The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-14 00:00:00

eirVittag

LONDON, SATURDAI,-JULY 14, 1849.

`When the Navigation Bill recently received the
Legislative sanction it became obvious that other
measures would speedily be introduced for the im-
provement of the mercantile marine, and the removal
of some of the most glaring defects in its manage-
ment, and of the grievances by which shipowners are
injuriously affected. It was not because the parties
interested would suffer any actual loss or damage by
the removal of the exclusive privileges which they
had so long enjoyed, or by the establishment of free
and unrestricted trade in the carriage, as well as in
the purchase of goods ; it was not because "protec-
tion" was no longer afforded to British shipping, that
new legislation was required. That protection, in
place of being a benefit, was really a serious injury
to the parties for whose supposed advantage
it had been originally enacted and so long main-
tained ; it created and fostered habits of negligence
and carelessness. In place of relying on their own
energies and exertions, and entering fairly into the
generous emulation, which a full and free competi-
tion ever engenders, the parties depended too much
on the practical monopoly that was afforded. They
hoped to defeat their rivals, not by their own merits,
but by the possession of exclusive rights. Hence, as
in every bimilar instance, palpable advantages were
nfeglec'ed, palpable defects and grievances remained
unnoticed. The natural, the inevitable result fol-
lowed, and the complaints of the shipowners, ship-
bui;deis, seamen, and indeed of all in any degree
interested in cur mercantile marine, were loud
and incessant. It was manifest that what-
ever might be its disadvantages, " protection"
did no' pro lute the desired results, or bring prospe-
rity to Brit .h shippii g. It is not, therefore, by way
of compensation to the parties interested for the
change in the navigation-laws that new measures
were announced as being under the consideration of
Government, but because, during the inquiries that
, :were instituted into the operation and effects of thi
former code, various matters were brought promi-
r.uently forward requiring speedy alteration. In some
,
4
.•of these matters immediate relief might be aff-rded,
while in others, which could not be passed during

the shrmt remainder of the present session, it was de-
!arable that the nature and extent of the proposed re
sbou;d bo fully explained to Pa!lament and
'the countr,y, in ,nrior that amply timo p2iisht be

afforded for bestowing that mature and attentive con-
sideration upon them of which the subject is so emi-
nently worthy.
'rile- President of the Board of Trade on Thursday
undertook this import int duty. In a clear and lucid
statement he set forth the particulars of the contem-
plated enactments on which (so far as they extend)
we are happy to be enabled to bestow unqualified
commendation. The objects are twofold. First,
the reduction or removal of certain burdens that at
present press heavily on shipowners, and secondly,
the improvement in the character and qualifications,
moral and scientific, of masters and mates, of the dis-
cipline of the crew, and of the general condition and
well-being of seamen. The first of these measures
will, it is hoped, be passed during the present ses-
sion. Indeed, in one important matter, no Act of
Parliament will be required, the Trinity }louse,
under whose jurisdiction the lighthouses of this
country are placed, having evinced a most laudable
anxiety to co-operate with the Government in re-
ducing an impost that presses most heavily and
unequally on the shipping interest.
In other nations the necessary coast and sea-lights.

have been established aril maintained at the expense
of the several Governments. It was due not only to
the native marine, but to the strangers who resorted
to our markets, that beacons should be erected to in-
dicate the hidden dangers of the voyager, and warn
the hardy seamen of the perils to be avoided. Un-
fortunately, Great Britain did not pursue so generous
and humane a policy. Many of the most important
lighthouses were due to private enterprise, and
the parties interested therein were remunerated
for the capital invested in the undertaking, and the
risk and expense encountered, by being permitted
to levy tolls on all passing vessels. There was no
general board of management. Not only different
corporations, but even private individuals exercised
separate and exclusive jurisdiction ; and although a
general controlling power was vested in the Privy
Council, that power was of a very clumsy and in-
convenient character.
The system in this country was greatly improved
by the Trinity House, in London, purchasing, with
the sanction of Government, the different private
lights on the English coast, and thus acquiring the
exclusive jurisdiction over English lighthouses. No
less than 1,000,0001. sterling was paid for these lights,
one-half of which has already been paid off,
and the balance is now in course of liquidation. Tile
weight of the burden may be estimated from the
simple fact, that the light dues of England alone
(exclusive of those levied in Scotland and Ireland)
amount to no less than 318,0001. per annum, of
which 145,000/. is collected from coasters, and
the balance, 173,0001., from over-sea traders. The
frinity House have consented to a reduction of about
30 per cent. on the entire amount, being willing to
give up 100,000/. per annum of their revenue. They
are enabled to grant this great boon to the ship-
owners in consequence of an arrangement into which
they have entered with the Bank of England for the
gradual liquidation of the residue of their debt by
instalments of 50,0001. per annum, and also by
greater economy in the management of their lights.
The coasting trade is to receive the greater portion of
the benefit of this reduction, it being justly con-
sidered that they were compelled to pay more in
proportion to the benefit they received. 70,0001. per
annum is therefore to be for their benefit, or nearly
50 per cent. on the amount of the present tolls. The
balance will be applied to the benefit of vessels
making long voyages, who will benefit to the extent
of about 16 per cent. on the present rates. This
change, which will come into operation on the Ist
of October next, will afford considerable relief to
shipowners, and will doubtless be thankfully received
as a valuable boon. We trust that hereafter, when
the liabilities ,of the Trinity House are liquidated,
further reductions may
_take place, and that the
nation will assume the entire responsibility of main-
taining the several lights, without making any demand
against the shipowners on account thereof.
The next point, on which a Bill is to be passed
during the present session, is of the utmost import-
ance to the shipping interests. The question bf
" pilotage" has long attracted attention. The neces-
sity of a considerable alteration in the entire system
has been universally admitted. Great difficulty has,
however, been found in carrying any practical im-
provement into operation in consequence of the
numerous local interests involved, and the determined
opposition offered to any general measure, by which
those interests might be in any degree affected.
There are various bodies exercising jurisdiction
over the pilots in the several districts. Tne Trinity
House and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
possess the greatest power, but there are corporations
having special local jurisdictions, who cannot easily,
be induced to part with their privileges, or to coope-
rate cordially together fur the general benefit. The
present measure for the amendment of the system is,
therefore, not to be compulsory or binding on all, but
merely permissive, autborisieg those having control
over pilots to adopt its provisions within their respec-
tive districts or not, as they think proper. The
Trinity House Board have already expressed their
d ,sire to co-operate with the Government. It is,
consequently, reasonable to suppose that others will
eventually follow the precedent thus afforded, and
that a measure of such national importance will
speedily be brought into universal operation.
Un ler the present regulations vessels engaged in
the over-sea trade must pay for the services of pilots,
whether required or not ; the masters and mates
may be perfectly competent to pilot their ship in
certain localities, but still a heavy expense and loss of
time must be submitted to. It is the object of the
present Bill to prevent this necessity, where the officers
entrusted with the navigation of the vessel possess
satisfactory certificates of their skill, and were conse-
quently authorised by sufficient authority to pilot
their own ships within certain districts. This is a
valuable boon to the shipping interest, and it is more
especiallyso, because it-will lead to higher qualifica-
tions on the part of those seeking employment as'inas-
ters or mates.

The other Bill, the object of which is to guard
against incompetent persons being placed in situa-
tions of high responsibility, and also for the general
improvement of discipline in the mercantile marine,
is not to be passed until next session. All parties
interested in the subject will thus have ample time to
consider its previsions, and to offer any suggestions
for its amendment. If the object be fully and judi-

ciously carried out it will lead to a marked improve-
ment in the condition of our mercantile marine.
We trust that some intimation may speedily be
given of an intention to remit the exorbitant duties
on marine insurances, and also on timber used for
ship-building purposes. It may be the duty of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer rather than of the
President of the Board of Trade to make these con-
ceshions ; but they should be made, and that speedily,
in justice not only to the shipowners, but to the
merchants and the community in general in the
United Kingdom.

The electors of Loiret have done honour to them-
selves, and freed their country from the disgraceful
stigma of ingratitude. They have chosen LAMAR-
TINE 85 their representative, and by so doing—by
electing him at the present moment, when his poru-
larity is for the time diminished, they have more
e..pecially signalised their appreciation of the genius
and patriotism of the Poet-Statesman, than did any
one of the ten departments who, last year, so unani•
mously gave their suffrages on his behalf. We shall
hencefor ward regard the electors of Loiret with senti-
ments of peculiar and grateful esteem
ostefel:h;icthhellapn
haveo
purchased for themselves the honour
has proved itself unworthy, and they have imposed a
debt of gratitude upon all France.
While LAMARTINE remained a political nonentity
the Assembly was incomplete, the R,-public disgraced,
the Revolution tarnished. The Assembly was incom-
plete without the orator whose eloquence was its
ehiefest ornament, and the statesman whose pa-
triotism was its safest guide. The Republic was
itself disgraced while it neglected to du honour to its
earliest champion and its noblest servant. The
Revolution, no matter how successfully its objects had
been achieved, and how universally its power had
been recognised, was tarnished while one shadow of
suspicion rested upon him whose genius had firstcalled
it into being, whose hand had curbed it in its hour of
excess, and whose voice had consecrated its glory.
'The Revolution is, indeed, tarnished when the historian
of the-Girondists is unpopular.' 'll-4 Republic is
Wadi disgraced when iti lint Foreign lainizttr

forgotten. The Assembly is, indeed, incomplete
when the eloquence of LAMARTINE is unheard.
Happily this grievous anomaly is at an end. The
new member for Loiret will, we do not doubt, give
stability to the liberties of France, and add fresh
glory to the name of LAMARTINE. The extraordinary
revulsion of feeling which so closely superseded the
almost unparalleled popularity of the great Revolu-
tionist has even excited the surprise and commisera-

tion of the Quarterly! LAMARTINE'S unpopularity is
another startling evidence of the fickleness of public
feeling and the vanity of human applause. Poor and
pitiable, indeed, is the man who seeks no higher reward
for his actions, and who is possessed of no more
durable source of comfort. With LAMARTINB it was
otherwise; his individual mortification has been
more than compensated by his spiritual triumph.
While he, as a man, has been vilified and rejected by
his countrymen, he has witnessed the general diffu-
sion of the principles to which he was the first to
give public utterance, and the gradual development
of the system which he was mainly instrumental in
organizing. It is no meaningless compliment which
we apply to the lyrist
.of France, to the poet whose
" most musical, most melancholy" utterances have

immortalized the sorrows of JOCELYN and

the ' love of RAPHAEL, it is no meaningless
compliment to say that the recent Revolu-
tion of France is mainly indebted for its
origin, as it most certainly is for its greatest glory,
to ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE. If the obstinacy of
GUIZOT sprung the mine, the eloquence of the
"Girondists" had already prepared the elements of
combustion. The narrative of the most glorious
chapter of the first Revolution appearing.at a moment
when men's breasts were burning at the daily mani-

festation of royal perfidy and ministerial oppression—
the narrative of that brilliant chapter of the first
French Revolution, prefaced the way for the last.
Of this no one can doubt who remembers the enthu-
siasm with which the " Hiqtory of the Girondists "
was received, and, moreover, who calls to mind the

peculiar character of that mo3t eloquent history.
On its first publication, in the summer of 1847,
we described it as the text-book of Republicanism,
which definition was most literally verified a few
months after. The history of the Girondists was,
indeed, the text-book from which the sublime sermon,
" Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,".took its rise, it was
the armoury which sent forth the men of Paris
ready to battle for their rights, it was the spirit
which " put a tongue in every (social) wound to
rouse the very stones to nautiny." (In writing this
sentence one would almost imigine SHAKSPERS had
the barricades.of Paris in his thoughts.) If, as the

author of the " Girondists," the Revolution is in-
debted to LAMARTINE, what does she not owe him as
her Provisional Minister I What does the Revolu-
tion, what does France, what, indeed, does civiliza-
tion owe to him who, when he had proclaimed liberty
to awakened France, proclaimed peace to affrighted
Europe—to him who, after aiding with one band
to hurl despotism from its throne, fearlessly
extended the other to crush the hydra-
headed anarchy ready to fill the vacant spot—to him
who, having lamented that in the first Revolution " the
page of truth was defiled with blood," animated his
colleagues as their first public act to efface from the
political statute-book every similar stain, and then
indignantly spurned the blood-red flag vehemently
forced upon his acceptance—to him who, as the
mouthpiece of emancipated France, gave eloquent
welcome to the envoys of all foreign nations who
came in amity, but who coldly repelled the ad-
vances of insidious allies who came under the
guise of sympathizing freemen to promote civil
and international war ! But it is unnecessary to re-
capitulate the glorious actions of LAMARTINE.
It is impossible that the people of this country have
forgotten them, although the French nation has for-
gotten to be grateful. We would fain hope the
conscience of France has at last aroused her memory.
LAMARTINE has never failed to bear in mind what. he

owes to France ; let France in her turn not fail
to return what she owes to LAMARTINE. We would
fain accept the votes of the electors of Loiret as an
earnest of the amended sentiments of their country-
men. Whether it be so or not, we rejoice most
heartily in the election, and most candidly do we
congratulate the Assembly on the re-admission of
their most.glorious Member, and most corditilly do we
congratulate the men of Loiret on the representative
they have chosen, and on the good sense and pa-
triotism visible in that selection.

rii E FRENCH REPUBLIC.

'We have received thePuris papers of yesterday.

In the department of the Seine and Marne, M.
AUBERGE. the Ministerial candidate, has been elected
by a considerable majority. M. MANUEL, also a
Conservative, has been returned for La Nievre and at
Herault. M. NAPOLEON SOULT has beaten M.
FLocorr by a maj.,rity of 33,138 to 18,338. Admiral
OUPETIT THOUARS has been returned for Angers.
The Legislative Assembly rejected on Thursday a
proposition for lessening the amount of indemnity
pail to the representatives.
These journals state that a difference has taken
place in the Cabinet on the subject of the affairs of
iiome. MM. DE FALLOUX and RUILLIERE are for the
absolute and unconditional restoration of the Po?E
nil Cardinals, and the restoration of the Sacerdotal
Government, with all its abuse 4, Inquisition and all.
To this MM. ODILON 13ARROT, DUFAURE, and DE
TOCQUIsVILLE are oppo'ed. The PRESIDENT Of tho
Republic takes the same view as M. DUFAURE, not-
withstanding the efforts of M. THIERS to induce him
to support the DE FALLOUX section.
EARLIER has been nominated Prefect of Police
for Paris.

It is said to be the intention of M. PASSY to pro-
pose the re-establi4tment of the duty on potable
liquors, and the imposition of an income• tax.
l'he success of the Ministerialints in the Paris elec-
tion has not produced that effect upon which the re-
actionary party c4l( ulated. The success of the candi-
dates of the Union Electorate is owing solely to the
divisions among their opponents, and albeit the gar-
rison of Paris has been most carefully weeded by
General CHANGARNIER -of every regiment suspected
of Republican tendencies, yet the Republican candi-
dates polled nearly as many votes in the army as their
competitors, for while General Magnan polled 4,540
votes, M. L. Bonaparte, the cousin of the President,
4,458, and General de Bar 4,395, M. Goudchaux, the
Republican, polled 3,291, M. Whey roller, late editor
of the Refornze, 3,258 ; and M. Flocon 3,193 ; the
ultra Republican leader Dupont (de Bussac) polled
2,897 votes, and M. Proudhon himself had 811 mili-
tary suffrages recorded in his favou.
The Siecle has the following on the result of the
elections
- -

" Without doubt a part of the Socialist candidates have
been returned at former elections, while at the present a
man of. loyalty (M. Goudchaux), and one to whose
moderation all parties render homage, is only the twelfth
on the list, and you say immediately that you have
gained enormously in public opinion, and to-morrow
MM. Thiers, Mole, and de Falloux will believe that
they may venture everything, and that their ideas will
meet with nothing but sympathy in the country. Let
the Government not allow itselt to be blinded; its suc-
cesses will be of little consequence as long as it will not
have done anything serious, useful, and durable. We
are sadly convinced that the country will never be
calm, that confidence will never be great, that commer-
cial affairs will never be considerable, that the Ronaln
expedition will not be the less complicated,
the struggle between the two principles o"; pro-
gress and re-action—between the past and the future—
tietween the Republic and counter revolution—between
those who wish for the Constitution and those who
merely submit to it, will nut be more or less violent it
nothin4 be done. For us the ballot of the ath of July
carries with it grave hints. We see in it more sleight of
hand, more tact on the side of the party of the Union
Electorate, but we do not bee anything which proves that
the Government can or ought to congratulate itself on
the march which it has followed, or that the pretended
party of order bas any reason to believe that it is stronger
than it was two months ago. You have the state of
siege, you have suppressed eight or ten journals, you
have dispersed the chiefs of the Montagnard party, you
have suspended the exercise of the right of meeting, you
have imprisoned the most redoubtable Socialists, you
have paralyzed every kind of action on the part 01 the
committees, the one atter the other, and you have arrived
at havilig fewer votes than you had at the last elections,
ttid these men find themselves still in !rent of you in a
coinesct phalanx of 80.000 psrtisaes."
The Credit, which may beconsidered a Liberal-Con-
servative journal, and which was, we believe, almost
he first to commit itselt' unhesitatingly :to the cause
0f Prince Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE, and that
long before his star was in the ascendant, has the
folio" ing observations on the results of the elections

" The result of the elections is almost known, and we
hope that the victors and the vanquished will know how
to derive 'tom them a good lesson. The victors will
comprehend that the slightest fault may destroy them;
the vanquished, that the slightest progress may give
them the victory: as much as the former ought to dread
the into: cation of this victory, so little decistve, so much
the second ought to place their hopes in the prudent
patience. in the sage moderation which a defeat, signi•
tying so little, will inspire_ them with. On both sides. it
ought to be felt that the moment fot treating. for domin4
to a cz.mpromiso, is liar at hand) for ca.botl2 sides thus-