The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-22 00:00:00

the kingdom, so that the merchants might know what ' and he did not think the individuals composing the board if he went to the Baltic with a valuable cargo, no pilot was
were the proposed regulations, and might have an oppor- were very much to blame. These questions,however—the required. The house would decide whether these regula-
trinity of niale:_ng any representations to the Government question whether men of mercantile experience should be tions showed such sagacity on the part of the Trinity Board-
which they might deem necessary.
Heo a
did not feel him- members of the board—whether any individual member of as to induce that house to give them further powers. If,
self in the slighest degree bound to any proposal h e had the board was to sit in Parliament, and bow, if he did, however, the house should be of opinion that all the pilots
made. Every point he had stated he should consider to his relations to the chairman, while the chairman did not should be under one uniform authority, it would only be
be subject to modification. The Government was desirous sit in Parliament, were to be maintained—together with right that the governing body, be it what it might, should
of extending, in every possible way, facilities to the most the further and still more important question raised by the exercise the greatest impartiality the very large and discre-
perfect freedom of trade which at the same time were con-
hon. member for Glasgow (Mr. John M‘Gregor), whether tionary powers proposed to be elven by this bill. He trusted
sistent with a due regard to the interests of the re. venue there was to be a board at all, or whether they ought to the bill would not be considered a party question, and he
and of the fair trader. But, while that was the objectin concentrate the responsibility in the hands of a chief and utterly disclaimed any sinister motive whatever in sup-
framing these regulations, he for one thought—and he was
deputies—these were most important questions, which, in porting the amendment.
sure right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Ex- his judgment—and he took to himself the responsibility of Colonel HARCOURT. sure e said the Isle of Wight pilots corn-
chequer would concur with him.
in the sentiment—that.
it not submitting at once to Parliament a distinct plan on the plained of being subjected to great
grievances as compared
world be one of the highest crimes if, by trimming and subject—required mature consideration on the part of the with the pilots of Southampton, for,
not only did the latter
sailing with the public mind in the hope of catching the entire Government, and which he thought it would be claim the privilege of piloting vessels through the river,
Popular breeze, they were to consent to make an inroad better to postpone until the pressure of the heavy business but also out to sea. Not that he should have objected to
and breach upon a revenue of 22,003,C00/. a-year, over- now occupying theattentionof the Government was abated, that if the Isle of Wight pilots had been allowed to pilot
looking the amount of interests involved, or could for one and then they would be able to give the subject the most vessels which they had taken charge of at sea up to South-
moment entertain a wish to do or be guilty of doing any- careful and deliberate attention, with the view to the adop- ampton ; but that was not the case. While, too, the Isle
thing that jeopardise the revenue of the country, or place tion of that system which would best contribute to the se- of Wight or Cowes pilots were paid only 31., the South-
the fair trader in a disadvantageous position. (Hear, cnrity of the revenue and to the facility of the trade of the ampton pilots were paid 61. 10s. The former were also
hear.) The hon. gentleman concluded by moving that a country. (Hear, hear.) He begged the hon. gentleman to obliged to maintain much larger, and therefore more expen-
.
copy of the Treasury minute of the 17th of August, 1852, believe that this question had not ken neglected, and if it sive, boats than were required for the pilots of Southamp-
concerning the regulations of the Customs, and of the had been postponed it was only because, being fully ton. He referred to certain regulations of the Trinity-
reply of the commissioner ; and also of the Treasury aware of its importance, the Government were desirous house, and to other matters, which he said operated as
minute of the 14th of April, 1853, relating to the same of giving to it all the consideration it deserved. (Hear, grievances on the Isle of Wight pilots and constituted
subject, be laid on the table. hear.)
strong grounds for inquiry before a select committee.
Mr. MITCHELL said that the statement of the hon. Mr. W. BROWN was glad to hear what the right hon. Lord A. PAGET observed that in case of grievance the
gentleman, except in one very important respect, which he gentleman had said about the constitution of the Board of pilots of the Isle of Wight could have redress from the
should notice by and by, appeared to him to be exceed- Customs, and should like to see one individual responsible Board of Trade if the present bill passed. As the lion.
ingly satisfactory. He had met the just claims of the mer- for the good management of the entire department. (Hear, member for Berwick had expressed an opinion that the
cantile interest in a fair and liberal manner. With regard hear.) His constituents would be exceedingly gratified by Pilotage Bill would not be of any benefit to the shipowners,
to the appointment and promotion of officers, he (Mr. the plan his hon. friend hadpropounded to-night, though he begged to state that an important document had been
Mitchell) slid not know whether he rightly understood his there might be some points ofpdet lon which they would forwarded to him from a large body of shipowners in the
hon. friend. Was he to understand that any officer, to be able to suggest improvements which would make the port of London, representing 350,000 tons of shipping.
whatever branch he might have been originally appointed, whole plan still more desirable. The document had appended to it the names, among others,
would have the door open to him, for good conduct, to rise Mr. J. A. SMITH thanked the hon. gentleman for the of Mr. Green, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Ingram, and Mr. Lindsay,
in his profession ? He though the statement as to fines great boon which he had conferred noon the commerce of and sot forth that the undersigned British shipowners were
and satisfaction was sufficiently clear, but when he found England by this revision of the Customs. regulations, and of opinion that the proposed Pilotage Bill would be of
that the officers had received for their share in one ear
isnaitrdichaecy,knteowheenaouhlgehtofthesedetpailrosp,
cerflythtehire and great benefit to the shipping interest, especially as related
upwards of 10,0001., and that Sir T. Fremantle admittedto the system of the Cinque Port pilotage, as it would
difficult
the
the system had a tendency to make the officers too strict, labour which the hon. estimategentleman must have bestowed in open a competition among the pilots, and, by 'their having
he was of opinion that, except in the case of the Coast- mastering them as he showed he had done, that evening. cruising licenses, would encourage them to seek ships off
guard service, where life was risked, some material alters- (Hear.) Some weeks ago he had been a member of a most Dungeness before the danger commenced, in lieu of await-
tion should he adopted. The fund should be from profits remarkable deputation which waited on the Chancellor of ing their arrival within that point, which had hitherto
on sales on account of the Crown altogether. Hbeen almost invariably the case, thereby jeopardising the
at all satisfied with respect to the system of ad valorem subjectunder his
He was not the Ex. chequer to bring this
safety of many of the valuably freighted inward bound
the right hon. gentleman had most nobly redeemed the
duties ; and as to watches, a competent authority hopes he had held out to that deputation. (Haar.) With ships, their supineness having originated from the mono-
stated before the committee that 10s. each on gold, reference to the constitution of the Board of Customs, and poly they had up to the present period enjoyed. (Hear.)
He certainly thought that the bill would be considered a
on silver watches, without reference totheirvarue, would be theremarks which had been made on that subject by the
sufficient for all purposes. The cheaper tribunals ought, hon. member for BridP°rt (Mr. Mitchell), he believed that great boon by the shippi.ng interest.
in his opinion, to be open in all cases ' Mr. GEORGE gave his hearty support to the bill, which
in his opinion did justice to the. important steam interest
where the duty in- gentleman had only expressed the opinion of a very large
volved was under 1001., and not, !as was proposed, where majority of the commercial community of London. (Hear.A
connected with the port of Liverpool. He warmly ap-
duty and penalty came to that amount. He liffered frdm They had felt most deeply upon this subject, and he di
of the power of appeal to the Board of Trade in the
the Government altogether in the principle laid down with not believe the hon. member had uttered one word which proved
event ef the local boards refusing to license competent
respect to the bonded warehouses -tand thought that would not be adopted by them. (Hear.)
masters and. mates; and, to show the injurious operation
yb em, ma. HENLEY said the hon. gentleman had introduced
it ought not to be enmpnlanry to re-enter goods in more .
of the existing system, he referred to the case of the Dublin
cases of transfer. As to the hours of attendance, it should into his scheme the principle of a local tribunal for the
be recollected that practicall half an hour was lost every
decision of cases, and it would contribute very much to and Liverpool Steam Company. The masters and mates
board
refused to license them. In the last three years the
day to the merchants and traders, and that 30 years ago the satisfaction of all parties if these cases were heard employed by the company were experienced men, and
the hours were from 6 o'clock till 6, while the committee before the commissioners who had to give the decision.
knew every crevice of the port of Liverpool, but the local
recommended from 7 o'clock to 5 and the Government He said this because he understood from the statement of
adopted from 8 o'clock to 4. This was a great rostriction the hon. gentleman that evidence was to be taken and the company's vessels had made 2,736 voyages from port to
on business.- He begged te suggest that thereoug ought to be parties to be brought before one commissioner, who was Pert. In only 245 cases had they employed the Liverpool
pilots, and they had been compelled to pay for that service
were to
.. a great simplification of the system of entry with regard to then to report, to the board, and the board decide.
nb less than 4,500/ , at the rate of 1,5001. a year.
free goods, which at present entailed a loss on the mercan- i It would be much more desirable, however, in his opinion,
(Hear, hear.) • being
tile interest or London, taking the average fees on each if those persons had to decide the case who heard witnesses
25,0001. a-year while for practical and who saw their demeanour. He had heard with satin- Mr.
as unjustly by the masters and mates of th© steam-
Mr. HILDYARD complained that the Liverpool board
entry at 7s. of about
vessels plying between that port and Whitehaven as they
or statistical purposes it was perfectly useless. With re- . faction that it was intended to refer many of those cases
'spect to the case of smuggling, he must say he quite agreed to the County Courts, but he questioned very much the
-with the hon. gentleman as to Mr. Marchand's case ; but propriety of sending such cases before the magistrates. did those of the Dublin company.
he did not think that Mr. Travers had done more than say i Mr. W. D. SEYMOUR regretted that any hon, member Mr. LABOUCHERE looked upon the bill as a great
that if Mr. Marchand's story was true he was a very ill- ' should have gone out of his way to pass a censure upon the boon to the mercantile marine. The local interest had
d man. Before ho sat down he must observe, that the ' gentleman who held the office of Solicitor of the Customs, always exercised a powerful influence in preventing the
hon. gentleman had left out of his bill the first recommen- He could bear testimony to the private respectability of adoption of any measure calculated to improve the present
dation of the committee, that the constitution of the that • gentleman, and the great amount of ability and in- defective system of pilotage. By means of that influence a
Board of Customs should be changed. (Hear, hear.) As formation which he possessed. He had been spoken of as bill, introduced by the late Lord Sydenham, was defeated,
it now stood, the board did not possess the confidence of an obscure country attorney, but it was the first time he which, had it been adopted, would have saved the shipping
the public. (Hear, hear.) The right hon. gentleman the ' had heard that the obscurity of a man at any period of his interest a large sum of money. A better spirit would, ho
other night said be was sure the house would not object to life should be a bar to the possession of important offices. trusted, animate the house on this occasion, and induce
extend the powers possessed by such men as Sir. T. Fre- Mr. Hamel was chosen to the office he held by the late Sir them to reject the amendment. The proposal for sending
mantle and Mr. Wood. He was one who very much ob- R. Peel—whose solicitor he was—as the man best adapted the bill to a select committee was a specious one, but,
jected to do so. (Hear, hear.) He was sure the house i for the service. (Hear.) When there was no charge of if the house agreed to it, the reformation of the pilotage
would not forget that it was under the administration of maladministration charged against him, he thought it was system would be postponed to the Greek Kalends. (Hear,
Sir T. Fremantle that proceedings were instituted, unpre- I rather hard that he should be made the object of animad- hear.)
cedented in the history of this country, against two great version by any hon. member in that house. Lord CHELSEA wished the bill to be referred to a com-
dock companies, possessing a capital of 5,000,0001. sterling. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON generally approved the mittee. He thought that a conclusive reason for adopting
(Hear, hear.) He believed he spoke the sense of the corn- measures which had been submitted to the house by the that course was to be found in the 9th clause of the bill,
mercial world of London and of the empire when he said hon. Secretary to the Treasury, and he congratulated the which, proposed to deal with the funds of the Cinque For Is.
the present board did not possess their confidence, and that house and the country most heartily on the changes that That subject could alone be done justice to in a committee
no Customs reform could be satisfactory till the constitu- were about to take place. (Hear, hear.) He had looked upstairs.
tion of the board was altered. The instigator and adviser with the greatest dissatisfaction for the last 30 years to Mr. CARDWELL said, that after the support which
of these proceedings was the solicitor of the board, who the way in which our Customs laws had been administered. the measure had received from both sides of the house—
had been an obscure attorney in the inland town of Tam- (Hear, hear.) During that period they had been giving after the repeated addresses which it had been his duty to
worth, where he could not possibly have acquired any increased facilities to the trade of the country by the re- make on former stages of the bill—he should not at that
knowledge of commercial affairs. He was first appointed moval of duties and other remedial measures, while the late hour occupy the time of the house by going into de-
assistant-solicitor, but in three years, by the compulsory Board of Customs were not merely adhering to the old tails. (Hear, hear.) He should reserve those for the corn-
retirement of the chief solicitor, he was advanced to the system, but adopting measures more restrictive than any mittee of the whole house, to which it appeared to be the
office of that gentleman, and being, as he supposed, a vain, that existed during the war. (Hear, hear.) He could not general desire of hon. members to send it. He only wished
conceited man, set to work to distinguish himself, and approve of the mode in which cases of seizure were to be to make one observation, for the purpose of bringing the
induced the board to take those unconstitutional and heard before the commissioners. The only way to stop sincerity of hon. members to the test on the subject. They
e
illegal proceedings. (Hear, hear.) As long as that gen- smuggling was to hear every case in open court, and had passed the second reading of the bill without a diva
tleman was solicitor to the Board of Customs not a mer- pronounce judgment so as to bring disgrace on the per- sion. Did they intend that the shipowners and those who
menthe man was safe in his transactions, and after the tri- sons engaged in it. (Hear, hear.) It was his decided were engaged in the commerce of the country should have
bute paid by the hon. gentleman and by the right hon. opinion that proper men had not been selected for the ad- the benefit of the reform of which the house had declared
gentleman the other night to the heads of this department ministration of the Customs ; but he hoped that would be its approval by that second reading ? Because, if so, they
he said so much by way of protest, and lest it should be corrected, and was glad to hear that the subject was ought to advance the bill the present stage, and permit the
supposed he acquiesced in that praise. No change that under the consideration of the Government. (Hear, hear.) house to enter upon that fair deliberation which the sub-
took place could be for the worse, and he trusted Govern- He had heard a high eulogium passed upon Mr. %amel. ject required. (Hear.) If they sent the bill to a select
anent would listen to the recommendations which had been He knew nothing of that gentleman, but what he heard committee, and called witnesses on the various points, as
made to them, and that some gentleman who had been en- when he appeared as a witness before the committee, and was now proposed, when, he should like to know, would
gaged in mercantile life would be placed on the board when he must say that while he concurred in what had been the bill again make its appearance in that house ? The
reconstituted. said as to the talents of Mr. Hamel, he did not think he had noble lord the member for Dover (Lord Chelsea) had spoken
Mr. TURNER would leave the details of the plan to the discharged the functions of his office in a way that con-
of the state of the funds of the Cinque Ports as a reason
judgment of the various commercial associations of the duced to the public interests. (Hear, hear.) If the hon. for sending the bill to a committee upstairs. With respect
~ and should continue to engage, his careful atten-
trail ; and he should be ready, when they got to that clause
empire, but could not refrain from thanking the hon. gen- member who passed the eulogium would go to the minutes
to that begged to say that it was one which had
tleman and the Government for the great boon they had of the committee, he would there find what was the opi-
ehgaged point, he
conferred on Liverpool by giving it a local board, and thus nion of the committee regarding him. He would have re tion
the merchants the delay and annoyance of references ceived the severest, censure that a committee could pass on either to vindicate its provisions or substitute some rea-
sonable
against alt alterations
sacrificing
cp .st
to London. He also thanked them for giving jurisdiction any individual, but was saved :rem that condemnation by
layine the but he
important principlesproteas far as in him i
should
of the bill
to the County Court in cases up to 1001., but thought the the vote of a single member. (Hear, hear.) He believed
penalty should not be included in that amount. Thojudge that if the salary and expenses of the solicitors had been by the unavoidable delay which would be the consequence
committee. (Hear, hear.)
were taken to
of the Liverpool County Court was a gentleman of great paid out of the Exchequer, and returns regularly made as
of sending it to a select
ability, and was able to give satisfaction in cases of far to what they were occasioned by, they would not have Mr. HENLEY said that no objections
what the hon. gentleman had called the principles of his
larger amount, if left to his decision. heard see such a thing aa that official filing 120 ex _officio., in
Mr. WILLIAMS recommended the Government to ap- the manner he had done. (Hear.) bill ; but the first nine clauses had nothing whatever to do
point a member of that house to the board. He thought Mr. GOULBURN said, his hon: friend had never at-
with those principles. They referred to an entirely sepa-
the plan likely to do service, but nothing good could be tempted during the 30 years of which he had spoken to rate and distinct subject--viz., the sweeping away of an
done till the Board of Customs was changed. correct the grievances of which he complained, although ancient corporation and joining it to another, and that,
Mr. G. A. HAMILTON expressed his satisfaction at the two bills on the subject of the Customs had passed while apparently, without affording any protection to the inte-
measure introduced by the hon. gentleman opposite. he was a member of the house. He would, therefore, put rests of the body which it proposed to sweep away; and
(Hear, hear.) The subject had been under the considera- his 30 years' silence in opposition to his present statement. he would ask whether they were more likely to delay the
tion of the late Government, and he knew that many of The persons charged with the administration of the Cus- bill by discussing the financial question involved in those
the suggestions of the hon. gentleman, which had been en- toms occupied the highest positions as to private character, clauses over the table of that house, or by quietly endea-
tertained by them, were calculated to facilitate business, and were wholly incapable of the charges preferred vouring to settle the question in a committee upstairs to
and to produce the greatest benefit to the trading corn- against them. (Hear.) He concurred in what had been the satisfaction of all the pat ties concerned ? (Hear, hear.)
munity. With reference to the complaints of Mr. Mar- said as to the ability with which the Secretary to the He desired to see a good bill pass, And he would lend his
chard, he was at the Treasury at the time they were Treasury had developed the views of the Government, best endeavours to perfect a good measure, but it was im-
originally made, and, having given the subject full con- What he proposed to do would materially relieve trade, possible to discuss such a bill properly across the table of
sideration, he must say it had appeared to him to be about and, if carried out with proper care, would not, he be-
that house.
as atrocious a case of smuggling as had ever existed—(hear) lieved, interfere with the due collection of the revenue. The house then divided ; the numbers were,
—and he was surprised that it had imposed upon the (Hear, hear.) • For going into committee
respectable gentlemen who appeared to have taken it up. Mr. M. FORSTER was highly gratified with the state- For the amendment
Upon the subject of the admission of free goods, great care ment which had been made on the part of the Government.
had to be taken lest in facilitating the operations of trade Reference had been made to Mr. Hamel, and he must say
the Board of Customs encouraged smuggling, to the detri- that that individual left a very bad impression on his mind,
ment of the revenue and the injury of the fair trader. and he believed on the minds of all the committee. The
(Hear.) With reference to the Commissioners of Customs, hon. member for Sunderland (Mr. Seymour), however,
he was sure that everyone who had had to do with them, seemed to have a brotherly feeling for one of his own pro-
and especially with Sir Thomas Fremantle, must bear tes- fession.
timony to the great intelligence and the great energy of Mr. W.D. SEYMOUR wishedto explain that in what he
that most estimable public officer, and the great zeal which had said he was only influenced by a sense of duty. He
he displayed on every occasion to facilitate the operations might state the fact also that Mr. Hamel was paid by
of traile as far as was consistent with a due regard to the salary and not by fees.
public revenue. (Hear.) The papers were then ordered to be printed.
Mr. WHALLEY complained that no drawbacks were PILOTAGE BILL.
allowed to yachtsmen for wines, spirits, and things of that Mr. CARDWELL, having presented two petitions in
sort, which they wished to take out of the country, the favour of this measure from merchants, masters of vessels,
consequence of which was that they went abroad to buy and others of Liverpool, moved that the house go into
those articles, and that to that extent the trade of this committee on the bill.
country was a loser. He should be glad to find that some Mr. TURNER moved, by way of amendment, that the
portion of the zeal and ability which the hon. gentleman bill be referred to a select committee. The interests at
had devoted to the subject generally, would be paid to this stake, both as regarded the persons immediately connected,
small matter. With reference to the charges which had in one way and another, with pilotage, and as regarded the
been brought against the dock companies, h thought that lives and property of the public, were so vast, and the
whatever there was to be regretted in that transaction, question itself was so complicated, that a select committee
arose from the nature of the service, and was not owing to could alone properly investigate the subject. The hon.
the gentlernen who administered the Customs department. gentleman had presented, indeed, petitions in favour of
Mr. JOHN M'GREGOR thought that when it was con- this bill from certain merchants, masters of vessels, and
sidered that 22,000,0001. of the revenue of this country others of Liverpool, but ho was prepared to state that the
was derived from articles of import, and that the collection very large majority of the merchants of that port, and of
of
this large amount was intrusted to men who were very the masters and mates of vessels there, were decidedly
poorly paid for the services they performed, it was a mat- opposed to the measure as it now stood, and assuredly the
ter of astonishment, considering the temptations which opinion of the port of Liverpool, so greatly exceeding in
prevailed, that there was not more dishonesty and fraud. business as it did the port of London, was entitled, on
(Hear.) In France, Prussia, Holland, and the United such a matter, to the serious consideration of the house.
States, simplicity was the chief characteristic of the fiscal The underwriters at that port, men well qualified to give
regulations, and his own view with regard to the manage- their judgment on the subject, were also decidedly opposed
meat of the Customs department in this country was that to the bill, and, indeed, it might be said that almost the
we ought to adopt something like the system which existed only persons connected with the trade of Liverpool who
there, and have one ch ief head or director, with a deputy advocated the measure were the masters and mates of the
under him, dividing the whole management of the Customs steam-vessels. He was ready to admit that the pilotage
into different section;—one for foreign, another for home charges to which these vessels had been subjected in the
trade and navigation, a warehouse and dock department, port of Liverpool were too heavy, but the Pilot Board
and one for keeping the accounts. (Hear.) On the part there had agreed to reduce those charges. The Pilot Board
of his constituents, and he might say of the commercial of Liverpool was not composed of pilots, or of persons con-
community generally, he expressed his thanks to the hon. netted with the pilots, but of merchants, whose obvious
gentleman for the proposals he had made this evening to interest it was to keep the pilots and their charges under
facilitate the trade of the country. (Hear.) proper control. Whether and in what way the com-
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said it was position of the local pilot boards might be improved was a
in no respect necessary for him to enter upon a discussion point which a select committee could efficiently consider.
of the numerous points of detail—very important though The centralising of the authority under the Board of Con-
they were—which had been included in the very able trol seemed a most extraordinary thing, without any good
statement of his hon. friend. There were some of those ground, and against the opinions of those who thought
points with respect to which it would be much better for that instead of 39,030 vessels going out of port without a
hen. mete hers to have the opportunity of reading the mi- single loss, the probability would be they would have a
note of the Treasury before any further expression of tremendous loss of life and property. The only objection
opinion took place upon them ; but he wished to say one to the present system was, he believed, the charges, and
word with i egaed to a topic which had been revived in this that point ho was quite willing to leave to the decission of
discussion--revived, he must say, somewhat to his regret. the Board of Trade. He hoped, therefore, the Govern-
(Hear.) lie did not think any advantage was to be gained ment would accede to the proposition he had made, or, if
by resuscitating the feelings that were connected with the not, that the parties whom he represented would be heard
controversy between the Board of Customs and the Dock before they proceeded further will the bill.
Companies. (Hear.) He thought they had fairly passed Sir E. DERING supported the amendment, for if ever
by that controversy, and that the recollection of those there was a bill that required the strictest investigation it
events was retained by none except for the purpose of was a bill of this nature, which affected the great maritime
learning a lessee of caution for the future. As it was he interests of this country as well as the vested interests of a most
must regret that the hou. member for Eridport (Mr. useful class of individuals—the pilots of the United King-
Mitchell) should take this occasion to pass a censure upon dom. He thought there was not much difficulty in show-
the persons engaged in that proceeding. The lion. member ing that advantages were given by it to the Trinity Board
had had an opportunity of bringing out all the proceedings pilots over those of the Cinque Ports. By this bill it was
before the committee ' and the matter was considered by proposed to continue to the former the same system that
thete cvaiemmittee, aho lied declined to entertain or to express now prevailed in the port of London—that was, to allow
to lay 'Zest which the hon. member had thought proper now every shipowner to pick and choose his own pilots; in
that whin the house. The hon. member seemed to think other words, to perpetuate a system fraught with bribery
that nigat, andad been stated by his hon. friend (Mr. Wilson) and jobbing beyond all measure; while as to the Cinque
hen_ „id
on ;Alla he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) Ports the present system of rotation was preserved. The
that the intenteormer occasion, conveyed the impression next question was, that the Cinque Port pilots were bound
Board of Custer:: aofc..the Government was to give to the to cruise night and day, and for that purpose to subscribe
the first place, he haed,reat extension of powers. Now, in a large sum to maintain boats in an efficient state. For
tones at all on the ,did
.naver mentioned the Board of Cus- that service they received a certain sum for every pilot
place, although he rieo.t!' referred to, and in the second put on board a vessel, and that fund, after providing for
Sir Tom
Fremantle, heelbiand never
of commendation to the expenses of their boats, was divided among them ; but
giving extended powers to Sir Thayer
speaking of bringing in the accounts said anything about to meet that system he found no provision in this bill.
Thomas Fremantle. He was (Hear.) Now, during the last 20 years, of the whole num-
supervision of that house, and what of the board under the leer of vessels worked up the river, only one had been lost
he acid was, that he by the misconduct
believed the heads of the board S
t.he accounts of the Cinque Port pilots. He hoped,
iit of economy, and that h e thought brit: sessed of the spi- therefore, the house would pause before it interfered with
before the house would perhaps strengthen the rights they had so long enjoyed, and which were sanc-
ntir hands in tinned by act of Parliament. The next question was as to
omission fro', the fund,
enforcing economy. (Hear, hear.) The hon.
.gantleman the the pilots' fund. Every pilotpaid ss. each to the
member for Bridport complained of the
statement of his hon friend . of what related to the ad c,m i t their pilot paid ss. each voyage to the
stat sment of his lion, friend of what relatcmhe fund, and from it their wid
Customs. He quite agreed with the hon. gentleman int the of 12e
guineas each. A payment of 1/. was also made on the
anew he took of the importance of that subject. The eon_ death of e tch pilot. Those payments were compulsory,
stitution of the governing authority was of vital con e- amillsod the existing pilots had paid nearly 10,000/. There was
(pence to the administration of the entire isystem. (Hoar, formae(rateesou ships that had not the British register, which
hear.) But the hon. gentle:nan was very greatly mistaken these funsd it
of
superannuation fund for the pilots. All
if he supposed that the subject had been overlooked. The bill, placeas were, without distinction, aceording to this
fact thet there had been two vacancies in the board since it unwise to
nn,ider control of the Trinity -house. He thought
the accession to office of the present Ministry, and that nei- he made no Clayregsenche powers to any body ; and, although
ther of those vacancie i had been filled up, was a pretty cult to reconcile aeainst the Try Board, it was diffi-
many of their re
clear proof that they thought this point worthy of corm- the principles of common on
p sent regulations with
deration. But it was not a subject to be decided as a mere of common sense. Ass an justice,
or, he would almost say,
nor one to be decided in a day. mention these facts --If illustration of that,-he would
departineptal question,
he took a vessel from
a Mitchell) hadclear London t P 1 •
vr. very o. ymouth, the port. of
(Ho tr.) The hon. gentleman (ho might r a '
it. He appeared to think that the sail ingdn'aeter and crew, witliout ...late it with his own
and decislve -views upon
pi ot ; but if he went
lay with the individuals who to the coast of France, then his sair
fault of a Lich he cweplained l ,
'h 11- •of the incompetent, Ihe must take lugmas as declared
(the C ailed. oi
He was not of was not on account of the distinction b a pilot ; and that
opinion. between the coast
Exchequer) was of a contrary
would h • trade and foreign trade, but the destinationinf ' hdividuals they me
,—for
opinion that by changing .le, ,
the stem, he went to Calais with ballast, he must have although 1
a pilot; yet
say very great hope of materially improving ,y

Majority ... .. 136
The house Went into committee pro forma, but immedi-
ately afterwards resumed.
SHERIFF COURTS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill went through committee pro forma, when
several amendments were introduced.

COURTS OF COMMON LAW (IRELAND) BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill.
Mr. WHITESIDE said, it was impossible at that late
hour (nearly half-past 12) to go into a discussion of the
measure ; and, as he had on a former occasion postponed
the bill at tho request of the Government, he hoped the
noble lord, in accordance with the promise which had
been made, would give him a good position on a Govern-
ment night.

Lord J. RUSSELL was quite willing that the bill
should come on as Government business, but he could not
fix a day for it until he saw the progress of the financial
measures. He would name, for the present, Monday week.