The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-13 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

mediately shipped for thin country. The lion. Gentleman hail
classed the speculators in corn among the gamblers of the country ;
but to hint 131 r. II.) they did not appear to differ in the nature of
their speculations from any other description of petsons engaged
in a particular speculation. In all such cases it was to be cr pected
that the parties concerned would be anxious to promote their indi-
vidual interests. It should be considered also, that a great part of
the corn now warehoused here had been imported principally in
In: and lICES, and in a less degree in 1023, and a great part of it
purchased at an under-price. By returns recently received, he
found that the price at Rottenlam was 355. per quarter, and that
sum, with the expenses of bringing it into thetoontry, would leave
but very little profit at a duty of 125.; but if the addition of As.
were imposed, the effect would be to deter any persons from ven •
taring on its importation, particularly when the linii:ation of the
Ilith of August was taken into view. lie hoped the House would
see the necessity which exired for not defeating the object of the
supply, by preventing the operation of the measure introduced to
the House for that purpose, and that lion. Members would not
throw any impediments in the way.
Mr. BARING said, if he thought the difference between the
twelve anti the seventeen shillings duty would have the effect sup-
posed by the Right lion. Gentleman, he should feel great reluc-
tance to throw any such impediment as was Aepreca.ed to the foil'
operation of the measure which contemplated relief. If:le imagined
that such would be the case, so far was he from wishing to oppose the
principle which dictated the measure for remedying the disttces of
the people, that be 'Mould not hesitate in preference of a reduction
to an increase of duty. But he conceived the only consequence
would be, that the difference of duty which should go into die
national treasury would beconte the property of speculators instead
of the people. However worthy those speculating gentlemen might
be. anti deserving of eulogy, he did not like to till their poci.eta at
the expense of the public. lie did not sec why the duty, which in
ordinary cases of importation would be seventeen 'Millings, should
deviate from that rate. The temporary exigency of this country
would not cause a difference in the quantity which was ready to be
sent from foreign ports. As to the statement which had been made
by the Right lion. Gentleman opposite, that the price of corn at
Rotterdam was 355., he (31r. B.) thought there must be some
mistake. The letters which had been real the other night from
Liverpool stated only 325. as the price at which it could be im-
ported. If to that sum site duty of 12s. were added, it would give
a total of only 415., and that, even with the addition of the 35.,
would leave a very great profit. Should it be increased by the
proposed difference of se. duty, the whole amount, even that of
525., would put a very considerable profit into the possession of
those who imported tne commodity. The temporary expedients
which were adopted by Government gave rise to, jobbing, and, in
spite of all the etihrts of Government, that jobbing would lead to
corruption. What he seamed was to relieve the country from its
distresses, and not to swell the purses of jobbing Arculators. He
should therefore repeat, that lie saw no necessity for altering the
ordinary mode of importation, and shottld tlee.ti it better to adopt
1711., or at least 155.; but he could nut perceive any reaaon why
12s. should be deemed a proper amount.
Mr. HUSKISSON, in explanation, read an account of the
price of corn from the liatteretdm Gazette of the Ist of Mk r,
whereby It anpeared to be in English currency 355. 2.1.
Mr. ELIAS thought it material to refer to the quality of the
corn in the warehouses. IVhen it was considered that it was of an
inferior kind, the duty seemed to be rather high titan low, which
it was proposed to establish. If the effict of increasing that rate
would be to wait for the slow arrival of additional quantities of a
better description, it might be thrown into market so short a time
before harvest as to affect seriously the agriculturists of this coun.
try. lie had. on a former occasion, asserted, and he now repeated
the assertion, that the proper considerntion should be, what bounty
should be given, and no: what duty should be imposed. A time
might come when the people of this country might feel the I.CCCA.
sity of procuring foreign corn to meet sudden emergencies, and un-
less the mode were previously opened, it might be found extremely
difficult to get it on the exigency of the moment. The Roust had
at the commencement of the session adopted resolutions relatlee to
a change in the currency, and it seemed to him the more prudent
MUM to wait some time, In order to see the operation of the
change. When the Bill was introduced, he had said that he be-
lieved the effect must necessarily be to lower prices, in concurrence
with the depression of the currency, and he did not suppose that
corn would form an exception to the general rule of reduction.
Mr. T. WILSON thought the Hon. Member foi Wiltshire
took a wrong view of the question, and he thought that Govern-
ment acted properly in adopting such a reduced duty as would not
impede but fae,litate the great purpose for which it was intended—
the relief of the distressed. On that ground he objected to the
amendment of 175., but in so doing he professed that he acted on
the most independent motives.
Mr. WHIT 310111: addressed the House in PO low a tone that
we could not catch many of his observations. We understood him
.o say, that if Government did not take sonic speedy measures for
settling the question of the Corn Laws, instead of having recourse
to temporary devices, that a period would surely arrive when they
would And repentance 'no late.
Mr. 310NCE. looked to the operation of the change in the cur-
rency as tending to increase wages and to lower prices, and he
trusted that, by a natural transition, there would be a reduction s.f
taxes. lie thought the House would act well if it were to try
whether the best mode of conferrirg benefit on the agricultural and
all classes of the community, would not be to moderate the scale
of taxation.

Mr. BENETT explained.
The gallery was then cleared for a division on the amendment,
which we understood was not pressed.
Upon our re-admission, we found the House in Committee.
Mr. CHAPLIN objected to the admission of oats, which he
did not think would be productive of any advantage to the dis.
tressed manufacturers.

Mr. HUSK ISSON referred the Hon. Member to the proceedings
of the Manchester Committee, by which he would perceive that
the relief extended to the sufferers consisted chiefly of oatmeal.
The advantage of giving Government the discretion of allowing
the importation of oats as well as wheat was obvious.
The clause affixing a duty of 121. was then agreed to.
Mr. STANLEY sii•l he retained the opinion he had before
expressed, that the propositions of Government would only afford
partial relief to the distressed manufacturers. The measure, how.
ever, was valuable, because it was a measure of cmciliation ; and
if Parliament refused to assent to it, the effect would he to excite
considerable irritation in the minds of the sufferers. He thought,
however, that the measure might be rendered infinitely more va.
luable if the suggestion which he had thrown out last night was
acted upon. He was so deeply impressed with the value of the pro-
position then made, that his object in rising was to move the insertion
of a clause to that effect. The measure proposed by Ministers
would affect the price of corn generally, and he did not mean to
deny that it would &front partial relief ; but the objection was,
that the relief would be frittered away over a large space, instead
of being directed to the immediate alleviation of the existing
distress. It was with a view of localizing the relief that he
should move a clause to the effect, that, upon a certificate
from three members of any of the local Committees, acting for the
relief of the distressed in the manufacturing districts, stating
that the Committee had purchased a quantity of bonded corn,
his Majesty's Ministers should be allowed to return such Committee
a sum of money equal to the whole duty paid on the bonded corn
purchased by said Committee; the said sum to be applied fur
the relief of the distressed classes in the manufacturing dis..
tricts. The Hon. Gentleman stated, that he had nn objection to
make any verbal alteration in this clause; and he thought its in.
section, besides affording more direct relief to the distressed, would
tend to reconcile the agricultural interest to the proposed measures,
because it would prevent the price of corn from being so generally
reduced, u if no such clause had been introduced.
Mr. HUSKISSON complimented the Honourable Gentleman
(Mr. Stanley) on the manner in which he brought forward his pro.
position ; opnn principle, however, he was compelled to differ from
the Honourable Gentletnan, and to point nut to the House the
consequences of the prnpased measure. lie objected to applying
the tax on corn to the relief of the manufacturers, more than any
other tax. Such a precedent would lead to the most obvious ill
consequences. It should be considered, too, that any measure of
relief afforded to the distressed, was a diminution of the poor rates
in proportion to the amount of the relief, because it was coinpul.
spry on the Inhabitants of the distressed districts to support their
own poor. Now it did not clearly appear that it was in the manu.
factoring districts that the pease rates fell the heaviest. It was well
known,that the rate yeas different in different districts. In some
districts, where there was not an nnutual degree of distress, the
poor rates were 12s. in the pound, whilst the poor rates did not ex-
ceed de. in the pound in some of the distressed districts. Ile could
find parishes in Sussex where there were• no manufacturers, and
yet where the poor rates amnuntecl to four times A% much in propor.
tion to the rental as they did In Manchester. The proposition of
the Hon. Gentleman was full of difficulties, and was objectionable
in principle, as well as impracticable in its details. It was inter.
feting with a system (•hi., poor rates) which, though full of abuses,
had proved at the saute time productive of much comfort and of
considerable advantage. Ile therefore considered that Parliament
would do well to leave the subject as it stood. He was convinced
that public benevolence. which was already so beneficially
displayed, would not slumber—(hear.)—and aided by the Operation
of the proposed measures, he thought it would ultimately produce
the best elT•ets.—(Filear, hear.)
Sir J. WROTTESLEY thought the distress had arisen from
the measures introtluced by tt inistersrelating to the currency of the
country, and feared that public benevolence would be found to af.
ford very inadequate relief. Nor did he think the proposed mea-
sure! calculated to afford any considerable relief. He •hought that
Miuutters should get a vote of credit, to enable them to appropriate
any suin of money they deemed necessary to the alleviation of
the distress.

Mr. Secretary PEEL feared that the Hon. Gentleman f 3lr.
Stanley's) proposition. would only serve as an opening to num.
berless frauds. He also thought that it would operate injuriously,
by deranging the local markets. The three objections he stated to
the Hon. Gentleman's prognsition on the last night. lie thought re-
mained unanswered. The relief which the Hon. Gentleman pro.
posed could only be partially applied, and he proposed to apply it
in an indirect mode. But the grand objection was the precedent.
In any future instance of distress—and in a great country like this,
there must always be partial distress—the cry would be, you can
give us relief by taking off the ditty on foreign corn. The object
of all parties in the late discussiors seemed to be not to pre-
judice the future arrangement of the Corn Laws, but this propo.
sition was calculated to operate strongly on the future decision of
that important question.

Mr. RARING said that, as the manufacturing towns were situ-
ated la the interior of the country, and the botided corn was ,linost
all in the outports, the practical execnen of the lion. (tent s
proposition seemed almost impossible. As to the prop
which bad been thrown out for voting a sum of money for the re.

lief of the manufacturers, he could not agree to such a proposition
unless a came of eat re:ne distress was made out.

lletwral tI,I4COY NI.; (lid not think that the grant of a sum of
mo;:es, was more ohiPctionahle than the proposed measure of open-
ing the ports. Neither the one measure nor the other, he thought.
should be resorted to unless • ease of extreme distress was made
out.

After a few observations from Mr. Stanley. he consented to
withdraw his motion for the insertion of the proposed clause.
The other clauses were then agreed to, the ['lose resumed, and
the Report was ordered to he hrought up on Wednesday next.
DEB I'OR AND CRGDITOIt A ItRA NGEM ENT BILL.
Mr. BRIGHT moved the order of the day the twinging up the
Report on the Debtor and Creditor Arrangement Bill. Ills object,
he said, was to move the insertion of a clause eaten ling the provi-
sions of the Rill to Ireland. Ile should defer this motion, how-
ever, until the Bill was brought up to be engrossed.
Mr. BROGDEN then brought up the Report, and the Bill was
ordered to he engrossed on Wednestliiv.
‘VES'nIINSTER IMPROVEMENT BULL.

Mr. A ItRUTH NOT brought up Me Repoit of the Committee
on the Rill empowering the Commk.ioners of ‘VIIII4iPI and Forests
to make payments for improvements in the City of Westminster ;
also the Report of a Bill enabling the Commissioners to pay money
for stone-breaking.
Mr. 11U3IE said he had great doubt as to the propriety of ex-
tending the system of Macadamizing to narrow streets.
Mt. ARBUTHNOT said it wag only done when two-thirds of
the parish agreed.
Mr. 11U3IE thought that the inhabitants of narrow streets
should be precluded from haring those streets. Macadamized.
Mr. ARBUTHNOT said it was optional with the inhabitants.
Two-thirds must agree; and he could not agree with the Honour-
able Gentleman that a preventive clause should be inserted in
the Bill. _ _ _

The Bill we then ordered to be commit_ted2l)Ktlnesday next.

ADIOURNMENT OF TUE HOUSE..

Mr. HUSKISSON moved that the House at Its rising should
adjourn to ‘Vednegulay.—Agreed to.
RETURNS OF WA KEHOUSEDCORN.
. _

Air. HUSK ISSON moved for Returns of the quantity acorn
warehoused in Great Britain from the Ist of May, lII2i, distin-
gukhing the kind of grain, and the quantities in each separate
warehouse.—Ordered.

BRITISH SHIPPING AND TONNAGE.
Mr. HIUSKISSON rose, in pursuance of the notice he had
given, to move for a Return of the number of Ships built in the
Britiah dominions between 1814 and 1823, both inclusive, distin.
gibing the number in each year, and the amount of their tonnage.
Ile observed, that in the course of the last Session of Parliament,
when, to say the lcaat, the trade of this country was in a state of
prosperity. and when he was sure there was full employment for all
the merchant shipping of the kingdom. the Hon. Member for
liramber (Mr. Irving) frequently indulged in making certain
oracular pmgnoaticutions foreboding the ruin of the maritime and
commertud greatness of this country, as growing out of the mea-
sure which hail been then recently adopted by Parliament. These
dentinc:,tions, whether from the tone of mystery in which they
were delivered, or from any other circumstance, did not certainly
at the dine mike any cominle-able impression either in this House
or on the robin. mind. But recently there had been a variety of
npeectii
tvir
,;,:iporiets,e!en tie.ntirtfororn some
p
London,
acran
do naisso, who
mw esreevienrtailmactoe
Corporate
y copor
Commercial Bodies belonging to the rest trading towns in the
country,
or in which they stated their apprehension that the shipping
interest coinunwtrificwhasthlne
saecsulartiety of h
of decor,,
country was in y,andthattheywer
were
in a situation
conse-
quence likely to be undermined, and destined to be exposed to im-
minent hazard and danger. When such impressions had been
made in quartets where means were possessed of accurate observa-
tion, he trusted that it did not require any apology on his part, if
he claimed the attention of the house while he adverted to a sub-
ject of so much importance to the public, as that necessarily was
which was connected with the maritime power of the country.
(Hear, hear). Now, lie was of opinion that these apprehensions
which had been so expressed were altogether unfounded; and
he must claim the indulgence of the House while he detailed
those circutristances, the knowledgeof which convinced him that he
was right in that opinion. That these details might be, and in-
deed must be, very dry and uninteresting, he was perfectly aware ;
but sure lie was, that upon a subject of such importance, it was
essentially requisite that the fears and apprehensions that were en-
tertained should, if possible, be entirely and immediately removed.
Ile therefore hoped for the indulgent attention of the House.
(Hear, hear.) The object of the navigation system of this country
he took to be, in the first place, to create and maintain In this country
a great commercial navy. The second object, and one not less im-
portant, in his judgment, than the fomer, wasthat of preventing any
other State from engrossing too great a share of die carrying trade
of the world. In the acting upon that principle, the policy of Eng.
land had always been, as a general rule of navigation, to state to
other countries that they should not bring to this country the pro.
ductions of any third power, but to confine themselves, in their in-
tercourse with Great Britain, to the bringing in their own ship-
ping those productions only which their own country yielded.
!'here certainly were exceptions to this rule ; but the principle
of it was the foundation of our navigation system. It
was obvious that the motive for the establishment of this
rule was, ift the first place, to provide that the carrying trade
should be divided as equally as possible among the other ma-
ritime States, and that it should not be engrossed by any one of
them : and in the case of those Powers which entertained commer.
cial relations with this country, but had not any shipping of their
own, or from any other cause did not bring their productions to
this country, it was by this rule provided that England should have
the exclusive privilege to do so, instead of allowing them to be
brought by shipping belonging to any other Poster. When he
stated that the first object of the policy of the Navigation Laws was
to create and maintain a great commercial marine in this country,
he thought he might at the same time state, without fear of contra-
diction, that this purpose could not possitly be obtained by any
restrictions or prohibitions, however judicious they might be; but
that the great foundation of any power tote created by a trade in
shipping, must be to find employment for that shipping. (Hear,
hear, heat.) Without such employment, that was, in other words,
without an extensive commerce, and without a great capital, which
could alone sustain and invigorate that commerce, all rules and re-
gulations would be of little tivail. (Hear, hear. hear.) Whatever
therefore -contributed to increase and extend the general commeice
of the country, must incidentally, he would say, almost necessarily
and directly contribute to extend our navigation. These two great
elements of our power and wealth were necessarily intimately in.
terwoven. Ha did not say that their interests were always identi-
fied ; he knew full well that everything which interfered with the
free eniptoyment of capital in commerce was more or less disadvan.
tageous to those who employed their capital in that branch of trade.
But he admitted, and was perfectly ready to state, that the regula.
tions of our navigation system, however just, necessary, and salts.
tary, ;must more or less act as a restraint upon that freedom of
action. At the came time, however, he was equally bound to state,
that those regulations were founded, as it appeared to hint, upon
what was the first and highest ground for' the laws of every state
(Mar, heat, hear); he meant, political necessity. Meat, (tear.)
That necessity of providing for our future safety and defence; the
necessity of giving protection and security to those numerous co.
loni al possessions which were scattered throughout all the seas of
the world, and in parts so remote from the mother country as to
render requisite a more instant defence titan she could give by any
other means ; the necessity of maintaining and protecting our coin.
!tierce from all those vicissitudes to which it was exposed in time
of war and other political difficulties; the necessity of maintaining
that ascendancy upon the ocean which had contributed to give this
country that proud eminent station which she now held in the
world, more than any other circumstance. He therefore was as ready
as any man to admit that they ought on all occasions to look to the
interest of that state necessity as uppermost on their minds when-
eair the intervals of commerce and navigation could not be recoil-
; cilia. (Hear, hear, hear.) And where they could not be altoge-
ther reconciled, he had no difficulty in stating it an his opinion that
the interests of comtneece ought to give way (llear, hear), and that
the interests of navigation ought to have the preference. (Hear.)
Upon this question he hoped lie had placed himself fairly berme
the House, and If any of those measures of his Majesty's Govern-
ment which had been recently adopted, consonant to this mode of
viewing the subject, had in any way contributed to that dangrr
which was so strongly apprehended, he should have imposed upon
himself no slight task in attempting to vindicate himself for the
part he had taken. But he must at the same time say, that any
Pt) stem which cramped commerce ins degree beyond what was ne-
cessary fur the protection of navigation, was in itself an unnecessary
interference. Ile must say, apart from the consideration of the
principles upon which these laws of navigation were founded, the
House was bound to take care not to depress one branch of in-
dustry more than another ; not to treat the mode of employing
capital in any one pursuit, in ordeal's give an undue preference
or advantage over another. The questions, therefore, which the
House had to- consider were simply these :—firat, whether the
alterations which had been made in the system of our navigation
laws had or had not exposed those two great public interests to jet).
)tardy and hazard? And 2dly (for this was a question of considerable
importance, and not undeserving the serious inquiry of the House.
sathqii,a:ldsrietreest;
,eieei
cattoi lseftirien:rithaiennierti
interests
, which
cCn ahl
yw as
ou
peculiar
itdheacti were,
mmiityn entitle
etri,:needn
them
epumipaoctne
do et
them
ht he ee
cni .10
nini.if
anyhouse?
o f
the And
alterationsthirdly, t thinh a hadl 10
beenuite oughtniac;
e .tot
they
y-
It ad acted from a mere gratuitous desire to make experiments and
Motivations, or whether these alterations were not called for by cir-
mig?ht have Now a,rbieseaciftitehrir.inliedad
etimstances, anti t's.t their adoption was in order to obviate and
avoidpersis
butte
him I
3wtig:
him ieenl
tiro:
ititi; tiitygrih;:eahtertwfrfosiel:ni
ec;
saeolotoiduwni:or:avehrr
eteotei
:lc: no
rt:taeoyiricilawe
delt whichy
pursued
ecyikfensar,lyqanpitii
waehtrhiialow:pnitsei
twmtit
etenhe
tetiwh.o their political
sosrteepnmwroionw:principles
f tpahlvpermiteseo necessityuNarneoaddr
vigati
ly
outlines. It was necessary that he should do this, in order to see
what were the alterations, sod the necessity of them, that had been
made in that system. Now, he apprehended that if they looked
at die history of the Navigation Laws of this country, the gr-at
mightthatfisheries.
oes.ub
e thosen.trc y
finallyeo. lltaianiwsi
cy(hri
e,iirne:civreei
charter of which was the Act of the 12:h Charles 11., they would
ippicg
e
aeninwita
owtmoasolvreroeis;olettafledy:edh.neeecosmuTh I
he t:,
we rawesgltiti which
oast common of nature, open alike to all the nations of ed a
the of
world.the
It was therefore the interest and volley of this country ro say that
all the produce of that ocean which was required for the consump-
tion of this kingdom should be procured by the industry of British
subjczN ;I,A h., British &Lipping. In that 'Art, therefore, of the
navigation system no alteration had been made, nor could be by
any prudent man suggested, and therefore he might dismiss It by

one word--that was to say, by observing that this was a part of the
policy for creating a cosninercial marine which had not been altered
Another, and the second object which the navigation laws had in
view, was to give the shipping of this eountry the exclusive employ,
ment in all that portion of trade which wan called the ceseee;
trade. When these lass were passed, that trade embraced only te;
shore. of England ; but since this country had become etinieeted
with Scotland and Ireland, it had embraced the while of :he Brawl
tales. Ile thought everybody who reflected on the aulij,rt edd4
agree with him in the opinion that there could not be, either cow
or at any time hereafter, any motive for any man to preppie an el,
teration, an regarded this most important branch of our
em, interest. lie might therefore dismiss that part of the Nyerem, by
neying that it remained unaltered, and mum do an, so long an the;
had any Irish to maintain a commercial marine. The there head 4
the subject was the European trade. Now the prineiele of 09,
policy, as regarded that trade, was that any shipping of any oat"
of Europe was to be at liberty to bring the production of tee( rout.
try, or any other production ( with the exception of a certain number
of what were called enumerated articles, which embraced thine meek
formed all the bulky articles that constituted the principal thing,
in commercial trading. and which required • great quantity ijf.
shipping), to this country. With respect to the enumera eil articles
the provision of the law was, that they should only be brought
u;
this country, either in British ships, or in the ships of that page
cular country whose productions those articles were. Such was the
state of the law as regarded the trade with European pewees. from
the time of Charles the Second up to a recent date. There eat
however, an exception with respect to Holland and the Nether:
lands. It would be recollected that these navigation laws were ca
only framed for the maintenance of our marine, hut from a jealouse
of the great power of Holland, which at that time had the 'settee
envy in point of commerce over all the states of Eurone. It nee
therefore, that the Act of Charles the Second bore more ri ;1;
with regard to the Dutch than any other nation, and no goods area;
allowed to be imported in Dutch ships to this country. The,
came, in the fourth place, the Navigation Lawn, as they applied to
the other three parts Of the world—Asia, Africa, and Arnett.,
The law provided that no production of any one of those pane
of the world should be brought to this country from any otiose
quarter of the world, except in British ships, and only in Britt*
ships from that part of the world of which the article was a pewee.
lion. The Lb part of the Navigation Laws was that which related to
the British Colonies. He would state generally what the principle
was—namely, for supporting and eying employment in theme,
rine of this country. For the purpose of 'which, this country yd
to the Colonies, that they should not send any part of their emcua
tions to any country except this, and in ships of this country only;
and that they should receive nothing of which they stool in need,
except from this country, and in British shipping. He had thus gives
what he considered to be a fair statement of the Navigation :ewe
without going Into any srguaient upon them that had exited ie
this country from the period of the 12th of Charles the Second,
with but few exceptions, he might say almost up to the peace of
Amiens. The House would recollect that a very great change in
the state of tile stead had grown out of the Anterican war: and
perhaps he might be permitted very shortly to staie what that
change was, and to advert to some particulars which made that
change inevitable. The war of 1735, commonly called the seven
years war, was, as far as related to thin country anal to the !loose
of Bourbon—that was the kingdoms of France and Spain—s war
of colonial prejudice. It was a war commenced in colonial claims,
and which continued till, by British valour and British lAA and
finally by the capture of the Havaanah, this country became ail.
treat of the colonial destinies of the western world. What use
this country had made of her success, it was not now neets•ery to
inquire. But having obtained them, England had completed. as
she conceived, the greet object sought for, which was the exteasion
of her commerce. Now, he must say that he thought, from the
peace of 1763, if Gentlemen would look into the history Gf +se ro.
ceedtngs of the then Board of Trade and of this country, Ny
would trace in those proceedings notch of the immediate cavil
which led to the war with America, and the separation of those Co.
lollies which now constituted the United States from this kingdom,
The object of the peace of 171i3 appeared to be the rigorous at d
severe enforcement of the principles of the navigation system
as applied to the Colonies. Every little case that was brought
to the notice of this country, and which 'hewed a desire of
the part of the Colonies for the enjoyment of communicatim
with other parts of the world, was met by a constant use.
cession of new laws, intended to interfere with the spirit of
enterprise thus evinced. Such, as if any ship coming from the Co.
lonics were stranded on the coast of Ireland (for Inland then, for
all commercial purposes, was treated as much liken colony as them.
selves) the compelling them to send to England for another ship,
and not permitting the cargo to he landed in Ireland. This severity
on the part of the mother country created more alienation of fed.
ing than anything else, and in all probability, if a different course
bad been adopted, and England had attempted more prudently to
have adapted her laws to circumstance, such • course might tote
prevented that rupture which finally tookl place, and which 1 et her
her best colonial possessions. Ile was aware that the cause of that
rupture had been uceibed to the hostility shown to the power as.
aimed by this country, to impose taxes on the colonies: but he
thought if the House were to trace the proceedings, f this come,
towards those colonies, train 1713 to 1772, they would find, haw.
ever much the question of taxation might have been the immediats
cause of the explosion, that the mine was previously charged, and
the train laid, and that much of that explosion grew out of the
sever ty anti unbending conduct of this country, in endeavouring
to enforce the argent of the Navigation Laws with respect to those
colonies. He had thus stated the nature of those laws and thee
effects ; which, at the time he was alluding to, were founded in at.
tempts to impede the apitit of enterprise that was growing In
those colonies, and which the individuals of that portion of the
world could not easily brook. Certainly, by pursuing this coure,
this country was brought into • situation of much difficulty and
embarrasonient ; and it ultimately ended in the arrangement of the
differences between her and the newly independent States of Anne.
rice ; and the terms of peace to which she was then compelled to
submit were such, as he trusted, the Crown of Great Britain weed
never agan be exposed to. It also ended with much disparagetne t
to the credit of England as respected Ireland : for Ireland would re
longer submit to the rigorous and exclusive system of the Corn.
menial Laws ; anti as this country was obliged to yield up her an.
thority over her former Celenies, and acknowledge their indepen.
deuce, so she was obliged to capitulate with Ireland, and comply
with her terms of commercial arrangement. It he had trespassid
upon the patience of the House while going into detail, it was patty
because he thought it bore upon the present measure; awl tee in-
ference he would draw from it was, to show that it was a part of
political wisdom not to wait uutil danger had come, hut that it was
more statesman-like to let prover principles be administered in
time to a pernicious system. To those who endeavoured to show
that the application of any new measure would bring on difficul.
ties, it was, from such a statement as he had made, fully shown that
greater disadvantages might be the result of a retardment of sack
measure; and that it became them to introduce such reformations
in the system as the circumstances and situation of the country,
and of other nations might at the titne suggest. But the peace of
America became necessarily a great baulk to the navigation system
of this country. There had arisen such a country as America ia
the New World, having asserted and made good its independence,
and having the interest of a navigation of its own to look after, and
a commerce of its own to protect and encourage. Therefore it was
impossible, perhaps, unless this country hail determined to have no
intercourse with them, to continue those Navigation Law., which
had been so rigorously enforced against them while in the situation
of colonies, particularly that part of the system which declared that
no production of Asia, Africa, or America, should be imported into
this country except immediately from the county where th se
productions were yielded. After the peace of 1783, and before
the General Congress hail finally settled the system of the Govern-
' ment of the United States (which dill not take place till 1787),
the separate States began to legislate in that spirit of hostility
to this country which had been generated during the remedial
I war; and they made code of laws regarding trade accordant
I with this feeling of exasperation. In some places they excluded
trade with this country altogether ; in o.hers they imposed
a very enormous duty on all articles from England ; but in alio(
the States there was a stroag feeling evinced not to maintain' any
commercial intercourse with the late mother country. Tide went
on to the year 1786 or 17117, when the General Conferees met, and
when a general system of an; iinational wide Was laid down. But
what wax their system as applied to this country ? Why they laid
down this rule—that all foreign shipping entering their ports should
pay the duty of half a dollar a ton (afterwards raised to a solo
) more than their own sliipping • and that all goods imported
from abroad ahnuld pay a duty of At per cent. over and above the
ditty paid on goods imported by their own shipping. This system,
which they borrowed from their ancestors, was soon felt by this
country to be extremely inconvenient, and many consultations weee
held by the Board of Trade, the merchants, arid others interested,
to consider what Was to be done to counteract it. Vartou
plans were proposed. One was, to give a bounty on the
export of all goads sent to these new stales of Arteries.
mates 3
Another was, to lay a duty on goods if; sent abroad In A
ships ; and there was also a third proposed ; but every one of these
methods, when they came to be inspected, were open to so many
objections, and would, It was ascertained, have proved so injurious
to the shipping interest of the countyy. that after their being.V;
tempted more or less, they were all ultimately abandoned.
country required raw materials from America for our mennt
tures ; England therefore could riot have laid a ditty (et those ,ar-
ticles without much injury to those manufactures. In fact, it wined
have been a direct premium to encourage the manitiattervee le°
other countries ; anti after a long struggle and many anent Os. sl'c'S
to administer the aillairs of the country.
as were naturally and fairly suggested by those who had at that
to adopt that principle which now prevaitedichneyamweelf;.atitnLegstucedblitifes3.
duty, both as to shipping and as to productions. The Americana,
however; had, he thought, had the best of this arrangement (bW.
hear), from a reason in which he thought the Navigation Lawn of
this t country, instead of serving us, were prejudicial to mg cammer•
cial interests. This country still adhered to that part of the system
which declared that nothing should be imported into this toilet/
front any part of Europe in foreign ships. except it were the too-
suction of the country to which those ships belonged. Anicticit
had strictly retaliated that law upon us. In the trade of America with
this country, an American ehip had a great advantage; heel"'""
loading for England. it might take the principal part of the cargos'*
the production of this country, and then in addition put any "bee
article of foreign production for any other part of the world; whereas
satnicEhnagcloisuhrstteli:tpsowtohualttlabnearmeNetrritai restrained
ship,by kmvesrio,oof AmericaLulight ttroz
out ninety nine pars in a hundriel, the production of Greet Brice
tain, and might tale oat wine, brandy, &c. for any ember part of
the world. But if the ships of
,England went to America. and
had any other than British productions on booed, they
wore liable to
tort( i•ore. Therefore, by adhering too strictly to their laws, they
:love a prejudice to the country. Soon atter this arratmentent
welt the Liited States, a war broke out is Europe whiea Jested

_ .
tonnage to
The Shipp
to carry on
parison on
titt awe p
Europe, al
bee of Pru
VIM were
of British
port were
tish ships i
Increased I
which, he
reasons wt
sift the mi
light, nor
the chary'
to the Ral
vessels sr!
hehtdf
enable hi

pare ten
be had tho
He held
the Swint
teeen 178
period• of
would be
continual
ships whit
bad ever r
'proportion
•detsln the

he would
The num
len. Brit
3,000—0 f
other eout
eountries,
13,trUO: s
navigated
into tonal
it had es
eteutterat
pression
of the 1.
Into the
To the 31
dtMted.
then exit
adopted.
which pt
tell, to b
produces'
stances
placed.
warehom
eluded it
them all
imporusti

•
ping, cs
hinklranc

alteratior
from tht
it was t
eessarily
sufficient
tr td., an
With re
conjunct
for good
been ma
Pelting
after th
should
the hard
Rut the,
rule not
mere'sl
fore, the
were obi
and the
Nine lin
risen to
for Dm
which h

ti~hty of
which ti
and woi
eluded
been at
of this
telstion
%Tours
fontiog
nnfrcta
appran

lace,
It moat