The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-05-31 00:00:00

SIIIPOWNF RS' SOCIETY.

A peers! Meeting of the Memtiers of thin Satiety took piece
~,,eap. r
at the ('icy of London Tavern, Biehopegate-street for
the eniese r
les"— f considering whether any anti what meseuree ;rep
be eepedient in reference to the elate of the Representation in Par. I
iutint„ as regards the Shipping Interest. i
A, ben-past one, about seventy gentlemen were meembled, and—
Mr. I,YALL being called to the Chair, that gentlemen proceeded
Merge that et a Meeting of Shipowners, held nn the Ifith inet.,
entitle' n Rests. lutions were passed, in conformily with which, he, as
chairman of the Shipowners' Committee, had been requested to
--convene the present Meeting. As he understood there were Grade-
,,.,present who intended to propose eome Resolution's for thereto!,
or the nleeting, he would nut detain them by any further ob.
oreatinns.
Mr. YALlSEnsaid, that in rising to propnee the first Resolution I
. the conseterenen of chic Meeting, upon Coat he deemed a most ,
pieo,enNg wee goottilm, he lamented it had not fallen to the lot of 1
ogre per,o3 more competent to do justice to the cause—a cause
yhteit was one of the utmost importance, not only to every [hi felt
eeipowner and Ilthieh merchant, but to every class of people in
oescountry. It had ideal.* been handed down to us that °or
s tOTS VW considered the shipping interest of this country the
at'aitt.stay thereof andhat it teemed the great source of it. proeperity
et 11111 e of peace, of its security inn ime of war. With a view
esthete particalar points, our ancestors made a code of laws,whisiii
tvwe in themselves wise, and were well tilted to the security of
their interests, and to incree them. It was under thoee Lew% and
Dot as modern theorists hmad of lite, with no small presumption,
held out to us, in spite of these laws, that our commerce and ship.
ping had been rained to a state of prosperity. far beyond what even
the most sanguine could have expected. Bat a new system had
buret forth, pre light had come upon us, and leaving behind every
principle and every safeguard which our ance
stors had devised tor
the protection of the interest of thin country. a course of philtre).
pitied innovations had been made. and the first strideat had been
called
tn
Lox down the shipping interest of the country, by wh ent
the Reciprocity Act; but if denominated according to the effect it
hid produced, it ought more properly to he called "An Act for
tile eneouragernent of fareign commerce, and the detruction of
British." (Cheers.) At the latter end of the year 1822, the first
intimation was given of the intention of his elajeety's Ministers
to propose an alteration. during the ensuing Session of Par-
Trument in the Nseletatie• Laws of this country. This naturally
e'scited 'the attention and some alum in the minds of the Ship-
eeoers, and those Interested in the shipping trade of the country,
and varieus Interviews well had with his Majesty's Ministers on
the subject. A meeting oleo took piaci at title House (:he City of
Lerelon Tavern), when a peetion to paliament was agreed to
aria signed, praying that the Bill intended to effect those alters.
titles might not be peeeed. Noterithetanding. however, this oppii.
tenon. the 8.11 pasted at the end of the Seesion of Mee, len, „i.
though the Bill had Pained. en strongly Were the Shipowaers ho.
pressed with the dangers that would arise 11'00 its that they pail.
wiled the King in Council to suspend the openttion of the Act
(which he had a power to do), and the petitiemeee offered evidence
to show the mischief that would he produced if the Act should he
slowed to take effect. Bat notwithstanding that representation,
bb Majesty in Council thought proper to let the operation of the
Act commence, which it did in the beginning of 1821. The mil-
Moos as to the mischievous consequences of this measure had been
an much better expressed in a statement of a meeting of the (Mei-
tnittee of Shipowners, held on the 30th 31ey, 1821. than he could
could describe them, that, with the permission of the meeting, lie
would read au esteem from that statement.
n The manufacturer, seduced by the prospect of an increase of
foreign trade, throws his weight into the scele of the economist :
the agrieulttnist, dazzled by the specious theories advanced in its
support, contributes his assistance to the eetabliehmetit of what is
collet a liberal *poem of commercial intercourse ; and the ship-
owner, unrepresented and unconnected, become* the first victim of
the delusion. But surely it must be obvious that the same argu-
ments which are now applied to his destruction. must recoil with
en werable force on the Other great source; of national wealth,
sit Id the principle of
rat established. In vain will the agriculturist then contend, that
as expenses of en'stivation are raised by political causes, over
wit he has no cantrol, to double the amount of those which-are
Incfeed by his foreign rivals, he is entitled to protection from their
co. titian ; (be will alleae no more than the Shipowners have
le
pr . although ineffectually,. In vain will the manufacturer urge
the petty for the like protect on, on the plea that he has em-
ber d his capital on the faith of the existing system, and that if it
be abrogated, he is at lend entitled to tom penestion. The property
trithiwked In shipping has been vested on the same faith : yet the
shitniener is condemned to hopeless conipetition, and his property
to uncompensated cl +predation. Should the antiquity of the pro.
wive system. as applied to the owner sources of national hu-
t/octanes, be ;deeded, the shipowner can adduce the must ancitnt
lies in his support. Should their association with national wealth
be iiensght forward, the shipowner, is addition, may plead his
connexion with national security as of much greater importance
thin ontlonal opulence. In short. it is perfectly apparent, that if
the new principles be adopted, which it is the avowed object of the
pen:teal etooomiets of the day to establish, and if Consistency be
manosine4, the consequences mall classes Mlle, ender the exisimg
cir.o;pstentes of the counter, he as destructive to other intereets, as
its fine application has been and must prove to British shipping."
They bad ben stated that the Act must be detriments! to British
shipping, and he regretted diet in this they had prophesied but too
itul;. He would quote a return which had been mode to Paths.
aunt of ths.nonniote of British shipping just previous to the pees-
lag of that Bill, anti compare it with the year immediately after It
took etfeer. lie thought this a fairer mode of comparison than
that of taking the year. 1824 and 1825. as had been done in another
quarter. Comparing the year 11122 •ith 1824, they woukl find no
lets ae increase in favour ot foreigners in 11124 abnve that of 182 n,
than 287.097 tons, whilst the decrease of tonnage of British ship-
ping in that time was 531117 tons. (Hese, hear.) The details of
these returns would. In all probability, be gone into by-and-bye ;
be therefore stated this nn hr as an example. After having thus
s'eeen that their prophesy of the effect of this memoirs, as regarded
its first operation, was perfectly true, he thought there was no sea.
rot to doubt that it would have a similar eft- ct on their future in.
tercets. The lion. Gentleman enneluded by moving the first Re-
solution. (Foe which see Advertisement.
31r. CnAPMAN accorded The Resolution. That there eras cause
kr alarm lie thought was beyond all doubt. illitilad for some
yn.rs been an committe, and certainly a practically experienced,
tripewner. He had seen the ebbs and flows of trade in all its
varieties; but he never, till this hour, had seen the &Web Ship-
owner completely driven from off the ground, and put in a situa-
tion where there was very little room to hope for his retrieving him-
self, except au entire change of measures were effected. It was
sees clear that the anthem trade carried on by this country was
tar bat nursery for sailors. The carriage of the most bulky
&Melee hire invariably and ennstantly called foe the shipping of
this eoun•ry. It ens, indeed, the deraier resort of the Kuropean
Sates. But now foreign shipping had attained such a point, that
tiltft was ne chance left for the British shipowner. Ile therefore
!leped the statements which this Society had made, drawn from
aathentic &moment% would have each an effect on the Government
Of this country, and the minds of gentlemen in gni. reel, and par-
(calmly those who had latterly been so !holly occupied by
tee dotperete mania that had gone forth resspeciing - free trade,
tint eltinmuly the ancient system would he reverted t i, under the
Fetes:tint of which they had embarked their cupioth and under
which, for upwards of two centuries, the shipping interest of this
tourney had gels on In a conoant smite of prosperity. In the lumi.
nines speech nvide by the Right lion. Gentleman, the President
of thi Beard of Trade, in the House of Commons, it was
stated that a great incrense of shipping had been employed during
the last year. They all knew that the excitement which prevailed
last year gave employment° additional shipping. But in looking
at the booke at Lloyd's, it would now he found how powerfully the
ere eretem had begun to develop itself. He hoped this Society
would talc such measures as would awaken that sort of feeling in
eee rends of his Majesty's Ministers and the country, that would
t)nviece them the shipowners had a right to the Fame fair system
of protection as was granted to other portions of the community.
It was the opinion that the commerce of this country would have
been benefited by the new system.
. Petitions had come up from
tee commercial bodies of Hostel and Liverpool in favour of free
trees. But the effect bad been completely the reverse. (Hese.
lan.) A great diminution of the exports from this country had
filuent•the late measures. Thus was a fact which he thought
•tske volumes (hear, hear) in favour of the Resolution that had
leen proposed, respecting which he trusted( there was but one feel-
trig pervading the nit eting.
The Resolution was then put atnl carried unanimously.
Mr. J. 31aasnat.t. fit his powers inadrquate to the duty that
':.:voiced on him. in proposing the second Resolution ; but stand-
', t there on public ground'', and having ro other object but to con.
theme, in common with his friends around him, to promote the
'nipping interest of the Country, lie should entleaveur to °fro such
lumens as occurred to his mind to convirce them that it was et once
eeir duty and their interest to concur in that Resolution. It was
hastily potable, in a meeting of the shipowners of Great Britain,
. oen.hiel on an ocenaion of as great Iteportence as had ever
Drought them together, to avoid entering fully into the arguments
that had been urged in sopport of those alterations that had been
Pmeented to be made In the Navigation Laws of rids country) and
which lad uhimately received the ',auction of the Legielatuee. For
that potent it would be ementiod to look at etune parts of the
speech of Alr. Hitekieson, which he contested had not carried con.
'lesion to his mind of the correctness of the views or reasonings of
li,nt Right lion. Gentleman. He regretted to find himself at issue
with Ms Msjesty's Alinietets, because he thought, upon very many '
important euestions, they had conk. red the grexest benefit on the '
c'""iers mot bed vthemselves treated for a strong tetie tomer warm-
:.,' I,gre'llei'te (Lend cherry..) limn urn the qiteation which they
em agitated affecting the British shipping interests of this country,
he was as far removed from their views as were the Poles asunder.
Ile thought, if the system Government Lad introduced were puree.
erred in, it wooid not only tend to overthrow the greatness, the.
Puma, the grandeur, and the glory, of our country, but to under-
mine its very safety as a nation. He belt in his Land the report
el. Mr. Huskisson a opeech, as. it was given in the 7'i,ur'. In his
teimmeneement the Right lion. Gent• said, he felt confident the
(louse entertained with him a very anxious interest on the subject
iii
. witch he Intended to invite their attention. He (Mr. Marshall)
should not have noticed this point, if it were not of consequence to
'tenet that the Gouge of Commons was not so identified with the
,hipping interest of the country as Mr. Huskisson attributed to it.
At the Bone he commeneed his speech, if the Howe had been
canted,3in_ it was doubtful whether there would have been found 40
.` 'be" Present. Immediately after hi* epee*. there were only
'''' MeinbelS puree t, end berme the debate-bad .clowl there were
only 11. This proved that the liststalt shipping interest was oat
represented so efficiently as its importance required. If it had been
a question affecting the interests of either the manufactuten or

the agriculturists, there would hare been a very different enlister.
The Right Honourable Gentleman proceeded to say that S:ate
necemoty must regulate their conduct tit any eiteratiene in the leers
of commerce and naviomion ; " and," staid the Right Honourable
Gentleman. " ae ought on all occasions to look to the peculiar
ordure or thin ,state necessity, as that which allould he uppermost
in nor minds, where the interests of commerce and nevig 'lien
cannot be leconcileil. And where they could nut be reconciled, I
have no hesitation in mating that the boeteets of commerce ought
to give way, and that those of navigation ought to have the pre-
ference. 1 have stated this' plainly. and if those interests, in con.
sequence of the measures which have recently been adopted, are
en posed to any clanger, I sin willing to slier those measures'. But
I do not thine that any suet, appreheeeion might to be entertained,
ansl wilt that feeling I wilt endeavour in defend the measures in
question. I think that a part of the conditions on Which theNavi-
ration Acts are founded, is not to press on nue interest more titan
another ; not so to treat ore manufacture as to give it an undue
Mean tage over snot It er."4,1
Now, if the principle of not preeeino on one branch of trade more
than another was acted upon, if the Corn Laws were abolished, the
poor red at a reasonable peke. and the coot of all the materials used
in building and equipping a ship reduced, then indeed the British
shiposners would have nothing to complain of. They could com-
pete with foreionena ; net, they would hare come advantages. for
there was a %obit of perseverance and of enterprise in the English
character, which enabled thetas to bear on against any disadvantage
that was not overwhelming. But while the Corn Lew' existed it
was impoodhle for the Brilish shipowner to contend against the fear-
ful odds that were arrayed against him. Mr. liu•kisson referred,
in the course of his speech, to Mr. Baring, as a loom practical man
in the Hoorn of Commons. Perhaps it would nut be unduly ap-
preciating Mr. Baring to say he was also as great a practical man
as was out of the Douse. Now Mr. Baring said thus Cis to
the shipping trade with the North tif Europe, it so much depended
on, and was affected by, our Corn Law., that in e.oneidering it.
those laws met us at every turn. The navies of the North of
Europe were manned by fewer bends, and fed on cheaper food, end
were at a lower rate of wage% than ours--circumstancee which must
continue as long as our Corn Low% remained ; and Sir M. W.
Ridley said " it was quite impoasihie that we could expect our
shipping interests to be sufficiently protected whilst they had to
contend wi,h the difficulties and disadvantages which at present
oppressed them." The Corn Laws ass a subject so intimately
mixed u with the question before the meeting. that he could not.
avoid alluding to it. A free trade in torn ought to be allowed.
But tt4y could not abolish the Corn Laws without giving sonic
protection to the home cultivation of land. IThetiever this ques.
tion came to be settled, some duty of protection must be given so
the landed proprietor. What would be the consequence of the abo-
Iltion of the Corn Laws without any protecting duty ? The whole
of the infrior land, and much of the better sort. would go out of
cultivation. The agricultural labourers would become paupers;
the manufacturers would lose a great portion of their home
' market ; and finally this country would be dependent upon
foreigners for a supply of corn. The only alternative then was
to give a protection to the aviculturist ; and if so. why
not to the various other branches of national industry ? (Cries of
"Question !") He woplel ask on what ground it *as that the sante
principle of pro•ection should not be extended to the shipowner ?
(Hear, hear.) To subject that defenceless branch to an unfair
competition would be to invert the language of Mr. ildskisson,
toyeetesopon one interest more than another, aid to treat one
source of employing capital an as to give it an undue and im-
proper seleantege. It was of this and this only list the shipowners
complained. They complained that instead of Government acting
on one general principle, they made the shipowners an exception,
for the Jake of experimenting upon them their new.spim theo-
ries. Uceettanen't had begun at the wrong end, and had deprived
the shipowners of thatirrotection to which they were entitled. Mr.
Huakisson said that while they looked at the interest of the ship-
owners, they were bound tolook at the interests of commerce in gene-
ral. Now if it could be shown that by the immure adopted the
other interests of trade and Manufacture had been benefited, then
the shinowners ought not to complain, because the general welfare
ought to be the chief object of Goverument. But this had nut
been the result. So tar from it, that the returns of the
exports to Prussia, Sweden, end Denmark, last year. and
the imports from there places in the same period, /dewed that
we had not been gaining anything Icy the sacrifice which Go-
vernment had thought proper to make of the shipping interest of
this country. He had been recently in the town of Hull, and This
informed by twoof the principal factors there that these foreioners,
as soon as they discharged their cargoes, called for payment in
specie, and Pet off with it as fast as they 'could. Thu% foreigners
took from this country all the profits, which, If realised by the
British shipowners, would be expended by thins in England. This
was committing a sort of *ld de sr on our own prosperity. Mr.
Huskiason had also adverted to the groat increase of employment
to British shipping last year: but lie (Mr. Mar-hall) would refer
to a petition lately presented to the House of Coalmen', from the
port of Hull, in which it was stated that that port chiefly traded
with the North of Europe; that from the Ist ,January to 30th
' April, 11;2S, the number of British vessels entering that port was
two huadred and seventeen—the tonnage 32,pa tons. Foreign
vessels, 2f,3; tonnage, 24.487 tons. But that in the corre-
sponding period of Intl, the number of British %easels that entered
was 90: tonnage. 10,894; and that of foreign emotes 294, the ton.
I nage bring 17.000. At this time many persons at that port have
ships unemployed, whilst they have the mortification of witnessing
foreign vessels entering their ports daily. The advocives of free
trade would have shipowners build ships at any place where trey
could do it cheapest. But what would be the consequence in time
of vat? Realties, this MUM would transfer the carrying trade to
other countries, which would trove our own navy without men to
navigate it, and without seamen to protect our country, if Europe
ehould ever again coalesce against it. He would now advert to the
inefficient state of the representation orthe %hipping interest in
Parliament. Hail there been persona in the House of Commons
identified with the shipping interest, possessing practical ex-
perience, and acquainted with the details, such partial measure%
would not have pawed as they had done, without the least oprws.
',Won. But a period was arrivi g when the landed proprietors
would feel alarmed fur their own safety, and would begin to awaken
to the certain consequences of supporting the application of the
principles of free trade to any one branch of industry. lie hoped,
however. in proposing the following Rmohttion, he should not
be misunderstood by the few friends whom they possessed in Par-
liament, or be comidered ungrateful to them for having done all
that was In their power to protect us.
Mr. TINDALL seconded the Resolution. _ _

Mr. JAME* YOUNG Tore for the purpose of order, and to
suggest to Gentlemen not to enter into the dkrucsion of subjects of
poittical economy. They were not met to discuss the Corn burs.
Suffice it that those laws were not altered, and that the shipping in-
terest was depressed, and had a right to call upon the Legislature
fur relief.

The Hemlition was then pot and tarried unarimoosly.
Mr. Deo rLE proposed the next Resolution. lie agreed with the
observation just MAP, that there was a unanimity as to the dis-
tressed state of the British shipping. and he should confine himself
to the question immediately before the meeting. Without supposing
Government to have any oilier than a desire to arrive at a know-
ledge of the real situation of the shipping interest, it was much to
be regretted that the, accounts which were brought forward by 51r.
Iluskisson in the Howie of Commons had not been moved for
some ten or twelve days previous to the debate, so that they might
have fallen into the hands of practical individuals, who could
have undeceived Government, or have enabled individuals
who were dispesed, to put the House in possession of the real
conclualons to be formed from those accounts. The eetimate
was deduced from those papers, of the comparative trade of Eng-
land and other powers, was fallacioue, because the average amount
of tonnage had been taken of the whole of the British shipping, and
compared with the average of foreign shipping ; whereas much of
the British shipping was employed to breeches of trade in which
foreigners had no right of reciprocity. Taking those branches of
trade where the reciprocity' had existed, he found that in 1822 the
number of 13TiliA l ships imported 29,396 tons, and foreign ships
202,735. But in 1824 British ships imported 256 (100, whilst the
foreign ships hsd increased to an importation of 468,000 tons.(llear.)
But if this great falling off' of British tonnage had been met bylad-
vantages to the State in other ways, they might probably be toll
that other Inmate were to prosper as will as the shipping. But
the fact was, that one exports front this country had decreased,
while :he imports of foreign ships had increased their tonnage to
this country. The Committee of this society had taken the earliest
opportunity of Mims/deg his Majesty's Ministers with the cousin-
lion that such consequences would ensue as they now found them.
'arta labouring under, if Governmeat persisted in carrying tlitir
measures, The worthy speaker then adverted to the 'statement
made by 51r. Huskisson respecting the increase of shipping em-
ployed Ign year, and controverted the conclusion deduced front that
fact upon the grounds already urged by a former speaker. lie also
woke the fact of en inereaxed 'lumber of vessels built during the
late peciod of excitement ; but said that these were built chiefly in
the United holes by mere speculators, and that those vessels were
now sellirg at most ruinous pricer.. But by the return of ships
built during the last eight years, it appeared that in 11125 they
amounted to 2,542,000 moos, wttile in 1018 they were 2,1;74,00
tons. So that with all this building in 1823, there were less in
tonnage by 130,000 last year than in any year during the eight
years before. If such an effect had been already produced, what

• lit the report of this speech in the British Press. May 13th,
the namage runs as follows:—" At the same time, however, he was
equally bound to stale, that those regulations were founded, as it
appeared to him (Mr. II uskisson), upon what was the first and
highest ground for the laws of every State (hear, hear); lie meant
political necessity. Ile therefore was as ready as any man to ad-
mit that they ought on all occasions to look to the interest of that
State necessity as uppermost in their minds, whenever the interests
of commerce and navigation could not be reconciled. (Ilear, hear.)
And where they could not be altogether reconciled, he had no diffi-
culty in at tint; it as his opinion, that the interests of commerce
ought to give way (hear, hear), and that the interests of naviga-
tion ought to have the preference. (Hear.) Upon this question
he hoped be bad placed himself fairly before the House; and If
any of those measures of his Majoity's Government which had
been recently &depict, conamant to this mode of viewing the sub.
jeer, had ill any way contributed to the danger which was sostrongly
apprehended, he should have imposed upon himself no slight task in
attempting to vindicate himself far the part he i,ad taken.
But he must at the same time say that any system which cramped
commerce in a degree beyond what was neeew.ary for the planer-
don of navigation, was in itself an unnecessary interference. Be
must say, apart from the consideration of the principles upon
which the" lavli navigation were founded, the House w
bound to take care not to depress one branch of industry timed
than another ; not to treat the mode of employing capital in any
on* period, in such a manner as tusk* it as undue advantage over
Umber." •

THE BRITISH PRESS.

I must it be in the course of Is few year., when the capital at this
country was wasted in foreignehipping ? What was to be therm.
sequence of all these change* ? Use of three must follow. If things
continue in their present state, they Must either lope this most valtia-
, hie part of the trade trf the country ; or they must 1. -rare their eV%
and resume the laws as they were before the alterations took
pl..ce, or the timber duty was taken ofF (for that was the com-
mencement of the present et stem). or they must invest British
capital in foreign shipping, the c.mtiequenee of which would be
that they must employ lonian seamen. GNI forbid they should we
that day. (Cheers.) Bat whist else stated them in the face 1 He,
however, .poke of this merely a. an alternative. After noticing
the inadequate relief that was otr-red by AI iniment in the reductions
of certain duties, and the permission to import salt provisions,
which would be at the sacrifice of the imerests of Lreland, none of
which concessions, he observed, bad been asked for, or ought to he
accepted by th • shipownert of thin kingdom, the worthy speaker
concluded by moving the third Re...photon.
Mr. FP t, uttNE thought there was no ileum for the shipowners
to complain of want of adequate representation ; and considered
that if the Committee would only exert themselves, they might
obtain many ativ.intsees from their President, the Earl or Liver-
pool, and others of his Majesty's 31inisters connected with this
Snciety.
A Mr. BUTLER now addressed the Chair, and began to urge
the expediency of breaking the !soaked faith towards the public
creditor; but the cries of the Alceting prevented this gentleman
from pr,ceeling with his harangue; and he was ultimately railed to
order by the Chairman, who said his observations were quite ir-
regular.
l'he Third Resolution was then carried.

Mr. J. You NG mowed the Fourth Resolution, which was una-
nimously agreed tn.
Mr. GEO. FRED. Yount", in a speech of considerable length,
in which he controverted nitutr of the statements contained in Mr.
iluskinson'a speech, moved the next Resolution. He said there
was no channel of communication open between the shipowners

and Parliament, by which the real vote of their interest/ could be
made known to the Legislature. He, was not prepared to submit
his progeny to the dictation of any Government. It was the pro-
vince of Government to elicit measures, and for Parliament to in-
quire into the propriety of adopting them. But it was only infer.
motion upon which they ought to legislate, and parliament h
their case been lamentably deficient in the necessity information ;
and it was to this circumstance that the bad consequences that hart
fallen on the shipowners mil/91CW traced. Had th•ebiett of Mr.
liuskisson's speech been to lull to sleep the fears, and to mislead
the judgment of those to whom it was adevemitet, there never was a
speech more calculated to effe,u its purpose; hut if it was meant
as a fair and candid development of the facts of a case, witch
Government was desirous to he sincere, then there never was
a speech less entitled to credit and confidence. (Hear. hear)
He had brottalit his mind to the deliberate conviction that the
Right lion. Gentleman's statements were not to be depended upon,
inasmuch as they were not untrue, but partial. After going
Omagh various details, which had, in great part, been already
noticed by the preceding speakers, the Gentleman observed that
bad the shipping interest been impale represented in Parliament,
none (Arlie late measures would have passed. lie concluded by ex-
horting the meeting to act in conformity with the reeommenthttion
contained in the Resolution which he had the honour to propose to
them.
Mr. GILLESPIE growled the Resolution.

Mr. J. Yount: proposed an amendment, to the eireet that no per.
aon in the present meeting would vote for any candidate who did
not pledge himself to use his best endeavour to re-enact the old
Navigation Laws.

This motion was opposed by several gentlemen, as being dero-
gatory to the charaver of a Member of Parliament to require from
him any such specific pledge, and the amendment was finally
negatived.

The original Resolution was then carried unanimously.
Mr. CHAPMAN moved the next Resolution, which was seconded
by Mr .1. PEURING. and carried unanimously. •
The thanks of the Meeting were then voted to the Chairman,
who made his acknowledgments, • and the meeting separated.