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particular branders of trade ? If they were brought together, would
not something arising from their habits and their attachments to
their particuler interests steal into their deliberations ? At present
each in:crest was watched and protected by those concerned in it.
'l'lie Russia Company in London, foe example, guarded the whole
trade of the empire. The West India Committee. of Merchants
in the same manner defended that interest throughout the empire.
In dealing with these bodies, Government found no room for deceit
or nieuo&rstanding. It was known they had in view only their
own particular interest. (hear, hear.) Government acquired their
knowledge of each channel that fed the great stream of commerce,
by applying to each directly. While this course was continued, all
were on the same looting. If any commercial body attempted to
pursue a particular interest, the design was counteracted by the re.l
presentations of the others, and Government, as an impartial um-
pire, Judged between the parties. When a conference took place
with Government, the infonnwlen was communicated at first
hand by those most able to give it. It was stated, in the Report
of the Committee, as an argument in favour of the institution, that
liberal views were now taken by Parliament and Government as to
commercial subjects. A full attention to that consideration would
slew the inexpediency of attempting, in a roundabout way,
what each interest could better do immediately. for itself by
applying to the Board of Trade. Had any disposition been shew n
to sacrihce to any one interest the general welfare of the commerce
of the country ? The Hon. I ientleinan then referred to the printed
speeches of Lord Liverpool, which were volumes of great commix-
vial knowledge. Every disposition existed to promote the interests
of commerce. How easily had the deputation obtained access to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer? Let them consider the pleasure
and facility with which they always lout an audience with the Pre-
sident of the Board of Tr de, whose commercial knowledge was not
(loaned by any man in Europe. bet them look also at the Rt. Hon.
Gentleman (Mr. Wallace) who had, session after session, presided
over the Comlnittee on Foreign Trade. Was there an instance in
which it was necessary for the whole commercial body to unite, to
resist any undue preference of any particular interest ? Of what
value would be the deliberations of this commercial senate, carried,
perhaps, by II against 12, or by the casting vote of the Chairman ?
As well ought they tell any man of distinguished genius who was
about to write the history of this country (Sir James Mackintosh,
for example), that it was not necessary for hint to trouble himself
with the perusal of the state papers, or with weighing the memoirs
of the day against each other, to extract original truths, as he
might be turnished with a pretty little book, "tioltisniith's Abstract
of the History of garjaad " which would at once relieve him from
all the labour of this tedious examination. (A laugh.) Such
would conqsaratively be the result produced by the Board, which
his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith) considered it expedient to
establish. He assured the meeting that ho had received no sug-
gestion or dictation front the higher quarters. Ile did not know
till within a day or two what way the oeinions of his Majesty's
Government on the question. In the report it was acknowledged
that ••• the Committee were sensible that no measures to permanent
or of substantial efficacy could be successful, without cordial
union and co-operation that to glee full effect to such an associ-
non, it was indispensably necessary that it should receive the support
of the !eluting mercantile establishments, and allo unite the talents
and experience of the most eminent commercial characters of this
metropolis." Now be (Mr. Ht.) could not attend die meetings of the
CbantecrofCommerce. 31 any others could not, and many more would
not, because they disapproved of she institution wholly. Into
whose lands would the management then be likely to fall ? In his
observations he had not the most distant view to the respectable
names who stood at present on the list of the Committee. In the
first instance, they would follow up the institution with zeal and
attention ; but by degrees it would drop into bands leas respectable,
busy men of no particular pursuit, a little acquainted with every
thing, but deeply versed in nothing; schemer, and speculators; or,
what would be tne last degree of corruption' persons who, for par.
poses ut their own, would be desirous of becoming the leading
members of such an institution. These were the apprehensions of
Lord Liverpool, who expected that it would prove either useless or
dangerous. While it mounted the great and commanding name of
the Chamber of Commerce for the city of London, it would be no
fkir representation of the sentiments of the commercial hotly. His
Hon. Friend (Mr. J. Smith) had alluded to some mercantile griev.
antes arising leim the revenue laws. Ile perfectly concurred with
his Hon. Friend as to those subjects; ass d he understood that a
plan was in contemplation for simplifying the offices of Customs and
and terminating many of the evils now complained of. His
Majesty's Government had been collecting information, and he
knew there was no want of disposition to take up the question Jibe-
' rally. His lion. Friend had commented rather too freely on the
ignorance of commercial men. This was unquestionably the
greatest commercial country in the world. It had arrived at an
acne of prosperity which our ancestors could not have anticipated,
Thew were no marks of ignorance.
.The Hon. Gentleman then
proceeded to animadvert on several amnions in the proposed list of
names for the direction of the Chamber of Commerce; and be con-
cluded, alter adverting to Mr.Baring's opinion, which was adverse to
the institution, by moving as an amendment, That it was inexpedient
to proceed further, under any circumstances, in the formation of a
Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Tooke seconded the amendment. He agreed perfectly
with his nun. Friend (Mr. Manning), that there was every reason
to apprehend that the management of such an institution as the
proposed Chamber of Commerce, would fall into the hands of per-
sons not qualified to conduct it. To no institution, he was afraid,
would the old adage be more applicable, " thin what was every
body's toismess was nobody's." The direction of the institution
would probably soon devolve upon persons of no station or respect-
ability, and i every kind of evil andinconvenience to the commerce
of the country would follow.
Mr. Faesnrter.n said it WAS easier to throw an sir of ridicule
over thekstitution of a Chamber of Commerce, than by fair rea-
soning/Mem its necessity. The mercantile interests required
such sripower as this institution would give them, to enable Go-
vernment to manifest the friendly disposition which he believed
they entertained towards then). He defended the course pursued
by the Committee. The utility of a Chamber of Commerce was
never more manifest than in the late instance of the law of mer-
chant and factor. No man knew, unless he brought his goods in
open market, whether he would not be liable to pay for them twice.
The argument of the lion. Gentleman who bad seconded the
amendment, was that on which the institution was founded. Be-
cause everybody's business was too truly said to be nobody's, it
became necessary to form an association to watch over the ge-
neral welfare. (Hear, hear). As to the conduct of his Majesty's
Ministers in this transaction, he should shrink into insignificance
if he retired from the cause merely because Government had stated
their opinions to be adverse to the institution. He was sure the time
would come when the measure would be generally approved, and
that that time was not remote. He was surprised at that
in Lord Liverpool's letter, in which his Lordship spited,tpahsalle
would not hold any communication with the Chamber of Com-
merce. It would be a body, who of right could address both
Houses of Parliament, and it was not a little extraordinary, there-
fore, to hear a Minister of the Crown state, that he would reject the
respectful applications of such an association. (Hear, hear.) Lord
Liverpool, in writing that passage, had recorded the sentiments of
others, and inadvertently written a libel upon himself, which the
whole tenor of his public life refuted. Atter some further obser-
vations, the lion. Gentleman concluded with saying, that before the
debate he did not believe so few objections really existed to the
measure. Those that had been urged were of no weight, except
what they derived from the respectable persons by whom they bad
been used.

alt. 11 innEnT explained.
111 r. Jast Von ac. was satisfied that a Chamber of Commerce
would be four.d to be pregnant with the greatest mischief. The
natural and proper course 'was for each interest to watch over its
own concerns, nod forward its own views. The Board of Trade
was open to vll communications, and it was more advisable, by re-
spectable organs, to communicate directly with that body. He
trusted the independence of the City sould arouse itself, and crush
• project which would only tend to increase Ministerial power and
influence. lie particularly deprecated the propriety of such an in-
stitution hemming the referees of mercantile disputes. He there.
fore hoped the aniendment would be carried.
Mr.Joistt HALL said he went into the inquiry with a disposition
unfavourable to the Institution, but the information he had ac-
quired in the course of the inquiries of the Committee dud in.
ducts' hint to come to a very different conclusion. No better
opportunity could be selected than the present for establish-
ing a Chamber of Commerce. He acquitted Government of blame
in continuing many restrictions on trade, because no rem-
sentstions had been made respecting them. Individual merchants
were averse to expose themselves to the trouble and odium of re.
presenting the grievances under which they laboured. But that
there were many grievances to be complained of, was manifest from
the fact, that within a very short period 27.6(0 petitions had been
presented to the Privy Council. The !lon. Gentleman then ad-
verted to the objection, that it was intended to raise the Chamber of
Commerce into an institution for taking away the Trial by Jury,
and compelling all merchants to make their references to its deci-
sion. No such design was ever entertained ; but where parties chose
to bind thenmeives to such a proceeding, surely it was not fair to
deny them 'he opportunity of escaping from the heavy expense and
tediousdelar, of the Courts of Las.

sir. FeErse opi.o;elti;;uncn- Inent.
CoxvILLE hoped that the roonniercial interests of the coun-
try would never be represented hut in Parliament, where all other
interests also were rcpreNcntcd. Ile was opposed, in principle,lto any
such institution as a Cliatuber of I 'ommeree. However zealous its
founders might be at first, Ow management of this immense ma-
chine wield ultintatcly fall into the hands of a few busy and mis-
chievous individuals. .1t present, if any grievance affected any
particular branch of commerce, it was best met and exposed by the
excrtionaof that interim.

Mr. Wot.t.ASTO7 defended the conduct of the Committee, who
had taken tlor fairest course of bringing the question under the
consideration of the merchants of the city of London. In 1817 a
highly respectable body had agreed to the propriety and necessity
of the institution. Amongst these gentlemen was 81r. Baring, who
had declared that he would be happy to take his seat in the Cham-
ber. if he had not so far personally withdrawn from business, the
labour of which he had transferred to younger bands. As an in.
stance of the want of union and funds for general mercantile ob-
jects, the Committee employed in procuring the alteration of the
l:tw of merchaot and factor were now begging from door to door
the expend of their proceedings.
Mr. II isantr stated, that Mr. John Irving was with him, when
Mr. Baring had declared that his deliberate judgment was against
the orstituoion of a Chamber of Commerce.

After a few words from 3h. Joust SMITH, the original resolu-
tion was carried by a considerable majority.
Theother resolutions prepared br the Committee were then passed
set-4:am ; amongst them was the following, proposed by Mr. Ben-
jamin Shaw, and set:omits' by 3lr. Freese
. . . . .

That this meeting being impressed with the conviction that the
advantages to be derived from a Chamber of Commerce in the City
of London, mutt greatly depend upon an unrestrained and cordial
communication with the severe/ branches of his Majesty's Govern.
meat for the time being ; it has learnt, with deep regret, Imin a com-
munication recently addressed by the Right lion. the Earl at Jiver.