The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-03-23 00:00:00

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Yesterday a meeting of the West India Plaotess
and Merchants was held at the City of Landon
Tavern, Bishopsgattnotreet; G. ELLO4 Esq.. M.P.
in the Chair.
The Camastalt announced to the meeting, thse
a Bill W4O about to be introduced into Parliament
by the Right Honourable President of the Bend of
Trade, the outlines ouly of which he was enabled tb
lay before the meeting, as he had not seen the likfi"•
itself: The proposed measure Was to open the trrido4 •
of the West India Islands to the ships of tlm Veiled
States of America, provided that reciprocal stead,. '
teges were given to Briti.h ships in the ports of tiy
United States: the same measure to he extendedly,
other couutries on .the continent of Aroerice-erfirs •
should 'greet° the same conditions; but in orderro ;
protect the interest of our Colonies in North Ame- •
rice, protecting duties were to be imposed. nn gulp
and timber impOrted into Can ads. The Chairatay •
said it was needless for hull to expatiate io the Meet..?
ing on the advantages of this measure to the West
India interest; but as ether interests Might•ion-
ceive themselves injured by it, he would suggest
whether any sod what steps should lie tithed 'by
them in support of the Bill about to be broutht into
Parliament By • communication from Mr. Bolton,
the Chairmen
.nrthe Committee of Ship-owners,*
appeased the measure was conceived to be heeds
to the interests of Met body.
Mr. HIIIISILT proposed that a Petition to the .
House of Commons in support of the proposed opeo-
iog of the trade which had been prepared, should be
adopted by the meeting.
The Petition was accordingly read, adopted by the
meeting, signed by several' of the gentlemen pre-
sent, and directed to lay at Mr. Holden's, City
Chambers, for signatures, till Tuesday next. .
The then read to the meeting a let-
ter from the Chairman of the West India Dock
Company, addressed to the Cairman of the Stand-
ing Committee of West India Planters and Mee..
chants, stating the measures which tho West India
Dock Company had taken, preparatory to an cr
plicatioo to Parliament, for procuring a farther
continuance of the term (originally twenty-one
years), during which it was obligatory on Ell ships
trading to sad hunt the West Indies, to use their
docks, warehouse., he. and enclosing a copy• of a
memorial presented by them to the Lords of the
Council.
The Memorial wss then read, setting forth the
original grounds on which the West India Docke
were formed, mod the necessity of continuing the ob-
ligatory clause, .• •
iaggibiw•
z _Me. PALLAS= • ,or their
*binding Conmittewrimbillemooth she mews of that
body on the subject of Phi, e•Milieniertion erode to
them by the West India Dock Company. with ti
view, as. he presumed, Of obtaining their eetecer.
roper. He fine. adverted to the. Arts 01. Pegliarzeti•
by which the West India Docks were created. and
particularly celled the %Mention' of the meeting to .
the closet winch ulldwed the Dock Coltiihny, to
take certain rates on the goods warehoused by them.
out of. which abbey were is the first place to -pay
tea .per east. to the proprietors, as the interest of
1,900000/. the amount of the espial advanced for
the building. docks warehouses, &c.; then the
expenses of clerks, labourers, &c.; sod lastly, the
amount of any repairs or additional buildings. 11
buy residue .then remsinded, the rates in future so
be paid were to be lowered in preportion to that
residue. The Standing Committee were ready to
admit, that s far as the protection of their property
went. the West Indio Docks had fully answered the
object of their limitation, but the value of thus
protection must always be mouldered in relation to
the cost of it. To the proposed opplicatiou of .thg
Doelt Company they might have given an unqua-
lified amen' or dissent ; or they might take a me-.
dle course, and suspend their determination till
after a fall eassnination. This latter was the easiest
that the Committee recommended to the adoptihe
of the meeting, and he should accordingltsubiat
for their approbation a Petition to the Housoof
Commons, founded on that principle., preyinco
full inquiry said examination into the trooseetrosse.
accounts, and rates of the West India Dark
Company. Mr. Pallmer then detailed the roorollf
on which he founded his opinion of the proprOti
of proceeding recommended by the Standimgtptor.
=him. In the year 1810 it Impaired, by
of a Committee of the House of Commom, that
after paying the dividend of 10 per cent. expenses.
repairs, Ste. out of the rater, there remsioed a stun
of 26,0001. applicable to their future reduction;
but no reduction had been made, or at least no
adequate reduction, and since that period the rise'
doe had increased to the enermous amount of
448,0001. Nor were the Dock Company .at all
neglectful of their buildings, as might be imagined
feorn this large residue; on the contrary, they
had expended in additional buildings and repairs.
828,0001:, and by that amount they might be sad •
to have increased the value of their original capital;
and though in 1810. when there appeared a weir ;'•
dee of 516,0001., the Committee of the House 4
Commons had considered 'that se applicobleN'te
reduction of rates. yet, though the sum had Vo.
passively increased. no adequate reductional heal'
been made. This !might sitimut of exelanatisoi, oaf t•
the measure proposed would give an opportia tiny Ibl' • '
in Mr. Pannier concluded by moving, that the- •
Petition to the House of Commoni for a full
.ist4 •
quiry into the West India Dock Company's inteit,'
be adopted by the meeting. •
The Petition being read, and the motion secoOded
by Mr. FULLS,—
Mr. Aldermen ATKINS addressed the meeting.'
He complained of the delay* welch ships had et.
perieneed, one of his being kept in the dock thtee'
months. .•
Mr. HIIIIIIAT thought the Petition rather• too! ' •
strongly worded in tome respteny and not soli.'
ciently expressive -of themovirtion entertained by
the meeting of the importance id their interests
of the etistence at the West India Docks. Ile can.
eluded by moving abate Colundttee be appointed
to confer
swath this West India Dock Cowpony nit ea
the subject, .•••i
Mr. CAA/4001'0a, in'llll:lltAliMited Opeetho cen-
sured the West India noel. Converts for their,
disregard ofd- interest of the Planters and Moe_
chant*. All the residue of the rater, after payib*
the dividertthis .1004 which was absolutely necessary
for repairs, was he contended the property of the.'