The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sin,—As many of my friends give me credit for being
the person alluded to in the report by
.you of Mr. Alder-
man Thompson's speech in the House of Commons on
the 15th inst., I trust you will not object to publish the
annexed correspondence, and that you will permit me to
add, that I am not, and never was, an ultra-Protectionist
or Free-trader. I always advocated a small fixed (55.)
duty on corn, and that all goods should be considered
the produce of the country where they lay, and allowed
to be imported as such in a ship of that country and a
British ship.
The Legislature has decided otherwise, and we must
now do our best, and I am only anxious that the public
should clearly understand the value of the so much
boasted relief to British shipping.—l am, Sir, your
humble servant,
Limehouse, Dec. 24

DUNCAN DUNBAR

" Limehouse, Dec. 17.
"Dear Sir,—We (shipowners) are anxious to know to
whom you referred 'as the largest shipowner in England
and the world.' Will you oblige me with his name, and
also if he represented himself to be what you described
him?

"I am quite prepared to prove what I personally
stated to you, that the relief proposed to the shipping
interest was very insignificant—about the same as taking
off the tax on shepherds' dogs would be to the agricul-
turist.

"Although I am sure you have kindly feelings to-
wards us, I will not take up more of your time than to
state the proposed salvage measure can in no way re-
lieve the shipowner; it is entirely an underwriters'
question.

"You will also keep in view that any deduction in
lights benefits the foreigner equally with ourselves, and
that even allowing 100,0001. per annum to be, reduced,
only about one-half will fall to the British shipowner.
"The lights paid into the Trinity-house in 1851
amounted—

on British ships, to
on foreign ships, to..
being an increase over 1850, on English
ships 5,163
on foreign ships ... 11,710
and I much fear the year 1852 will bring the two much
nearer together.

£123,000
80,000

"You will see that about one-half of the proposed re-
lief of 100,0001. will make a very small per centage to
us, but we cannot understand how this even is to be
made out, and we would be much obliged if you would
ascertain for us the items composing it. I may add,
that although I have been so many years a shipowner,
I was not aware that our ships could be turned out of a
snug berth by her Majesty's ships. Apologising for
this liberty, I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly,
"William Thompson, Esq., M.P." "D. DUNBAR.

"Park-street, Dec. 18.
"Dear Sir,—l cannot satisfy the curiosity of the ship-
owners as to the largest shipowner in England and the
world,' as I made use of no such term ; neither has any
person represented himself to me in that character. I
did not represent the salvage question as exclusively
bearing upon shipping, but as being of importance to the
commercial and shipping interests generally. I know
shipowners who are their own underwriters, and to a
great extent.

" With respect to your other point, the light dues,
&c., I should have been a very indifferent observer of
the course of legislation for the last 28 years, and a very
unfit representative of great maritime ports, if I had not
known that this country was bound by many treaties to
put ithe foreign ship as to lights upon the same terms as
the British ship.

"I am not surprised that the report of my speech
should have attracted your attention, because not one
sentiment in twenty which I uttered was reported, and
some which I have been reported to have uttered never
fell from my lips. I had not voice to reach the gallery,
and I was not well placed when I spoke ; but Hansard'
has applied to me to correct the press, which I probably
may consent to do, in which case you will find that I am
as firm and consistent a friend to British shipping now
as I was when I entered the House of Commons 33
years ago.—l am always, dear Sir, yours faithfully,
"D. Dunbar, Esq." "W. THOMPSON.