The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-19 00:00:00

PASSENGERS AND THEIR LUG-

GAGE AT THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.

( From the Morning Post.)
The inconvenience sustained by every passenger who arrives
in a steamer at the port of London calls loudly fur inquiry,
and we think no time should be lost in providing an adequate
remedy. We do not blame either the Commissioners of Cus-
toms, or the officers employed by them, for the manner in
which the duty is at present done; the evil is not with them,
but in the system, and we are certain if they have the power
of correcting it they will most readily do so. Indeed there it
a marked superiority in London over the Custom-houses of
the outposts, in which the disagreeable duty of examining
passengers' luggage is performed ; and we feel that the
change we are about to propose will meet with the concur-
rence of those who have that unpleasant occupation here. The
number of foreign steamers daily arriving afthe Custom-house,
and the number of the passengers they bring over, is immense::
There are three rooms constantly taken up with receiving am"
examining luggage, and from morning to night all is bustle
and confusion. The passengers have to wait four hours be--
fore their trunks are disposed of, and it not unfrequently hap-.
pens that they are obliged to return on the following day.
Time is money. The whole commercial economy of Eng-
land is founded on that maxim. Why is it, then, that every,
passenger by a steamer is to be robbed of four hours' time ?-
and why must, after all the desagreemens of a sea voyage, the,'
discomfort ba added of waiting hour after hour until the lug--
gage be landed and one's turn of examination arrived ? La
dies are compelled, though perhaps suffering from illness, tat
spend many a weary hour in the waiting-room, and men o 1:
business, who have pressing affairs before them, are compelled'
to dance attendance on the porters who bring the luggage''
ashore, or the searcher who is to examine it. And for what tr,
all this trouble given ? For the prevention of smuggling too
be sure, and for the collection of her Majesty's duties on thirt
few articles that travellers choose to declare. We believes
that smuggling is not effectually prevented, and that the clu4".
ties collected in the passengers' room do riot pay the expert bEd
of the department. Why cannot the officers come on by se?'
the steamers and dispose of the luggage there? Is the flog r
of the steamer not as safe as the floor of the Custom-hi suse ?
Can anything be passed ashore if men are stationed at tl 8
sides of the vessel to prevent it? If the service will not allo
the officers who are put on board at Gravesend to eXP.inine tl 1e
baggage—which they could effectually do while coming up t: ae
Pool—surely it will be no degradation to the gen derr an vi po
now superintends the examination of the Custom-ho-use, to ge
off to the steamer as soon as she arrives at the Ce.,tarn_bot
stairs, and perform the same duty on board. M'.ist his digo
be placed in comparison with the convenience of several th.
sand persons ? It is quite ridiculous to urge that argutoo
The officer can see the duty as effectually performed ilt the
I steamer as in his own room.
It is alleged that persons who make a trade of smu
would convey enormous packages in that way, which t bet d
not now venture to pass through the Custom.house.
very easy to baffle such a manoeuvre, by declaring tl mot n,-4
luggage exceeding a certain weight or size will be ex; pine'
on board. Let every passenger be entitled to have
manteau and carpet-bag only examined, and leave tho 'e
have a number of packages to encounter the tedious f Woo f
the Custom-house.
Such a regulation would diminish and not i aereage'
smuggling; for, if the luggage was limited, and no di 'ties oa
such trifles such as men usually bring, gloves, &c., reci dyed ea
board, every traveller would take care not to risk r Iclav by
having any questionable article in his portmanteau. H e 'ol°l
not give a chance away lest he should be detained. /11 pre-
sent the whole community suffer because a few persr,lss 00'
sionally smuggle, or bring articles for duty in their; lief ,Sao
but let these, and a premium in point of time saves- 'e gifeci
those who have no questionable articles in the'A tit nu.s,
an
everybody will take care not to endanger his
At Antwerp the business is managed ;-•ii this exc' :11.en the
t
nor, and there are no complain.- •
Custom-house or the passe- ..s v:.ther on the not o
at her moorings, the - -Tigers. As soon oat rte stearao
previously all br- officer comes on board, be luggegebad
weather ; ,ught up on deck, or in t't! e cabin think,
fit, and ..e examines it with as much !ewe, ity as be
bed
so° . those who have nothing contra' as Ja are deSPlit‘ o
.nout a moment's delay. It is an amf ajwir ; advantage 1, or
°ssset
whose time is of importance ; and pers ins are at Br art
at Liege, by the railroad, in half then ambr3r of hours th
lost in the Custom-house at this side of tb.e channel. ,ustorno
We therefore suggest to the Co totals sioners of a are'
the propriety of adopting the Ant werp system, and
be ill.•
certain, by a little care, that the Revenue would not boo&
jured. The alteration would be received as a
frequently pn °
gr.! acestti/
th
arrif4
in
and by the hundreds of teas
nent, a
by all those whose affairs take the
ellers who are daily
ibroad.