The Sun. — London, England, 1825-12-16 00:00:00

S1111)-0 WNERS' SOCIETY. The Anniversary Meeting of this Society was held yesterday at the City of London Tavern, to receive the Reeert of the Committee, and to elect eight members in the west of that number who go out by rotation. GEORGE LYALL, Es q. haying taken the Chair, The Assistant Secretary (Mr. FoonD) proceeded to read the following Report :a "Report of the Corninittee.of 'Ship-owners, presented to the General Annual Meeting held at the City of London Tavern, December 15, 1825. ' " In the last year's Report, the Committee enumerated vari ous Bills which Me. Herries, the Secretary 'to the Lords of the Treaaury,•had brought into Parliament, or which were in a state of preparation; having for their abject to repeal all the ex isting Laws of the Customs, and to re-enact that most extensive Code in a collected and consolidated form: and the Committee .have now the Satisfaction of stating, that; to this end, thirteen .neweActs were passed in the last Session. " For reasons—no doubt good—the operation of the repeal of the old Acts is postponed 'six months beyond the commence_ ment of the new ones, which will take place on the sth of January, 1826; and the general repealing clause, declaring that no law of a date anterior to that of the new Code, is to continue to have any force', which was described in the last year's Report as being then in the Bill, has been left out of the present Act : the Committee, however, trust that this is only a temporary suspension of the completion of this great measure. The thirteen'nev; Acts are as follow T-- - " I. An Act to repeal the general Laws relating to Quaran tine, and, to make other Provisions in li eu th ereo f, C ap . 78. By this Act, the Shippinglnterest is relieved from the tonnage • Duty formerly payable on Vessels subject to Quarantine, many -restraints are rernoyede, the penalty of death for a breach of ."Quarantine is done away with; and the pecuniary penalties are . considerably reduced. a recairtionary Regulations for the pre ven:ion of contagion - have been re-enacted, and the entire ma nagernent of the . quarantine system has. been placed, as here teftne, under the innnediate direction of - his Majesty's Privy Council, who are empowered, from time to time, to issue such • oralcrs as may be de e med necessary for the safety and protection of the country. - " On the 10th of July an Order in Council was issued, in , avhich several additional stations fbr the performance of Qua - rant ine have been:appointed. " Vesels from the Mediterranean arid West Barbary,- with . clean bills of health, are to perform 15 days quarantine, and .ttle cargo to undergo - the usual airings. VeSsels with foul and suspected bills,must perform 30days, and the cargo go through the usual firmigations; and if pestilen -dal disease should appear during such performance, the quaran t',ee is to commence anew. " Vessels from the Mediterranean or Wrest Barbary, - not hay e•-iv, are - infectious disteMperon board, but withoutclean bills of health, are to-repair to Standgate Creek, or Milford Haven, and •. nowhere else. 'And vessels bound to this countrye oti board which the - plague shall appear, - if to the Southward of Cape St. Vincent, are to repair to some Lazaretto in. the Mediterranean; and if to the Northward of Cape St. Vincent, to Milford Haven ; and there perform quarantine. ' • " 2. An' Act to repeal the several Laws of the Customs, cap. • 105.- a ßy this Act, 443 Acts, .or parts of Acta, have been ex pungethfrom the Statute Book. An Act for-.the - Management of the Customs, cap.. 106:" —This Act relates entirely to the establishment of that depart ment of the Revenue ; but in the section by which the prohibi tion on . the officers of the Customs in the United Kingdom • to take fees, is renewed,'all ' officers serviog.under the Commis • sioners of the Customs in any part of his _Majesty's dominions are included ; so that all-fees in the Colonies will be abolished froth the sth of January next. • " 4. An Act for the Regulation of the Customs, cap. 107. The plan of this Act is, .to embody, in a concise and well ar ranged form, all the regulations of the Customs which are of a general and permanent nature, leaving to other Acts to give the - peculiar regulations relating to particular subjects. " The Act is divided into four parts Inwards,' Out wards,' Coastwise,' and Miscellaneous ' thoSe parts are 'subdivided into diff ere nt su bj ects ,- such as—'Manifest,' Re port,'• Entry,h&c.; and the whole is assisted by marginal no tices, in a manner n e v er b e f ore pract i ce d ; so that, although the Act contains 144 sections, any'given subject may be referred to with great facility. • " Besides the advantage of this consolidation and arrange _mein, many and great improvements in the laws themselves .have been made. It is most - gratifying to compare the new tablas of prohibitions. with those which will only exist a few days longer. " On referring to the Prohibitions Inwards,' it will be seen that Fearcely any are left (in addition to the Corn Laws) except cattle and butcher's .meat for the protection of the.agrico/tural interest; and the Prohibitions . Outwards' are almost Wholly confined to tool's and implements (a subject whiCh, during the last two Sessions e appears to have been taken out of the hands ,Of government.) . The restrictions with respert'to Pacleeges .and. Tonnage,' are reduced within a very narrow compass; and all those which owed their origin to Excise interference (from "which the shipping interest is now happily relieved) are entirely removed, and those which remain are much; ame liorated. " Spirits May now'be imported in vessels of 70 tons, and in casks of 40 gollata, or in cases of 3 dozen bottles. a- " British Plant a ti o n Runs in casks of 20 galloni.The• Imperial Measure' (by the Act 5 Geo. IV., cap. 74.) is adopt, ed, of course. • " Wine may be imported in ships of 70 tons, and in casks of , 21 gallons ; or in cases of 3 dozen bottles ; 'and wine m an if ests (the fruitful sourc e or vexation and troube to the shipowners),, are dispensed' With. • ". Tire Coasting Regulations—which, in the,preamble to sec: `lOO, (with which they commence) are stated to have no other object than the collection of the coast duties, and •to prevent abuses in• the - foreign trade, are -so contrived as •to relieve the I trade from all formalities not absolutely necessary to those'ob.- jects being reduced to practice, it will be found that the master of a ship may become his own Custom-house Officer e hut under perpetual liability to inspection ;for it will be seen, that he has only to perform his own business correctly, and keep proper ac counts to exhibit to the Officers of Customs on demand., " The Committee do not deem it necessary to draw a minute comparison between this excellent, Act and those which have preceded it, which may be deemedthe fundamental Law of the Cturl. - thrrs ;' but on a perusal it ma y b e c l ea rl y seen, t h at of the • great and confused mass of regulations of the Customs contain ed in the hundreds of laws. to he found upon the Statute Books• those Whiela" 'ate necessary to the security of the•reienite have been selected withigteat practical judgment, and are re-enacted in the clearest end most concise language. " 5.. An Act fOr the Prevention aStnegeling, cap..108.-a-.ln • 'laws of this description, the shi p-ownenhas two subjects to which his attention should he directed • . " First that in official zeal for the objects of a department, regulations injurious to the shipping interest be not adopted . : "And next, that by-clear and easy means afforded for ob.. taining ta perfect knowledge of the regulations in force, the owner or master of a ship may be enabled to avoid the consequencesbf unintentional infractions of them. • " " The Committee conceive, that in this Act these two objects are attained, asarearly as may hepractible. " G. An Act for the Encouragement of British Shipping and Navigation, cap.lo9.—This Act contains the whole law on the subject of the importation of goods of different countries from the several,parts of the world ; and should be in the possession of she master of every B r iti s h vessel:trading to forei gn p arts . The principal provisions in this Act are " First, the allowing the produce of foreign countries in Asia, Africa, and America to be imported in their own ship s . "Secondly, the allowing a ll the produce of the Mediterra nean, and of the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, to he imported in -British ships, from any place in the Mediterranean. "Thirdly, as formerly, British ships are to be navigated by a master and crew, whereof 3-4ths at least are British ; but every such vessel is to be deemed duly navigated which shall • have one national. seaman to every 20 tons, whatever may be the number of foreign seamen "To those parties, and numerous they are, who, with an ample 3-4ths of a crew of national seamen, have unfortunately had a fraction of a foreign seaman on board, exceeding 1-4th of the whole number, the value of a fixed rule like this will be felt. "Fourthly, the penalty for an excess of foreign seamen iv 101. for each man. A ship is no longer liable. for a trifling or unintentional fault, to be dragged by a cruiser thousands of mil's out of her voyage, there being no forfeiture of the ship throughout the Act. "7. An Act for the Registering of British Vessels, cap. 110. —The Committee need not remind the ship-owners that the Registry Laws underwent consolidation and'amendment in the Act 4 Geo. IV, cap. 41. The present Act may be considered to` be a transcript of the former. The Cotmnittee, however, observe, that a doubt as to the necessity of recording the bill of sale at the port from which the ship is to be transferred has been removed, by a slight alteration of the 37th sectiou. In this Act temporary provision, is made for the. relief of ship ,owners who may he, prevented by combination among the ship wrights and seamen front ohtairung the necessary repair of their ships, or procuring parer crews. His Majesty in Council is empowered, in Such cases, to dispense with the restriction of the Navigation and register Acts. "B. An Act for the granting of Ditties, cap. 111.—An im portant feature in this Act, as affecting ship-owners, is the -omission of all distinctions of ditties between British and Fo reign ships in the table, and the substitution of a general clause, sec, 5, empowering his 31: - ..sty to impose additional duties on goods when imported in the ships of foreign countries, which do hot place British ships in their ports upon a footing of equality with their own. This authority, however,; is limit ed toone-fifth of the duties in the t a ble ; and as they are in man instance; very low, and ate Object to be further reduced, itis greatly to be feared that, _as a question of freight, the dif_ ference of duty will often found inadeqoate to the protection of Brim!' shipping ; and it may be fairly . apprehended that the countries which concede thd point of reciprocity,' will be those only which have nothing to fear from British c o mp e titi on . - "9. An Act for the Warehousing of,..Goods, cap. 112.—8 y sec. 30 of this ct permission is given to draw off rum in casks of 20 gallons, for stores of ships. By sec. 44 the required ton nage of the exporting ship, which, for East India goods, was formerly 100_tof.s, is now fixed at one amount of 70 tons for all • - - 10. An Act forgiving Bounties on certain goods esported, cap. 103.—1 n this Act the higher bounty en' sugar exported in British ships is still preserved, but treaties appear to be makirne with foreign countries by whi c h thi s a d va n tage i s re li nqu i s h e d' : ``11: A Act to regulate the Trade of the British Possessions abroad, cap. 114.—The Committee have to observe, that prior to the introduction of the Bill for this Act, Mr. Huskisson. the President of the '• - •Bsard of Trade, had introduced a BM (wl'ith finally passed. into a law, cap. 73), for the purpose of first ob taining the sanction of Parliament for these alterations in the colonial system, which it was the desire of Government to effect. The provisions of this Act became, therefore, a part of the law relating to the colonies, prior so the passing of the Consolida tion Act, cap. 114, in which those provisions are embodied. " 12. An Act to regulate the Customs of the Isle of Man, cap: 115.—This Act appears to be intended only to provide the regulations which are peculiar to that island.' " 13; An Act for , regulating Vessels carrying Passengers, cap. 116.—This Act appears to have been erawn with a care ful attention to some objections of a minor description in• the provisions of the former Act. " Upon these several Acts, passed in the last Session of Par liament, the, Committee have to observe, that the profased and important object for s which they .were undertaken, appears to have been accomplished in a manner far exceeding their hopes.. A consolidation of the laws of the customs had long been urged upon his Majesty's Government by this 'Committee, as a mea sure of great importance to the shipping interest, but they did not expect to see all the - enactments of that extensive code com pressed within the compass of one moderate sized volume of the Acts. . . " The Committee, in concluding their remarks upon them, think it right to apprise the shipping interest, that the Lords of the Treasury have given directions for the publication of an authorised edition of the Lew of the Customs, in an octavo volume, with an India, andsthe necessary Notes ; and the Com mittee recommend that th e mastersof vessels, particPlarly those going upon distant voyages, should be stupplied with the work. " An Act for regulating the payment of the Salaries and Al lowances to British Consuls at Foreign Ports, and the Dis bursements at such ports for certain public purposes, cap. 87. ..:—This Act authorizes hid Majesty in Council to grant sales ries to Consuls-General and Consuls, in lieu of former salaries and " tees of office and gratuities heretofore. demanded from the masters of British ships and vessels-;' -and from and after the Ist of. January, 1826, it prohibits Consuls from taking any other fees or gratuities than those mentioned in tables annex ,ed to the Act, marked A and Is, but which are subject to be varied' by his M a j es ty' s O r d er i n C ouncil, -as occasion may :require, `• Copies of these tables are to be hung up in a conspicuous place, tp the public offices of - all Constils-General or Consuls abroad, and the Collectors of the Customs at the several pests of the. United Kingdom are to furnish every master of an out ward-bound vessel with a copy, who shall. demand one, ,anti this without fee or reward. " Clearing of Vessels at Gravesend. On a complaint by Committee of the great inconvenience which occasionally arose from the detention of vessels at - Gravesend, the Commissioners of Custoths have directedethat the practice ofclearing outward bound vessels at that place shall be discontinued. " Charges in Cuba.—ln the Report of•.last year, the Com mittee stated, that measures were taking by his Majesty's Mi nister at Madrid, for securing the admission of British ves sels into Cuba, on terms as favourable as the ships of other nations; find they have now the satisfaction of reporting the complete•success of those measures. " It has however recently come to their knowledge, that the authorities at Ilavannah exact , a duty of •2i dollars per ton, front all ships which visit the colony; although it maybe only to obtain some necessary repairs or - supplies ; and that in the event of a vessel requiring repair, and part of the cargo be ing landed for that purpose, a duty of . 2 per cent. upon the whole of the cargo is exacted,, in addition to a tonnage duty on the vessel. - . " The Committee have represented the matter to his Ma . jesty's Government, and encourage the hope that measures will be adopted for secuiing to vessels which put' into the Ila vannah—not ,for the "purpose of trading, but merely for neces sail repair or supplies —an exemption from charges, which are without example in any other part of the world. " Fees on Mediteranean Passes:—Directions have been given to the Commissioners of Customs, not to charge the Admiralty Office rea of 31.'55. on - Mediterranean passes, in the case of tessels requiring to be registered de novo, under the Act 4 Geo. IV.•cap. 41: " An Act for th e A men d ment o f t h e Law repecsing Pilots ' and Pildtage, 'and 'also for 'the better PreservatiOn of 'Floating Lights, B u oy s , an d B eacons, cap. 1 25.—A1l the laws and re gulations regarding pilOts are consolidated into this Act. Al thOugh, the rates of pilotage have'not been reduced to the extent which the Report of the Select Committee of the noose Of , Commons had given reason to expect,—those of the Trinity_ house pilots being reduced only about 8 per cent., and no re-' dnction haVing yet taken 'place in those of the • Cinque Ports, except in respect of the boarding-money, —yet the Act contains sonic important regulations. " Section 9..--Ship'-owners may , appeal to the Privy Coun cil, if dissatisfied with the rates established by the Trinity. Corporation. -. ." Section 13 —Not less than 18 Cinque Port pilots are, without intermission, to ply at sea, between the South Fore land and Dungeness. - " Section 23.—N0 addition is to be made to the Cinque .Port pilots, until their number shall be reduced - by death, or Otherwise,' below 120. " Seetion 26.—The rates of the Cinque Ports and TrinitY_ houie pilots may be varied by the Lord Warden and Elder Brethren of the Trinity-house respectively. "Section. 32.—Pilot-boats are required to carry a distinguish ing flagonid to be painted' in a particular manner. " The boarding-money has been considerably reduced,. and a. graduated scale of charge adopted, iii proportion to the tonnage of the vessel ; and when the number ofTinetue Port pilots shall be 120, the rates of pilotage are to be reduced 5 Per cent. " On the principle which seems to have been adopted by Government, that the number of Cinqic Port pilots should be greater than is required' during a time of peace—other wise there alight be a deficiency on the ,breaking out of war, which it would require a great •length of 'time to supplyit appeared by the evidence given by the pilots, as to the average earnings of each respectively, that the exist ing rates would admit of but little. reductiOn, consistently with a due regard to the importance of securing by adequate reward, a sufficient number of competent and respectable men to act as " Classification of Ships in Lloyd's Books.—The Committ ee have the pleasure to s t a t e , t h at the special committee of mer chants,nnderwriters, and ship-owners, who were appointed in January, 182.3, to consider o f the'alterationS required in the mode of classing mer c h an t shipping in the hooks at Lloyd's, and to - suggest such - rules and icgulations in the system as may be required; have nearly terminated their labours, and are on the point of making their report on this most interesting subject. 31 aritime Code; and Desertion of Seamen.--Artiong the iMportant subjects wnich at present engage the attention of the Committee, is a Bill for the Consolidation of the laws regarding merchant seamen. •' The existing laws being found insufficient to prevent insubordination and desertion, the Committee are most anxious to submit, for the consideration of his Majesty's Government, such regulations as may be ade.quate to those ob jects, particularly a more summary and less expensive mode of enforcing the laws; and they there , tbre invite the suggestions of ship-owners and masters of such measures as, in their judg ment. it may be proper to recommend for the adoption of the Legislature. " Corporation for the Relief of Merchant Seamen.—The Committee have also devoted their attention (in conjunction with the Committee appointed to corsider of the best means of increasing the funds of the Corporation for the Relief of Sea men, &c. in the Merchant Service) to the obtaining the consent of the Legislature that the 6d. pee month payable by merchant seamen to Greenwich Hospital, shall go in aid of the funds of the Merchant Seamen's Corporation, the present means of which, it is well known, are, from the great increase of claims, very inadequate to the objects of its original institution. " Seamen's Hospital.—The Committee are extremely sorry to have to add, that the funds of the Seamen's Hospital are at so low an ebb, as to excite the most painful apprehensions lest the practice of receiving on board the Grampu s every seamen in want of medical or surgical old, who may solicit admission M , ust, from necessity, be disc o nti nue d." •The CtrAntataN hoped the Report would meet the approba tion of the meeting, and convince them that the Committee had not been inattentive to the interests of the ship-owners. In allusion to that part of it which stated that the attention of the' Committee was engaged upon the subject of a Bill for the con solidation of the laws regarding merchant seamen, he begged to inform the meeting that Mr. Hume, whom he might d escr ib e as a very able and indefatigable coneelidater of their commercial regulations, had drawn up the Bill in question, which formed the basis of - any improvements that might be suggested to :Government, Who, he might take upon himself to Nay, were at all times ready and anx:ous to adopt any suggestions that - could be made to them for the be nefit of the cominerciel interests 'of this country ; and he dirt not think a stilei,ect of greeter imp or t ance cOuld, by possibility, engage the attention of ship-own e r s than the enforcing the laws re gar di ng t h e d ut i es of seamen . The provisions.of the Bill went to afFerd amore summary and less expensive mode of carring into effect the laws. The existing systeM induced much fraud and chicanery, and had a pernicious influence on the shipping interests. Mr. 41 ocket, in rising to propose that the report which had Leon read be approved, could not refrain from congratulating the Committee-upon the completion of the great object which had so lone= engaged their anxious attention, and lie was truly .happy to learn that another most important one was in progress. 'One subject only did he find in the report upon which he felt disappointment, and 'that was the non-reduction of the rate of the Cinque Port pilots. lie hoped the Committee had not abandoned the endeavour to obtain a reduction or those rates, of which in time of peace they certainly. had much to complain. What had been done he highly approved . of; although it hadnot gone the length of the report of the Foreign Trade Committee, and which .report itself did not embrace all that was expeCted front it. A correspondence took place six or seven -years ago upon the subject of the rates, when a re duction of 411 per cent. was offered, but it was not considered sufficient. The CHAIRMAN felt obliged to Mr. Buckle for having drawn the attention of the meeting, to the subject of the pilots rates, the reduction in s which had certainly been inadequate.— But in justice to the Cinque .Port piloee, lie should mention that when the subject of reduction was under the consideration of Government, it appeared that the number of Cinque Port pilots was 135, and that they took turns by rotation, and by evidence offered to the Select Committee on foreign trade, that, according to these' rotations, the amount of each man's earning was from 1101. to 11.5/. and the most 1201. a year; and the Corn -mittee of Ship-owners were then esked wheiner it would be Safe that men competent to pilot a ship should not be made to earn this sum by their exertions, to which they replied, it did not appear to be too much, but they contended there ought to be a reduction. in the number of pilots—(Hear!)-which would enable them at reduced rates to realize the same income.. The Committee were told that if they reduced the number of pilots in time of peace, there would not he sufficient in time of war to carry on the navigation and commerce of the country ; but he thought that the shipping interest ought not to be subject to this-expence, but that as it was for the benefit of the. public the extra number of pilots should be maintained at the public ex pence. - The number at present was 135, and it proposed to reduce them to 120 ; by the falling off of the pilots, when a reduction of fire per cent. would take place, • but some time would necessarily elapse before-this benefit would accrue to the altip.eWners. The state of 'the Trinity House pilots was very different, as there were-not more than.Bo or 85 of them, so that they. .consequentlyeeceived much more money than the Cinque Port pilots, as much, perhaps, 5e.200/. a year. Upon the whole he'thought a great reduction might take place. Mr. UnctuttanT wished to say a few words in consequence of what had been said respecting the new law regarding sea men. He was of opini on it was not the consolidation of eiist ing laws that would benefit them, but a total revision of the system. The present laws.were not at adapted for the pur poses required. Gentlemen presumed to take upon themselves to make regulations, who were not at all acquainted with the duty-of seamen. He had one set of regulations put into his hands, one of which-w as quite . detestable ;it .proposed p u tti ng the seamen under the entire' management of the Captain, who was to have the power of - punishing them as he pleased. He approved, however, of the report as far as it went; but he was still convinced that it was only one general and entire revision of the laws that would ever bring back the seamen of this country to what they once were. Mr. YOUNG- was sure that there was no Gentleman who did not readily believe that Mr. Urquhart was a sincere and zealous friend to the general cause of the ship-owners, although it hap pened sometimes that his opinions and views were not in ac cordance with the rest of the -meeting. He had no doubt, however, that the Committee might enjoy the concurrence of that gentleman and the assistance of his talents, in bringing the question respecting the regulation of seamen for Ward before his Majesty's Government, to obtain the object which was generally desired by the whgle'body of ship-owners. Mr. UntiinttAtter would just mention to the meeting a fact, which would show the strong feeling that prevailed on the sub ject. He had been absent from London four months, and as soon as he came to town lie received four or five manuscripts from captains of ships, all of them expressing the great neces sity that existed for some.better and more efficient regulations to be adopted. -The Cuesnewt begged to say, that the Committee always consulted with men well conversant with the subject ; and in no instance, since he had been a member of it, did he remem ber that the decision of the Committee bad been contrary to the opinion of the - nautical men who had been consulted. Ile - had himself, in the first year that he was appointed Chairman, brought the subject under the consideration of Sir. Huskisson ; lie had repeatedly spoken to men of nautical experience to make suggestions for the guidance of the Committee; and he shauld he most happy to receive those of Sir. Urquhart, who, the Chairman had always been most ready to admit, ever - acted with an earnest anxiety for the general good of the Society. Mr. Uncetreuner had no hesitation in saying, that it was not in the power of any one person to come 'forward and state what ought to be the law on the subject; but they must begin at one point (such, for instance, as the impressment of seamen in time of war), and that point must be fixed, and to it every thitn , else must he drawn. Maesteeet., in adverting to that part of the Report which alluded to the Special Committee of Merchants, Under writers, and Ship-owners, appointed to consider the classifica tion of ships in the books at Lloyd's, - said the Committee lied contemplated being able to make their Report prior to this time ; but, in investigating the subject, they found it necessary to consult men in. his Majesty's Navy, and which - occupied much longer time than was expected. The result of the inves tigations and correspondence of others had been. collated, and compared with their own observations; and he had no doubt they would soon make out a report. He hoped they were seeing the dawn of a better system of things.in this country._ There was another point on which he begged to make an ob servation ; it was with respect to the discontinuance of clearing of vessels at Gravesend ; but he did not think that this ar rangement was anything at all, coupled, as it was, with the obnoxious regulations now in operation at the Custom-house. lie hoped this subject would engage . the attention of the Com- Mittee. •The Ctraxameer had understood that these grievances were removed. Mr. MAnsuALL said that the regulations under which ships were cleared a few weeks ago were such as now existed, but he had no doubt the Government - would - listen to every thing that was necessary for the interests of the ship-owners of the present day. He rejoiced extremely at the prospect of having a sepa rate Board, to .which all quextions between seamen and ship_ might be referred; no subject 'could - more worthily and properly engage .the. att ent i on o f t he C omm j ttee. In c on. firmation of the necessity of it, he - would mentlon a circum stance that had happened to himself. - He . had two ships at Demerara a short time ago; two men on board one of them were extremely rebellious, and having got on shore, the master was obliged to refer to the authorities to enforce their return, their services being absolutely required to navigate the vessel home. They came down to the beach, and promised to come.on board, but did not, and the master sailed without them. They had since come to England, and bad now bronebt actions against him for IX each, as balance of wages due to them, when in point of fact they owed him la each. H e resisted this claim. on the ground of its being a public ditty to do so, but in addij lien to this Ite.itad_be.en put to 60/. expence from the want of these men's services on board.—( Hear, hear !) The Report was then unanimously approved and adopted. • Mr. BUCKLE, in moving a resolution of thanks to his Ma" jesty's Ministers, said, if he miebt.be allowed at the same time to allude to the labours ofa particular individual, it would have been a very pleasing task. It could not be misunderstood that he meant Mr. J. D. Hume, whose attention and talents had been most carefully and ably. directed to the consolidation of the commercial code, and to whom all commercial men were much indebted. As he was not, however, one of his Majesty's Mi nisters, it was not practicable to include him in the resolution which he, with much satisfaction, proposed to the meeting. Mr.thictuHAnT had known Mr. Hume for many years, and he could testify to his great integrity, ability, and zeal in the cause of the commercial interests of this country. Mr. MAnsirm.r.. heartily joined in the vote of thanks, and did not think there ever was an Administration in this country that deserved greater attention and gratitude than the one they now possessed. The CHAIR 3IA2i said it was impossible that greater attention, skill, and anxious solicitude, could be evinced for the welfare of the shipping and commercialipterests in every respect, th an had been sh own b y h i s M a j est y' s Ministers. It was merely common justice to those able men who composed his Majesty's Government to sty this. The Resolution w.ts unanimously agreed to. Mr. YOUNG said, it was known that Mr. Hume had com piled the laws relating to Customs, and published them in one volume, which was at once creditable to himself and of evident advantage to all ship-owners. Ile thought a Resolution, strongly recommending that work to all ship-owners, would be a delicate mode of conveying a compliment to that gentleman, while it was at the same time a dry matter of business to them sclres, as it was clearly to their own benefit to be possessed or such a book. A liesolutionto this effect was then adopted.. Mr. MARSHALL said, the Society was. at present without funds, a circumstance Which was highly_ unbecoming and dis. creditable to. so important a body as tiley'in their collective capacity folioed. Feeling the great benefit of this Society, he should move a Ptesolution,',thatit wavexpedient to create a fund adeqUate to the accomplishment of those objects which the Society contemplated. A Gentleman suggested that - this Resolution ought to be preceded by one expressive of the conviction of the meeting that the Society tended greatly to the benefit of the shipping interests throughout the ki ng d om , an d d eserve d to b e supporte d.' Mr. You . liG said no Society with such small means had ever effected so %Mich good. It was the only recognized medium of communication between the (Efferent departments of his Ma jesty's Government and the shipping interest. If the'Society should fail for want of funds, Acts of Parliament would pass prejudiCial to their interests, the provisions of which would only be known to each individual ship-owner after they had become a law. Resolutions were then adopted agreeably to the suggesticn that had been made. On the motion what William Manning, Esq. MX., should be appointed Vice-President in the rootn. of Mr. ltoweroft, deceased, and which was agreed to, The CHAIRMAN said he had received a letter from Mr. Manning, stating that he was unable to attend this meeting in consequence of his engagements elsewhere. The Chairman then read the letter, which was to this effect : " SIR—I have received a few lines from, Mr. Foord, request ing that I would attend a meeting of ship-owners to-day. It would have given me particular pleasure to have done. so, but I have been every moment for the last few.days in attendance with my colleagues, in endeavouring to support public and private credit, and to expel this very extraordinary and un founded panic Which has gone abroad. I am happy to add, that every account from the country today is in every way highly satisfactory." Disastrous as the panic'had been, the Chairman really be lieved there never was an instance in which it was so unfounded, and where it had originated from a trifling cause. The .ship ping interest had never been in a better state than it was at present. Several Gentlemen expressed their assent to this last obser vation, by repeating the words--" It •never was." Mr. MAitstrALl, hoped the contents of the letter which had been read would find its way into the• papers, as it was emi nently calculated to allay the ferment which atpreserit existed. The CHAIRMAN said, he had consulted with two or three Gentlemen previous to his reading the letter, who thought it ought to be read, and he had no doubt the Gentlemen _who at tended for the press had taken down •the substance of it; but he did not feel himself at liberty to give the letter itself for publication. Some Gentlemen thought, that as .the letter bad been read, it could no longer be considered' a private one ; while _others were of a different opinion, though they approved of its sub stance being published. Eight Gentlemen were then elected on the Committee, in the room of that number. who went out by rotation; after which a resolution of thanks to the Chairman and Committee was unanimously passed, and the meeting broke up. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT Or QHANCERY, - DEC. 15. WILLIAMS Z. GOODCHILD.—TITHES or ILEKnoN. 31r. Sergeant BOSANQUET was heard for the respondent in this appeal, and the further hearing was postponed. CRA:WSIIAW v. COLLINS—.DROWN v. DE TASTET. • The Loan CIIA.NCELLOit had fixed upon this day for giir ing judgment in these two cases, which, differing in circum. stances, referred to the same p r i nc ipl e : name l y, t h e extent to which ;he claims and responsibility of parties after the dissolu tion-of partnership went. Upon the point which the two cases possess in common, his - Lordship has professedly been engaged fyr a considerable time in settling some permanent rule tin- tile future guidance of the Court. Accordingly he proceeded ita his purpose, so far as a general and minute recapitulation of the circumstances in the first case, but postponed the decision, and the reasons of it. -- COURT OF RING'S BENCH, DEC. 15. TOLEMAN v. BRITToN. This was an action - of covenant by the father •of an appren tice articled to a surgeon at Bristol, on The engagement to in struct, or cause and procure his son to be instructed, in the art of medicine and surgery,• and to provide him with board and lodging for-seven years. The breeches assigned were, that the defendant had not instructed the apprentice, or caused him to be instructed, and had not provided him with sufficient board And lodging; to which the defendant replied, performance. • Mr. BROUGHAM (with whom was M. BOSIPASs), for the plaintiff; stated the principal ground of complaint to be, that Mr. Britton, after the young man had served about half his time, retired from business, and left a Mr. Jacques in his stead, who was far less qualified to instruct him. Mr. CAIMETT (with whom was Mr. CHITTY) stated, that Mr. Britton, being in ill-health; - was obliged to retire from the labour of an extensive business, and had resigned his charge to Mr. Jacques, who was fully competent to instruct the plain tiff 'a son. To establish this case, Dr. Porter, a physician of Bristol, was called, who proved that Mr, 'Britton relinquished business by his advice, and that, according to his judgment, Mr. Jacques was fully competent to teach the apprentice. Mr. Jacques himself . stated that the yo u n g man never expresse d dissatis faction during the ten- weeks . which he remained after Mr. Britton's removal. And Mr. Jacques gave evidence to the same effect, adding that the plaintiff came one day suddenly and took his son away. Mr. 'lw trGrt.Sat cross.examined Mr. Jacques, with a view to chew that the apprentice had been employed in - making out and delivering bills. Mr. SCARLF.TT, upon this, said to the witness—" I do not mean any thing disparaging to your business; but is not the act of making out bills a very important part of it ?" The witness—l consider it,so, Sir. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE—SureIy an apothecary ought to know how to charge ?—(A laugh.) • The defendant's case being closed, The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE told Mr. Brougham that he thought, unless it were answered, the issues must be' found against him, Mr. BROUGHAM.—My Lord. I -should have wished to ad dress the jury on' the question of Mr, Jacques' competence to instruct. The LORD CHIEr JITSTICE.—Oh I pray do not let me pre vent you : address the jury if you pleam • Mr. BROUGHAM (after looking at the jury, whose. opinion was tolerably obvious.)—Why, my Lord, I would not, after so decisive an opinion of your Lord— The LORD 'CHIEF JUSTICE.—And perhaps you have looked .at the jury, Mr. Mr. Brougham.—(A laugh.) The Jury declared themselves satisfied, and Mr. BROUGHAM said he must bow to such a concurrence of opinion, and would be called. The plaintifF was accordingly nonsuited. THE THAMES TUNNEL COMPANY V. SHELDON. This was an action by the Thames Tunnel Company against the defendant, as a subscriber, to recover two calls of SP. each on eight shares which they contended he held. It appeared that 111 r. Sheldon had paid the deposit of 2/. on each share ; but. he never signed the contract, nor the petition to Parlia ment for the bill incorporating the Company. The question was, whether he might withdraw from further liability, or Whether he wa s li a bl e as a su b scr ib e r under the statute. The lAORD CHIEF JUSTICE, suggesting that the question was one of considerable importance and nicety, proposed that he should abstain from exprossing any opinion at Nisi Prins, and that the subject should be brought under the consideration of the Court by a special case. This suggestion being agreed to, the Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—Damageftita, subject to the opinion of the Court in a special case. . OUTLAWItY.--lIIIYANT V. %CASKET. This was an issue joined on an assignment of error in fact upon an outlawry. The defendant, who.was the uncle of the plaintiff, - had sued him and proceeded to outlawry, and the plaintiff bringing error to ri-verse the outlawry, assigned that he was beyond seas at the time the exigent was awarded. T o this the defend a nt re pli e d, t h at the pla i ntiff went beyond seas from fraud and covin, to avoid process of outlawry, on which issue was taken. Mr. SCARLETT and Mr. CHITTY, for the defendant, on whom the affirmative of the issue was cast, proved clearly that Bryant went abroad to avoid an arrest at the suit of his uncle ; but the process then issued was not that on which he was out lawed, though it was process on which outlawry might be ob tained. Mr. CAMPBELL, for the plaintiff; after contending that the replication was no answer in law to the plea, urged that there was no evidence to show that his client went and . remained abroad to avoid the effect of outlawry, though he certainly went to avoid being arrested. The LORD CHIEF Juvrscg, observing that the legal effect of the finding would be matter of decision in another place, left the question of fact to the Jury. The Jury returned a verdict for the defendant in error—That the plaintiff did go and remain beyond seas to avoid process of ou tl awry. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, DEC. IS. Several actions of accounts were tried during the day, not one of which possessed the slightest interest, except to the re spective parties. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK Bank Stock 200 103 200 i 198 ' Old Annuities ............ 3 pct. Cent. Bed. 80 79Th 9y4 New Ditto ............ 3 per Cent. Cons shut lix. Bills 10001. 10.25 65 dis. 3i per Cent 8 4A 6 j Dittosoo/.l2id. 22155010 (Es. Ditto Red B3 2 1 4, 01 Ditto Smalll4d. 1051510 dis• 4 per Cent. New shut I ank 1,6- Ann India :Stock It)l8 hark . .. ......,. . dis. .... . B . . India for A............... Dit u t th o Sea 8ana1 . ... 68 80 70 di s . I C ons . f or A cct. So Stoa PIZIrI:4 OF FOIZ.I:IGfsI A untrian Ws, 5 per cent, Brazilian Lids Scrip Buenos ilyres Bds Cid IJJs, 6 per cent — Wow 11ds Do. do. 1824 53; 6:1 7 5 6 Danish, 6 per cent 9B; 9 Do. 18''5 Greek Ws Do. 1825 6 uatiwala 31exican lids 5O Do. 1325 AnnTrEn,' ...... ..... 00 VMS AT ONE O'CLOCg• Mexican Scrip .............. • Neap titan, 5 per cent. . Neapolitan do. 1821•.•.•• Pcrtivian Bonds . ...... 49 4 ' Scrip ...,. ,•• a' 0- r.t..uta!,nl.le:ei. Prlts.;• i,er cent Ditto New . : ................ Russian. N 135 4 13 Spanish IU2I, 5 Per ct ....... " 1023 ........ . ...... French Itentes.s p. Exchange s' • 3 percent. Wt. ex "I v ' Exchang- ••• 251 . • 14' PRICES OF SHARES AT ONE O'CLOCK. Po* SharP, 40 Anglo Mexican Mining Company Anglo-Chilian Mining Company Pasco Peruvian Mining Company United Mexican Mining Company Ditto New Welch Iron and Coal Mining Company Alliance Fire and Life Assurance Company Ditto, Marine D..‘parttnent Protector Fire Assurance Company British Rocl: and Patent Salt CoMpany • , ........... .. 4i .... i J•IJ I'l ......... Pug. 1- FOIIEIGN Guernsey and Jersey Lisbon - Gottenburgh Ilamburgh - Holland - Flanders - , France - H WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE MOB-- To ft ° / Morning, 5 m i nutes after 7. I Evening, 2 minutes- a ver Trig F._4_ 4 , SOLEM QUIS FALSUM AUDEJT LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 11%:17" 1 1 11 B FUNDS. Co;•sols—Yesterday closed After the Market S• 0 This morning opened Yesterday the Funds maintained their Prices until nearly fou r o ' c l oc k , when a sudden sa le 100,0001. Fours, for _Notes, by the Broker of at/ eminent Banking House, largely connected Country Banks, threw a damp upon Consolot which declined from 824 to 8 9 “, and closed at that price. The market was kept open half aR hour later than usual, and transfers were made gt , the Bank till five ! No business of moment IY° effected after the close, and a general.expec t " tion prevailed that Consols would ()Pen this morning at a decline. L . The total absence of any rumours; atto Tow n Bankers, inspiring confidence, Consols , open ed this morning 82-H, ith every appearance of a favourable Market. The briskness with wh ich they began, subsided on the contents of Cne" tr l Letters trauspiring,on the Market, which then be' t• came gloomy, and th e pr i ce gra d ua ll y declined to 81-i. At one o'clock the quotation was 82.111 ' From the Bank Brokers having ceased to one' rate in Exchequer Bills, they dropped to a dis' count of 65, at which several bargains were Mad e for bills of 1000; for those of 500, the extreme d e. pression was 40. Even small Bills were done at 10 discount, but what yet more strongly she 1% the distress for money, those advertised for pal' ment bare been done at a discount of 12. east India Bonds - have been - depressed to 8 0 count, but subsequently recovered to 70. ga nic Stock,' f 3.. The letters from the country represent lhe'dis` tress to be extreme, and hourly inereaslng; Supplies of gold are called for from all qua" ter!, there being no other substitute for the °Tie' and two pound notes of Country Bankers. - • pot Reports of C ountry B an k s, in count i e s very remote from the metropolis are in circul" lion, and generally believed ; but until these rg" mours shall be confirmed beyond all doubt, W e ' refrain form •even hinting at the firms, to 01°111 owever allusion is made without reserve. T . It is now b e y on d quest i on t h at t h e public mind is yielding to the powerful truth, that not . withstanding the confident assurances of the Speakers at the Mansion-boucle, the extremity °f difficulty is not yet past. The tranquillity that has succeeded to the tempest.in the metropol is ' is not a true criterion of the real state of t he kingdom. In the country, the effects of the stool' have not yet been felt,and whether the provision that has been made, is sufficient to meet the emer gency, yet remains to be seen. The demand upon th e B an k o f E ngland, both for Gold a n d Bank-notes, is intense. The report i n c i rcu l at i on as to the specie and bullion held by the Bank a few wee" .0 since, st a t es th e amount at seven millions. 11"5 we know to be the statement sent forth to the public. Admitting such to have been the fact--- which we altogether doubt—the drain for gold; if