The Express.
London, England, 1849-03-29 00:00:00

THE NAVIGATION LAWS.

MEETING AT POPLAR.
Last night • public meeting of persons interests,'
in British navigation was held at the Tewn-hall, p„plooy„,
the purpose of taking into consideration the einem I;
pending in parliament fur the repeal of the n velem ea It.,
The meeting was very sums ously attended by obi
and shipwrights. The chair waa occupied by gicum
GIMEN, Esq , an extensive shipowner.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, pig 04$
having been requested by a great number of shimwein
preside on the present °tension, he had waived all pe
lbasl
considerations and swotted. His motto was " sehon,
not words," and therefore he hoped that ti e meeting %rig
an attentive hearing for every to businese,
sneaker. and support him in obtaining
Mr. OREVES propo ed the first resolution, which wie to
the effect that it was the opinion of the meeting that
and organic chances in laws should only bs undo oto.Azi
necessity, in acoorlance with public opinion unigameally
expressed, and in n temperate. cautious, and rodent assank
Mr. JOHN RICHARDSON xxonded this rewhitien.
thought it very unfair that the shipowners of England, abs
had enormous taxes to pay, should beidriven into competing
with foreigners, who had no heavy imposts is wast.
petition in favour of the repeal of the navierati tn Inning yea
wee only signed by 500 from the port of London, ineitai.,
50 foreigners ; but the petition rpai..e, it was elegant hymn:
thousands of the merchant', bankers, and sbipseengi grti;
metropolis. This year there was the same preponderant
ma on the side of those who °N. ettd to the repeal;
and he advised the mercantile interests of Poplar to die if
they died at all, with harness on their backs, and to sin
their dependence, not upon the House of Combnes, bra
upon the Reuse of Lords.
Mr. D. DUNBAR snored the second resolution, 'kith
was:

That the sweeping measure now before parliament 'or the vi rtu
abrogation of the navigation laws had not been proved to le -
for the ie tenets of commerce or the community, ..ad had km
demanded by the voice of the people; that its introduction Wu ptel,
phate, and its provisions crude, inconsistent, and dangerous
He said the meeting woo aware that the v.romittee ay.
pointed by the House of Commons to inquire into the opera.
tion of the navigation laws was a fret-trade committee. fit
had been examined before that committee, and its amnesty
that n mere unjust one bad never been appointed. Waht
giving his evidence, an American captain hid been called is
and loudly applauded, inasmuch as he !tithed that Eadielt
captains made longer voyages than any others, beetles
they were paid by the month. (Cries of " Shame.)
Then a captain in the navy was examined, and he gave en.
deuce that the mercantile marine was of FO advantage to
the British navy. (" Oh !" and renewed cries of" Shaw")
The next testimony weer, that foreign labour wu sares
valuable than British. (" Oh! eh!" and a voles "We
would do more work than three Muir:mere.", He fund
that if the navigation laws were repealed, many a cume
would he fired ; and he confessed that ono of his resume N
supporting these laws was, that he wished to see England
major domo, and the mistress of the world. (Laughter sod
cheers.) He believed that the rep -al of the navigation lave
would do less injury to the shipowner than to the ship.
Wright, for dried fish and black bread, in all probibility,
would be the food of the working mechanic if Kr. Ls.
bouchere's plan were carried. At present, the shipowners
kept the eighth of their profits, and gave the m, change the
ninth part. (Ironical laughter, and cries of "Oh ! ok!"
and " Where do you buy your ships i")
Mr. S. TURNER seconded the resalutinn.
Mr. TUD(IAY supported it; and quoted Adam Smith, u
eulogist of the wisdom which aictued the enactment et the
navigation laws. He thought the Laboucheres were a pared
of snakes in the grass, and he hoped the mariners of England
would unmoor their reason—(lou I laughter)—and oppoee
the destructive policy now proposed.
Mr. J. ROBINSON moved the third resolution amid
great uproar, cries of " Sit down Cockney," imitation at
the crowing of a civic, and loud laughter.
Mr. T. H. BLUCK seconded the third resolution, which
was " that the bit tor the repeal of the navigation Lou
would produce most disastrous effects on the maritime is.
terests, that its effects would be ruinous to the employm al
labour, and the industrious classes in the parish of All Sinn
and on the banks of the Thames, displacing operatives, di.
fusing distress, pauperism and discontent, increasing the
burden of the poor rates, and lowering the condition of ill
who were dependent upon shipping."
Mr. J. HOOPER supported the third resolution.
Mr. N. GOULD moved " thst it be recommeni.ed to all
persons to unite in a firm and determined resistance took.
bill, and that a petition, founded on the foregoing nada.
Gone, be signed by the chairman and transmitted wise
legislature." Ile read the speech of Mr. Henry Drummond
in the House of Commons against the bill, and said that Sir
Robert Peel was worshipping the cotton idol set up by the
men of Manchester.

Copt DRAYNOR seconded the adoption of the petitim.
Mr. G. F. YOUNG supported it, and 'toted that he as
prepared on that platform, or in the Free Trade H.ll d
Manchester, to meet any advocate of the repeal of the me
vigation laws, and to prove that that re;seal would be a
disastrous to the interests of Eneland. He said net
according to the Customs' entry of list Saturday, then had
been imported into the port of London 2,4001. worth of
cotton manufacture., 1,7501. of woollen manufacture, 5,600
boot fronts, and 299,000 pairs of gloves. Why inset
under circumstances lik• these, that 1,400 bootmaken hid
been discharged at the West-end on Saturday night, or that
there should be great distress in Leicester, Nottingham, se
Birmingham ? But, tesides all this, there had been arm
large quantity of needlework imported. Why then Mould
surprise be expressed that the slertmakers of London were
working for a paltry, insignificant trifle daily (lieu,
hear.) He was Informed that on Saturday no fewer the
116 foreign vessels had entered the West India docks lade
with foreign corn. (Hear.) He stood there as the advocate
of the rights of Englishmen ; and now he would tell the
meeting the dodge the free-traders were working. They
(the free-traders) had not dared to attack all British lateens
at once, but they had torn down one interest first, then they
had made an assault upon another; and now the nisritise
commerce was the last selected for attack. He was glad
it, for the maritime commerce was the pivot upon which m
action would tura, and these men would be spurned who hod
nearly ruined every class in England. (Applause.) He the
referred to a variety of statlstics,with theme of showing est
British shipping had really decreased under reciprocity
treaties, and that the shipping of foreign powers under siouhr
treaties, had enormously increased. If, then, the naval pew
of Great Britain continued to decline after the navigation
laws were repealed, what would become of her greatness oa
the ocean ? England now possessed 3,700,000 tons of skit
ping, but the secretary of America had calculated that in the
year 1857 the United States would have 7,926,371 Sea'
What then should England do? (Hear.) The petition
presented in favour of the repeal of the navigation laws this
session were 12 in number, containing 3,156 gorillas.
while 107 petitions had been presented on the protettiordet
side containing 118,218 signatures ; and the petition from
Manchester, a city of cotton-idols, which Mr. Milner Gies
like Mr. Cardwell for Liverpool, would never miry/poet
again, contained the enormous number of 376 eiguature
(Laughter and cheers.) He concluded by expressing a her
that the present accursed bill would be thrown out of per
latent by the united voice of the British public.
Mr. BOWKET said that the only persons who had Pd.
fited by the navigation laws were the shipowners , ended
the unfortunate shipwrights, for the former made lideOL
profit, while the poor man could scarcely obtain a last. Nat
one man in twenty in Poplar could educate his child without
sending him to a charity school ; and if this were the rash
of protection, the sooner it was abandoned the beton
(Cheers.)
The several resolutions were almost unanimously adopted,
and atter a vets of thanks to the chairman the meeting RP
rated.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE ASSURANCE.—Yesterday the
annual meeting of this company was held at the offices of the
institution, 76, Cheapside. The chair was taken by MO
H. Stones, late of the 13th Dragoons. Edward Baylis, Et
the manager and actuary, read a very flourishing riper, .1
the state of the institution. It stated that although samblar
in times of extraordinary difficulty and distress, at a pesla
when the commercial world appeared involved in ruin, tfi"
society in so short a period had made unexampled psollesl..,
171 policies having been effected since the last general "',."`"
ing, making 271 policies in the aggregate, producine,ll.42
deducting those lapsed and discontinued, en income of
2,4031. lls. 3d. per annum Upwards of 6,280 therein the
capital of the company had been taken up since the last 0;
nual meeting, or which 3,145 had been disposed of
since the Ist of January last, showing that the public wen
now more than ever ready to appreciate the advant4Bl
offered by the' company. The subscribed capital sr!
amounted to 171,0601. 10s., being an increase since the,
meeting of 78,6004 10s., and including nearly 230 additional
shareholders, making the total number 310. The directes
recommended a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. persons
en the paid-up capital. The ebjecteof the society tress LI
ably advocated by Mr. Hart, Mr. Hesseltine, Mr. Cooper, w;
Williams, Mr. Teuton, Major Stones (the cbairman),lo°
also by the aetuary (Mr. Baylis), who particularly dwelt 01
the value of the clause of the deed which gave the directors
power to appropriate for the relief of aged and distrease4r.
praetors holding policies of flee years' duration, their widows
and orphans, one-tenth of the annual profits of the eon'
pany. The report was adopted by acclamation, sad the fol-
lowing gentlemen were re-elected directors:—The Rev. J.
W. Okada, MA., Henry Hart, Esq., and Wm. Seerismel
Esq. E. 61. Winthrop, Esq., was also elected a director.

7idlsais, Rano Esq., sad 0. Inns, 11.41., ware eke
The
neketed. A complimentary vote of thanks was pawed to
ibefall"t Annum and the directors for their able marago-
, ,the teglary, Mr. Baylis, and to the niediml Mom
wn sad montry, whoa the meethti adjourned.
A/Mine BENEVOLENT FUND.—TeiceilltUal gene-
▪ gawky 'of this Institution was ha I Intents/ at rite
.s
in..ewn Tuna. B. M. 3130 Moq„ tho chaw. The
Tog gig mon, which stay; ted that the va cities to
it wlduivs smwaud is 5654., to 22 ambers 1081. 16a,
iikb, with ea isurnent of 1701. in Tmechase of 2001.
fleck at 3 pew sent. reduad, and the ordinary general Si.
left, Mt Man boom of 1,2401, a balance in the
=s' boas of MAL The item of lanes von—halsses
M let nor's assuat, MIL 14e. 11d.; ordinary incase
gggi. 3.. ; eznarneury 1nc..., 3061. lls. The conamittai
with ma* Idenewe that they were now enabled to
n its Mk** MOWS& to be paid to the widows and
.:bam in the institution:—To gash widow 181. (wilich is
Wigyean from 111.), and to each trphan 61, and they
voted that mese would he afforded them of continuing
Bls wit owe. The recut was ramialogaly
ggegred *sad the meeting Denim/ed.'
THE ScoVrieft HOSPITAL ColtrOnallo:l.—Te•ter-
e, • general Court of (le owners was held at the premises
Winging to the charity in Crane-mart, Flrobstrret, Dr.
*biter in the chair. From the statement of the account cf
rkef dietedneted during the past year, it appeared that the
rote, of applicants r casual relief wee abut 300
poethly. Upon those applicasts, together with 130 aged
...koms, and those who obtained nweesees to Scot.
there was expended the sum of 2,3731. 2s. 2d.
Ite receipts for the year. from all ewers. were
Ann 9s. dd Sod the extunditars 2,9891. 10a ,
lnv-
irg a balance in hank of 1871. 19.. 81. The chairman
red a letter keen Ilaju James Adair, preentiag to
die corporation a Libelee portrait of the kin Dab
MOOdiSOO, who was for many yeses president of the she.
ifly, nod one of its most munificent patron.. The letter was
aedeni to be inserted in the minutes, and thinks were
Ora to Major Adair for his valuable p7eeent. A petition
use presented to the court from a pelmet named Wilson,
Paull far a cciathinanin of the pension which the society
Ma pasted him. The secretary stated that the petitioner
had acted at eolleeter and visitor for the hospital far more
than thirty ,ftro t• and upon resieninr, four years afro.
I peaks Of 151. a year had boss granted to
Mu Subsequent to his resignation, he tad non
ago of gems bogalarities Is • siinstion of truss
Irldelt he held In eritoeher institution, sod his death was I
iffe.ssi Is she newspaper.. Ii appeared, however, that the
Mosemermeed of We death was merely an expedient to
rub raspoorthilky, kw after having kept out of the way for
am peers. he sow SIMS forward to ask for a naticuuos of
ponsion whisk Ind hem:voted to his, and the arrears due
I biskuld Oa kaki that kit was entitled to it. After a
klal saavomation the petition wee referred to the relief tom-
gibr^ aellemilisaiod by a request that they would inviati-
gni be oloomnstauss of the ease, and report thereon to the
got grind wart. Then being no other harness bets the
gogn, theprostedings then terminated with the usual von
• *Wm to ther chairman.

Affirm rosloiors.—The first annivenvy dinner
▪ sic of ths fuse of this reeently-ustabliehad charity took
rvesterdar the Lsades Tavern, Bishopegate-street.
Ca abeldge had signified his invention to act as
preikat es the 010111;011, bat W401110..12 pomaded ids
segagasce, sad the their was filled by Dr. Lu.kagtos, who
tar suroseted by Lord Dudley Stuart, 11. P., Mr. J. limitb,
la.. . . awne. M P., Dr. B. O. de Ninety, Rev.
D.
&noway, eel spwarls of 80 patrons of the kotitutios.
Tu. mow Isabelita" inciediag this heath of the Luke
of Cembridge, whit was asseumood as a subscriber
sit 20 guises,, haves feu and received with all
the hollows, the gave " Prosperity and locg
osationsoes so the Asylum fee Idiots" He expressed sur-
mise that the Institution, was set only a new ens but stood
*as in Memo to its objects is Great Britain. Whils the
Massa philanthropy hod extended its solicitude to a vast
Meese et the Ism of distress and suffesing incidental to
hamatity, it had, herelstbet, alto. ether neglected to pro-
vide miss@ specialty dented to the earl of idiotism—the
mat toothier, because the sorest helph as a:d how
hse of all visited/as Webby. as it did, a de.
radian el thought sad ream. He was sincerely
, that the mind of the charitable
= lanesser
Lad at dog* awakened to the necessity whisk
Ward ter seek eas ; and that it was thoroughly
seemed,Ntris mount of support which this charity had
Ikea, wee obastlant eeilsece. There were at pre-
emie about HI WNW is the assists, who. 'remits, under
Odious saperistemisase, was directed to employments such
• &swig, gerksdag, mule. &a , caleslated awaken
Ihele dormant istellostsal capabilities ; and it must be nutter
Ongliifilalla is all the supporters of the charity
to haw that great smote" had attended the 'flares width
Ise tees nods kr the amelioration of the condition of the
Whop, obleele of the shorty. The usual collection in mid
goo charity was *es made, and a bag list of subscriptions
gm issesseed by the treasurer.

CHARTIn MEETING.—Lot evening a public meet-
Mg took plane at the &oath Loudon Hall, Blacktrian-road
ha emasseemeed boa pat forth, stating that hir.
Cheeks Pewees. /LP. ,11r. C. T. D'Syneoart, M.P., and
T. O'Cuinier, Id.? was invkodf and expected to
sibad, W room was oroirdod to *rem, and may persons
liwared ander this taproot= that some new principle or
gwilmentary refer= was about to be proposed. It turned
Ni, however, that the petition to be brought ander eon-
diwation was maims more am lees Ala an embodiment of
IM el: potato of the charter; mad that the present meeting
me sward hr the Es. of reviving a sabfeet with
Midi the pulite hate boss imaillar. The Moir was
thea by • perm who himself • mechanic, and who
Oiled that Mr. Pianos had called ups his in the moaning
lo =use hisoelf from attending, on the mond that his
prhabentary duties rendered it impseeible for him to be
pant. the other gentlemen who "lad been requested to
attend bed not sort any answer upon the subject. A repo-
ledss vas proposed et bracing Ow six Vita)/ of the charter,
iMe petition% the lamella was brought under the noels!,
fit the meeting. Several speeches were made in the coons
dtbe evesiag, sad many of the most active supporters of
Ss sherbet movement leek part in the moceedings.

lEQUEBT YEITIERDAT.—BEGOING IN THE STREETS.
—Seine Mr. W. Baker, at the Plough public-home,
Firegh•yeed, ennediteh, relenting the death of Michael
Desoran, aged 9 swathe, who was alleged to have died from
Neva: on end mews to the cold. The body of the de.
wend was moat f 7 emadatrd. Be wee one of twins,
sad the mother was mestantly begging In the streets, with
bit two Wants la bar arms. She generally left home about
teelock in the mershig, awl remained out all day with
her tete children midi late at night. She sanally at upon
the win of dome la Flashiwy• square, for several hours to-
mew. Scam time aloes she was takes into sustody Sot
Mang, sad coaviMed by a saaghtrate. Alter her invei-
glement lied mmloadobe wit reasded to the gene method.
jjaa eft attacked with a pulmonary
dbsra aid as Mar wee Mod by the medial officer of
Ms salsa, who limas' that the thud should be properly
Insist to. The serious Ailed the child deny, lota the
d Muth, but the mother hoodad sot tatsa*ast whim,
sea mass! the two Widow is the snorts. The mar-
-11111 iraaaiai his visits Am the fitli Whist, and the de.
nod padmily beams worm. The mother sever applied
kr Ms spatascei of a eargoos, nor seated that the chill was
mos. Oa Friday last, the deceased was appareatlydaraji
bet the tanker bask bin oat with the other takst, a
▪ retrara home until the eveaimr. The deemed bream
wink end expired serly es Monday naming. The moan
W the sargeaa's "within* did not digitised, rove that
the death was accelerated by exposure, and the saes was ose
of Mtn whoa the Pay amid only mews their horror at
vim had warred. The jury said erg had se doubt that
ohs death of the child was caused by stervatke and mown
to Vs cold air, sad returned a 'redid to that elem. The
maw, by the direction of the jury, sew* assured the
usliber. sad mationed her is take proper earsof Mr rennin.
kg shild.