The Sun. — London, England, 1821-06-26 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT, HOUSE OF LORDS, JUNE 25. The following Bills were brought up from the Commons and read each the first time :—the New Churches Bill, the Irish Stock Transfer Bill, the Scotch Malt Bill, the Irish Gaol Fees Bill, and the Sandwich Regulation Bill. Mr. Johnson, from the office of the Chief Se cretary for Ireland, presented the Report of the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries. LONDON 'WHARFS. On the motion of the Earl of LimEnicK, the Report of the• Seiect Committee-on the London Wharfs' 13111 .was received, and the Bill was or dered to be corrimitted to a Committee of the whole House--rte► Wednesday. The following Bills were read each a third time and passed :—The Bank of Ireland Bill, the Irish Treasury Bills Bill, the Sinking Fund Loan Bill, the Ordnance Lands Bill, and the Exche quer Bills Bill. The Coal Mines Bill and the Last India Trade Bill went throngh the Committees.' • PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. The Earl of DARNLEY said, he thought it right to state to the House, that the nature of his mo= tion of which he had given notice for to-morrow, would he to recommend a system of economy and retrenchment , r in the different departments of the Navy. After a short conversation, in which Lord Sid mouth, the Earl of Limerick and the Marquess of Lansdown took parts, the Committee on the Irish Court of Chancery Bill was Postponed till Friday. FOREIGN SLAVE TRADE. The Marquess of LAN - SDOWN, on rising to make his promised motion respecting the Foreign Slave Trade, said, that though the attention of the House had been called many times to that inte resting subject, it never had been called to it under circumstances which . more strongly requir ed-their consideration. If the result of their en deavours had been more fortunate than they were, it would still become their Lordships, after the lapse of so long a period since the abolition of that detestable traffic , by this country, and the engagement's entered into by the other States of Europe preparatory to the same desirable end, to tike a review of . the subject for the satisfaction of their minds as to the progress of those combined measures. But, unfortunately;the circumstances which now solicited their Lordships' attention were such as to render it incumbent on them to stimulate the Government to still further exer tions for the putting down of that abuSe .which still continued to disgrace the world, under the 'negligence orconnivance of other Powers. What ever opinion he might. have entertained as to the efforts which were made at the Congress of Vien na, for the purpose of enforcing what Parliament had declared to be an object of such importance with thiS - country; however he might have complained of remissness in 'that instance, he was ready to state, on the present occasion, that great exertions had been exhibited, and particu- - larly by his Majesty's Ministers, in order to put down that odious traffic abroad, which we had banished from our own dependencies. When this country resolved upon relinquishing hei share in the guilty traffic, it was expected that into the vacuum thus created, unprincipled adventurers from all quarters of the world would run. Accordingly, as had been foreseen, on the restoration of peace,- the base, the unprin cipled, and wicked of all nations, speculated on the opportunity. Against this there was no' re medy, but in the engagements with Foreign States. Great Britain was entitled, in the name of humanity and justice, to appeal to those other Countries, upon whom she had prevailed in the Congress . of Vienna, to join with her in the en cleitVOur to abolish it throughout the world. No Power was found at that Congress so base, so unprincipled, so ignorant of what was due to mankind from Christian Governments and Chris tiart nations, as to identify itself with this traffic. On the contrary, there was but one voice from all, with the 'exception of Portugal, declaring that. the trade should' be put an end to. In pur . suance of these engagements, Acts and Ordon nanCes were passed. Spain, Portugal, the Ne; therlands, France, and the''Unitett States of America, all pledged themselves to the abolition Within stated periods. The Congress of Arne, rica had proved its sincerity, and in furtherance of: the 'great object in which it concurred with this Country, had passed' an Act last Session, declaring all her subjeCts who embarked in the Slave Trade, whether ,in Ameritan or Foreign vessels, guilty of piraty, and liable' to the pu nishment of death. He now came to the painful task of calling their Lordships' attention to the manner in which those treaties had been exe cuted by the other countries, and it was with 'reat concern - he stated, that with the single ex caption of the United States of America, they _had all failed to carry - their engagements into effect. At that one instance their satisfaction must stop, for the rest hid manifested such laxity' in punish ing, and even in some caseS . such a degree orfa your towards person's carrying on the trade, as greatly to counteract the exertions made by this country.. Turning in :the first place to Spain, their Lordships would find, from the be lo .„ re the House,. that 0 - laugh 'Spain had engaged to abolish the Slave Trade north of the Line, from 1817,. and south of the Line from *lB2O, our- own .Consul at the lfavannah stated, that shave ships continued . to enter that port, - and slaves continued to be landed•at the Havannah itself, ,so little was the attention paid to the abo lition.law. Up to. May 1820, vessels were still fitting Out for the same purpose. With regard to Portugal, their Lordships would find that no material diminution had taken place in the Slave Trade, ,Eighteen thousand slaves had- been car ried tnto her Colonies since the abolition. Of two thousand conveyed to South America, one fourth had been lost ; and in one vessel, out of three hundred, one hundred and forty had died. There was too much reason,to suspect that many Persons in authority were Concerned in the traffic. The POrtUguese Governor of the hie of Princes, was one ot them; and it was notorious that there was no diminution' in the Supply of. Slaves From Africa to Surinam. He now came to the steps taken by France, and sure it was to be expected that a people' living under a Represen tative Government and enjoying privileges them selves, should feel—a desire to- make some .con sistent effort for carrying the laws against this odious and detestable traffic into effect. Years had elapsed, yet no ,effort had been made • and they had the authority of Sir George Collier to sanction the opinion that not less than 60,000 slaves were brought from Afi*a in the course of a single year. The remissness of the French Government might be collected from two instances to which he should refer. The Jeune Estelle and another ship Called the Roden!) were fitted out for the traffic. Sir C. Stuart, whose exertions in such 'cases were entitled to the highest praise, communicated the fact to the French Govern ment ; but the only answer made to him was the affidavit of a Captain, who swore that he knew nothiug of the Slave Trade, and that the Spanish and other -vessels concerned in it called them selves French, for the purpose of casting the odium upon that country. The vessels sailed to their destination ; it happened that in some time after the Rodeur left the coast of Africa, a dreadful ophthalmia prevailed among the Slaves, which was communicated to the crew, so that there was but a single man who could see to guide the -vessel into port. There was but too much reason to believe that many of the Slaves who became totally blind, were thrown overboard as unproductive articles of merchandize ; some were, however, conveyed to the hospitals, and so singu lar and severe were the symptoms of the disease, that it became the subject of scientific inquiry at the Opthalmia Institution, at Paris.—So notori ously was the trade carried on ; yet it would seem that the vigilance of the French Police could not enable them to ascertain whether the Rodeur carried out Slaves at all. Such was the unpardonable remissness of the French Govern ment.—ln the other case of the 'Jenne Estelle, which was overtaken by a British cruiser, there was reason to fear that many of the slaves had been thrown overboard in casks, and many, both men and women, were found-stuffed into casks on board, and almost expiring. They were, dis covered by a British sailor, who overheard their feeble groans. These facts were sufficient to prove that the nefarious traffic was likely to continue, and even to extend with aggravated cruelty,if some fur ther attempt was not made by this country. — After quoting the dispatch of Sir G. Collier, in corroboration of the success of the Trade, he al luded to an advertisement in a French news paper, as an additional instance of its notoriety. The advertisement described a vessel then fitting up fur the coast of Africa, there to purchase about 100. mules. Such was the flimsy pretext, which was found sufficient, under the eye of an enlightened Government, to carry on a trade which desolated one quarter of the Globe. He had much satisfaction, however, in stating, that the Indian Government had concluded a treaty, two years ago, with the Arabs, in which it stipu lated for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and that the Arabs observed it strictly. He was aware of the difficulty of making suggestions that were likely to be beneficial ; but he thought this country had clearly a right to call upon other countries, who proposed to join us in putting down the traffic; but resisted a right of'search to state by what means they proposed to carry their purpose into effect. Abandoning the prin ciple of mutual search, it might be worth while to consider whether some modification could not be found which would reconcile it to all parties. For instance, might not the presence of an Officer from each country, on board the searchinc , vessel, to sanction the search of vessels from the same country, reconcile all to the practice, without compromising the right? Another principle was that of universal registry, and a grant of freedom to all whose births were not registered after a certain time. It was net on the ground of hu manity alone that this trade was to be resisted ; it carried along with it passions and habits blight ing to the industry of nations. In the hope that their Lordships would not remit their exertions for the accomplishment of so desirable an object, and in order to invigorate the disposition of Go vernment, his Lordship concluded with moving an Address to the King, stating the several facts to which he had alluded in the course of his speech, and praying that a representation might be sent to the Court of France, calling for fresh penal enactments against the persons concerned in the traffic. Earl RATITURST agreed with the Noble Mar quis, that it was very desirable other Powers should be well aware that there existed in' this _country a general feeling that the great object of the abolition of the Slave Trade should be ac complished. He also admitted the difficulty of framing such regulations, unless the right of search were allowed, as would effectually put down that traffic. The registering of slaves would have that effect to a considerable. extent ; but the efficacy of the measure must depend on its strict execution in all places . ; and when the number of Colonial Governments was considered, and that they were not impelled in the discharge of their duty on this point in other countries, as in this, by . the general feeling of the. people, it would be come little-doubtful that if the mode of- register ing were 'adopted, it would in many cast be evaded. He should only add that he trusted their Lordships would see that in the whole course of their proceedings on this subject, •his Majesty's Government had not been inattentive to what they knew to be the wish of the.country, the wish of Parliament, and, if he were permitted to say it, heir own. Lord CALTIIORPE was glad to know that no means had been left untried by his Majesty's Mi nisters to accomplish the abolition of a traffic so disgraceful and inhuman as the Slave Trade. He expressed his regret at the conduct pursued by France on that occasion, and trusted that the means which had been left her by the Qther Powers of Europe, from a feeling wish not to strip an ancient monarchy of its least appendage, would no longer be employed in supporting the Slave Trade. Persuaded that the exertions of his Majesty's Government would continue to be as unlimited as they had hitherto been, and be lieNiug that the present Address would tend to aid the great object in view, it should have his most hearty concurrence:. The Address was then agieed to, nemine eon tradicenti, and the House adjourned: lIOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. S. IVORTLEY presented a petition fiOm the Manu facturers of Tobacco and Snuff; at,Leeds, against the Tobacco Duties Bill.—Laid on the table, THE ROYAL GEORGE. Mr. DENMAN _presented a petition frorpn-indiyidual Of the name of John Edwards, residing in Crown-street, Soho, which set forth that he was some years ago authorh.el, by an order in Council, to raise from the sea the wreck of the Royal George, a ship of the line, unfortunately lost in the year 1782, and that he collected 'a considerable . quantity of craft for that purpose. The principal vessel was, however, run down by the St: Albans man of war, " Captain Fisher, who fell foul of her when under a press of sail, destroyed her cabin, and sent her mizen mast by the board. The petitioner had made various unsuccessful applications for redreSs to -the Admiralty and other official bodies ; and he now called on the House to investigate the circumstances, and to cause him to be placed in a situation to renew his labours.—Laid on thy-table. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Mr. R. MARTIN presented a Petition 'from Birmingham in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Prevention Bill; and a similar Petition from Northampton. Laid on the table. Mr. S. WORTLEY preSented 'a similar Petition from the Inhabitants of Sheffield; which, after a few words from Mr. R. NI ARTix, was laid en the table. Mr. BEI6IAL presentedasililar Petition from Chigwell, i; Essex. Laid on the table. SLAVE TRADE. Mr. ARBUTIINOf 1 1)1olghtinT.iiiil for granting certain Bounties to the captors of. vessels belonging to the subjects of Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, employed in the Slave Trade. Read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to morrow. SALVAGE. The Cinque Ports Salvage Bill was read a second time, and - Dr. PHILLIMORE moved the third reading of the Salvage Acts Amendment Bill. After a few words from Mr. TREMAYIs'E and Dr. PyILLI MORE, the Bill was read a third time. Dr. LUSHINGTON proposed a clause, enabling Agents to arrest foreign vessels for salvage due of them. After a few words from Dr. PiilLLimoltE, the clause was agreed to, and the Bill was passed. The Consolidated Fund Bill was reported, and ordered to be read a third time on Wednesday next. Mr. GOOCH presented a petition from Ipswich against the Tobacco Duties Bill.—Laid on the table. The Corn Average Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. GOOCB presented a petition from Lynn, in Norfolk, in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Prevention Bill. Laid on the table. The Order of the Day for resuming the adjourned debate on the Woollen Trade Regulation Bill having been read, after a few words from Mr. S. WouTLErand Mr. LusuntuaoN, the Bill passed. Mr. BRIGHT presented - a petition from the inhabitants of Bristol in favour of the Cruelty to Animals Prevention Bill.— Laid on the table. Mr. EutiNoTos, froth the King's Remembrancer's Office, presented certain papers relative , to Extents in Aid. A Petition was presented from an indi v id ua l i n th e coun t y o f Galway, complaining that the one third part of a Barony in that county should have been proclaimed, while the rest of the county remained in a state of perfect tranquillity.---Ordered to be printed. The Tobacco .Duties' Bill passed through a Committee, pro forma ; the Report was received and read, and ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday next, and the Bill was or dered to be printed. The Custom Duties' Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir R. WILSON presented a Petition from Clapham and its vicinity in favour of the Bill for preventing Cruelty to animals. —Ordered to be printed. Mr. S. RICE presented a Petition from certain Inhabitants of Limerick, relative to the right of Election in that City.— Laid on the table. CANADA CLAIMS. .Mr. ELLICE wished to put a question to the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite (the Chancellor of the Ex chequer) relative to the claims of certain persons in Canada for supplies given, and losses sustained during the late war with America. They were, upon the whole, claims to the amount of shout £400,001), and of these about £229,000 was allowed by the Commissioners appointed to investigate the . Claims ; the Report of the Commissioners was transmitted to. the Noble Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Governor of Upper Canada had lately issued proclamations stating that those Claims were to be paid forthwith: The agents, however, of the claimants in this country had recently had an answer to an application of their's for payment from the Lords of the Treasury, stating that they could not grant at pre sent any money—an answer which contradicted - the Proclama tion. He wished therefore to know what the Government in tended to do upon this subject ? The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied, that many of these Claims were indisputable ; but that such of them as s7lould be recognised by the Governor should be paid: The Hop Duty Bill, the Sinkin Fund Loan Bill, the East India Duties' Bill, and the Irish Silk Bounties' Bill, were read respectively a first time, and ordered to be read a 'second time to-morrow (this day.) NAVIGATION ACTS. On the motion of Mr. WALLACE, the House went into a Committee on the Navigation Acts. Mr. WALLACE said, that the importance of the propositions which he had to make, required that he should preface them by a few words, but he would not trespass further on the time of the House than was indispensable, for the purpose of explanation. in enterinc , upon the subject of the Navigation Laws, he felt it hardly necessary to remind the House that our situation was now very different from what it was in the time of war; we had no longer the dominion of the sea by arms, but must contend theta on the fair field of commercial competition, and there was there fore abundant reason why every thing should be done to assist trade that lay within the power of the Goiernment. Before he came to his propo sition, he would briefly state an object which he had in view, connected with it, and which was not less important than the intended alteration in the laws of our commercial code. The object he meant was one which every eminent writer on commerce had treated of, which all nautical men had anxiously looked for ; and which enlighten ed Statesmen had often attempted and hitherto failed to accomplis'h. in his own anxious and unfeigned desire to promote commerce, he strongly recommended this object to the Corn- mittee, and it was simply to fix and render cer-1 taint and clear the general character of com mercial law, by separating it from the mass of legislation which centuries had heaped upon it, and removing contrariety or contradiction, whi h rendered all its regulations difficult and perplexed. Obscurity was the greatest defect in laws; and in none were its inconveniences felt more than in those affecting commerce. Another defect or those laws was in their multiplicity, and to pr( ve this he need not do more than state to the Committee that there%arere about 2000 laws affecting commerce which were passed at several periods under different forms of Govermaent, under every system of policy, and various as the principle of restriction could be - rendered, so that it was not wonderful, in such a mass of laws, there should he a great deal of confusion. Such multifarious and perplexed enactments led to a series of confiscations, interrupted Commerce, con founded the fair trader, prevented adventure, and checked the general operation of commercial industry.---(Hear, hear !)—The Navigation Laws were divided into two classes. The first containing those which regulated the intercourse with foreign countries, and the second, those which regulated the intercourse with different parts of the empire, Which might be sub-divided under several heads,' the Colonial, Fishery, Coasting, &c. It was pro per that general consolidation should be made of the Commercial Laws, instead of their being dis persed as at present, without form or system, in such a manner as to produce an obscurity which should be absolutely cleared up before com merce could move with freedom and certainty in her.operations. By such a consolidation, there might be procluced a system tijorevclear,, liberal and perfect, than that which bad belonged to the greatest commercial nation that ever existed. From this subject he would exclude the laws for the production of revenue, and those relative to particular and private interests. Wore such a consolidated system once established, it would be shewn how trade was to be carried on, in what ships, from and to what places, and in what man ner. Those objects every man would then know, and he would become distinctly acquainted with all the prohibitions of the law, so that he might enter fairly into the trade of the country, without any such apprehensions as embarrassed his enter prizes at present, without the danger of penalties lurking in the hidden places of complicated laws to rob him of the fruits of his honest industry, and from a state of affluence, to consign him to poverty and distress.—(Hear.)—lt was to ob viate those apprehensions and dangers that he brought forward the proposed alterations in the laws, and which would have the important result of giving considerable freedom to commerce.— ,This was to be done by relaxing, but ❑ot de viating altogether from the principles of Legisla tion which have been previously acted upon ; hitherto, the interests of commerce, however ex tensively considered, were always regarded in re lation to our character and strength as a maritime power. Commerce was looked to rather as a support to our Navigation system than for its own sake, and this principle was strictly the founda tion of all the Navigation Laws. It was our duty to_promote and extend our commerce by re moving every impediment and restriction that it was possible to remove. The maintenance of our maritime power was indeed the only ground on which any restriction on our commerce could be defended. Such were the impressions with which he approached the subject of amending our Navigation Laws. The first object which he had in view was to simplify and consolidate the existing laws ; the second to propose such measures of freedom to commerce as might make this country the general depot for the commerce of the world. He thought that these objects would be best accomplished by dividing them into several measures. The first would be a General Bill of Repeal, applicable to a great number of existing Statutes ; in fact to every statute on the subject antecedent to the Act of Charles the Second. Those Statutes were very numerous, amounting to about 200, and he pro posed to repeal them, on the ground either that they were obsolete, or that they were contradic tory and militated against the object in view,_or that they had been superseded by other and more effective legislative provisions. For the purpose of preparing this Bill, a very laborious previous investigation had been entered into, and he was deeply indebted for the researches' which- had been made on the subject by two Gentle men (we understood the Right Hon. Gentleman to say, Mr. Brooke and Sir Thomas Tomline.) ,Still he was aware that objections might exist as to the repeal of some of the laws in question ; but as, of course, it was not his intention to press the Bill in the present Session, Hon. Gents. would have an opportunity, during the recess,of considering the subject in all its bearings, and of coming pre pared upon it when it should be.brought forward in the next Session of Parliament. The laws, of which it was thus his intention to propose the com plete repeal, were classed under the three Heads of Laws of Importation, Laws of Exportation, and Laws of Staple. He now came to consider by what proposition a Repeal of all the Statutes on the subject, antecedent to the Act of Charles the Second, should be followed. The Right Hon. Gent. here entered into an elaborate history of the Navigation Laws, contending that the object which those laws had in view, had been entirely accomplished ; and that they had made us the greatest maritime power in the world. It had been truly said, that he who commanded the sea commanded the commerce of the world ; that he who commanded the commerce of the world, commanded the wealth of the world ; and that lie who commanded the wealth of the world, commanded the world itself. Having cleared the way by the repeal which he had already de scribed, his next proposition would be—first, to add to the freedom of foreign commerce ; and secondly, to add to the freedom of our own shipping interests. At present (as the Right lion. Gentleman had already observed in his history of the navigation laws), the trade of Hol land and the Netherlands was subject to certain exclusions, the vestiges of an ancient animosity long subsided, which' he proposed to remove. By the removal of these exclusions and certain others, to which a part of Russia and of Turkey were subject, foreign commerce would be placed every where on the same footing. Foreign trade would be left wholly free, with, the exception of what were called the enumerated articles ; to which, however, generally (as we understood the Right Hon. Gentleman), he meant to pro pose one or two additions. Another purpose which he had in view (although it was not ad verted to in the Report), was to do away with the inconvenience which the -present arrange• ments frequently occasioned in the assortment of foreign cargoes. He also, proposed to abolish the division by. countries (which was so liable to fluctuation),- and to substitute the division by articles. He now came to 'the most impor tant consideration, that -of the British ship ping interest. At present, goods from the various ports of Asia, Africa, and America, as from the ports of Europe, could only be brought direct to this country. He meant to propose that those goods might be brought to this country from any other port ; or that they might be removed from one port to another. A lthongh it was probable that this proposition might meet with some objections, yet the view that he had been enabled to take of it, and the evidence on the subject before the Committee on Foreign , Trade, confirmed his conviction of its expediency. Although he was persuaded that there was no such danger in time of peace, yet as it was possi ble in war, the course of trade might change, and not be easily brought back, he meant to propose as a security to lay a moderate import on articles, it the produce of Asia, Africa, anti America, m ing from an European port in fore.ign ships. - e last prbposition which he skßu offer wont*, e piNe,calculated to make 'hits con try the general depot for the whole commerce of the world. On the general principle of the expediency of doing this, he felt that he . should have the unanimous concurrence of the House ; al- though there might be differences of opinion on the provisions of the proposed measure. Of this, however, he was persuaded, that -we could not expect any solid advantages except from provisions, in_which the advantage of other countries should also be consulted. It appeared ,to him.to be very extraordinary thirt it'should be reserved _to our days to make this consideration enter into _the commercial policy of this coup_ ; try ; and yet, for reasons which he was at a -loss to explain, it was not until the year 1803 that an Act of Parliament was passed, having the sub ject at all in contemplation. It was worse than absurd, because we could not keep foreign goods out of foreign markets to deprive ourselves of the advantage resulting from allowing them to pass through our hands. As there was some jealousy on the question of the transit duties, he meant tb pro pose that his Bill should apply to all articles," ex cepting such as are at present by law excepted," thereby leaving the question open to be discussed in the next Session. He intended to propose a new regulation with respect to the warehousing sys tem. He thought it necessary to divide all im portations into two classes. The first class was to consist of those articles which paid , the highest duty. These goods were to be warehoused in the Docks, or in such warehouses as should be nominated by three Lords of the Treasury. Those goods were to be exempted from re-weighing, and from the necessity of making good the defi ciencies arising from storage, as in other cases. With respect to the second class of merchandize, namely, those warehoused in stores of a less se cure description, he thought it necessary that they should be liable to re-weighing in cases of suspi cion, and also to the making good of all defi ciencies in weight or quality. He next came to the present Dock system. He for one felt all the benefits arising from the Dock system, both to the. Revenue and the Mercantile interests. But it ap peared to him, that all those advantage's could he preserved at the same time that a - fair eoinpett 7 tic:it in the•warehousioag system was encouraged. hear, hear !)—He wished it to be un derstood that it was.nothis intention to pass the Bill this. Session ; but to throw it out for -con sideration, and ,before the next Session arrived, there would be sufficient time to give a dae con sideration to the subject. He thought, however, that much benefit would be derived from a repeal of the prohibitory laws. The country had ample proof of this in several instances. It was forfld that the consumption of certain articles, though much in demand, while the prohibitory duty existed, totally ceased w h ..en that duty was re moved.- :The lion. Member proceeded to state, that :he had in his possession a letter from a Con sul abroad, in which it was stated, that owners of foreign vessels had given strict instructions. to their Captains not to enter British ports, unless in cases of imminent peril. This arose from the excessive harbour dues, and other fees exacted in our ports.—(llear, hear I)—Now thiS prohibl - frequently caused the loss of many vesse.ls, and, therefore, both on the score of humanity, well as of interest, bethought itmees.s.ary to re' peal, as far as possible, those prohibitory laws. The Committee had also taken this part of the question into their consideration, and he trusted that a remedy would be proposed early in the next Session. The lion. Member concluded 11 moving the following Resolutioos:--. " That the Chairman be directed to move the house leave to bring in a Bill to repeal divers anc i ent Statute,s,. o “ parts of Statutes, so far as they relate to the Importation ifl and the Exportation from, England, of Goods and MerchallduP from and to foreign countries.- " A Bill to expain and amend the several Acts for the ej, couraging and incre as in g o f Shi pp i ng . and Navi g ation, 01" at regulate the - Importation of Goodsand Merchandize into fi r e , 6 Britain, so far as relates to the countries from whence, and. Ships in which, such Importation shall be made; and, "A Bill to make more elTectual Provision for the permit° Goods imported i n t o G rea t Bri ta i n t o b e _ ware h ousc d or sccurc without payment of duty." _ Upon the first Resolution having been read b 1 the Chairman, Mr. SYKES said, he concurred fully in the gel neral view taken by the lion. Member upon t l ; is question. He would, however, reserve to a Lure period his observations upon its details. INT Il e was not so wedded t o th e e xisting avigati ° , Laws as to oppose any amendment upon them' but he felt that any alteration ought to ben° ter of serious deliberation. H e t rus t e d, tiler', fore, that the House would do_ nothing rasillY i that they Would delib e rate f u lly a nd mature / 4 before they attempted to amen d th e esistlfis.', taWs. Ile was awar e th a t' there existed ilow it t % the shipping interest a st rong f ee li n g o f a 1 .,,, " ;; upon this question. It was true that the shipP ir interest was of great valu e , b u t o f l a t e th e . owners derived no advantage from their (Hear !).:-;-The lion. Member was mistaken imagined that British ship s cou ld com p e te ' di e those of foreign countries in consequence of 0 , cheapness of our fitting up, &c. The fact ; %ll that in such. an event . as the removal (= t o, restriction, Holland and other countries " .° , 11 4 from the. cheapness of labour, of materiill' ;se ls, from other causes, be enabl e d t o b u ild v C a to not so good, perhaps, but sufficiently g oo en ce• earn double the money, at one half the e F ianation. Mr. WALLACE said a few words i n exP Irtshme Mr. D. BROWNE hoped that °1 the Right . would take notice of the motion ° Hon. Member to remov e th e trans.' duties in t" course of next Session. He t h ou ght that the re peal of the transit duti es on fore ign linens wo 1 be.l thud ruin to Ireland. The- counties o f . .Armagh Cavan and Down would b those cou p ' ser i o usly P 4 injured, by such a proceeding ; bu t 1.. ties in which grey linen was inanu fact ured wou l d suffer still more. prFscnt distresses of lre" y land made it pece T ss l a w r branch of their trade sho u ld be the more-part f I