The Sun.
London, England, 1822-06-18 00:00:00

Esq. was called on to preside. The business
of the day was then commenced by reading
the requisition, after which the Chairman
briefly adverted to the circumstances which
required the attention of the Gentlemen pre-
sent, and all others who were interested in the
success of the Pilchard Fishery. The series
of Resolutions were then proposed by Jos. Ban-
field, Esq, and it was the unanimous opinion
of the Meeting that the imposition of 2s. a
bushel on salt, used in curing pilchards would
annihilate that fishery as a branch of foreign
commerce ; since, with a duty of only 3d. a bushl
on the salt now used, the greatest economy was
necessary, and sacrifices were often made, to
maintain a successful competition in the Italian
markets with the fish of France and Spain.
The payment of a duty on the importation
of salt, even if a drawback were allowed
on the exportation of the fish, was strongly
objected to, from the uncertainty that attends
the fishery. The salt warehoused for curing the
fish remains on hand sometimes 2 or 3 years, so
that the' importers could only make up the loss of
interest on advancing the duty by an increased
charge upon the fish. This advance of duty would
besides drive all the fish-curers of small capital
out of the market, and give a complete mono-
poly of the article to persons of large fortune.—
The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and a
petition to the House of Commons was prepared
and signed by the persons present. Copies of the
Resolutions were directed to be forwarded to the
Members for the County, the Members for the -dif-
ferent Boroughs, the Members for Devon, Ply-
mouth, Plympton, Dartmouth, &:c., and a depu
tation, consisting of the Chairman and Alfred
Fox, Esq. was appointed to proceed to town, in
order to represent to Ministers, and the Members
connected with the county, the fatal conse-
quences that must result to the pilchard fishery
if a duty be imposed on salt generally, even
'though a drawback to the same nominal amount
should'be allowed on the exportation of the fish.
The pilchards, are already approaching our
coasts in considerable quantities. On Thursday
week a -shoal was discovered in Gerran Bay,
when the Wellington seen was shot, and twelve
hogsheads of very fine: fish were enclosed. - The
power developed by England in the late war
has taught the nations of the Continent to place
a just value upon trade, the cultivation of which
is now become their favourite policy. This then
is the. moment when England should watch with
especial care all that remains with her, and par-
ticularly that which is exclusively her own. The
pilchard fishery may be of little comparative
v: lue, but it, is a species of commerce of peen-
liar interest. -

FOR THE SUN.

NAVIGATION LAWS.

Eorroa-LI beg leave again to solicit the
most serious attention to the Navigation Bill
which has made its 'progress from the House of
Commons-to the House of Lords. In the Com-
mons it has undergone a great many alterations
for the better, but it still contains a new prin-
ciple, inasmuch ,as it allows the ships of the
country in which' any goods are deposited, to
export them from 'thence into Great Britain.
By this new principle Holland and other coun-
tries may carry on all our European trade in
their own ships ; and by the Warehousing Bill
all goods whatever imported from foreign places
in foreign ships may also be warehoused for ex-
portation (except as by law excepted). This is
a navigation clause in the Warehousing Bill
which is directly at" variance with the Navigation
Bill itself ; as in that Bill the goods, produce,
and manufacture of Asia, Africa, and America,
are to be imported direct from the respective
countries_of their growth in a British ship, or in
a ship of the country of which they are the pro-
duce. Then, as to Europe, by the new Bill, the
goods of. Turkey must come direct in a British
ship, or in a ship of the country ; and from the
other parts qf Europe foreign ships loading car-
goes in any other 'country but their own, are to
effect a bona fide landing of these cargoes in
their own ports, and then the re-shipment gives
them the privilege of bringing such goods to
England.
If we examine, it will appear that there is a
great difference even between these new prin-
ciples and the more extensive principle.con tamed
in the Warehousing Lill, vhich in opposition to
the restrictions that even the new Navigation
Bill has laid on foreign shipping (to prevent them
from destroying our carrying trade and thereby
annihilating our national defence) the clause in
the Warehousing Bill gives to foreign shipping
the range of the whole world, and allows them
to deposit their cargoes from every quarter of
the globe in England for exportation. Every
person tharhas a knowledge of navigation and
commerce must immediately see that this will
give great facilities to foreign shipping, as it will
allow them 'to bring the produce of the East
Indies, South America, the Brazils, the Havan-
nah, St. Domingo, &c. &c.; in short,- from all
parts of the world every description of gopds
necessary for exportation, which is allowing
foreigners the chance•of a great part of our direct
trade from all parts of the world and exporting
it again to other countries, and that to the exclu-
sion of so much employment of our own ships
and seamen.

I am most earnestly solicitous that the atten-
tion of the Legislature should tie drawn to this
clause in the Warehousing Bill, that they may
assimilate the one Bill with the other, as respects
the ships in which goods shall be imported,
otherwise .the Warehousing Bill will prove a
most injurious measure, as it expressly supersedes
the other Bill and all preceding Acts of Puna.
ment.--At any rate the clauses in .this' Bill
should be made clear and intelligible, that the
extent of our concessions to foreigners should be
known ; and if this construction of these intended
Acts of the Legislature is erroneous, some expla-
nation ought certainly to be given on the subject.
A' SHIP OWNER.