The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1848._

quince impeded and its merchants damaged and hindered In
their pursuits, it set forth the necessity for as alteration of
the law. The principle adopted by Queen Elisabeth In re-
spect c
ountries earryiug =a the same es that adopted in
other cuie with the exception of Holland, which sanc-
tioned a different course, made her marshes the
bhome of
the most magnificent fabrio of commercial greatness
any merchant choosing to go there, and uilt up
which the world had seen. (lien, hear.) When Queen
Elisabeth made those =Aug= a =Wotan was introduced
which was not in existence before—the coasting teed* whe:h
until then had been open to foreign Teasels was made a so-
sepoly. This change to differential duties on vessels, both
k the home and foreign trade, lasted to the time of the co
ne.
tmeninalth, and then began that third period in the state, of
the navigation laws which had lasted to the present time.
The foundation of the existing system wee to be found in the
statute of Cromwell, and the Navigation Act of Charles IL,
' and the principle of these acts was too familiar to the house
to call for any minute statement of it from him. Parliament,
in a word, had reverted to monopoly, exclusion, and restric-
tion, end strove to engross to British shipping all the trade
of the empire, both horns and oolonial. The motive which
had induced the country to adopt these changes .
political and not commercial. Blackstone bad given
a char account of the reasons which bed influenced
parliament to adopt them, and his opinion was that
.; had done so, with the purpose of punishing those colo-
nise which had adopted the loyalist cause, and also with
the view of clipping the wings of the Dutch—jealousy of the
great carrying trade of Holland bring one of the chief in-
citements to the alteration. (Hear, hear.) That system in
some respects was unaltered to the present day, but some
great changes had been made in it, which however he could
not detail within the limits in which he was authorised to
address the house. Events connected with the declaration
of indeptudence by the United States first broke down the
system, by destroying the self supporting power which it was
supposed the B itch empire posseesed, but a considerable
time elapsed before parliament made up its mind to act as it
was ultimately forced to do. Mr. Pitt, en the first declara-
tion of American independence, proposed the continuance
with America of the tame elate of things with regard to the
shipping of the two countries as when that country wag a
colony of England. Ile, however, did not pass= the
power to induce the house to consent to his plan,
and it was notuntil great practical evils had taken place
that parliament nted to apply a remedy. A petition
from Jamaica, which was presented to the house, stated that
subsequently to the occurrence of two hurricanes in the
years ITBO and 1787 a large number a slaves had perished
la consequence of the nutmegs of the trade with America,
sad the consequent deficiency of food in the island. Step
by step however the restrictions on trade between America
sad their Wen Indian colonies were relaxed, and the inha.
Wants of these colonies afforded amen to the stores of food
existing in the New World. Various other changn were
made, all of them arising from a sense of justice, but they
certainly had made a breach in our navigation laws, not
easily repaired or to be prevented from becoming wider. He
would now come to the state of the law as at present existing.
The present navigation laws were comprised in three statutes,
which he would briefly explain. The first to which he
should refer was the S & 9 Victoria, chap. 8, and the next
was the 7 & S Victoria, chap. 101, and these acts directed
that certain enumerable articles of merchandise should be
imported into this country only in British bettoms, or in
ships of the country from which those articles were imported.
They contained also enactments introduced for the purpose
of confining the colonial trade of En laud to her own nip-
ping. Then came the act for regulating the registry of
British vessels, and be would then state what it was which
constituted a vessels British vessel. The character of a British
vessel depended first on build. It should be built in some
part of the United Kingdom, or of their possessions abroad.
In the second place it depended on ownership. Nu vessel
owned by a fareiguer was entitled to the privilege of British
regiery. There were some anomalies connected with this
subject of ownership which he could sot fully enter into,
such, for instance, as the fact that a foreigner naturalised in
England might become an owner, but not if naturalised in
one of the colonies of the country. The third characteristic
of the term British ship was " massing." In every British
ship engaged in the coasting trade the whole of the crew
should he British seamen, and in those engaged in the foreign
trade three-fourths were required to possess the same quali-
fication. The law also made it obligatory to have on board
a certain number of apprentices, amounting he believed to
one-sixth of the whole crew. He should next proceed to
state to the house the reasons why he thought these laws
should be altehed. They rested on the priucipte of nein
ing to British vessels the colonial, the long voyage, and the
carrying or indirect trade; and he would briefly state why he
thought they could not leave this principle unaltered, And
tint, with ri meet to the case of the colonial trade he believed
that there never had been a more just demand made to that
house than that which had proceeded from every part of the
Bri ish colonies. As they had freed themsil•es from protec-
tive duties they should proceed to free the colonies from
those restrictions imposed on them in maters of navigation,
and under which they had so long chafed. When Mr. Hus-
kioon brought forward his reciprocity treaty, he eta. d that
his opinion was that these restrictions had more to do with ,
the American war than the question of taxation itself ; and
he believed that no one woo looked into the early history of
those colonies would deny that that opinion was a sound one.
Every one acquainted with the history of their West Indian
colonies knew that they were loud in their complaints to the
Board of Trade regarding these restrictions. He asked the
house to consider whither they thought it when
they had done awaelwith the preference for colonial produce,
to continue those restrictions? Ile, therefore, asked the
house to join in removing those restrictions, as being unjust.
(Hear, hear.) lie had 'toted that remonstrances
had come from all parts of the British possessions
against these navigation laws, and he would pro-
ceed to read a few of the :nest remarkable.
He would begin with Canada. He held in his hand the
joint address prevented toiler Majesty's government from the
Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Canada,
praying for the free navigation of the River St. Lawrence
and for the repeal of the navigation laws, so far as they 'e-
lated to or affected that colony. The s.ldress stated that an
attempt had been made by the neighbouring country, the
United ates, to secure to dal( a large measure of the
carrying S-trde, and that lst
theirye they
pt wuuld be wholly
had obtained bit
no lees thaan 700,0001., and attemo
successful unless mine further inducements were offered in
favour of the ad 'vein by foreign nations to take the
route of the Wirer St. Lawrence; it therefore prayed
that her Majesty's government would be pleased to sanction
the free use of the St. Lawrence by all nations,
and to recommend the imperial parliament to repeal the
laws of navigation ae far .4 they relate d to or affected the
Canadi colony. This address, signed by the Speaker of
the Legisan lative Council and by the Speaker of the House of
Assembly, was a moil important document, and well de-
served the serious consideration of the house. (Hear, hear.)
A eimilar view of the matter had been taken by the Earl of
Elgin, and conveyed by that noble lord in a dnpa•ch re-
cently addressed to her Majesty's government; and his (Mr.
Lahouchere's) belief was that the mnie liberal and benefi.
cent the policy to the colonies, the firmer and more durable
would be tar ties which unite them with the mother coun-
try. He might multiply extracts to the same effect con-
tained in various communications received from other bodies
in Canada, but he felt it unnecessary to weary the house
with them. So much, then, for British North America. He
now came to the case of the West India colonies, trim which
in the same way the strongest representations had been re-
ceived of the evils imposed upon them by the restrictions
arising from the existing navigation laws. He knew some
persons w d say that the West Indents did not lc ow
their own interests. All he could ay in reply was, that the
West Indians themselves entertained a different opinion, if
any faith was to be placed in a document emanating from
the most important bodies in those colonies, which had been
transmitted to this country. The West Indians c aimed as
matter of justice that, as the imperial legislature had
adopted the policy of removing all pr. ference for their com-
modities in this country, they (the 'West Indians) should be
yet free from the trammels of the navigation laws. (Hear,
hear.) They btated that no injury could arise from
a rel They
of those laws, while the benefit to
the colonists would be infinite ; that it was the
most desirable boon they could solicit ; that
it would aid Jamaica out of her difficulties, and would be
hailed with exultation, and be acknowledged with every
sentiment of gratitude and respect; while, at the same time,
it would exalt Great Britain in the esteem and admiration of
the colonies. In the sameeepirit a de/vetch addressed by Lord
Harris to Earl Grey on the 20th January, 1817, urged the
government to allow the goods of ell nations to be brought
into the colonies in the ships of thole nations, as by removing
the restrictions the commerce with Prance and Spain, now
obstructed and obliged to be carried on through Martinique
and the Spanish Main, would he established. (Hear, hear.)
He thought it would be ••waste of time to argue the self-
evident question that it would be advantageous to the West
India colonies to abolish these restrictive laws. He thought
it was clear that, by the abolition of ,bees laws, the \Vest India
colonies would become the entrepets of the merchandise of all
nations, and thus they would gain free intercourse with all
Ports of the world. Though he was unwilling to detain the
house any longer than:wee necessary, he could quote, in sup-
port,of this view, the . videcce taken before the committee ap-
pointed on the motion of the hon. member for S nice (Mr. J.
L. Ricardo), whose name he could not mention without
payi ig his humble tribute to the great industry and ability
that hon. member had brought to bear on this important
qu idiots and iriqui:y. (Hear, hi ar ) It was hut the other
day that tie (Mr. lelbouchere) hod been waited upon by ono
of the m..st extensive merchants engaged in the North
American trade. Mr. Gill. spin had waits d upon him at the
Weirdo of Trade, and bud inquired if it was the intention cf
the government, in diaeing with the navigation laws, to
mist the North American trade so tar as the freedom of the
River St Lawrence an concerned. He added, "If not, I
have made up my mint to abandon my trade in that
quarter aitogethor." Now, this opinion was entitled to
the greatest weight, for ire b, Beim I !hit Mr. Gille-pie was a
protectiouint; and he contended that though he was very 11
sorry that this country had reduced the duties on foreign I
produce, et that, having dune that, it they mintained the
navigation lawn, they would commit so monstroue an act of
injustice, as was quite intolerable, (Cheers from the protec-
tionists ) Ile (Mr. Labouchere) unilers'ood three cheers;
and all Inc meant to say was, that as the majority of the
house was ant disposed to retrace their sti p. and return to
protective &dice; they would not continuo restrictive duties
on navigation and the reby drive such men as Mr. U aeons
and other* oat of a trade which they could successfully pur-
sue if navigation was unrestricted. Thus much, then, on
the queieion of tl:c navigateu laws as they rel tee to the cite-
nips. Ile would now advert to that portion of the n tvega
lion levee the o'j. it of which was to secure hp
this country the lung voyage trade, and which pro it-
bited siren Breit& ships from bringing from the ports of
Euro,* the prnduce of Asia, Africa, or A • cries. At present
a &Bat ship could so: go to Havre or Hamburg and
bring thence to this country eu"un, mahogany, sugar, or
any etber produce ot the other three pert& of the globe he
had ed.
Ile believed this portion of the restristive

laws of thiitcountrr. was almost universally condemned ; and in eons-mimeos ce. dee labour market being oireestocked by
he should be surprised to did for it any defenders seenln of
introdeetides ofee seamy boys to the commercial marine
the ranks of erica gessehgli °nests. (Hear, hear.) Mho of this country, The evidenCe of Mr. Dunbar and
cotton of Americanise gpsg:klbe mibOglnty was made into Sir JUMPS Stirling wan distinctly in fleecier of the abolition of
furniture, if the Aires wool of Fero was made into sloth, II this obligation; and be (Mr. Laboutbere) therefore pro-
the sugar was ten
Ibis they might be brought by British posed to abrogate the existing law in this respect, and to
ships to this country frim any port of Europe, because they leers it to the shipowners to employ men or bobs as they
were then manuisetured reds, anal not produce. nee might think fit. With respect to the eluting trade of the
quence of this was toe,. •Inertalusi and advantage to foreign colonies. be proposel to reserve ft to British shipping in the
manufacturers against the manufacturi es at home. (Hear, same !gunner an the coasting trade in this couctry, Let to
hear.) And, at the same time, be believed it deprived the allow to each oolouy to peas an aat, subject to the approval
British shipowner of a very valuable trade. Recently there of the Queen, to throw open its emoting trade
had been • conversation in this hoses on the subject of some to foreign couotries, if it No thought tit. (Hear.)
cotton which had Leen taken to !Isere, where, owing to re, These were the outlines of the alterations which he ventured
cotton
cent events in it ld not find • mrket. That to submit to the comideration of part. Ile did no
could not France be fetchedoouched to Liverpool in a•III itish ship, dioguiae from blinaelf that they were ufliame a very grave sod se-
t
nor brought there in a foreign ship though in Liverpool, and riot's filltUre ; that they went to the foundatim uf what had
thus the shipowner lost the carrisge, and the manufacturers at been hitherto eunsid red the navigation laws ; and he could
Manchester the use of the cotton, and all this from the futile enure the house it was only after lull and mature considers:
attempts to secure what was called the long voyage trade to tion, and after coming to the complete conviction that this
the British shipowner. (Hear, bear.) lie remembered an course was moat couducive to the great inusreste of tile coon.
instance of a similar kind in which an hon. member of this try, met he had ventured to propose it. (Hear ) Ile could
house had applied to him to use his iatiuence with the trea nut b here that free competition would really injure the
eery to permit•qesntity of grimed nuts which wereunealeable commercial marine of this country, looking at the way. In
at Havre to be brought to this country, where they were in which it had prospered hitherto, in proportion as restrictions
demand for same process of manufacture. lie (:dr. Lobou- had been removed and freedom welsh:died. (Hear,
ehere) informed his hon. friend that any interpoaition of the hear ) When Mr Huskisson introduced his celebrated mese
treasury. was imoble, as it would be in the very teeth of sures of la2n, by which the trade of this country was so much
the navigation law,. This showed at once the hardship and thrown open to foreign competition, there lied teen prog-
the absurdity of the existing laws. The house must set that novice of the rue
u h that
bween the as to be
real broughult ot upon British ship-
-
the commercial and maritime interests of this eiuntry ought ping.
But whet ail res
not to depend upon such preposterous restrictions. The tine 1 In 1824, the reentered tonnage of the United
truth was, the commerce of this country had outgrown this Kingdom amounted to 2,394,000 tons, end that of the coin.
system of old and antiquated restrictions—the continuance of nit.. to 211,000 tone ; making together, 7,659p00 tone. In
which was like putting old wine into new bottles, and the 1817, the teenage of the United ReimsKin wan 3.307,000
result of such continuance could not be otherwise than most tone, and teat of tho COlOnler, 6(1,000 t 3 951,000
disastrous. (Hear, hear.) On this point abundant evidence t ins ; be ing au increase of 1,393.000 tons Mine 1824. In
was afforded in the evidence taken before the commit the course ni that period them might have been ebbe and
tee moved for by the honourable member for Stoke. flows of prosperity ; but this marked increase in tonnage
Mr. Swann, a merchant of Hamburg, showed tho roved
that the relaxation. made by Mr. Huskimon hail itot
advantage which the system gave to France and Injured our commerce and induaiy. Turning from the
Germany in respect to the article of Alpaca wool ; general commerce of the couutry, to that portion of it which
sad Mr. Oughton, • merchant of London and the had le. et mpecielly open to foreign competition, and
Canary Islands, furnished an account of similar dieadvan- c imperirm it with that part which was epecialty pro.
tsges in relation to the articles of cochineal and barilla. But tected, there woe nothing to deter them from proceeding
the house would form • very inadequate opinion of the evils in the CHITA% of relaxation and liberality. (Hear, hear.)
of the system, if they only looked to the actual injuries pro. He held in his hand a return, which had been the subject ot
duced—fur there was the much wider Mil, that of trade much comment, preducetl before the committee on the nevi-
being absolutely prevented from being carried on, red which motion laws of last 'tenon, namely, " A statement of the
would bo opencal if these stitesocia restrictions were abo- tonneite ~1 Britielt ships . hich entered the p :eta of the
haled, and navigation conducted on the tame large and Uttio.ti le ingalum from different foreign countriem and from
liberal principles as had been applied by garb ,moat in the Itralie. poseessiens, in the yearn 11424 and 1848; tlistiu-
' other commercial respect.. He now came to another im. guithiag the tonnage employed in the trade with the British
portant branch of the subject. He meant the effect arising possession, aud which is protect dby the navigation laws,
from the provisions of the navigation laws, which were die none the tarmacs employed in the Miele with foreign mein-
signed to secure the indirect or carrying trade to this coon- trim, obeli is unprotected from the competition of ferries
try. Without attempting to go into any arguments as to in advs." The "
hunpeadie otecst of th
i
s return
term ought was not strictly arcurebeen
te ;
whether th. se provisions were or were toot wise in form. r , ent of e t have
times, he would not disguise his opinion that at no time heal " lose protected ;" but the gentlemen who drew up the re-
they answered the effects they were intended to produce. tern had fallen ieto are error in common with Mr. G. F.
The heuse would very much mistake the nature of the real Young, who had alsocrihed the two classes of shipping in
question to be decided, if it was argued on the ground that the same way. The result was that in the protected
they were free to choose whether or not they would seek to trade, in 1824, there was engaged British tonnage to
retain the carrying trade to the exclusion of foreign nations. the amount of b 98,000 tons ; in 1846, 1,735,0100
Foreign astern' bad already given this country no very oh- tons ; the eternise being 842,000 tone, or 91 percent. In
.cure intimation of their intentions on the subject ; ana his what wes celled the unprotected trade, the tonnage an 1824
impression was that the time win fret approaching when this W" 901,000 tons ; in 1448, 2,5,58,000 : showing an increase
country would not be able to trade with any foreign nation of 1,651,000 tons, or 182 per cent. The tonnage of foreign
on unequal terms, and when every foreign nation would say, vessel* which had entered British ports had been, in le2l,
" Whatever preference we give to you we; shall require from 758,000 toms; in 1846, 1,803,000 ; showing an barreme of
you." (Ho sr, hear.) The queetioh was now, whether this only 1,014 000, or 1,17 per ci at , while thet of the British
county. would nutria in a war of commercial contest evil shipping hid been 182 per cent. Thus, in the I
bsenr to d
retaliation;;; whether it was the interest of this ceuntary trade, the ineraltas In our own shipping had greater
to enter into such a struggle with any commercia than in the protected trade; and also much greater than the
country in the world ;•or whether, by a e arse of prudent increase in the foreign shipping. Ile had stated the reAaollll
or ncesaions and tho adoption of a liberal policy, they could edit be 'relieved that British shipowners and British com-
not do more fur the prosperity of matte and commerce than mere° w ,ul,l not he injured by the alterations promote ;
by the maintenanee of narrow and jealous restrictions. From neither di Ihe th
ideinkri th
thate the
great British shipabuilder would be
one nation had already proceeded a voice—he would net say injured. Consng natural•dvantages which
of menace, for it was not given in hostile language, but of this (mammy pummeled for the manufacture of ships,
warni. g. It came from the same country which hal induced its capital, its
Mr. Hmkisson to make a great alteration in the nomigetion of paint, of timber. of which there was a greater choice
laws in the year 1823. It came from Prussia, speaking in than any ship-Imitate' in the world had at his command, he
the name of Germany. The commercial treaty between this en ila net believe that there was any real danger that the
country and Prussia was about to expire : anal, in • letter British Alp-building interest would puffer by the comp, tition
addreseed by M. Bungee, the Premien acabeesador, to hi of fereien countries.. In estimating the eat of ships built
(Mr. Labouchere's) noble friend (Loral Palmenton), he, on in different parte of the world, it was a great mistake to look
the part of his country and the Zollverein, called for an only at the actual money expended in their construction •
alteration in the Earglian navigation laws ; and he promoted the quail y and durability of the ship+ must also be inn-
s temporary arrangement until parliament should have redeem!: feel in this eiew we were able to build ships fully
fettled the question, and adopted means by which equal to these carestruaed in any pert of the world. Did the
the full development: of the commercial relations competition in shipmelding depend merely on the cheapness
of the two countries could Ire secured. la the same manner of construction, thc British nhiphuilder would have been
• great republic, second only to this country in • cominer- lone snit driven out of the market, not by foreigners, but by
vial point of view, had spoken not in the voice of winning the competition to which lie less cow exposed without arm
but of iuyitation. In the autumn of last year the American protection whatever—that of our own colonists. The
minister, Mr. Bancroft, waited upon his (Mr. Laboucheree.) I hest shies in the world, for tome purposes, surd
noble friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and himself, I which cost least in the construction, were at this
and informed them that his country, believing it was the moment built is our North American colonhe :
disposition of parliament to =eke 6 large and liberal change for some purposes they were extremely useful, and were
with regard to the navigation laws, was most anxious to employed by shipowners to advantage; but any one who
co-operate with Great Britain in the good work; and, in coca- looked into the returns, would see that they were far from
junction with this country, to gine an example to the rest of having supermaled the employment of the dearer sort of
the world in a matter which would be productive of extensive ship built at Mane. While colonial ship-building had gristly
and; sanitary benefits. Mr. Baucrott said, "We ate ready increased, that on the coast of England had also increamel
to do anything you will do. If you will do little, enormou.ly. It might be said that one great disadvantege
we will do little. If you will do much, we will to the English shipuild, r Wnh
thM disadtoe rate of wag
Oa
in co whmmon
ich he
do much If you will do all, we wie do all " must pay, het he only suffered vantage
(Cheers.) Ile (Mr. Labnucherel had request, d Mr. Bancroft with other home manufacturers; and it was one that was
to put his views in the shape of • formal communication. end far more nominal than real. ( Hear, hear.) British labour,
the consequence was that a letter dated the 3.1 Nov., 1847, Oiling into consideration its value, was, in reality, not the I
had been addressed by Mr. Bancroft to Lord Pelnierston On I al-assort, but the cheapest, in the world. Otherwise' why /
the subject, which letter had been laid on the table, and was shoulil there he such a demand for our industrious laterarers I
in the hands of every hon. member. That letter repeated lin foreign a metre..? (Hear, hear.) In the navy, the ex- I
the same sentiments, and ridded that the mineral of existing periment had been ocesaioually tried of building ships 1
restrictions would be of mutual advantage to both countries, of war in the dockyards at Beattie; and Madraes s, I
and would promote new guarewees for the peace of the where the materials were very good, and te wag I
world. Of the reply of his nettle friend it wait sufficient to naiminel le exceedingly cheap. But it had been found that
mention that be sated that the government was not Ruth,- s ea of mr cemal be bid.% cheaper at Portsmouth or Sheer
rased to enter into a neptiation on principles subversive of TIC.I. the reason being that the nominally cheaper labour •
the existing navigation lawn without the ptevious sanction of was really dearer ; for the labour of six Hindi us wee not ,
parliament, but that the government WWI pr.pared to make to equal to that of one Emtlishman. (Hear, bear.) B. Mem, i
parliament such a recommendetion as they trusted would when the restrictions immisedrialMy the navig Mon laws were
of-themet the views expressed by Mr., Bancroft on the art remove
of sh ipd, all the foreign mates neremery (mike construe- i
United States. Ile (Mr. L ahouchere) bad now Mtn s would be brought here far cheaper than at pre-
stated in • general manner what the law at sent, and thus the shim nuilder would derive • considerable I
present was, and he had also stated his reasons Mt adeuntage. When the house came to 'Mettle this pert of I
believing that consistently with the iaterests of this countr' the subject, they would be one that, while it was an I
they could not maintain that law in its present form, and act of jai die ito the B iii ish shipowner to remove the metric i
therefore he now should proceed to mention the alterations tions from his trade, and allow him seems to foreign-built ,
which, on the part of her Majesty's government, he parts fm
ou risk woula hintcr of destroying that valuable I
pared to propme. And be would begin with those of mot important trade our own dominions. On the con- I
the navigation laws which he did net
topropose to alter. It teary, the stimulus given to liritish ship-building would be
was not his intention to recommend the house to make of the most salutary kind. There was no reason ,
any material alteration with regard to the c aiding took of why we should lag behind any other country. If
this country. This was not because he believed that if the in some rmpects we were excelled by the United States in a
coasting trade waa thrown open foreigners would to ane the construction of ships, it was ooly owing to that spirit of I
great extent avail themselves of it, on the contrary, he wa. monopoly which had done harm instead of good to the ship- I
bound to admit the' if one p art of our navigation was more building interest, anl the removal of which would supply a i
proteetee by nature from foreign interference than any other, salutary stimulus; and he could not conceive that the trade I
it was the coasting trade of this country ; but on the other should not sustain itself under that competition. If any one I
hand, he thoi.aht the throe ing open the emitting contended that ships nmld not be built as well and as I
trade would not produce any great amount of good. cheaply in England as in any country in the world. he must i
And while he confed that it woul l bo more maintain at Hie saute time that we could conduct menu- I
consistent with prudencssee and circumspection in a matter facture whatem r ; the arguments with respect totoo taxation, I
which might excite • strong feeling in the country, seeing cost of materials, and labour, and every other argument, 4
that it wuuld produce no benefit, and believing it might applied in an infinitely stronger degree to other nianutee- I
create alarm (in which he did not participate), he did not turn, even to our great cotton manutecture, and would go I
ask the house to interfere with the conning trade as it now the length of proving that 110 manufacture whatever could a
exieted. He thought there might be of raked and be carried on here. (Hear.) The objection which had the
difficulties created in magnet to the maintenance of the re- greatest weight in the minds of many, and which, if true ,
venue and the police on the coma by the admission of fie and valid, would outweigh all the arguments he had ad-
reignere to the unrestricted use of the coasting trade, and on domed in favour of the change, was, that it would he 1
these grounds her Majesty's government had come to the destructive to the military marine and the n 'vat erectness I
determination not to recommend any interference with the of this country. This argument had the high and respect- 1
law as it now stood with regard to the coasting trade of this able sanction of Adam Smith, who declared that, inasmuch
country. For reasons somewhat similar, hut stronger, he as defence was better than commerce, although the navies- .
did not intend to impose any alteration in the laws an they tion laws in his opinion crippled commerce, yet he thought
related to our fialierns. The whale fisheries would be them wise and salutary restrictions, Whetlit r in the days
indirectly affected in another way which he would of Smith that distinction was well founded, or whether this
hereafter explain. Having made these two merest- opinion wan ono of the few errors into which that able
dons, be should propose to the house to des al in writer had fallen, it could not be believed that the argument
a very large and general manner with the remainder would now hold good. The question was, would the re- •
of the system of the navigation laws. Too truth motel of the restrictions imposed by the navimition laws in-
was that they all bung together, and it was extremely ditti- crease or diminish our maritime commerce ? (Hear, hear.)
cult to separate one part from another ; but on the best cm- lle went not with those who contended that tarritimc corn-
sideration he had beeu able to give to the matter, and having merce might be separated from naval power; he did not be-
looked at each of the several remnning portions, vie_ that fieve that a great naval power could be long or safely main-
part which related to the importation of the prnduce of Asia, tained on any other foundation than that of alarge commercial
Anima, and America, from European ports, either in British Marine; and if he thought that the measures he had proposed
Or foreign ships, and also that pert which had been designed were calculated to cripple and annihilate the commercial
to protect the carrying trade of this couutry, be could not maligns of this country, be should admit that thee would he
think that this country had any real interest in retaining almost destructive, certainly highly detrimental, to our naval
either of these reatrictione, as fee as regarded foreign coon- greatness. But he did not believe that thwas the case
tries which were disposed to reciprocate with Great Britain. nor could he see how it wan eatable, i.e longs our commer-
(Hear, hear.) He therefore proposed thosect of parlias cial marine wait maintainea, that our naval greatnese Phould
ment to strike from the statute book restrictioare puffer. lie did not propose to interfere in any way with the
and to advise the house not to deprive her Al ajesty in supply which the navy would require from the commercial
council of that power she already palmated under many marine. The measures he had submitted, 60 far from e
re-
statutes, of inzposing,if sh should so think tit, countevailing ducing or annihilatin our commercial marine, woul in
duties upon any foreign nation thath might treatr British reality maintain and enlarge it. That being so, there would
shipping with injustice. Ile did no: propose that this power be the greater certainty ot a supply of sailors to fill our ships
should be obligatory ; he did not proose that retention for of war. Mr. Huelcisson had stated the true doctrine on this
the mere rake of returning blow for blow, or of retaliation, subject when he said -. " The only true and durable founds-
but simply to enable the crown, by the order in council, to tion for a forge commercial marine is to be laid in the means
impose restrictimia upon any country. thnt ;eight impmaffordieg to it beneficial employ mem." If them
Wien/es epee Great Britain Ilirirg o.‘r 14.0.41 line vii we , al:rr•tlintlo IV re not injurious to the commi rcial marine,
of the government with ra gard to the nevigatinn laws, pro if they hail tho effeid of aletending it from dirninu
perly so called, there were other enactment+ to which it lion mid eggreseion, and from the twinge of polley now
was absolutely necevary for him to cell the a tentien of the threatened towards us by foreign pow, r., he could not
house, in conjunction with the alterations he hod roe. ll' ioned. conceive how it should leprous!). affect our naval strength
Theme enactments were the statutes which ramiteeed the end suprommy. Tne deneer to our shipping which wan nth
These
of Briti-h vessel-.he build, ownemeip, end puha uded from the free rompetition ot odei nations heal
meenieg, of British With raped to the no real .foondation ;he wished he collet that there were
build, he thought that after exemine tim Britith no greeter porde or dangers to which ourcontnercial marine
ShipoWrer to a competition with all perm of the wart at this moment emptied. Ile was bound to admit that
world, it was hut remittable to afford him every facility for there were alangers--and dangers of .. vi ry serious notice ;
obtaining h ship+ at the cheepest rem, anal he therefore and he ma idiened them in ord. r that the house might apply
propoaed to do away with that restriction wee. I! limited the such re median es their wisdom reliant deeise. Ile hoped the
British register to Bri. ivh-built skim. Ile thee-fere Minitel attention of the house had been direeted to a e
vr
advise that that ships built abroad, but owned tay En,iiiiirnen, abld correepreelenre which had lain same time ony theta ble
should he entitled to British register. (Ilear, hear ) With of the broom reinaprising letters from our consuls armee, in
ra aid to ownhip, h did ot prose to make n mate- reply to a circular from the Fortien-office; and no one could
seat! alteration.ers Thereu weren someop 400Malif a WhiCahy it was have permed those documents without deeply regretting the
intended to cab deem ; rut, as a general principle, a British a vils which prevail. dso extensively in our mmercial
owner would e necemary to give a character to a British manse. (Hear, hear.) Our mercantile navy was sufferine
ship. With reference to manning, he propom d still to leave in its rempeon with that of other countries, not
it necessary that every British ship engaged in the coasting from the want of any protection or restriction., but
treat, should have crow composed mainly oi Width lo a- from eyes whioh tie anzount of protection could cure, but
men ; and he did not propme to alter the haw which i! hich its reit-tome woule have • great tendency to alleviate.
required that the creme engaged in the (dredge trade 'Mould (Hear.) Almost every consul in every griever of the
consist two-thirds of British seamen. He however proposal werld stated Chet while the character of the British a dlor,
to make a great alteration with ra spect to apprenticee ; but as retarded mere seamanship and the management of a
before he came to that he must Mate that he meant to pro- vessel, was as high as ever, unfortunately, own to the low
per to admit Lacer. in the character of British seamen on character of the shipmasters, their want of 'hill, incapacity,
Ware ships engaged in the foreign trade. This he thameht and 10., moot character, a eery relaxed state of discipline
only an act of iusttee to which their chill end excellent preveilad on hoard our ships, which were fast lotting their
t
co nduct enitled the. Ile however inended allo Mier cit Wee in the coineree of the world. (Hear, hem.) It
to abrogate the necessitym which now was imposed onw abips Wa •
s *better to Ink these evils in the face, anal apply suitable
owners of taking apprentices. This obligation was most remedies, than attempt to disguise them. The conssquence 1
burthensome upoueln, o anent, and was ef no use in ramming was that n.erce amp preferred in many instance!' to train
the military. navy. The result of this imam WAS to drive their cargoes to American, Prussian, or Swedish ships, or to
aria-bodied man into
n the American and Swedish sink*, any foreign ships, rather than to lingllth ones, on account