The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-03-03 00:00:00

nr-!ANL

' ". INTRPOCot• le BETLYC.
. A. numerous sod respectable Meeting of the
Merchants and other !Ashanti% of Liverpool, in-
tereated in the trade to America, was held, on .Fi i-
day last, at the Royal Hotel, in corisequency,,pf ,ii
requisition, signed by a considerable limning. of.the
principal merchants.
Mr. JAMES Cadn.ta being 'killed to the
Chair :
That Gentleman, sifter harinifiiitteeigl tikine-
bility to execute the office enefereed upon him in a
wariner!adequate to his own MW. elite i:oportiteces
observed, that the present Mietifig was tainveneaus,
consider a subject of general iii•f important, into. I
rest;: and that those who had been active ie., pin,
muting it, diselawned solemnly all consideraintikei of
party differences, or of any ot)ser tnotives but those
of public and general Colleelil. He then proceeded
to read the requisition. After which
Mr. Karnaose rose and observed, that the pre-
sent meeting was not convened under propitious
circumstances, or in such a situatiou of things as
was calculated to call forth feeliugs of niutua! con-
grateleeren. We were now surrounded with didi-
cultiea of no common nature : and they demanded
to be considered in a spirit alike remote from that
rashness which shuts its eyes to danger, and from
that dismay which sinks under it. pressure. The
diereve which bad arisen from our commerce being
excluded from every port in Europe (except those
of Sweden) was now aggravated by a new calamity.
A general embargo had been laid ou all the ship-
ping in the ports of America. No inhabitant of
this town could be insensible to the importance
of this measure; no person could obverse the
&mist daily arrival. of American ships throughout
the year; could see them landing their cargoes of
the most essentially useful or necessary commodities,
and take back these very articles in a manufactured
state which they had not long before brought as a ,
raw material, without being struck a ith the extreen p
imp ortaace of this intercourse. Nearly 500 voyageif
were muds from America to this_port in the nouns
of. a year, in ships of which tlatihurden amoto-A'
to more tton ti 3,000 tons. thettraffic -
first moment to the nation at lei# ; but
liarly interesting to Liverpeill,ighi there
i
scarcely an individeal in the ple eeith t was 4
fected by it, directly or remotely. • T e amount ._ .
British manufactures annually exported to Ainetlea
was more tieou 10.000,00J1. sterling, and of chose
it return was node to theist the same amount
in geode or money,, By a fair calculation
venue derived to Gnierilioent from that port
the trade whiel, was carried ea in Liverpool
was not leis than Luou,eout per manna.
times like them our wants are to he daily in
cog, and our resources daily diminishing
mast prove a mast striking consideration.
se oleo another motto to be considered''
tiMilr:nvetha free spirit of the British Constitution,
and the eerie= advantages enjoyed by its
it may without arrogance be said, thee
lids, their resources, and their character
grity, place theca es *a footing with Um et
-of our ghee nation. Renee it hap Pens,
their dealings with fereign ceiustries showy .
*bled to smelt freqisdatly ea credit. Iti conse-
quence of this, it is voypesed thee the average debt
due from America to this country is cot less than
Ig,ooo,ooni. sterling; end if the oradorKo in dine-
ttes should be continued, bow will it be possible
for this enormous debt to be paid? There may be
pagans now present who may not be directly af-
fected hereby ; laut evgn I. it iii prganued,
will feel for the distress& of others; more sipe-
cially for those whose chief property may be in-
vented in the issue of this anfortuaate misunkr-
standin : still more for these who may he thereby
deprised of the means of pitying their just debts:.
and most of all for the widow and the orphan whom
such misfortunes may ultimately reach.
He was sorry to observe that the character of a
merchant was coining more end eto tie con-
sidered as a elegradiseg charecter, e had been.
ni
called by foreigtien a nation of shopkeeper: : mei
at home the Merchants were regarded-pi a class of
persons whose conduct was wholly regulated by
maxims of trade, who appreeiated every thing ble
the value of that for which it seight:Se boaght .tie.„
sold ; and by thiwinaxim solely lowed their esti-
mate of the regulations of Goveraincnt. If these
were lucrative to one class, by that class they were
deemed wise. If they bore hard on another elem,
by them they were deemed injurious. Each
coniiiiing.his views solely to his own interest, and
generally very regardless of the effect on the lute-
rests of others. Mr. Rathbone feared there was
ton much reason for those imputations. As a met--
shout lie felt an interest iu the character of mer-
chants and he hoped they would be more and
more distinguished for liberal views, an enlarged
policy, and a feeling for the distress of SU their fel-
low creatures.
Mr. Waithbone and took a view of the American
trade to the West Indies, stated the dependence of
those islands on America for provisioue, sad the
quantity annually exported to them.
He adverted to the trade of America to the East
Indies and China, the export to each of 500,0001.
annually in silver only, and the facility which this
was admitted to give to the trade of our Bast Lodi*
Company. He remarked on the lucrativeness of
this trade to the merchants of America, and hoped
the day was net distant when it would be equally
opened to the British merchant.
Another tart important consideration (said Mr.
Rathbone) Inag be adverted to respecting the
welfare of our wive town. The Aneeticea drips
which frequented thig port expended among the
tradesmen of Liverpool, to repairs Ad 'other ne-
cessaries, to the amosioe of 138,0001. peraintem ; and
the charges on the cargoes, exchieive of all Gerona-
ment duties, were not idro then 1110.0001. more; mak-
ing in the whole a sum of isse less thee 300,0001.
aurnially left in the port of LitierpooL With inch a
conviction of its local unpostance, would it not be
surprising if its inhabitants did not feel some
alarm when their immediate interests are at stake ?

and if they did not assemble*, consider whinier
any moos could be devised, of attesting the peo•
peas of a measure so destructive to their prospe-
rity ? The West Italia Association of this port has
now its delegates in London. The salt proprietors
have sent up theirs. Memorials Isnow been pre-
sented by the tosiaufactnesse. The Londea Anse-

• -
• •'• .• •
Itiesa Mire not been inactive; and
•elsimie ‘f Lirerpool,T liftShOM, firee-fourths of ti
vitae :trade between Brita)hand America is ca.
eieteei, ? • ..
Mr. Ilsit,kboae treat *smarmed on the singularity
Ike eircuenitatice. that While Parliament is ea, -
sleloyed in legislating for the commerce in A oieriein
Akips, the whole foreign trade of America is sub-
jelrlad to an embargo.; and shortly there will
*Parcel* be one of her vessets found on the ocean ;
wLik Paylisineat is imposing duties* and framing
regulations *kir exports from Britain to the porta on
:use Continent, all those ports, from the northern
,to the southern extremities of Europe, (3vieden
lemly excepted), are shut against such exports.
Wendy then the proposed regulations cannot now
Ibe trecessarT, and he feared they would be posi-
tively injurious.
Mr. Ratlibone proceeded to remark on the int-
penance of always looking to the great interest, of
the nation, as the primary object, and to as other
interests subordinate. Measures might not
be calculated to promote the particular interests of
Liverpool or of Lancashire ; yet if these were ne-
cessary for the good of the empire, all partial sa-
crifices must be patiently endured, or tither they
should be voluntarily made. He expatiated on
this idea at some len4th, applying this gi rot souitu
teethe operation of tftF inensiires now proposed to
Parliament, and shewiug that neither oe thus
ground, nor is their operation on onr matinfae
ttnres, commerce, and revenue, could. tlasse mra-
sures be defended.
lie then particularly adverted to the effect they
would produce on America. and the feelings •they
would excite in that country. To judgt of tl-,is.lte
said, it was necessary to place ourselves
; to divest ourselves of all national teas *isd
prejudice, and to inquire how we shoed(' feel if a
similar treatment were practised upon ns ? it,e
American Government ha l resOlved that the -
inipottation Act should take efteet ; if Ate 1., -

great _
wiU we not suppose the seine leelingt in Arnim
Is she not allied tcriif!by the ties of affinity, t
milarity of Itinguag,e;idensanners, habits, and ewe
to a considerable extent by the structure of
..he
is Government ti Reel whole • code of law Toreti es
with some few ekeisptions, on.ibe prineiples Of !mi.;
and the devis#4edflaw in oar ComitstfTe freelbetitl
quoted as autiv and efittliiirMirp in elitArsej
Cap we, then, v. under that she shoo le be' aiiiaime
isith the same love of freedom mid independepj
that we are ? Has she net rights se well as on
selves, and is it pot natural that she should I
i'equally jealous of them ? How then run we a"/
poet she will aver cement that we shall dictate e
terms on which her commerce shall traverse tf
wide ocean ? or that her ship. shall be forcild
toMpefied to enter our porui,aud be eubjrvt to till
ati9a, in rettari fig which they derive no *dm
tage. On the subject of foreign taxation, Amer'
may naturally he expected' to be jealous lu tl
' eitireine. Will she who voluntarily eneonater
slaugers, struggled under all difficulties, e
,spired all privations, submitted to all saeritlees,
stately expended both her treasure and her bla
than submit to' taxation by a foreign Stat
Na idle, now that her independence has been a
Idliewledgecl and established, submit to be taxed
? And is vat the Menage duty on her shippii
forcibly hesught into our harbours, a direct, unju
and oppressive tiec? Is it by such measitres
these that we can .hope to give value is our fries
ship or to conciliate hers ? Deplorable lade
must be the prospect of returning amity awl eo
merce with America, if this system of iufatual
policy be persevered in.
Mr. J. Bscusiussori ha henrtily concur
in the Petition to Parliament now -proposed, and
doing so would give his reasons in -a few winds
After the very able manner in which his Mend 1
Rathbone had eapoerd the mischievous efi
likely to result from the late Orders in Council,
should think it unneeesenvy to repeat the
but advert to some other term, which appeanii
have escaped his notice. The meutaatignine of
supporters of the Ordersin Council had now by
to see the ittellicieney 'Them, sod Mr. Piro
himself had declared, tbat, before he comet to
Hoene of Commons, he aas not aware dt the
culties arising horn them. IF Moister, ache'
this from having heard fiat only one sideul
cipestion, what might we not expect in mitigs
'uf these Orders by an bailable Petition, wise
eras informed of We red stale of the cue ? It
been said, that Petitioni now axcisistlhe Orde
Council cannot be expected to produce any
alert, after heviog beep. is) lotig issued ; bi
begged leave to say, that melees the Rills not
fore Parliament passed into a law, the Omit
Conned themselves mint lie. nugatory, as i
Bill which had any respect to tasution must
nate in, or receive tbe sanction of, the Hem
Commons. He'concluded with giving his b
assent to the Pestsion.
Mr. MAILTIN marks some very judicious obi
tions on the existint differences between this
try and America.
The Cearawas (Mr. Cropper) said, he w
the to notice a few points which had not
namissed 4 the Geatlesnen who had spekti

)0 vorages• jetted all her foreign commerce to an stel.urg. , -
the demon Ibt* Mir authentic informatiOn cif our OKars :•1
amountid" 'Connelfhad reached her; aud if site we; evui ..7
was ofth47etissarily itootomt of the full exteat of theiver ti
tso pecti- en her conanerre, what must be her fsteltmce" sal -,
there wow: . she is intiumeel of those humiliating mut tarlatan ..:
was note- elfi:ctgt-in 41thcirJ))00.us aud complicate re4O:ts.
amount of tif that information, iiidued, it must be rit name
to Ainerieu . bum before Alueriesmatt be paisessed t teigott *el
lof chose v-the duties, regulifinus, /lir:'ArgApt yet bated. ets
oust either not a day ip tti is week .010 mimed wrath does not
Lion the re- prodticismnriew altesation intlymb. -.-
t portion of The great grievance, howevetAriutlel be. that he
!Tool only, commerce elhe ocean shall IMP* ovulated t)
ow. Ii 1.1 the decrees fa foreie:pitte; isi.piiiscipTes new alit
lily increav- u!ipreeeden ~.#4l. not .mere 4 'subjected to re
ell,
hung; this .1r,;...t,12tit tobinxdune.,,lf we would judge of till
)16 There feeling. ei Amadeu. ouAltis accatiomiee se ask boy
of not less we ourselves xioArkt feel, were the mule system tt
, be prsetived upon uflty,Fmnc.e? SwPp6se Ike well
onstitution, to prescribe what Artie our ships should follow im
is subjects, the ocean—direct tolvdiat ports they should pre
their eapi- Geed--what duties they should pay—what restroUpt
ter for inte- their should submit .tbisra me livialmlati
i isiiviiiisto whine feelings ismild- net reiolt from subuliasien-'t
rue, that in such a power ? Are there say sacriEees or Oita
ley are en- t;ous that he would *kill too great to make ?An