The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-11 00:00:00

MEETING OF SHIP-OWNERS.

Yesterday, a very numerous and respectable
Meeting of the Owners of Ships Trading fro-al
the Port of London to the West Indies, was
held at the City of London Tavern, for the pur,
pose of considering the Distressed State of the
Colonies ; and also for the purpose of receiving
the Report of a Committee appointed to watch
over the Interests of the Ship Owners in this
Trade.—Mr. COLVILLE was unanimously called
to the Chairi
When the Minutes were read of a General Meeting held ors
the 15th of March last, of the Owneri of Vessels trading from
the Port of London to the West Indies. In which trade it was
declared, shipping to the amount of 1,500,000 tons *as eM-
ployed, and that to Watch over the interests of this trade,
it was necessary that a Society should be formed. A Com-
mittee was then appointed to fbrm a constitution, and
to adopt some other measures. The Chairman now reported
that this Committee met on the 27th instant, when they
framed a set of Resolutions, Which they wished to submit
to the General Meeting for its sanction. The Chairman
then read the Resolutions framed by the Committee, which
were to the effect—That the Ship Owners declared that their
interests depended essentially on the prosperity of those Co-
lonies to which they traded : That the Meeting, from an in-
timate connection with these Colonies, knew them to be in
a state of great distress : That this distress, carried to a cer-
tain point and prolonged, must necessarily. check the produc-
tion : That articles of lumber and protisions are of primary
necessity to the Colonies, and that without a constant sup-
ply it was impossible that the plantations could go on : The
Colonies have been supplied hitherto, partly from British
North America, but indirectly from the United States, the
trade with which was of such a nature as could excite no rea-
sonable jealousy on the part of the mother country, al-
though it was extremely beneficial to the Colonies which
bartered much of their produce, particularly of rum. That
circumstances had arisen from which it had been thou,*
necessary to put an end to all direct commerce between the
United States and the British West Indian Colonies. The
last Resolution declared that if the Legislature should be in.
duced to relax its laws, and permit intercourse between the
West Indian Colonies, such a measure would, in their opinion,
be extremely beneficial to the Colonies, and Would not deserve
the opposition of the meeting, but would claim their warmest
support ; and that one penny per ton should be collected an-
nually for the payment of the expenses of the Society.
r. G. HIBBERT, in order to bring the matter regularly be-
fore the Meeting, and that they might have the benefit of any
observations upon the same, would move the Resolutions,
which he contended were well worthy of the adoption of a meet-
ing of Gentlemen carrying on the West India trade. The ope-
rations of distress were inevitably to depreciate-the price of pro-
duce, and the measure before Parliament was a large one which
would go greatly to the relief of the distress so urgently
But nothing would, or ought, the Speaker was understood to
say, to be conceded without reciprocal concessions on the
part of the United States. The Speaker went on to admit
that some sacrifices must be made by the Shipping interests
in forwarding the measure of opening the intercourse, but the
sacrifice was so small that the Ship-owners seeing the Colo-
nies suffering as they now did, ought, for the sake of them,
to overlook it. He contended, at considerable length, and
with much acuteness, that unless the
.proposed measure was
adopted, the produce of the Colonies must continue to
be depreciated by the restriction which was new acting with
that effect. It had been • argued that the measure would
be an extremely hard one for the Northern Colonies,
but that was a matter, lie contended, entirely foreign to the
question, for either one or the other must give way. But the
duties imposed upon the United States' produce would most
probably be such as would make it an even balance whether
the planters bought from them or from the Northern Colonies.
There were some articles which the Northern Colonies could riot
supply. The Speaker concluded by declaring it to be his opi-
nion, that the %% est India Ship-Owners would be acting' with
a liberality worthy of them, and at the same time forward-
ing their best interests, when they supported the measures al-
luded to. The Speaker then moved the Resolutions framed by
the Committee.
They were all carried unanimously, without any particular
observation. .
The Mover observed with respect to the resolution for the col-
lection of one penny per ton annually, for the payment of die
expences of the Society, that should it amount to more than was
requisite, as there was no doubt but it would, there would be no
collection made on the following year.
A Ship-Owner submitted that the body which had now
formed itself into a Society had other opponents to contend
against, and one of the first points to which they ought to direct
their efforts would be the reduction of Dock charges. He sug-
gested that the Meeting should join the other bodies of Ship-
owners to effect a reduction.
Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. HIREERT, and Mr. GUTHRIE, co-
incided in saying that the Society would join with all the other
Ship-owners in using their efforts to reduce the Dock charges.
It was strongly denied that the Society had any particular or
exclusive views. They were ready and desirous to co-operate
with all in objects of mutual interest. They would, in short,
always consider themselves as ship-owners.
It was then resolved, that the Committee should concur with
the General Meeting, as well as with the Committee of Ship-
owners of the port of London, in effecting a reduction of dock
charges.
Ntr. COLVILLE was appointed the Chairman% and Mr. Jos.
MAnitiOTT the Treasurer, of the Society.
It was stated that the Members of this' Society would not
discontinue their Subscriptions to the other Societies of Ship'.
Owners.
After some further observations the Meeting adjourned.