The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-17 00:00:00

MEETING OF SHIPOWNERS•

A Meeting of Shipowners was-•••••110"--bad
yesterday at the George and
Vulture Tavern. Cornhill ,_•Mr.
Mr. Geo. ?ALKYL in the Chair.
The Meeting was, comparatively, but thinly attended.
The CHAIRMAN stated, that no advertisetneat but been inserted
In any of the public Papers respecting the present Meeting, winch
probably might, in a manner, account for the rather scanty number
present. The object of the Meeting was, to consider the interests
of Shipowners. and particularly to take into consideration whether
or not it would be advisable to convene a more general meeting of,
the shipping interest C this country, to know what measures, if
any, should be taken, to further the interests of Shippers at large ;
and likeatsc to watch the progress of the measures now taking.
This much he stated, and this much only he would state, whit a
view to ntatHest that, at this season, nearly the close of the Session
of Parliament, he, and several gentlemen with whom he had con-
sulted, had not the slightest wish to discuss anything. cr to do any-
thing from private feelings, or to further private interests, but with
a view to forward shipping objects at large.
Mr, YOUNG, in rising to propose the first Resolution, said, that
for some years hack, great changes were operating upon the com-
mercial interests. Whether they were calculated to promote the inte-
rests of the community, or only as experiments prejudicial to certain
interesst, he did not mean to discuss. Certain it was, that in pro-
gress of these measures every pact of the commercial community
was materially effected. When any attempt was made in Parliament
to introduce measures affecting other interests, they were efficiently
op aced ; whereas, the British navigation, which, as a body, was
inferior to no other in magnitude or Importance, was entirely
unrepresented, and their interests neglected. He would mention
one instance illustrative of this position : During the discussion in
the House of Commons on Friday last, on a question respecting the
shipping interests, which seemed to Government of great import-
ance, though the House had been previously full on an agricultural
subject, yet, at the conclusion of Mr. Huskisson's speech, there
were but 25 in the House, and, at the termination of the debate,
only 11. (Hear, hear.) He did not mean to say that the Legis.
lature were inadequate to those duties for which they were delegated,
but that their attention was not suiliciently drawn to the shipping
interest*. The interests of the community would be better
consulted if each separate part had been represented in the House,
so that when any measury effecting that part Should be introduced,
its merits would be fairly examined, and a competition would arise,
which, in the result, would prove beneficial to the community at
large (Applause.) He concluded by moving the first Re-
solution :

That it was the opinion of the Meeting that the present
state of Parliament, as regarded the shipping interests, demanded
the most serious consideration of every shipowner throughout the
kingdom.
Mr. MARSHALL, in seconding the resolution, said that he had
no doubt that the lIICA‘UTCX introduced by Government would, in
the result, prove beneficial ; but that at present they materially af-
fected the shipping interest, and that some means ought to be
adopted to protect it.
111 r. URQUHART said that had the Shipping Society conducted
itself with the same independence as other societies, they would be
listened to, but the fact was, they endeavoured to cajole Ministers.
He here alluded to a speech of Lord Liverpool, at the dinner of the
Society in 1824, and said that they had lowered themselves in the
eyes of the community, which was evident from the fact of only
twenty.four baring attended at their last annual meeting. He ad.
matted that many of Mr. fluskisson's points were correct, and
would ultimately prove beneficial, but the Society ought to have
some persons who would go up to Ministers and represent their
sufferings to them. No persons knew of this meeting ;it was only
got up to promote the interests of a certain individual. (Order,
order.)
The CHAIRMAN heresaid, that they had not in view the interests
of any particular individual—their object being to devise measures
for the interests of all.

After wine discussion, the following resolutins were agreed
to

That the successive legislative enactments had been intro-
duced to give effect to the changes and progress of political, cont.
mereial, and agricultural interests, by sound and able Legis-
lators, while the interests of shipowners have been almost entirely
overlooked, or attended with very little effect, arising altogether
from the conduct adopted.
The third Resolution, disclaimed all private and party feel-
ings, and attributed the present state of shipping representation to
the want of men in Parliament practically acquainted with shipping
interests.

The fourth Resolution wat, that for the purpose of awaken.
ing public attention, to adopt exptdient ITICaSI'M for the interests
of shipowners, a public meeting of the shipowners throughout
the kingdom should be called on Tuesday, the :30th of May, inst.,
at the City of London Tavern, and that any owner should be at
liberty to invite the attendance of any Members of the Shipowners'
Society.
These Resolutions were put to the Meeting, and carried unani.
mously. and that they should be published in such Papers as the
Shipowners should think propel.
The thanks of he Meeting were voted to the Chairman, and the
Meeting broke up at three o'clock.