The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

Lord REDEeD.ILE meted that this house will receive
petitions for private bills ou the first sitting after the recess
at Easter, provided such petitions shall be lodged at the
Private Bill-office on or before Mond .y, the 21st March, to
whi.b timo the reception of such petitions was limited for
the pe..ent ses ion by the order of the Dlt December last.
Agreed to.
THE MERCANTILE MARINE.
Lord cou-aEsilitt reeved for a return of the number
of pent us who pessed their examination for masters and
mates if merchant ships between Jen. 1. 18.12, and Jan. I,
1953 ; elm soy correspondence between the B sited of Trade
and the Committee of Council on Education relative to the
establishment of schools f n merchant seamen and appren time.
The noble lord (who was very indistinctly heard) said that
his object was to inquire into the different laws regulating
the rights and duties of offers and seamen of the British
merchant service. The question bed been much under
the ceeeitierateen of the late Beard of Trade last
summer, and he was anxious to know what course
the perm government intended to adopt on the
subject. Among the grievances of which the shipowners
complained, was the multiplicity of seas to regulate the
rights and dutice of shipowner-, officers, and seamen.
There were ten different acts of parliament relating to
persons employed in the merchant service, independent of
the different laws to regulate navigation. Mr. Lindsay,
the ehipnwner, in a pamphlet on the subject, had promi-
nently pointed est the evils arising from this state of
things. lie mid there were altogether fourteen acts of par-
liament, formiug quite a hbrary, which it was necessary
every shipowner, toaster, and seaman, should have in his
Casion, if be would know the laws by which he was to
perretrned. Moat of them, however, considered these
acts beyond their compreheneion. It was a question well
wroth the censidermion of the government whether they
would not feliow up the intentions of their predecessors
and iutroduee • bill to consolidate all the 'eliding aces into
one; and also to introduce certain amendments
which bad been found necessary into such bill.
There was a great variety of subj. eta that required
amendment which be would not then attempt
to expletn; hut he could not help referring to the prevent
system of registration, which was most unsatisfactory. The
noble lord, after a few other observation', concluded by
moving for the returns specified in his motion.
Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY concurred in the pre-
piety (Atli. object. sought to be effected by the noble lord,
but the whole 'eject was under consideration in the
other Louie of parliament, and would shortly undergo a
thorough aced careful revision. Ile admitted that the system
of et:alai:cis registry tickets had turned out to be vexatioas
in some cases but then it should be recollected that that
system had been introduced as much for Admiralty as for
mercantile porpoise, a purpose for which he hoped to re-
claim it. subject to certain important alterations. It was
now under consideration by the First Lord of the Admiralty.
With regard to naval courts, he was as sexious as the noble
lord to extend their powers, hut It mast be considered that
men; of them were within foreign jurisdiction, and must
therefore be handled with the greatest delicacy. By the
bill now before the other house, it was not proposed to de-
prive the B ' ' h sailor of the right he at present possessed
of volunteerine into one of her Majesty's ships, but it was
not proposed that the captain should be obliged to pay all
his waters at once, as at present, nor until the ship's return,
when also • claim might be made for compensation for any
lose which the ship might have sustained from the removal
of the sailor. Of many other questions—lights, pilotage,
salvage, rile.—it will be impossible to speak positively
notil a later period, but of the system of examining
masters for the merchant service, lie could say that 1
it had worked extremely well, and trusted that it would
be strees.ful in making our shipmasters as superior to those
of other countries in the higher branches of education eel
they were now in the more practical part of their prolession.
As to the subject of naval school., it was now under the
consideration of the Board of Trade, by whom ho hoped it
would receive a favourable solution. The noble lord, after
000 or two further observations, expressed his willingness
to grant the returns.
In answer to the Duke of :siosernonerZaLLND, the Noble
Lord said that an application had been received from
Shields respecting the establishment of • nautical school
there, but that no answer bad as yet been returned.
The Earl of ELLENBOR01.:011 suggested that returns
should be made from time to time of the number of seamen
at the home:, in order that it might be known how many
would be available when wanted. These numbers would
ao doubt fluctuate according to the season of the year. He
hoped it was not the frteatiaa of her kleicatf; government
to take (MO men of war their right of melange.