The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-25 00:00:00

m.F.71 E:74 t7a
N°.lB 567.] THURSDAY tfil '4l " tr.v MARCH 25) 1852.
LONDON, &ill • 7

SCOTTISH WIDOWS' FUND
AND LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.
HEAD OFFICE.—EDINBURGII. 5; ST. ANDREW' SQUARE.
The TEHR rY-EIGHTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETIING of the
MEMBERS 01 this SOCIETY was hold on the 21 current,—
The Rev. Dr. GRAN r, one of the Vice-Presidents, in the Chair.
Tim Report by the Directors, which was real to the Meeting, and
unanimously approved of, showed, inter ala, the following results,
in regard to the Society's operations, during the year 1851 :
That the Number of PolicieS passed was 643, coverin,g _Assn-
- r.7ncei to the ex eat of 412.5651. 44.6 d.
That the Capital of the Society amorinlcd, at 31st Dccediber
last, to 2,450,7921.25. 2d ; _
That the Annual It:Nenue, as at the same date, was 318,6611.
164. 64.; and
That 97 Members had died during the year, the Sums Assured
- on their Lives amounting to 105,9781. 14s. 94., and ,this
mortality being in the ratio of 53 per -cent. o; what was to
be expected, according to calculation.
The Meeting had also under consideration three several Resolu-
tions, of which special notice had been prsvionsly given, in terms of
the Society's Constitution. Thes, Insolntions were approved of,
-sad ordered to be snbmitted to a Special General Court, on an
early day in Septetntlr next, for final disposal. The objects con-.
templaled by them, are-
1. To alter die day on which the Annual General Court shall is
future be held.
2. To extend the power presently possessed by the Ordinary
Court of Directors, of allowing a Conversion of the Bonus
Additions attaching to Policies, into an Equivalent Deduc-
tion from future Premiums.
3. To enable the Ordinary Court of Directors (under certain
conditions and restrictions) to declare Pelletes to be free
from challenge upon any ground except that of non-pay-
ment of the Ordinary Annual or Extra Premiums, if such
- be exigible,
A vote of thanks to the Directors and Office-Bearers having been
proposed and seconded, and the vacancies occurring in the Direction
having been tilled up, the thanks of the Meeting were unanimously
voted to the Chairman for his conduct in the Chair, and the meeting
adjourned.

JOHN MACKENZIE, Manager.
WM. LINDEAY, Secretary.

Edinburgh, March, 1852.
N.R. - A full Report of the Procedure at the ahove Meeting is in
course of being printed, and wall shortly be ready for circulation.
LONDON OFFICE, 4, ROYAL EXCHN VGE-BUILDINGS,
HUGH M`KEAN, Agent.

BRITANNIA LIFE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.

I, Princes-street, Bank,bondon,- •
..SVAMISII,I- let .
Empowered by Special Act of Parliament.
ORPHANS' AND CillbitßEN'S ENDOWMENT BRANCH.
, This Branch bas been established for the purpose of affording to
Parents, Guardians, and Friends the means of providing, in an easy
and inexpensive manner, a fund for the maintenance and education
of their children, so as to guard against the difliculies and destitu-
tion in which infants are frequently left by the premature deaths of
those on whom they are dependent.
For this purpose an extensive set of Tables has been prepared,
showing the Quarterly Rat .8 of Premium required, at at all ages, for
Annuities •ta commence at the death of a Parent or Friend, and to
be continued until a child shall have completed (if a boy) his twenty-
first, or (if a girl) her twenty-fifth year of age.
Tables have also been prepared, showing the sums for which such
Annuities may be Commuted, when required to assist the child's
outset in life.

TH-lE•SIIIPPING INTEREST.

ADDRESS DELIVERED liY WILLIAM DIGBY SEY,
MOUR, ESQ ,' BEFORE THE ELECTORS OF SUN-
DERLAND. -1g TUE NEW ASSEMBLY HALL,
SANS-STREET, ON MONDAY LAST.
Mr. Seymuur me; .11 numerous and influential body of
the electors at the Assembly Hill, on Monday evening.
The hall was crowded by at least 2,000 individuals.
On the motion Of .f. B.chluectiAme, Esq., seconded
by W. BURN, Each, Joshua Wilson, Esq., was called to
the chair. • _ _

Mr, SEYMOUR' who was received with enthusiastic
plaudits, having- been called upon by the Chairman, ad-
dressed the miring, amidst hearty and ofarspeated
acclamations, us follOVV8:—.
Mr. Chairman--and Electors of Sunderland,—l em
anxious that you-should Oidersnind my views upon the
great—the Vital: question of
.the shipping interest, that
befere you-&terwine:whether I am_ to repndent you in
Parliament you may have a clear and adequate outline
of my sentiments,—(Hear, hear.) My esteemed and
excellent friend. Mr. Joshua-Wilson, whose laborious and
indefatigable exertions, added to the patriotic z.•stl with
which he 1)1..9 devoted his talents and his time to the
interests of this port, have already insured him your
warmest gratitude--(Cheers)--and which will mike his
name long reinembered in this town—(Cheers)—has en-
tered practically_ in the del ails of the subjecaand has laid
before You faros and figures relative to the shipping of
the country generally and of this port in `particular;
and, With these-'facts fresh in your recollection, I
trust before I sit down to lead you to the impression
that, whatever or wheever be to blame, whatever be
the cause which operwes to depress the shipping
interest, that cause is but temporary—(Hear, bear)
—that, however- dark the clouds which hang
over the horizon at the present moment, there
is a cheering beet k of blue which promises the.
retarn of mere-,prespereus days to the desponding ship-
owners of England.—(Protracted tiliesrs.) I doubt trot
erseeeesadese.o,aarn of the 'facts of our 'natio-us!
history, and she political circumstances under which the
famous Act of Navigation was- passed. introduood by_
.ttie Protector, A.D. 1651, as a check upon the maritime
ambition of the Dutch; then the great ocean-carriers cO
the world, it was thereby enacted that no merchandise
of Asia, Africa, and. America Should be imported into
Grt at Britain in any but English built ships, navigated
Oy an. English estiomander, with three-fourths of their
crew at least Euglith. In addition to this exclusive
right of British shippires' it imposed discriminating
good_ duties, so that s which might still come in foreign
shipatfrom Europe were taxed higher than if they were
imporied under the British !Lg. This system of navi-
gation was perfected by 12th Charles 11., ch. 18, and con-
tinued during more than 160 years to be the great mari-
time charter of this country. Probably in that infant
state.oncuemerine the cffeet of ibis system was favour-
able to its growth and expansion, just as you may have
serr young trees surrounded with protecting
which become a-derormity and an encumbrance in their
maturer growth, and sr, it proved in the case of these
restrictive enactments. Declared the law, when the com-
merce of England was 3, et in embryo—as soon as disco-
very had given us-a New World, seience new arts, in-
dustry new mebulectures— when millions of customers
were totted for cur - productions, and boundless wealth
!awarded our labours, the principle of the navige-
time law that sought' to shelae the little navy of a
little trade was 'no longer wise or justifiable.—(Cheers.)
L was nos, however, reason or foresight,. but the force.
of a stern tedesetty that compelled this country lulu
the adoption of a less restrictive system.-a(Hesr, home)
true, Gnalue had „wriAsn hie " Mare Liberum,'
and Solder, his " Mare Claissurre"the " Open Sea"
Ind the " Snit!. and Sic M lia,ker, Sir J. Child,
-end others, hod iiiveedgeeed the subject, and either die-
euted or supported Ilse policy of theSe acts; hut truth
was not elicited from these controversies. We persisted
in a rigid protectione—we refused to let foreign ships
share our carrying trasle,—and it still continued to be
our 'lobe), to .drive into the' ships of England the car-
rying trade of the whole world.—(Hear, hear.) Mean-
'while, however, on the other side of the Atlantic, a new
empire was rapidly maturing,—a young and vigorous'
.4cion from the loins of our foretathere,—a country
which, when it was_weak and dep-ident, was compelled
to submit to our protective system; but which was, even
then, speeding forward to he high destiny which awaited
ia—(Cheers.) The independence of the United States
was the inevitable result •of our- Navigation Laws.—
(Hear, hear.) Wan that independence came a re-
newed. enerey and spirit of sell-reliance. Gradaelly the
commercial ardour of the United States rose superior
to the influences--which had depress:edit, and at length
en American Navigation Act taught England to know
that if she injured she would be punished—that retalis-
tion was the recoil df restriction.—(Cheers.) S: e what
followed —americ in ships sailed to Liverpool in ballast,
having British,ships iu their wake laden with tobacco,
rice, or cotton; while British ships traversed the At-
lantic to New York in ballast, with American ships
hard in their wake leden with calicoes, cutlery, hard-
ware, and iron.—(Hear, hear.) A pretty game for two
crest nations 'to play for the space of 28 years--
(Laughter.) In 18i5, this stete of things was put an
end to by mutual_consent. A treaty of reciprocity was
signed between England and America.—(Hear, hear.)
A sitailar treaty was next made with Portugal.—(Hear.
hear.) In 1823, -
these treaties produced their natural
result—a menace of
_retaliation on the part of Prussia.—
(Hear, hear.) The Prussian Minister of the day called
on Mr. Huskisssn, and quietly intimated the intentions
of his Government. Our shipowners, too, looking for-
ward
with anxious-eye to our Prussian trade, and fear-
ful of retaliation, exerted themselves in favour of a
treaty. Meanwhile Denmark and Sweden demanded
a similar concession; till at length Mr. Huskisson,
y to a necessity he could no longer oppose, intro-
diinuecleddthg olteelproeity, Acts, by which it was provided
that`his then Majesty, King George the Fourth, might by
order in council, admit ships of foreign states into our
ports, en payment of such duti--s as wore charged on
British vessels, 'providei that British ships were ad..eitted
into the ports of such foreign states on payment of the
seme duties as were charged on their own vessels.
Under the authority of these Acts of Parliament, reci-
procity treaties have been concluded with the ,Govern-
ments of thirty different states.—(tlear, hear.) Thus,
then. Sir, was .lEsoo's fable realized, when, we, like the
north-west wind, blew from a -restrictive quarter, other
nations retaliated, by drawing the cloak of protection
more tightly around them ; but when the: sun of free
trade broke out, in warmth and brghoiess, the pro-
ter:wive cloelt fell from their shoulders--(Cheers) Now
what was the effsot of this change in our commercial
system?' io the five years preceding 1825, when the re-
proeity measures. of -Mr. Huskisson were
passed, the
British snipping entered inwards increased 6 per cent.,
while the foreign during the same period increased 22
per cent. Remember- that this proportion took pleCe
while our legislative enactments were closely protective.
The ports were then opened to those who would deal
with us' on equitable terms. Calamity and ruin were
prophesied to our shipping interests. But what was the
result? In the five 3 ears between.lB2s and 1830, the
,etries inwards of British shipping increased 17 per
ef nt., while foreign only increased 12 per cent.—(Cheers.)
From thot• peri, d. till 18[10, our shipping rapidly pro-
gressed, and the edtadily increasing and advancing tide
of;-prosperity showed- the soundness of the principle
upon which the new policy was based. Then another era
dawned, and the name of another great atateman became
associated with the shipping interest of the country. In
1841, Sir Robert Pepl received the reins of power and
immediately set about, tiehorough,revieion of our customs
earSff. The _result to tho shipping inter-ate was that from
1841 to 1845 inelueivea there was an increase of 37 per
cent. entries inwards of British tonnage, while the in-
crease in foreigrawas only.l-5 per cent.—(Cheers) The
famine of 1847 caused a suspension of our laws of navi-
gation, and the vessels- of all nations were allowed to
enter our ports free With cargoes of ;rain or flour. To
this we must leenAG fact that-in 1847 the entries in-
wards of foreign tonnage were.higher, by 447.657 tone,
than they were in 1846, At the close of 1849, the Te-
pissl of our navigation-byes took piece; and in 1850 the
entries inwards of foreign tonnage exceeded, by 354,587
toes, whet they were in 1849. The comparative rate of
e years ending 1850, of 28 per
teat.t
the
British
twoe during
cent. foreign, must be ascribed
to havee m
eerioned.—(Hear, hear.) I
t i t
c ai n
and
uses
s etshse 0I fire
per ve
Reciprocity Ac, was a step in the right
on the whole,r the
in the years 1834 and 1835 there was
think., then,- gentlemen, that I have proved that, taken
direction. 'true,
dit received a shock, and a general panic
commerce depression in different departments of
overspread
ce
tional
causes,
into
which
we
table to. .carethe market. These were attribu-
need not now
he-43 isolated years by themselves,
occasional!
ex
therefore, take t
facts you must nut look at
you must deal withbroadly;
exceptional
Jo inquire. You must not,
u ears together,
If you look alongside your
So as to form an estimv e.
shoreyou look out towards
docks, if standing on the
of a ve,sel in the offing,
the sea, you may see the masts
One year or another, but you must gro P
'but if you ascend the cliffs .of RnkeC
or Hendon, you
May see the hull as well as the roasts; thus a man who
takes a narrow view of commercial statistics Will not
see the truth so clearly, and it is only when
he ascends
to the elevation of principle ,that he can take-.a coin-
Mending survey.—"( Cheers.) But
mere do youlax oweat nothing
more to free trade than
navigation_ system? Has not the repeal of the
corn-lairs given a great stimulus to the cocan-oar-
rying trade of the country.? Did not the value of
the reion of your
England's•exparts rise - from fo'rty-seven millions in
1842, to sevedty-One millions in 1850? Was rot the
value of her inverts, swollen from sixty-five.- millions,
in 1842, to one hundred millions in 1850? ~Did not the
,aggregate amount of .teneege mitered inwards
and outwards, in the Tini.ed R:ugdom, increase from
7,046,000 tons in 1842, to 12,0:9.000 tons in 1850? And
if our exports and imports have been so augmented, can
it be deuicd that en itemenee advatitago has been derived
by the shipping of the country? I do-not nice üby the
cheapening of, provisiens, by which to victual vesiels,
hut by the, increased employment arising from the im-
petus given to our carrying iseae. Take auger, for in-
stance. Were there. not in 1850, 120,00 Q tons mere or
sugar brought into this _country than in 1842? Again,
with regard-to dose.. Were-- not -Right niillio n quarters
.core grain imported into Great Briotio in 1850 than in
1842? What then! you who sigh after protection—you
who declaim upon the wisdom and policy of the past—
would you :re-iwpose ibia. cora and noiptiOa-laws?

Would you reverse the freedom of 1842, *led return
to your condition before 1825?—(Bear sad cheers,)
Sr, I have purposely confined my. observations
upon the state of our trade up to the year I/XS°, and I
contend, that. looking to the then condition of the cm-
mace of this country, experience has anthl° . ndicated
the wisdom of Mr. Hutkissen's policy; r_l3 is that
year a third end lest great epoch commencedthe his-
tory of Eegland's mercantile nts.riue; for i that year
the Act of 12th and 13th Victoria, commonly; called en
Act for the Repeal of the Natigation Laws, was intro-
duced by Mr. _Labouehere, end-passed into law. The
immediate cause of the repeal of Mr. Huskisson's Arts
was owing to his not having inserted a clause is the
laws of which he was the authotnalleiving British ships
to import all non-prohibited articles from ivherever they
might be fcund; the consequence of which would have
been that the cotton of America, the sugar of Cubs, or
the coffee of Java might have been glutting-. the parts
along the English Channel. They could nett be im-
ported in a foreign ship unless the goods were carried
bank to the country win nce they had tbeterroriginally
shipped, unless tin y werefirst carried to EuropOretin sore,
other continent. Now, why was not this cltesee,marided,
instead of precipitating a total repeal, an i why could
not goods be declared nationaliz'd _wherever they wore
found? Is it to be said that the question wis made one
of party? Is the haste which et areeterised this me-
mentous change to be excused on the' ground that is
was made.a Cabinet nitasure? Is it to be said thet the
existence of a Miniatrx was the main cause €„r the hut'}
alteration of'a system, a false step in eff cttng which
' alight prove fatal to the best interests of the twpire.—
(Loud cheerio) Whatever was the motive, the repeal of
the navigatiotsiaws was carried, .and carried with cir-
eumstances of inexcusable precipitancy _(Renewed
cheers.) How happens it that, during the period which
has elapsed since this repeal, with exports and Upper's
enormously increasing, with trade oansually buoyant.with money. abundant end credit eatYt that oarorieg,
' instead of rising, as it his :is& before, fretin the epres
si.tis iillich have, tiKib,fl it, is so tatcly in its receven ?
Because it has received a shock which might -halt!, proved
_fatal; because to save a WhiK_Mini-trY anima interest-
was jeopardized plunged
; because oar. Laboueeere unged
us into free trade without stipulating for reciprocity, an
that before we could make ourselves reedy for the race
to which we were exposed, foreign shipping overstecka
our ports, and freights are reduced so ruinously low, thst
20s. per ton was the last return from Calcutta.—(Loud
cheering) What have we gained froth America for
conceding to her the trade of our colonies.? Nothing.
What have we gained from Spain? Nothing. France
has not met us—(Hear, lear)—Holland has not met
us—(Hear, hear)--Itursia, Germany, Sweden, and other
states have nothing to meet us with,—(Loud cheers.)
Was it then right for a British Minister, I repeat, to
take a step so momentous with plans so ill considered?
—(Loud shouta of "No.") Had he gone to America'
and said,—" We are a Free-trade country—we have
adopted through all our interests the principles of corn—
mewled freedom; it is your highest interest to fellow
our example.—(llear, hear.) By so doing we ~hail
be mutually ben, fited; we have opened to you our
colonies; we offer you now our coasting trade; we a,l;
you in return to allow us to navigate cur ships in
the carrying trade to Calitornia."—(Cheers.) Had he
then gone to Spain, and said, " You. Spaniards, now
trade in your vessels between England and our colonies
entirely unfettered; and yet you will not permit a Bri-
tish vessel, loading British menu actures, 'to trade to
Masille, Hevatitiah, or any of your settlements.—
(Hear.) You charge a BrOish vessel in the port of Ha
vannah double what you charge a vessel of Spin; you
make Spanish goods arriving from Spain, under your
national flag, liable only to an ad valorem duty of 61 per
cent ; while, if Spanish goods are carried from Spew in
British vessels, the duty rises from 141 to 181 percent,
This is not fair to us—this is not politic in you.
Retnimber your past glories. Recollect you once
had
.a marine. Forget not the tittles - of mari-
time chivalry, when a Columbus manned his vessels
to go forth in search of a new world.- Yeti hale been
torn since by revolutions within; you have suffered
from want of credit, anti distrust abroad. Awake to
your true interests. Take advantage of your great na-
eional resources. Cultivate the principles of comm.:r-
ead freedom. Follow the example we have sot you in
the Free-trade brotherhood of nations."—(Tremendous
cheering.) Had he gone to Eelgium and said, "We
grant to your ships the same privileges as our own;
we admlt your produce (el the terms of the most favoured
nations. Why, then, is white salt from England pro.
hibited by your tariff, and rock salt, unless imported
under your flee, and ehy is a duty, of 14f, per ton on
British ships still retained?" Had he gone to France,
end said to the French Government, "Contrast yOUr
tariff with ours, and say which of ua has shown most
solicitude for the commercial intercourse of cur respect,
tive countries? Have we nut opened up a Lew maiket
for your flour, your brandies, your silks, your hats, your
shawls, your gloves, your leather? And what have
you done in return? You- -have not taken _off your
duties on coal, or iron bars, or chain', or anchors,
or pig iron, or linen threads, or needles, or pottery
ware. If you will not deal liberally with us as we have
dealt with you, leek, to your own interests. You are
ambitious to establish manufactures, then redu th
ce e duty
of 4s. 9J. per ton you exact on English coals, and in-
stead of the 600,000 tons we now export, two million
tons of coals will find their way into your conntry."—
(Protracted cheering.) Sir, had Mr. Labouehere thus
acted—had he calmly 'and ditps.stienately, . mindful of
the great interests at stake, propurly imbued with a
sense of the 'danger arising from a torced or ilitcen-
sidered legislation, entered into ne,ociation with toreign
powers, at.d, by argument, by entreaty, or, if neces
sary, by inspiring them with a wholesome tear of pus
Bible and ulterior consequences, ledohern to the adopts-tn
of the grand principles of commercial freedom, then
would his conduct have been more worthy of a British
statesman—then would we not have been hurried, as it
were, in a moment, from a system o
into a
with co-extensive reciprocity i limited free trade,
condition of abso
lute free-trade, with ' limited revrocity.—(PrOl"ged
cheers, mingled with cries of " Bravo.") Sir, the deed
is done ; the die is oast—the British shipowner is
hunched into Competition with the
whole .world.
(Hear, hear.) There is a danger in going back to a
course which has been once
abandoned.—(Llear, hear.)
Indite interval, which' hats elapsed, new relations; of
commercial property
be
undt
se r, p rt iht. :
a r lance in the natural body, like
ShuckttLiteploafee
a, ours,
reaction
may be attended with die most perilous consequences.") ,
—r
the body politic tot
(w.eele,) And yet I mustnut.ne
misunderstood.' I do not mean to deny that in principle
Mr. Lebouehere was right. I censure him, not .f tr the
end a; which he mine:', but for the speed with which
he-approached it —(Rear, bear.) What, then, is to be
dout? Go back? No; it is too late! Go forward?
Yet! But methinks I . hear some of you say, te How
can we ge forward? We are aced at our startirg post
in this ocean race, burdened sand over-weighted. You
must, at least, relieve us of every import that presses too
heavily upon us." Sir, I feel the strength of that argu-
ment. The chipping interestef this country has deep
and many causes of complaint—(flear)—and I know
cot whether more emphatically to condemn the haste
which marked the repeal, or the injustice which stopped
short of the removal of these burdens.—(Cheers,) The
first burden-which must be removed are the duties
open timber. I think no tax whatever ought to be im-
posed upon the raw materiel of our shipping. When
Mr. Uuskisson proposed to grant to the builder of ships
in this country a drawback equal to the full amount of
any duty that had been Peidupen the materials used in
their construction and 'equipment, he proposed a wise and.
'gelid meature—,(llears bear)'—and I thug say it Wei
littledo the credit of theehipowners who formsd the nee
putation to Mr. fluskisson of that day, that they re-
fused his offer, dreadinglest the Government, by adopt-
ing Mr...Huskittion's suggestion, should give a fresh
vitamins to shipbuilding at home, and raise up new com-
petitors, who wou!d be able to rival them in every
branch of commerce.—(Hear, hear.) The maintenance
of a. timber duty on - the part of Her Majeste'e litte
Government was a perfect absurdity —(trend Cheers.)
Their professed aim wag to adteit the raw
'materiel duty free, especially. that which creates labour
in its manufact or, d state, and to tax articles of mauutac-
tare imported from other countries, butbere they taxed
the foreign raW.naaterial. while they admitted the same
material, when manufactured into a ship,
du y free:---
(Hear, hiar.) Another burden on shipping is the I;gitt.
dues. Foremost atnong these 'are the tight dues, im-
posed by the Ti inity" House at Deptford -Stroud, amount-
ing now to about 400,000/. a yeas.—(Rear, hear). That
is a large sum, and is felt as a sore grievance 'by the'
shipping interest of this country.—(Hear.) Indeed, the
Trinity House system, in ail. its details, is an enormous
anomaly—(llear, bear)—and ill-auited to the temper
and advancing spirit of these times.—(Cheers.) Bodies
like these Trinity. House Corporations, really self-
elected, practically irresponsible, with all their cumbrous
appendages, and their multitudinous parasites, aro un-
suited to an industrious_ and economical age,. and. only
form relics of the legislation of an unenlightened anti-
quity,—(Renewed chrering.) To give one small instance,
out of a multitude, of the enormous injustice of this'
system—The Heligoland Light cost the Government
2501. a year for maintaining it, and the Comber-
cial marine 5801. a year—(Hear, hear)—previously to
1846, when it was taken by, the Trinity Rouse, and the
nation relieved from further payment of it; but in 1845
the Commercial marine was made to pay 1,8901. for its
maintenance, while its actual cost was only 5291.—
(Cheers, and cries of " Shame.") Now, why should the
shipowners of this country be exclusively toted for the
support of these lights.—(Hear.) Enecioy,
why
.an,
they so taxed, Since the rapt el of the nav!gatiou laws has
thrown open the benefit of these lights to the rest of the
world.—
(Cheers.) In the Milted Stains of America,
the Expense of the light-house establishment is annually
provided for by a vote of Congress; in 'Lewitt the
lighting is confided to teh h Governuteet; in Russia the
Gevernmtnt support the lishbouses' and no cz,arge is
~
it ~
trade on that account, on either uttnan or foreign ships
Why should net the lighting ,
of our (matt be a c!ialge
up et the ceirso - lidated fund o:
the country a—(ptete and
Closely connected with this su!jeot to the toll
cheers) —which is colic in 1 called prirnage—which -
Sander-
land and tem ‘ other of the northern ports, for the belie
' House in Newcastle. The right of
fit of the Trica'y
tha, house to
) ()elewhichct a revenue of which they snake eo
return, has been very properly made the subject of a
trial at law and it was my lot to be called upon the
i other day, a the Wirt of Qiiiieh's Beach, to tido, a pro-

minent part, in exposing the usurpation and illegality of
this impost.-(Loud cheers.) I remember a smile pass-
ing over the features of the venerable. judge, who has
lately retired from that benob, when I read, from the
governing charter a James II , the recital of the
grounds upon which that Monarch bestowed the grant-'
" Whereas, there have been divers and many iticursions
of the river Tyne upon the honks of the same, and that
in addition repairs are reentirsd for the Trinity Mete,
at Newcastle, therefore, out cif our mere motion," Br.c.,
So,. - And so Sunderland, without getting a single
benefit in return, ha; been called upon do pay, from
year to year, a sum amounting to some 1,2004 or 1,500/a
and this to enable certain gentlemen of Newcastle to
proper their appetites and toast away the money you
have paid to' the hea'th of the Elder .•Brethren, and
tha good old times of charter and monopoly-,-(Leugliter
and loud cheers.) Than there are the-Dover and
Ramsgate passing tolls.-(Cries of" Hear, hear.") Wby
the amount levied upon the shipping arid eel:boleros) of
the country, in support of thesis -harbours in the e ear
•1849; amounted to 43,2971. 93. 3id., for which the ship
ping and. trade h. f the country received no. equivaket
Whatever.--(Cries of "Shame.") Sunderland pays of
this 1,5791 Bs. 21.-(Hear.) A still more flagrant act
of injustice is to be found.in the exactions of the Reliefs
Company, who have power, under letters patent 'of Wil-
liam and Mary, to tax Russian produce i eportrel inter
.thig:country; this they do to the extent of more thatt-
3.000/, exclnsiee of sums levied on the Britisti shipping
et Russian ports, Now, what equivalent do the parties
taxed get for this impost? On glancing over an account
,rf their expenditure, I find the foil :wing itett,:-Pie-
sent of plate to the governor, worth 42/ •10s.-(lheugh-
ter)-Again, grant for expenses of organ, psalm-b toke,
&e., for the church at Crunstadt, 2051. 4e. 3 i.-(Hear,
heat.) Surely this is a burthen.whic,h ought to be in-
veatigated, taken off, and removed. There is another
evil of great magnitude, which consiSts lin ttite tax. cal
leeted by the Corporation of elsoneorie esiledsCity•dues;
thek, :in•-irited';`lii;`t 3 ear- til 192,47412 i., and toe
thi;;; ItlrtC, SUM 154 4601 13i. was leech no eels trom
•he eoutitiea-or Durham taut 1•,1,-whumberi4G,1. a10n,.:.....
iar_ii....r.,_), -Theo there-are the ,I '.inetio Putts AM
..
beir dependencies, with-his Grace tee bor.! Warden's
little sinecure of 30001. per acnum-(Laushter)-.no
all the sinecure captain•i at Dee!, Weimer, and else ehere.
Then there are the evils attendant upon the peseta eys -
tern of pilotage. The system requires a thorough re-
, vision. In my opinion, the taking of a pilot on board
ought-to be rendered as nearly voluntary as pdssible.-
(Hear, hear.) Then there is the system of foreign con-
sulage, which must be substantially altered, and rendered
more suitable to the advancing and economic spirit of
the age. Goiernment salvage is an unjustifiable charge.
If a ship of war throw a rine or a hawser to a mer-
chant ship, it may be made the ground of an exor-
bitant claim fur salvage, and, if resisted, the trader
is throWn into the Court of Admiralty. But,' besides
this, it has numerous other vexations attending it.
Then there are the Admiralty Courts, which I would
vote for abolishing altogether.-(Cheers.) I would
let them, and the Chancery Courts, with all their bar-
barisms, and quirks and quidditios, with all their bills
and answers, petitions and affidavits, be shovelled by
my Lord Brougham into one huge mud-cart, and along
with the whole body of doctors and proctors, equity
draftsmen, andleit such excrescences, be emptied into
the gulf of oblivion fur ever! -(Roars of laught,,r, fol
lowed by a burst of applause.) There are other grie-
vances, such as that relating so the use of bonded stores,
and other impediments to the free exercise Of commer-
cial enterprise as applied to sbippieg. But I think I
have specified sufficient tonsake out a heavy and impor-
tsnt case for the shipowners of the empire.-
(Hear, heeee) Remove these burdens, - take a
comprehensive review of our Registry and Mercantile
Marine Acts, with a view to their amendment, so as
to Suit the altered circumstances of the age, and
then. Government will have done that which it
should have provided for before it drove you to struggle
with the competitioh of the world,-(Applause.)- I do
not soy that when even all this is attained, there will
not be causes for anxiety; but I do ask, if you do sue-
c-ed thus far, there will be ground .for hope.-e(Rear,
hear.) Why should you, with a fair field and no fa-
vour, fear the censterieticeeef a riva!ry in shipbuilding
with any ether countries of the world ?-(Cheers )
Withohe Untied States?-or Russia?-Sweden, Nor-
way, Denmark, Or Prussia?-Franco, Holland, Germany,
or Belgium? Tat-c, for a issenierit, the materials used
in American shipbuilding. Their timber does not grow
at the water's edge; they have to stud. for it as well
as we, to Carolina, Florida,r Maryland, and what
ativatitsge baS New York, Boston, or- Baitimoree
-eve the difference of freight between the
timber-growing states and the northern port::,
and the same states and England fr Dots not the
seem dean import his iron from England, with a
freight of los. per ton, and a duty to be supsradded of
30. per cent ad valorem? Do not the chain cables wiliut.
pay 35 per cent duty, and the sheet copper, go from
&elated ? Is not the hemp got from Russia, and are
not their, sales purchased here. while canvas.psys 10 per
cent. ad valorem, and is fatly 19 per cant. dearer. Then
the wages are higher, and the general cost of navigation
greeter. Finally, the Americans have no ships that
would stand A 1 twelve years in this country. Look
then to the build of ships in Russia. In Roland a fir
ship may cost but 81. 103. per ton against 201. per ton for
a first-class British ship, but the first will not stand
more than four years on the register, whereas the second
stands twelve years, and in some .oases sixteen years,
witheut any expeose whatever.. Then there is the cost,
of the Hamburgh. build, is which there is co advantage
whatever over this country. The Hamburgh vessel,
from 200 to 500 tons, iron-festened, and coppered; costs
ill. per ton, but he stsees 5e,,,,,,, yeet.e.A 1, and .e
more, While the Engli,h ship, et 20/ per ton, can make
16 years in all. So with regard to Sweden and Nee% e
gran ships, your advantages are self.evident.-(llear,
hear.) Further, a Prussian vessel cannot be permanently
tailed and equipped cheeps/ than an English; the ie,
which blockades their coast for three or four alorrbs in
the year places tnem under a great physical disadvan-
tage. Then there is the amount .of the sinking fund
which must be laid by, and the amount ef interest on
account of the ship during the months she cannot run.
These and other matters coosidered, you need 'have no
fear of,Prussian competition. I need say nothing of the
ships of Bremen, of Holland, , or the commercial marine
of France; and you need no argument to convince you
that they are rivals you need not dread.-(Fleur, hear.)
As contrasted with these, look at the advantages you
possess in England ! You build the best and cheapest
first class ships in-the world; yeti lay in your stores more
cheaply than any ships is the world; you have the best
shipwrights and the hardiest senses; you have irons and
British oak, and the other appliances for ship-building;
you have the yaw material, it I may se express it, in
man as well, as in manufacture, a
giving you a decided
pre-eminence; you have the cheapestand most commo-
dious docks' in the world, you -are the great storekeepers
of hemp and flax, and the world's manutacturers of
cordage and sails; you have your furnaces, your forges,
and your rolling mills fed with your ovn coals.
,Eng-
land, too, is the great timber yard of the world, so that
you have the choice of the best wood of every kind; you
have the best method of loadinse and unloading, the best
machinery and the best tools its the world.-(Loud
cheers.) Be not despondent, then; talk not -of retnee
to an antiquated system; your coasting marine has
:flourished least bscause it was most protected; your
foreign shipping has progressed in proportion as it has
been stimulated-by competition. If -you go back to
protection you'go back to rcstsictioe, with restriction
you produce retaliation, and; by restriction' on . one
aide,
-cod. on the other, , you . narrow the
,field of enterprise, yohi enhance the cost of transport,
and you .throw .half the carrying ships of the country
out of employment.-(Load cheers.) What, then, are
you to do? , There is a duty upon the Government-
liters is a duty upon you; upon the Government, to re-,
!tetra you.of your burdens; upon you, to rouse yourselves
for tha_ctinteet, ' and tiebe iqual to your proper destiny.
end your historic character.-(Loud applause.) Why
do we hear disparaging comparisons-drion between the
captains and crews of our own vessels tied those of
America and other countries? Gebtlemen, you mtro
begin to elevate the condition of your offitiers and your
mariner?, .not by Acts of Parliament, ' but by urgiog
Upon them the importance of t mpetacce, by stitnu a tree
them in the pursuit of knowl- deo, by seeking to intone
into them higher aseirationh, ey_paekg, tehneder.,wiillnl eb.sed
thrtet,,
a.higher rate of crepe', which re _ .
surest economy, and so press forteard to that glortous
consummation when not alone shall -your ships be re. is-
tered as A 1 at Li •yds,but thecrews who man them shall
be classed A 1 in every port in the
pworld!-(Tremen the
-
dons cheering.) Sir, unless this spirit p
shipowners et. this country, no Acts of Pediment, no
ervade
remission of burdens, no, nor your much-talked-of
protection, can save boundless
you.-(Renewed, cheering) Be-
lieve me, too, there is a good day coming, .
will yet, be. °petted up for the
emwervitlieltsin,
ebnotuof nlltehsse
ficeolaatil:;;croial marine .of this country,
for which-you should Make redy and prepare Yourselves.
--(Cheers.) ' For, lift up your eYes, and look towares
that hitherto down-trodden and degraded land of Africa,
See how marvellously within the leo taw years her trade
in: palm oil has increased! There 'is the Delta of the
be produced almost spont a-
aworldes iinf enterprise dees nut the
nNeiognyi. too,
Wwhhietre cotton
newly-opened trade with China present to your commer-
ciaVamnition! 'lnen, see Indio, where cottou can
be,' green on the Banks of the -11oegbley. which rivals
the cotton produced. by the United States-where
be produced equalling those tghmo-isde
rtedgioCnsuboaf
See the tempting shores of
A. burst of pro-
thceanßrazilbl
Australia California ononthtehsothoenre, aanidde'tell me. have you not good
°a
negmede?nt future(l prospects ' of
muse to hope and to take courage
state and an outline-of
mtraycyteiedwcshoeneritntge.)pieS,uuncht,
tete shipping interests ef the couutry y . ou e been
too long asleep, or, rather, they in whom you trusted
h,,,3 dopt,—(Hear, hear.) You want tin advisea 'e zea-
lous, faithful, devoted to your interests.-(Hear.)l can
protaiso you one thing. If you tend me to Parliament
I Jail carry the same spirit there which gives me
courage to address you now.-I shall devote my best
exertions to assert your,righesyour in-
terests, and when I desert your cause may my rig" hand
forget its cunning I- (Tremendous sneering')
You
should not let a day pass in laying before rarliaraent
your true condition ; the ears of. the Legislature can-
not be deaf to you; un:iuteioss likeyours can no

dvoui."

• The Learned Gentleman resumed his seat amidst en-
EiiiStio- and tumultuous plaudits, which were egsin
anrriigain'repeated, the whole avernbly at last rihirte,
and,- with hots in hand, giving him three hearty cheer..:,
and on.a cheer more.
, A vote c,f th-allts to the chairmen, for his able conduct
in the chair, mol,ed by .M.r. W. Wight, seconded by Mr.
Regioaid Peacock, tfratioeted the proceediLgs.

NAVAL IN T E,LIAGENCE.
THE APPOINTMENT OF CAMP. LOCH, 0,13.
Strie4ml...94: the. amintraent of
't.;aPta,ia Loc44o7:the.ci,tninand .ot.the ,Wiiichemter, our
but Very indiscreet, tudTguation at the.appoititment
officers of little service, lest standing, bat of great family
iffluerce, has ti,e following:—
" A very unjust.attsck hue been made by some of the
professional 'pipers upon the appointment of Capt. L. es
to the Winchester. We have reas to believe that hit
appointment was entirely unsolicited, and as Capt.iti
Loch is one of a well-known Whig femily, we we ,11.:--
09Z33 to consider it a Lvourable example of the spiti.
*Ouch is to prevail over the distribution of patronage by
the new Admiralty. :uptain Loch commanded the
Alum in the river St. Juan, for two yearn, under cost
difficult circumitances, aid displayed in the conduct of a
negotiation with the state of Nicaragua an ability and
discretion which were appropriately rewarded by Lord
Palmerston with the distinciiou of C.B. We believe
that Captain Loch is a good seamen as well at an able
Legotistor, and see no reason to regret that the Ad-
miralty has disregarded the claims of party in his

Unfortunately for our Contemporary's compliment to
the present Board of Admiralty, we believe that Cap-
tain Loch's appointment was made by the Duke of
Northumberland as a point of delicacy towards his pre-
decessor, who, it is said, would have given the Winches-
ter to Captain Loch had he remain! d in office another
week. Captain Loch, it is true, is allowed to be a good
seaman, and may be an able negotiator, but the nt.vy
Lave yet to discover the superior qualifications he pos-
sesses, and the distinguished services ho has rendered,
to justify his rapid promotion in time of peace when
thousands of war officers could not obtain even employ-
ment, and which entitled him to the C. 8., when scores
of officers on the list bad not only ten times as nanny
claims for the decoration for brilliant, dashing, arid dis-
creet services against the enemy. Moreover, Captain
Loch has already served one term cf commission to-
wards nicking himself eligible for his active flag rank,
whereas no less than 50 captains, made is the same yesr
in which Captain Loch was promoted —to say nothing
oft scores of deserving senior efficers—have not had the
ehauca if a single day's employment as captain. The
compliments, therefore, of our contemporary on the
First Lord's impartiality, ere inconsistent with his pre-
tended advocacy of the claims of old meritorious and
distinguished but efficient offieers as they are at the ex-
pense of the Noble Mike's well-known appreciation of
the services of the gallant profession of which he is now
happily. the head.
The unfairness—we may say injustice—of such rail-
road promotions as those by which Captain Loch reached
his post rank and his stranding in the list, is made evident
in the following remarks in the Standard of last night.
Oar coatoreporary says:—
" The prussnt Beard of Admiralty will, no double en-
deavour to redress as many grievances as their power
may enable them, and there are some cases of hardship
;'.hick are well worthy of consideration. Many pest
captains of 15 years' standing and upwards entered the
service after some who, of only of 11 years' standing as
captains, had their lieutenant's commission; thus many
with only 25 or 28 years' service are senior officers to
those who have been 40 years in the navy, and distin-
guiehed themselves in the late war as !reuse:eat:tie but,
fur want of interest, were late in obtaining their commis-
sion as captain. These older officers, but younger cap-.
tains, are told, on applying for consideration, that they
do not stand high enough on the captains' list, and thus
an appointment is bestowed on one 15 years the junior,
and who has no good service to plead. This is sorely
felt by the old and meritorious (Boers."
Captain Loch's case is a very appropriate illastrafon
of the Standard's statement. Captain Loch was pro-
moted to see reek of captain in 1841. Of the thirteen
()freers promoted to the rank of elptain in 1851—
that is, ten years later—no less than sir were senior
to him as le ateusett; and of the officers promoted
in the - same year as Captain L mit, no less
than 50 were lieutenants before Captain Loch even en-
tered the Royal Navy. If the above is all the defeece
or excuse our c,:ntetept;tary can offer for the ex-First
Lord of the Admiralty's mornination of Captain Loch,
• hat gallant and distinguished officer may truly exclaim,
"Save me from my friends!"—Morning Herald.
Commander Albert Hesseltine (1845) has been se-
lected toy the Duko of Northumberland to command the
Britomart, 8, to be commissioned at Detemport. Tee
selection of this officer for employment reflects credit
upon the Noble First Lord. Derstis of officers, junior
to Commander Htsseltine, have been employed, and not
a sfew of them promoted, whilst this officer has not
hitherto had a chime of a command. The Duke has
evidently selected huh on account of Ms standing and
Konil services. lie must have entered the navy about
the year 1825 (before Captain Lot!, by the way)—
passed his examination in 1832—served five years as a
mate, end, as a lieutenant, served in the Feectia, 18,
South American station; as first of the Grecian, 16;
then as first of Commodore Sullivan's frigate Stag, 46;
then the Sappho, 16, Cape; and Conway, 26, on the
same station, when he wes made a commander et the
general promotion of 1846. In the early part of his
career, we are told, he set ved in the Andromeda frigate
to the East Indies, and was frequently engaged iu her
beats against the Malattca pirates.
Commander Barnard aid the officers of the Vesuvius,
steam-sloop, on their arrival at Portsmouth found their
commissions appointing them to the Vixen, 6,
_steam-
sloop, for service on the Brazils station.
Clerk—ll. W. M. Arnold has been appointed to the
Winchester, 50, at Portsmouth.
Clerk's Assistant—H. W. D. Shanks to the Impregna-
ble flag •ship. Devonport.
Gunner—Richard Page, of the Spiteful steam-sloop,
has been confirmed.
Commodore -Mai iieea flag-Alp, Prince Regent, 90,
Captain Harris; is on her way from Queenstown to Spit-
head, to be " paid down," and for her crew to have a
fortnight's holiday.
Leander, 50, Captain S. C. Decree, is hourly expected
at 'Merril:more having lett Queenstown for De.vonport on
Saturday last.
Vivid. Dover steam packet, Muster Commander, Smi.
theft, will not have her defects repaired before the mid-
dle of next month, at Woolwich.
t
DEFENCES or. SPITILEAD.—The engineer officers
he
out again o on Tuesday to examine the site tewndeeiCi
fort on what is termed No Man's Land. mean tarSpitheed,
to ascertain the nature of the ground,whether the
soil is of that character that would be fit for th
heavy
battery inienthd, and at what depth they might
decide
tor a foundation. They commenced bra,'
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY. —The on
Monday.
ship, Alaster-Comtnander Bradoaw, -, Resistance troop'
they. to day with
naval stores tor Devonport and e, 'e
I - d
into a good offing by the „team. u Sue was Lowe
The Roiney, 92, Captain C. tll.
bas b:cen
.
ordered to prepare for sea, and' Graham, pi' beau 'n:ee
few days. Her crew were exewrciiisled-ottlisSurmost°sr;givgteP‘: seeding up and down topgallant
gallant and royal yards, Sue-ant masts ltn
is go out tO
Spitheasi on bending sails. will be ready
'the Sprightly steam-tender, Active ))15ter.elt22er-
mender George Allan,
meted this eveuirig with sap
flume-reties fie. the eats= ard. der
The comp-esses of the Common
Vixen, steam:sloop,
Barnard, have been jaieete to-daY-
The Are :hose, 50, C: tele Symonds, has completed her
refit, tied is again readyP for se"-
niene le will robably come
Tra Superr, 80, Captain -e t aid take up the
into harbour on the Redriey ou
moorings vacated by 1;,,e
Royals MARINES .sin Erskine, Sccond-Lieute-
and 63 privates,
natit Gill, two eeeteautt,al""teorpd?rhals, m ty,s
ship
er a .5
embarked this afternoon
on ioar
Winchester, for service in that ship.
nsper.—Her Majetty's brig Racer,
Pevetotmet, rens m
d. n
12, Commander,lteddoes,. from the e tterrantan. a -
chored in the bound, yesterday afternoon, and saluted
the rest Admiral. She sailed from Malta_ on the 7th of
Marsh,
and on the 9th spoke her billijosty's ship Bri-
•
tatunas Captain frtedsmitis, with the flag of Rear-
Admiral Dandas all well. The Racer passed through
the Gut of Gibraltar on the 17th, and made the Passage
to the Sound in six days. She is to be paid off at this
port.
The Albion, 90, the Indefatigable, 50, and Encounter,
steam-vessel, were at Msla on the 7,.h, prepating to sail;
destination unknown.
The Queen was to have for England on the 15th.
The Racer will be inspected to-day, when she will go up
harbour to be paid off. •
The frigate Vesuvius, Captain Barnard, returned on
Monday into the Sound, from a cruise in the Channel,
to ;Cove the heurfard-}woad.