The Sun.
London, England, 1831-12-27 00:00:00

prices, and that their:profits have been greatly
diminished, though the general tonnage of the
kingdom has not fallen off, it remains for their ad-
vocates to show, what they cannot shew, viz. first,
that the depression of the profits of the shipping
interest has been caused by the relaxation of the
navigation laws, and the treaties of reciprocity
with foreign States ; and, secondly, that the
present situation of the shipowners in any
manner confutes or falsifies the doctrines in re-
spect to freedom of commerce, propounded by
ADAM SMITH, RICARDO, MAccuLLocii, and
other eminent writers, who are sneered at as
" cold-blooded theorists," or as " babbling pre-
tenders to new lights."
If the shipowners were better advised than
they appear to be, they would concentrate their
whole efforts towards obtaining a reduction of
taxes on raw materials, which place them under
some disadvantages as compared with foreign
shipping, and especially of the duties on Baltic
timber. But this latter relief the alleged friends
of the shipping interests have resolutely re-
fused to give them, as witness the debates on
the proposed equalization of the timber duties,
memorable in the annals of faction. if the Go-
vernment were only allowed to follow up the
principles of free trade, which it has professed,
and as the champion of which Mr. POULETT
TIIOMSON is now the especial object of ignorant
abuse,—the shipowners would be the first to be-
nefit by those principles being brought into full
play. But whilst the Government is obstructed
by the claims of monopoly meeting it at every
step of its progress--whilst such claims are
abetted by the factious alliance of the Anti-Re-
formers—and whilst so much ignorance upon
commercial subjects prevails as to have it sup-
posed by many that the country has been
weakened and impoverished by the modification
of the Navigation Act, passed by the Long Par-
liament under circumstances wholly different
from the present, there seems small hope of tl.e
Government, even if it were all-wise, being able
to do for the shipping, as well as other interests,
what it assuredly desires to do, if the means of
relief were within its sole power.
The grand fallacy of the shipowners is, in
fancying that they are entitled to set up their in-
dividual interest against the common benefit of
the nation. What the political economists main-
tain is, not that the freedom of trade, any more
than restriction, is good in itself, but that, if
the interests of the public arc better advanced,
and their wants better supplied by the one system,
than the other, that which is the most generally
advantageous ought to be followed, without refer-
ence to the views of particular classes. Even if the
shipowners had been injured (as in truth they
have not) by Mr. Husictssort's measures, it
would not have been a valid reason for con-
demning those measures, if the general interests
of the country required—as such interests cer-
tainly did require—their adoption. Upon this
subject, the following extract from the " Trea-
tise on Commerce," lately published by the
Useful Knowledge Society, is exactly in point :

"In every discussion as to any point of
public economy, it is essential to bear in mind that
the Legislature abandons its duty, or rather acts
in direct opposition to it, the 'moment it begins
to legislate in the view of promoting the inte-
rest of particular classes. The question never
ought to be whether any proposed measure or
regulation has a tendency to benefit agriculturists,
manufacturers, or merchants ; but whether its
tendency be to benefit the public. Certain in-
dividuals or classes may be benefited by what is
prejudicial to others, but it would be a contra-
diction to contend, that a system which enriches
A by impoverishing B can be publicly advan-
tagious. * * * * Freedom and security
are all that is necessary to stimulate industry,
and to ensure the most rapid advancement in the
career of improvement."
" We cannot, however, feel any surprise that
those principles should have been so widely de-
parted from. They originated in a compara-
tively unenlightened age, before the genuine
sources of public wealth, and the limits of proper
interference on the part of Governments, had
been explored and defined. The fallacies on
which most of them are founded, however
ob-
vious they may now seem, were not speedily nor
easily detected ; and after their hollowness has
been exposed, the return to a better system is a
work of extreme difficulty. The moment any
change is proposed, interested persons lay before
the Government the most exaggerated representa-
tions of the injury that would result from the
abolition or modification of old regulations ; and
not satisfied with this, they most commonly enlist
a portion of the Press into their service, and
availing themselves of all the aid that sophistry
and ingenuity can supply, labour to make the
public believe that it is a national benefit, and that
they are interested in its support ! This device
has been very often attended with the most com-
plete success; and it is to this circumstance,
more than any thing else, that the tenacity with
which erroneous theories in common are sup-
ported, is to be ascribed ; and that sophisms
that have been again and again exposed, are
put forward anew with as much seeming con-
fidence as if they had never been questioned."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)