The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-04 00:00:00

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY.

Mr. FAGAN wished to ask the noble lord the mem-
ber for London whether it is the intention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to introduce this session any mea-
sure for reforming the Dublin University, having for
its object the opening all the honours, privileges, and
advantages of that University to students of all religious
denominations.

Lord J. RUSSELL said it was not intended at pre-
sent to introduce such a bill, but tho subject was under
consideration.

BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr. PELLANT wished to ask Lord John Russell
whether arrangements have been made that the public
may have access to the British Museum at least five
days in the week, instead of the rack limited number of
days hitherto allowed. t*-
Lord JOHN RUSSELL said i; .4.uld not answer
the question. It had better be pd ea, 4434, of the trus-
tees of the British Museum.
Mr. GOULBURN was afraid ,no change could be
made in the present arrangement.
TENANT COMPENSATION.

Mr. Serjeant SHEE wished to ask the Secretary for
Ireland whether the Government will undertake to in-
troduce the Tenants Improvements Compensation (Ire-
land) Bill into this house, before it is submitted to the
judgment of the House of Lords.

Sir J. YOUNG replied in the negative. The bill
would, having already passed the Commons, be intro-
duced into the other house, and referred to a select com-
mittee of the Lords.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
Mr. BENTINCK wished to ask the President of the
Board of Trade, whether it is the intention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to bring in a bill during the present
session, or take any other steps, for the better preven-
tion of accidents in railway travelling.
Mr. CARDWELL said it was the intention of the
Government to bring in a bill on the subject in the
course of the present session.

NOTICES OF MOTION.
Mr. ADDERLEY gave notice that on Tuesday next
he should put a question to the noble lord the member
for the city of London relative to the intentions of the
Government this session on the general subject of
national education.
FIRE INSURANCE.
Col. SIBTIIORP gave notice of his intention to renew
his motion shortly for the reduction of the duty on fire
insurances.
MILITIA DEPOTS.

In reply to Col. GILPfx,
The SECRETARY AT WAR stated that it was the
intention of the Government to introduce a bill "to ex-
empt militia depots and storehouses from the payment
of local rates and taxes.

UNIVERSITY REFORM.
Mr. BLACKETT wished to ask Lord Palmerston if
he intends to lay before Parliament copies of any cor-
respondence that has passed between the Home Office
and the Chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge, on the
subject of University Reform ; and between the Home
Office and the Authorities of single colleges in the said
universities, on the subject of Collegiate Reform.
Lord PALMERSTON said it was his intention im-
before the house the first part of the
mediately to lay
correspondence, and probably he should be able to pro-
duce the second part at no distant period.
Mr. HENLEY wished to ask Lord J. Russell by
whom, and at what time, the instructions referred to in
page 54, line 49, of the report of the Oxford University
Commission were issued, and if there be any objection
to lay a copy of the instructions on the table of the
house.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said the instructions were
not written, they were verbal,

FLOODS OF THE SHANNON.
Colonel DUNNE wished to ask the Under Secretary
for the Treasury, whether any, or if any, what steps
have been taken with respect to the complaints of the
inhabitants of Banagher and its vicinity, of injury done
to their property by the floods of the Shannon which
have been caused by operations of the Board of Works
•n that river.
Mr. WILSON said the memorial had been referred
to the Board of Works, but no answer had yet been
received.

BURIAL SOCIETIES.
Lord STANLEY wished to ask the Secretary for the
Home Department, whether it is the intention of Go-
vernment to introduce a bill for the better regulation of
burial societies, and for the prevention of abuses con-
nected therewith.
Lord PALMERSTON was quite aware that there
existed great abuses connected with these societies, and
it was his intention shortly to introduce a bill for the
purpose of correcting or preventing a recurrence of those
abuses. (Hear, hear.)
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

Mr. HUMS asked whether any intention existed on
the part of the Government with a view to the improved
management of the British Museum, in accordance with
the recommendation of a select committee of the house ?
Viscount PALMEIISTOIC said be would reply to the
question on a future day.
OATHS IN SCOTLAND.

In reply to aquestiori from Mr. BRIGHT,
Viscount PALMERSTON said the case of a person
named Alexander, who was committed to prison at
Edinburgh for refusing to take an oath on conscientious
grounds, was that of a person who was not legally exempt
from taking an oath ; but he would look into the case
to see if the term of his imprisonment could be shortened.

LAW OF PARTNERSHIP.
Mr. RICARDO asked if Government had received
any report from the commission appointed to inquire
into the law of partnership, or whether the Government
intended to bring in any measure on the subject this
session.

Mr, CARDWELL replied, that the Government were
in daily expectation of receiving the report.
PETERBOROUGH ELECTION.

Mr. BANKES drew attention to a petition which he
had presented against the present member for Peter-

The house then went,into committee on the navigation
laws, when
Mr. CARDWELL said—l rise to move for leave to bring
in a bill to give effect to that passage in the Speech from
the Throne in which the Queen proposes that we should
strike off the last fetter upon free navigation, and that we
should consolidate and amend those various laws which,
since the repeal of the navigation laws have been passed for
the benefit of British shipping. With regard to that
second bill, it will not be necessary for me to trouble the
house at any length. That consolidation was intended to
have been carried into effect by my right hon. friend the
member for Taunton (Mr. Labouchere), and it engaged the
assiduous attention of my right hon. friend the member
for Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley.) The bill which I shall, with
the leave of the house, have the honour to lay on the table
will be a bill of no ordinary dimensions ; it will contain
many changes ; but it will affect subjects which have either
been already disposed of by the house, or have been much
discussed by the persons interested in them. I shall endea-
vour to follow the advice given me on a former evening by
my hon. friend the member for Liverpool. I am most
anxious to obtain the best opinion of those most competent
to judge of these matters. We shall, when we come to the
second reading, ascertain what their sentiments are, and I
shall be then better able to see what is the best way to pro-
ceed, whether in a committee of the whole house, or, as is
sometimes most advantageous in the case of measures of this
kind, by referring the bill to a select committee up-stairs.
I will content myself with saying that the first part of
that bill will refer to questions of the registry of ships, and
the measurement of ships, and it will contain a novelty which
I hope will meet with the acceptance of the house, I mean
the substitution of a new and more scientific mode of mea-
surement for that which now subsists. The mode to which I
refer is well known by the name of the person who has
written a description of it—Mr. Moorsom. It is believed
to attain these advantages, that while it arrives at the
same general average of tonnage it ascertains the contents
of each ship with greater accuracy, and therefore fairness.
It takes away all encouragement by the mode of measure-
ment to antiquated and inferior models of construction,
and by going of au accurate internal measurement of capa-
city it favours strength of model and thereby safety of
navigation. This mode of measurement has been referred
to the surveyors and assistant-surveyors of the navy, to
the naval assistants of the Board of Trade, to the Trinity- '
house, and several eminent persons, and I believe to the
Shipowners' Association of Liverpool and London. It is
of course only upon a concurrence of nautical authorities
that a change of that kind can be carried through the
house, as there are but very few members who could ven-
ture to say that they were able to describe the advantages
which would follow the adoption of this peculiar mode o
measuring ships, or who would like to hazard an opinion
upon a matter so purely technical. The next subject upon
which I propose to consolidate the law, is the question of
discipline—the law by which provision is made for the
subordination of the crew to the master, and for the com-
fort of the crew on board ship. This is a subject which
has particularly attracted attention during the last three
years, and with respect to which I have derived the
greatest assistance from the labours of my predecessors.
In fact, I found a bill already prepared on this subject
when I entered office • and here I have had to go over a
work already accomplished. I have gone over it neverthe-
less, and have made some changes, which will of course be
the subject of fair and dispassionate discussion and con-
sideration. The next subject is one which I am sure
cannot be mentioned in the house without exciting
the greatest feeling of sympathy. I am sure that no
ono who hears me has failed to sympathise with
the grief which has been generally felt at the lamentable
cases of catastrophe at sea, of which, within the last few
days, we have unfortunately witnessed so great a number.
It will be our duty to consolidate, and, I hope, to amend
and improve, the machinery entrusted to the Board of
Trade, for the purpose of limiting, as far as possible,
the occurrence of accidents of this kind. The particular
change we shall introduce into that part of the law is this.
It is known to the committee that no master or mate can
now leave the country in a British ship engaged in the
foreign trade without having obtained a certificate of his
competence to be trusted with the care of valuable pro-
perty and with the lives of those committed to his charge.
But no such provision exists with respect to the homo
trade. Now I think it reasonable that, with regard, at
least to that part of the home trade which is connected with
the conveyance of passengers, such a provision should
exist. I think that if we are called upon to be respon-
sible for the survey of the hull of vessels, and of the
engines which are placed on board, it is only right that we
should endeavour to have that security for the good con-
duct of masters and mates engaged on the shores of this
country which the law has entrusted us with the means of
obtaining as to those engaged in the over sea trade. (Hear,
hear.) The difficulty of holding the inquiries which it is
our duty to hold in cases of this kind is exceedingly
great, when the number of accidents is so great as
has recently been the case, on account of the diffi-
culty we have in sparing of the officers of the board,
whose time is fully employed, to be absent on this duty. I
am, however, happy to be able to state to the house and I
am sure the house will rejoice to hear—that I have re-
ceived a communication from the elder brethren of the
Trinity-house, expressing generally their willingness to
assist the Government in conducting inquiries of this kind.
(Hear.) I shall take the liberty of introducing into the con-
solidation bill one provision, in which I hope I shall carry
along with me the sympathy of the house. The house is
aware that great and benevolent efforts have been made—
chiefly by the subscriptions of private individuals—to esta-
blish the means of saving lives perilled by shipwreck onthe
comb of this country. Upwards of one hundred—l think
altogether one hundred and twenty—life-boats have been
established at different points. and in some places they are
maintained with so much regularity, energy, and ability,
that they contribute materially to save life. Liverpool is
a case of this kind ; and there are also life-boats, of which
the same may be said, at Shields, Yarmouth, and other
places. Nor should I omit to remark that to the Duke of
Northumberland the country is indebted for the most
praiseworthy exertions on the subject. I have thought it
My duty to communicate with an officer whose zeal and
ability on this subject are well known—Captain Washing-
ton—as to whether it is not possible at a moderate expense,
to do a great deal in the promotion of the important ob-
ject of saving fifes at sea. I have received communications
on this subject from Captain Washington, from the deputy-
master of the Trinity-house, and from the commander of
the Coast-guard ; and they, in conjunction with the naval
members of the Board of Trade, are considering whether it
might not be possible at a very small expense to introduce
order, system, and regularity, where heretofore there has
been negligence and confusion, and thereby to render those
means of savinglife efficient and productive of good. I amin-
dined to think that,with a view to securing this end, the
Board of Trade may well propose to expend a small sum of
money annually, and I believe that for this purpose a smaller
sum will be sufficient than we shall economise and save
from the other arrangements which are to be introduced.
The bill then, I may state in general terms, will consolidate
the law with respect to the discipline and comfort of the
seamen, with respect to measures for ensuring their safety.
and with respect to a subject that was disposed of last
year—that of lights and pilotage. I shall, as I said before,
be happy to give the utmost consideration to all sugges-
tions that may bo made, and all communications which I
may receive either in or out of the house, for the object of
the bill is not so much to make changes in the law as to
bring the existing law into a consolidate) shape, into that
shape in which it may most subserve the interests of that
great mercantile community, for the promotion of whose
welfare it is intended. In the form of draught adopted
for the printed bill I shall endeavour to direct attention as
much as possible to those parts which are new, and after
time shall have been given for the consideration of its pro-
visions, and a discussion taken on the second reading,
will be ample opportunity to put it into such a shape as a
bill of this kind should wear. I have said that this bill is
not intended to make any great change in the law, and the
house may perhaps expect that I should take this oppor-
tunity of giving some account of the mode in which
those changes have operated which it has been my duty in
former years to submit to Parliament. The house will re-

• member that an act was passed by which the whole light
funds of the country were collected into an aggregate sum,
and were placed under the administration of the board
which I have the honour to preside. That act came into
operation on the Ist of October last. After examining the
state of the receipts and the estimates for the coming year,
it appeared to us that we were justly called upon to exer-
cise tho power vested in us of reducing those light dues
by order in council, and on the Ist of January, accord-
ingly, by order in council, we reduced one-fourth part
of the dues formerly levied. Whilst, in former years,
the receipts accruing from those dues amounted
to upwards of 400,0001. that receipt will in future
be reduced, as a consequence of the change we have made,
to the sum of 101,5501. (Hear, hear.) That was the first
operation of the measure of last session, but I hope it will
not be the last ; because, having made this change, we re-
viewed our whole financial position. Wo found that we
had a balance of credit at our bankers of 70,0001., we have
an estimated surplus for the ensuing year, after all the
expenses attendant on the works now being carried on
have been defrayed, of 53,000/. ; and a stop has been put
to burdening the fund with pensions for life, a practice
hich threatened to make serious inroads on it. (Hear,
hear.) This will secure for it a saving of 23,0001. more,
and there are other classes of expenses incurred in connec-
tion with this fund, which, in cordial co-operation with
different bodies, I am endeavouring from time to time to
reduce, and therefore I hope that at some early period
further reductions may be made. (Hear, hear.) With
respect to the other measure, that for the regulation of
pilotage, I will only say in general Perms that the contem-
plated union between the Trinity-house and the Cinque
Portes pilots has been effected, that, the regulations made
by the Trinity-house have been carried into operation, and
that a reduction—less than was intended, on account of
the intervening rise in the price of provisions which has
occurred, but still a reduction in the charge for pilotage,
that will be for the benefit of the shipowner, has been
made. A diminution of the charges for pilotage on a vessel
to the extent of one-fourth has been effected, which could
not have been made under the previously existing law.
(Hear, hear.) The house will remember that there were
also difficulties with respect to the pilotage of the Bristol
Channel, a matter the arrangement of which presented, not
only from its legal complication, but also from the physical
difficulties of the locality, greater embarrassments than any
other similar question in, any part 01 thtzt.Unilad Exadoin.
I ventured to state to the house that I thought it highly
probable that if Parliament invested a department of the
Government with mediatorial power, that power would
be efficaciously exerted without resorting to coercive
means—(hear, hear)—and I am happy to mention that
the two members for Bristol, accompanied by a body of
gentlemen deputed from the west, did me the honour of
expressing their intention of acquiescing in any sugges-
tions the Government might make after an inquiry con-
ducted by the naval members of the board. I hope,
therefore, I may say that the difficulties convected with
the pilotage of the Bristol Channel are either entirely
solved, or are in a fair way of being solved. (Hear, hear.)
The honourable member for Sunderland took great inte-
rest in the question of ballast, and will be happy to learn
that the grievances complained of on this particular head
are in a fair way of being redressed. The house is aware
of the importance of adopting adequate yet not oppressive
or irksome means of effecting a registry of seamen, in order
to establish a record of the identity and character of each
of the persons who collectively make up the seafaring
population of this country. The registry ticket, the means
selected for the purpose, was very unpopular with the
men, from the penalties imposed for infraction er neglect
of the law ; and upon the best inquiry that I could make
from competent authorities, I thought it was quite as
likely to increase desertion, by the use of counterfeit
tickets, as to check it. Acting, therefore, on the
power with which we were vested by the law, we have
abolished the register tickets, and, of course, with it all
the penalties to which it gave rise, having under the
Mercantile Marine Act established those modes of re-
gistration which we believe will be quite effectual in
regard both to the identity of the men and their cha-
racter. (Hear, bear.) In the last session of Parlia-
ment we conferred a power which the British shipowner
I ever since the repeal of the navigation laws, had considered
himself entitled to possess, of manning the vessels of our
merchant navy without distinction of nation among the in-
dividnals composing the crew. I am sure that some honour-
able and gallant friends of mine in this house, who antici-
pated a great deal of evil from that reform, will be happy
to learn that, up to the present time, no alarming symp-
toms have been manifested. My hon. friend the member
for Liverpool challenged me on the subject with respect to
that melancholy accident which has recently taken place.
It would be wrong in me to anticipate the result of the in-
quiry now pending. I can speak, therefore, only from what
appears in the verdict of the jury and the testimony given
by the master. I know testimony was given that it was
the fact of there being many foreigners in the crew which
occasioned the loss of the vessel, but the master's testimony
was entirely to the opposite effect, and when I look to the
verdict of the jury, I find no hint of the disaster having
been caused by that circumstance. We know that 190,000
seamen sailed in the merchant shipping of this kingdom
during the year just expired, being the largest number 1
believe that ever manned our trading fleet. (Hear.) In the
three months that elapsed since the act passed, between
the Ist October and the Ist January, there were between
2,500 and 2,600 foreigners only in that number. (Rear.)
Hon. members know that the former have allowed one-
fourth part of the whole crew to be foreigners ; if, therefore,
the whole number of foreigners for these three months has
been but 2,500, I think the fact may administer some conso-
lation to those who were so very apprehensive of the cense
qnences of this reform. (Hear.) Two other subjects have oc-
cupied the attention of the Government, and I think it wil.
be interesting to the house to learn the progress that has
been made on these heads. The house probably remem-
bers that in the autumn of last year we received a commu-
nication from the American Government, inviting us to
join with them in observations to be carried on at once for
the purpose of constituting a new science in aid of tin_
mariner, by recording observations on the prevailing winds
and currents of the ocean. It is naturally a very interest-
ing branch of inquiry to us, for it implies not only an im-
provement in the laws of navigation, but it implies a cul
tivation of the intelligence of the masters, of British mer-
chant ships, and a reciprocal interchange of good offices
with that nation which is at once our rival in the art of
the navigator, and our partner in all the associations de-
rived from kindred in the ties of blood, and from a host of
elevating recollections and noble feelings. (Cheers.) In
answer, therefore, to the invitation addressed to us, Capt.
Beechey, the able assistant of the Board of Trade, attended
a conference, held at Brussels, and Government intend to
submit a moderate estimate to the house this year, to
enable them to furnish a certain number of the most
worthy and intelligent masters of British ships with such
instruments as may enable them to make nautical obser-
vations that will be of benefit for the purpose of ascertain-
ing the force and direction of the prevailing winds and
currents, and making such other observations, geognostic
and meteorological, as may enter into the plan laid down
by the American Government. (Hear, hear.) There was
another subject in which great interest was felt and ex-
pressed by many members of this house—that of nautical
education, and I recollect that the right hon. member for
Oxfordshire (Mr. Henley) asked me whether we intended
under the bill we passed to maintain the schools instituted
under his auspices for the education of seamen. My answer
was that, we did intend to maintain those schools ; and I
am sure he will be glad to hear that there is another means
now in operation, whiCh, we hope, will act still more bene-
ficially in the same direction. My right hon. friend took
great pains, when he was in office, with a new department
that is rising under the Board of irade, that of industrial
education. I have been able to place its heads in commu-
nication with the mercantile marine department, and we
propose to take pupil teachers from the excellent naval
school at Greenwich, and to send them down, on the same
principle adopted by the department of industrial educa-
tion, to be masters of children destined hereafter to go to
sea, as well as of persons now engaged in the sea service.
I ought to apologise for having detained the house so long,
but it was necessary to communicate the various steps we
have taken to carry out the provisions of the law passed
by Parliament for the important objects to which I have
adverted. One other subject remains, on which I had the
honour of addressing some dbservations to the house last
year. It will not have been forgotten that the subject of
passing tolls occupied the consideration of this house on
more than one occasion during the past session of Parlia-
ment. I ventured to say to the house that it appeared to
me that this was a wider question than it had ever been
understood to be ; and that occasion was now presented to
inquire into all the duties levied on ships and on goods
carried in ships, which were not applied to the benefit of
the imperial revenue, for this is a branch of our imposts
the annual income of which is measured by hundreds of
thousands, and, I am sorry to say, the burden of debt by
millions. A commission was appointed accordingly, which
has instituted extensive inquiries as regards this part of
the kingdom, and which has also collected a great deal
of information regarding Scotland and Ireland ; and I have
reason to believe that in a short time I shall be enabled
to lay on the table their report concerning those bur-
dens. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Having given this nar-
rative, as brief as I can make it, of what has passed en
these heads since we last met in this house, I will now in-
vite your attention to another department of the subject,
which I think will be felt to be one of great interest. Her
majesty, in the Speech from the throne, has invited you
to strike off from the free navigation of these seas the last
remaining fetters of old restrictions and prohibitions.in for
only do justice to my right hon. friend the e
Taunton (Mr. Labonchere), when I say know it was by
considerations derived from revenue only that he was in-
duced to omit this just and prop r e,pneession, when, in
the year 1849, he introduced the bille for the repeal of the
navigation laws. It has been the duty of the present Go-
vernment to examine the grounds upon which those appre-
hensions rested, and, like many other apprehensions which
have stood in the way of manifest improvements, I think
it will be found that they may,
entirely disregarded. Officers of with perfect safety, be
the Board of Treasury
have been examined, and I have felt it my duty to inves-
tigate with as much care as possible the grounds on which
the objections expressed rested. I have ascertained the
opinion of the most experienced officers of the Customs
and Excise, who are most likely to be apprehensive of any
danger to the revenue, and there is a preponderant balance
of testimony—indeed, if possible, as strong as the prepon-
derant balance of argument—in favt:ur of this manifest
and reasonable conclusion, that if a fraud is to be perpe-
trated on our watchful revenue officers, that fraud will
be far more easily perpetrated by persons speaking our
language and acquainted with our habits, who have friends
and communications amongst the lower classes where the
goods are to be introduced, than it would be by a
foreigner coming here without any of those natural ad-
vantages. (Hear, hear.) But again, if these apprehensions
are unsound, perhaps I shall be asked if there is any
strong necessity for the change now proposed as affecting
our coasting trade. Can any man who lives on any part of
the coast be so little concerned in what is going on around
him as not to know the necessity which now exists for ships
and shipping in every part of the kingdom ? In the coal
trade the wages have risen from 4/. 6s. to 6/. and 71. ; the
freights are more than doubled. Such is the demand for
sailors, notwithstanding the introduction of foreigners into
our merchant service, permitted by the act of last year, that
every British subject accustomed to make his livelihood by
the sea, as is shown by the register of seamen, has full
employment, that pensioners who are entitled to pensions
are abandoning their tickets, in order to avail themselves
of the great wages that are paid to them, and that those
who have gone abroad to carry their services to America
have porno back, in order that they may enjoy the better

atmonaaarkyseetrtaltageninedoenfht:igwl7 pay
try. try. A gentlemapner 14
strikingly illustrative of ti
forms us that shipping, frei
Let it be even a much less
elusive proof that there
duction of foreign shipping
natural that the persons who felt those wants most should.
make their wants known to the Board of Trade, and I have
had communications of the most pressing kind made to me,
extracts of which I hold in nay hand, from agriculturists
in the north of Scotland, complaining that they cannot find
carriage for their produce, from owners of quarries com-
plaining that they cannot get their stone to market, and
others in the same strain. I may refer more particularly
to a communication I have received from a gentleman at
Newcastle, who states that he is a very large manufac-
turer of alkalies, and obtains much of the raw material
from Dublin. Vessels from Norway go to Dublin with
timber, then from Dublin to Newcastle with ballast, and so
return to Norway with coals. But your law will not allow
thorn to bring that raw material from Dublin to Newcastle,
of which the manufacturer at Newcastle stands in need,
and thus he is debarred from the supply of an article in-
dispensable to him to carry on his business with profit.
What, then, becomes of the ballast that is taken in at
Dublin ? It is discharged into the Tyne, and the trustees
of the Tyne navigation are at the expense of sending it to
the German Ocean. So that whilst it is impossible to pro-
cure a sufficient number of English vessels to bring the
examples
of com-
modity
willf bt e h
is the
epamrseucri se
e'
.
but I have obtained a return from the customs, by which
with • h the banks are already laden to such an
excess, that the river commissioners have been latterly ad-
vertising for the construction of barges to convey the bal-
necfeosrsaeigr ynsu vesselspwplhyio of
e entering the
you have
badlailalsyt,a
bal-
last to be deposited in the German Ocean. (Hear, hear.)
extent
tiesuntootfvheeruyeetistsayftpoerrdheadpsby thtosaey h
operationit appears that foreign vessels to the amount of 415,000
tons—and the return does not give the whole—went in the
year 1852 from one quarter of the kingdom to the other. I
ask you take a course that will give the public the full bene-
fit of this new supply of carrying vessels,and let us consider
whether there is any reason to be afraid of making the con-
wat
0
con-
cession. Tonnage has increased ever since the year 1849,
and the wages paid to the men have risen to rates higher
t han
twereh at evertne youth
pai d
would before. n
oltn
enter
oe
rlast t session
into
tn e
naval
vPa rslie
a-
meat we were told by those who made gloomy prognostica-
tions,r-
vice, and that the number of apprentices had fallen off. Now
I find that from the yealklBso, when the number of appren-
tices reached its minimum, it began rapidly to increase,
and while in 1852 the number was only 5,800, last year
it was 6,800, an increase of 1,000. (Hear, hear.) What
does the example of foreign countries teach us ? In the
year 1849 we threw open our navigation, whilst the great
neighbouring State now united to us by close ties of amity
—I mean France— made no change in its laws. What was
the immediate consequence? A transit trade sprung up
from France to America through England, which in the
year 1852 attained the value of 2,500,000/. ; and which, I
believe, when the returns of 1853 are completed, will be
found to have exceeded in that year 3,000,000/. (Cheers.)
That is, those who were not afraid of opening their trade
have carried that amount of produce on account of others.
(Hear.) We live in an age when scientific discovery es
yearly increasing the facilities of human intercourse. The
progress of sound economic views, and the multiplying de-
mands of civilisation, bid us break down the artificial bar-
riers that have been raised, interposing useless impedi.
ments to the intercourse of nations. (Cheers.) In former
years this policy has been pursued under more favourable
circumstances ; it is proposed to complete it at a time when
the nation has not been blessed with a propitious harvest,
and other circumstances are adverse. We see that our
foreign trade has been doubled within the last twenty
years, and that although an immense proportion of our
taxation has been reduced, what remains is more produc-
tive than the former imposts. In terminating the fortieth
year of peace, we may reflect with satisfaction that we
have not been unmindful to cultivate those arts which
flourish through peace, and that if clouds now darken the
prospect, we have at least strengthened the foundations of
our resources, and confirmed those feelings of amity and
goodwill with which vee are regarded by the most civilised
and powerful nations of both hmispheres. (Cheers.)
. Mr. HORSFALL expressed his hope that time would be
given to consider the measure before its second reading, and
also that measures would be taken to prevent any evasion
of the law. There was reason to believe that such an eva-
sion had taken place last week in the port of Liverpool,
from the fact of a Russian vessel of between 400 and 500
tons having been transferred to a publican in the town on
nine months acceptance upon a penny stamp. He was given
to understand that this vessel was fitting out for the
Brazils, commanded by a Russian captain, and manned
with Russian officers and seamen, but was intended to sail
under the British flag. That, he thought, was not the in-
tention of the change which had been made in the naviga-
tion laws, and he trusted that, in the measure about to be
brought in, provision would be made to prevent such frau-
dulent transactions. The right hon. gentleman having
alluded to the unfortunate and melancholy loss of the ship
Tayleur, he might be permitted to mention that he had re-
ceived that morning a letter from the charterers of that
vessel, expressing themselves a little aggrieved at some ob-
servations which fell from, his hon. friend and colleague
(Mr Liddell) in the house a few evenings ago, to the effect
that the loss of that vessel was owing to her being manned,
to a great extent, with foreigners of various countries, Nu-
bians, Lascars, and Chinese. The fact was, that there
were but fourteen foreigners in all among the crew, not so
large a number as the ship might have carried under the
old navigation laws, so that the argument founded on this
misinformation must fall to the ground. The writer
of the letter he held in his hand also stated that the
master of the vessel had a first-class extra certificate' that
the chief officer, or mate, had a master's certificate, and.
the second mate a first mate's certificate. He could not.
withhold his weed of approbation to her Majesty's Govern-
ment for having suspended the register ticket, the operation
of which had driven a large number of our seamen into
American and other foreign services, and would assure the
right hone gentleman the Pt esident of the Board of Trade
that the mercantile interest would cordially co-operate in
rendering the measure as effective as possible.

Mr. HUME had never expected to hear so gratifying a
speech from the Treasury bench as that of the right hon.
aentlein remembering all the difficulties and appre-
hensions by which every attempt to etlect any change in
tho navigation laws used to be met. He entirely concurred
in the propriety of removing the last rags of restriction
that remained in our mercantile and maritime legislation,
and, perhaps, even the right h, entleman had not yet
got to the bottom of the subjeit. nee "-tonnage law had
long operated to the prejudice of British shipbuilding, and
he fully approved of Capt. Moorsora's plan of measurement,
charging the solid contents of the vessel instead of the outer
capacity. But he would suggest to the right honourable
gentleman that the best course would be to get rid of the
tonnage duty altogether, and charge for cargo, not for ton-
nage. He would strongly urge on the Government to make
provision for instituting an official inquisition into the loss
of vessels whenever it shall occur on any part of the coast.
He had heard it stated, on unquestionable authority, that
in the short space of 9 months no fewer than 45 ships had
been lost between Newcastle and London, from bad com-
passes, want of proper charts, and similar causes. Was it
to be tolerated that when an unfortunate individual could
not fall down dead in the public streets without an inquest
being held to ascertain the cause of death, hundredsof souls
were to be lost in connection with shipping on the coast from
year to year without a similar inquiry taking place ? Such
an investigation appeared to be an act which humanity
called for, and a measure which the position of this great
mercantile country rendered absolutely necessary. He would
therefore suggest there should bean inquest in all such cases;
and the mode of holding it might he extremely simple.
We had no fewer than 6,400 officers stationed along the
coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, within 10 miles
distance of each other, some of whom could in the shortest
possible space institute such an inquiry, whenever the
necessity arose in their different localities' and take evi-
dence and furnish information to the Government in a
shape never heretofore obtained. On this very day he had
read in the newspapers an account of the loss of an emigrant
ship on the Canadian coast, with 120 souls. That only
confirmed him the more in the conviction that there must
be something radically wrong in the mode of navigating
ships of that description. We had heard of more melan-
choly loss of life in that way from time to time than had
ever taken place under any other circumstances. He
would, therefore, press on the Government the necessity of
seeing that emigrant ships were in future placed on a bet-
ter footing than heretofore. Adverting to another point
in the speech of the right hon. gentleman, he (Mr. Hume)
had always been of opinion that life-boats ought to have
been supplied by the Government all along the coast.
(Hear, hear.) He thought that a part of the naval esta-
blishments in the dockyards might be much more usefully
employed in building life-boats for such a service than in
pulling ships to pieces, in which they were often engaged.
In Liverpool and other large towns along the coast there
would of course always be life-boats supplied and main-
tained at the expense of the local community, but it was
otherwise with small obscure places, bordering on the
sea, where shipwrecks were quite as frequent. The Duke
of Northumberland, when at the head of the Admiralty,
much to his credit, offered 1001. as a premium for the best
life-boat, which was won, among a great number of compe-
titors, by, he (Mr. Hume) believed, a person in Yarmouth.
Had his grace continued in office, the next step which he
(Mr. Hume) expected would have boen taken was the
placing, at the public expense, a life-boat at every desir-
able spot on the coast. He had hoped, too, that there
would have been a further change with respect to the light
dues. The mercantile navy paid in 1845, in the shape of
light dues, for the reciprocity *sanctioned by that house,
and carried out by the Government, 250,0001., which, with
interest, must now have increased to 400,00/. ; and that
the Government charged upon the mercantile navy instead
of taking it upon themselves, as he contended they ought
to do. He thought the light dues in their present shirt
ought to be abolished, or merged in the
ture of the country. He believed, if general
expel'
exercised, 60,0001. or 80,0'101. woulroleefrraecorgemywwheorl:
charge in respect of the light dues, insteyad of about
,000/., the sum at present collected.' He would say let
the first charge be on the goods and not on the ships. He
held that a merchant sending goods from Manchester,
Birmingham, or any other place h under
an as much to ought
d •
an obligation to pay a charge of that kind as the shipowner.
Let the Government go at once to the goods, and they
would simplify the whole matter. That would be, in fact,
a substitution of the advantages 9f direct for indirect
taxation. The hon. member concluded by expressing his
great satisfaction at the change which was made in the
matter of pilotage,
Mr. H. T. LIDDELL said hie honourable friend and col-
league (Mr. Horsfall) had adverted to some observations
which fell from him on the first night of the session touch-
ing the melancholy loss of the Tayleur. He (Mr. Liddell)
was sorry to find that those observations had given some
umbrage to the owners of that ship. It appeared that in
referring to that catastrophe, and connecting it with some
supposed inadequacy in manning the vessel, he had acted
on some misinformation. He was the last man who would
heedlessly seek to aggravate the distress which thosa gen-
tlemen must necessarily feel on such an occasion ; but,
nevertheless, considering the statements that had appeared
in the public press, especially one in the Liverpool Mail of
Saturday last, in which it was said that all the narratives
of the few survivors of the crew and passengers as yet con-
curred in the assertion that the vessel was insufficiently
manned, he could not but fear that great blame rested
somewhere. He could not 'remember the language held
last year by the honourable member for Bath (Captain
Scobell) and several other naval members, and the strain
of triumph uttered by the honourable member for Mon-
trose (Mr. Hume), as to theindisputable success of the mea-
sures passed for giving freedom to navigation—(hear,
hear)—and he did think, perhaps erroneously, that in
those cases of shipwreck, which the honourable member
(Mr. Hume) admitted had been more frequent than they
ought to have been, blame and responsibility did rest
in some quarter. He wished, however, now to say, in his
own defence, that he had made nothing of a premeditated
' accusation against the owners of the unfortunate ship on
the occasion in question. Great stress had been laid on
the fact of the jury not having attributed any blame to the