of the LORD LIEU " Dublin Castle, 26th June, 1624. 44 My DEAR SIR—An order has been sent to the Engineer, j a a r t is e , i n under Mr. Num°, to proceed forthwith to the execu tion fr the works that have been continence(' in the labour ingneighbour- classes in those districts. " I remain, my dear Sir, your faithful obedient servant, employment tlle t ° the iliu- W. GREQOIII(% 'l. ll° E n x ii Aowf Galway rusts and wil i f t T l i veCinnni n il i e e n ( l l " Valentine Blake, Esq. Mento Castle." daySTla.stji(t)re'sascciAdeNntal• ---... Vernon's estate, To ly tiA too , k A p P i ll ac l e L a r.—On Sahli amongst the negro houses, by which 33 of them were in a short time consumed. We are sorry to add, that A negro boy fell a victim to the flames. The wind being very high, rendered the efforts to arrest the progress of the tire unavailing, till t h e number of buildings above.mentioned were consumed. •