The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-06 00:00:00

NAVIGATION LAYS,

FOR THE SVN.
Met. EtaTom,—lM our day of philosophy and desire for
economical change, we find smooth ingenious lucubrattions
from the most disinterested foreign merchants and their agents,
requesting us to surrender the advantages we enjoy, and the
security we derive from the employment of our commercial
marine. By some, this is recommended from partial and paltry
considerations. By others, from a spirit of innovation, founded
an the .most. dangerous abstract views of hasty theorists ; and
by some, from ignorance, wishing, for a change without any
fixed object. But they are all joined in using every effort and
trick:of negociation ; and they are earnestly employed to en-
force it as a .measure, not merely of common justice, but of
political necessity. Their demands are imperfect consistency
with these principles, and they are incessantly reiterated from
various quarters. If those effbrts had been fruitless, they
would have been unworthy of notice ; but unfortunately they
have produced the effect these sophists and econornieteintereded„
-and they have induced those in power to listen with a favour,
able ear to their jesuitical innovations, that the alteration is to
improve the Navigation System, although the measures pro-
posed are in direct violation of all the maritime and colonial
policy of this country ; and they are ne less injurious to all the
other British interests, as they will not only lead to the ex-
tinguishing
,of the protecting- laws, but will extinguish the
proteCtion of all property. Therefore, before the country is
subjected to this radical chAnge in our system, allow me,
through the medium of. your valuable 'Journal, to declare my
opinion, as regards.the effects which such concessions will pro-
duce on the three great leading interests of the State. , Then,
as the commercial marine, on which depends the maritime tran-
sit, and as our furnishing in time of war men for the maritime
defence of the State, protects the manufacturing interests in
their exports to all quarters of the glObJ; and protects from
innovation or insult the agricultural interests, on which is
founded the great aristocratic wealth, the whole may be con-
sidered as naturally depending on each other for support. So
long as they are each cherished and nursed together, they not
only assume, bait actually acquire, that herculean strength,
from which emanates that wealth, power; and greatness, which
defeated the continental confederacy formed for the ruin of
Britain : and should those interests, by any unforminate cir-
cumstance, he divided, they will become as languid, pigney
dwarfs—rickety, impotent, and poor—creating dissension,- dis-
cord, and ruin. But as national defence is indubitably more
essential than an increase of national ,riches, to ensure and
continue the-great resources of .our navigation should occupy
the first piece in our minds, (and prevent foreign powers from
fooling use; being the arm from which all the other interests
must receve their protection, even to the most distant regions ;
and, without which, neither our liberties nor our wealth can be
maintainel. Thus circumstanced, each interest so immediately
depends of the other, that they require the most paternal care
of the legislature. The end and aim of all Governments
ehould be, to find the most profitable employment for the people
whoth time govern' and from whom the taxation necessary for
the servica of the State is to be drawn. Those are the prin.,
ciples which the Ship-owneis are most respectfully solicited to
support; aid are the priciples'ori which, in my humble opi-
nion, all tit other interests of the country should join their en-
deavours tcmaintain. These principles -and positions may be
considered ie old exploded notions by. the liberal-minded, and
unsuitable tor the present most enlightened era; and sigh :sen-
timents, it s said, come from a high quarter, that now and
more libera principles are to be acted: upon. This reminds
rue that anEnglishman would think it o most severe priVa-
non, if he wire denied the liberty of arguing. against the evi-
dences of hh own prosperity. Such arguments are sufficiently
lamentable ; but Legislatures acting against such evidences
may prove air ruin. Therefore, notwithstending these illu-
minated ideas; let us claim the' privilege of considering
that our commercial marine is the main spring from which
our resource have been most abundantly supplied—the foun-
dation uponw.hich that stupendous fabric of wealth and power
has been enacted, on which the world has gazed with wonder.
ifo undernine' and level this magnificent structure has been
the cause et' many wars, and many more intrigues in peace.
Hitherto, Bank Heaven ! both have failed. Let us be carefid
then not toundermine the 'foundation ourselves, and bury our
grandeur under its fallen ruins.. If •these are old prejudices,
they are the prejudices of education—prejudices under which
we Piave heed and flourished—prejudices which'have been che-
rished and advocated by our wisest Statesmen, arid defended by
the braves; men the country ever produced. It is perhaps the
most unfortunate feature of the new era, that the prejudices
' which rendered the fathers so ctinspicuous, as lovers of their
country's weal, are nearly, if not altogether, extinct in their de-
scendants. Whatever has been the cause of this dereliction,
those who yet cherish and Adhere to venerable principles
or old prejudices, give them what denomination you please,
need not shrink from a comparison of the actual benefits
which have resulted from them, if contrasted with the
highly inflated air-blown bubbles of the new school ; let
let us repeat that these old prejudices have had the merit of
rearing a commercial and 'naval marine, which has been the.
.dread and envy of the world, as • Much as the wealth of,the
country has excited its astonishmrsit. If these, then, are erro-
neous prejudices, they are strong in circumstantial proofs_
confirmed, sanctioned, and attested, by the experience of many
ages. . And before we give up prejudices so sanctioned, may
we not be allowed to inquire on what foundation the advocates
for a new system rest their claim ? Do they give us any clear
substantial, proofs of the benefits which are to arise from the
change ? Every one knows that ,it is' easier to destroy than
erect such a fabric ; and without these proofs, we must surely
pause ; for most audacious must that man be, who stands for-
ward to depounce that system as erroneous, on which such na-
tional commerce and navigation has been reared, fostered, and
matured: To destroy at once the principles of a code, so ve-
nerable and wise, without producing something on which to
lay a sure foundation for the future, would be the highest pitch
of temerity. ", Let their deeds show." Is it on a second edi-
tion of Dr. Frankland's story of the Girl's Cap, by a Noble
Marquis ? Has any thing -more been offered than theoretic
nostrums, and vain pretensions to execute.impractiCable
schemes ; a cosmopolite sensibility, (which is the very reverse
of patriotism,) under pretence of feeling for the distresses
of -foreign countries,- and feeling nothing for their own, a
cold-blooded calculation on political economy,: balanced in the
brain of the Theorist, How much gratitude honour, and na-
tional defence, may be sacrificed for the sake eof a few bales of
woollens, packagesl of calicoei, and boxes.of cutlery;—add to
this a doubting philosophy, and a puling sophistry, insinuating
that the country is rued,—recommending filching the public
creditor, and accusing the blessings of Providence in sending
too great abundance to ruin us. From this modern school of
political economists, originated the intention of abrogating our
Navigation-lays; and to accomplish this object, they have long
been acting in concert to bring about this radical change : they
have been favourably listened to by those who were supposed
free from such delusive theories ; and it is now fully under-
stood that it is the intention of the political economists in 'both
Houses, to introduce and support a new system of Navigation
which will employ foreign ships and foreign seamen in lieu of:
British ships and British seamen—as the preponderance of the
British is considered as too great for the good of the universe ;
and the British ship-owners must either withdraw their capitals,or
have them rendered harmless, by superseding the ancient princi-
ples for a new and more liberal transit. That the long carrying
trade from Asia, Africa, America, and the distant ports of Eu-
rope, must be relinquished in favour of foreign powers, that the
British seamen may act as lightermen from the Scheldt, or
any near continental depot; as in longer voyages they acquired
a hardihood, and that more daring spirit, which renders them
_inimical to 'the liberal sentiments of the present time, and
the views of foreign powers. When these measures are
Adopted, they are expected to diffuse more general satisfaction
to all foreign nations, as tending to prevent Great Britain from
domineering over the ocean. This once carried into effect,
will likewise render it unnecessary to assemble that national
congress, recorninended by the Abb6 DE PRADT, which was to
express the indignation which foreign powers felt, ",That
England, swelled with the spoils of the world, should rule over
every colony and over every sea, thereby destroying the mari-
' time equilibrium :" the attention of the congress was to have.
been directed towards restoring this equilibrium ; but our
economists having liberally undertaken this so long wished
for desideratum of Europe,. they may now rest' quite satis-
fied, that, with the precaution of giving up the long car-
rying trade, the constructing the new old fashioned round
stern ships, which are building, and most carefully
prepared for running away, thereby endeaVauring to im-
press those ideas congenial to that • construction ; and,
as a further security, they will. be manned with inland-
navigators,--it being necessary for the general good of the uni-
verse, that not any more regular British seamen should be rear-
ed.—This is certainly an effectual way to prevent England from
again domineering over the ocean. This is not an overcharged •
picture of the intentions of those who are soliciting for the abro-
gation of the Navigation Laws ; for, -under whatever
lation the pending measures are covered, the effect will-be, that-
the hard earned laurels and conquests gained in every quarter
of the globe, and which are well'calculated to give employment
as a blessing, will, under the • new system, become a burthen
to the mother-country ;—all must be sacrificed for the visionary
system set forth by Citizen HAU T E RIVE and ProfesSor SCIILE-
GE.L. to restore the.equilibrium of the seas from being domi-
neered over by that navy,
'"'Whose flag has braved a thousand years
‘.‘ The battle and the breeze."
If these are the principles on which the view school of political
economists mean to act, (and the measures which are pending bear
us out in saying they are so, then may we exclaim, in the words of

the Poet, " Our occupation's gone:" Before it is too late, every
.true friend to his country should exert himself in opposing such '
innovationy and declare himself so far friendly to restriction
As to prefer the employment of his own countrymen in piefe-
rence to foreigners, and particularly those who have been their
defenders, and whom they have been accustomed to loopt up, to
and call upon, im every emergency, to defend. the Stater—men,
who have given such proofs of their serviceswho haVe ever
been- found ready to maintain- the rights and liberties of their
country against the world in arms.
This is the Body that craves nothing but the ancient laws to'
protect them—the spirit of the 12th of Charles 11. to secure the
long carrying Trade, which, if-given up, they will be thereby
sacrificed to the new maritime code for the 19th century ; for,
whether the system now'pending is adopted or abandoned, it is
neither more nor less than the system recommended by, and
which formed the basis of, that powerful confederacy whichhad
for its aim to destroy the Commercial and Naval preponderance
of Britain.—lt is that recommended to Europe in the writings
of lI4,I7TEItivE ,and ScitLEGiEr.„ the then organs of Abbe
TALLEYILAND, De ?RADT, BIJOISTAPAIITE, and'
others.

Our Political Economists have not even the merit of origina-
ting the system • but they have the demerit, as Englishmen, of
bringing forward a'systein which the world In arms united hos-
tilely to accomplish,And failed i?.;1 their design i:;--they hive the
demerit now, in the calm of peace, wantonly, and without just
cause, to ,bring forward the maritime system of the German
Illuminati, and the Revolutionists of France—a system then
decried by those very men who are now found favourable to the
adotion of „it.
Ilbweyer this may end, most certainly restriction is necessa-
ry, so far as regards the employment of our countrymen, to give
their a preference, to enable them to meet foreigncompetition.
The National and Colonial resources of the British empire
are almost unbounded; and, if managed with a fail prOportion
of the old British principles and ability, and the valuable and
extensive Coloniesproperly encouraged, the BritiAli empire will
nbt only recover frka the present lassitude, but will rise greater
than the 'most sangt4e admirer has yet contemplated.
No man's opinion was more earnestly given on the Navigation
Laws of the country than that of the late Earl of LIVERPOOL.
—" I know," said he, " There are even British.Stateameri' who
are willing' to relinquish -thoSe Markin-1e rights which, ,I have
been endeavouring to maintain, however feebly, throtig4 the
whole course of my life ; but I trust., on .due .consideration,
they 'be induced to alter their opinion." -
NALTLERLTS.

ROMAN CATHOLICS.

17611-vlh SUN.

Ma. Enrron—You will probably be glad to
insert jn your paper the subjoined List of the
Minority on Mr. CAIsiNING/S MOtiOrl. on Tuesday
last; and it is earnestly hoped that you will not
relax in your endeavours to rouse the country
from its present state of apathy on a question so
vitally important to the Protestant Establishment.
Your's &c , •

MINORITY.
ON MR. CANNING'S MOTION TO ADMIT CATHOLIC PEERS

INTO TIU HOLTSE7OF LORLS.
A'Court, E. A. Forester, F. Pitt, W. M.
Alexander, J. Fynes, Henry C. , Pitt, J.
Antrobus, 0. C. G!iscoyne, Pole, Sir P.

Apsley, Lord -Giffora, Sir R. Pollen Sir John
Archdall, M. Gipps G. Powell, W. E.
Ashurst, W. H. • Gooch, T. S. Pollington, Visct.
NVm. -Gordon, Hon. W. Raine, J.
Astley, Sir J. D. , Gossett, W. - . Rice, lion. fa.
pankes, 11. Obtilburn,RdlnH. Bickford, Wm.
Bankes, G. Grant, A. C. - Robarts, A. W.
Barnell3. - araves; Lord Robertson, A.
Barry, Rt.ljn.J. Mr-. Greville, Sir.C. Rogers, Ed.
Bastard, EdW. P. (hosed, J. R. Rowley, Sir Josias
Baitard, J.- If andley,lienry Russell, J. W.
Batharkt, Hn. T. S. Hart, - Gen. Ryder, Rt. Hon. R.
Belfast, Earl of Harvey, Sir E. St. Paul, Sir H.
Bentinck, Loid I'. Heber, Richard Scott, S.
Berestord, Lord G. Heygate, Ald. Scott, Hn.W. H. J.
Beresfotd, Sir J. P. Hill, Rtlion.Sir,G:. Shelley, Sir John
Bernard, Visct. Hill, Rowland Shiffner, Sir G.
Blackburne, J. ' Hodson J. Smith, T. A.
Blair, J. Holford, G. P. Smith, C.
Boughey, Sir J. F. Holmes, W. , . Smith, Abel
Bouverie, Hon. B. Horrocks, S. Sneyd, N.
Bradshaw, R. IL Hotham, Lord Somerset, Lord E.
Brydges, G. Houldsworth, T. 'Somerset, Lord G.
Bright, Henry Howard, Hon. F. G. Sotheron, F.
Bruce, Robert Hudson, H. Stanhope, Iln. J. H.
Brudenell, Lord Innes, John Stewart, Sir John
Buchanan, John Irving, John • Stewart, IV.
Butterworth, J. Jervoise, G. P. Stopford, Visct.
Buxton, T. J. Keck, G. A. L. Strathaven, Lord
Calvert, J. King, Sir J. D. Strutt, J. H.
Cartwright, W. R. . Kinnersley, W. S. Stuart; W.
Chaplin, C. Knatchbull, Sir E. Sumner, G. H.
thandos, Marq. of • Langston, J. H. Suttie, Sir J.
Cheere, E. M. Lascelles, HnW.S. Taylor, G. W.
Cherry, G. Legh, T. Taylor, Sir H.
Chetwynd, G. Leigh; J. H. Thynne, Lord J.
Childe, W. L. Leigh, F. Thompson, W.
Cholmeley,- Sii M. Leslie, C. P. Townihend,LordJ.
Ulaugh ten , Thomas Lethbridge, Sir T. Town shend,gln. H.
Clements, IIn.J.NI. Lewis, W. Tremayne, J. H.
Clinton, Sir W. H. Legge, Hon. H. Trench, F. W.
Clive, Hon. R. Lindsay; Lord . Tulk, C. A.
Clive, Hen: Lindsay, Iron. H. Ure, M.
Cole, Sir G. L. Long,'ltt.Hn.Sir C. Vansittart,Rdln.N
Collett, E. J. Lopez, Sir M. . • Vaughan, Sir R.
Congreve, Sir W. Lowther, Viscount Walker, Josh.
Cooper,- E. S Lowther, Hon. C. Wallace,Rt. 'ln. T.
Cooper, B. B. Lowther, J. Walpole, Lord
Copley, Sir J. S. 'LoWther, J. H. Wells, John
Corbett, Panton Lucy, George Wemyss, J. -
Cotterell, Sir J. G. Lushington, S. R. Westenra, Hn. H.
Cripps, J. Luttrell, J. F. Wetherell, C.
Curteis, E. J. Lygon, .Hon. H. 'Whitmore, T.
Curzon, Hon. It. Moberly, John 'Wildman, J. B.'
Cust, Hon. W. Magennis, Rich. Wilbraham, E. B.
Cust, Hon. P. Manners, Lord C. Williams, It.

,
Cust,'• Hon. E. Manners, Lord R. Willoughby; H.
(,' uffe, Col. • Mansfield, J. Wilson, Thomas
Davenport, D. • Martin, Sir T. B. Wilson, Sir H. W.
Davies, R. H. Maxwell, J. W. Wilson, W. W. C.
•Dawkins, J. ' M‘Naghten; E. A. Wodehouse, Hn. J.
Dawkins, H. Miles, P. J. Worcester, NI arq. Of
Dawson, G. R. Mitchell, John Wigram, W.
Deerhurst, Visct. Monteith, H.
Dickinson, W. Morgan, Sir C. 'PAIRED OFF.
Divett, T. Morgan, G. G. Ancram, Earl of
Dodson, John Mountcharles, Earl Beauchamp, Visct.
Domville, Sir C. Mundy, G. Burrell, Sir C.
Dowdeswell, J. E. Musgrave, Sir P. Campbell, Arch.
Downie, .R. • 'Newman' R. Cawthorne, J. F.
Douglas, J. Nichol', Rt. Hon. Cole, Sir C.
Drake, W. T. ' Sir J.. Crawley, S.
Drake, T. T. - Nightingale, Sir M. Curtis, Sir W.
Dugdale, D. S. Northey, W. Dalrymple, A. •
Duncombe, C. ~ Ommanney, Sir F. Hope, Sir W. J.
Duncombe, W, O'Neil, Hon. John Jenkinson,, Hon. C.
Egerton, W. . Onslow, A. . Jocelyn, Hon. .T.'
Ellis, Thomas . Osborne, Sir J. ' Lennox, Lord G.
Ennisthore, Vise. Owen, Sir John Mundy, E. M..- 1
Estcourt, T. G: Palk, Sir L. Trice, Richard

• Fairlie, Sir W. C. Paktim, W. G. Rochfort, G. H.
Fane, John Pears; John Seymour,
Pane, V. - Peehell, Sir I'. 8... Sk.effington, Hn
Farrand, *Robert Peel,' Rt. Hon: R. Swann, H.
Fellowes, W. H. Peel, W. G. Smith, Samuel
Fetherstone, Sir T. . PeLlew, Hon. P. B. Vivian, Sir H.
Fleming, J. Pennant; G.' H. D. Ward, Robt.
Forde, 1%1. Percy, Hon. W. Yarmouth, Earl of

Raspberries, for the table, and.young apricots for tarts,
were brought on Saturday morning to Covent-Garden market
for sale.

We are happy to state that the framework-
knitters hi the County of Nottingham are returned to their
employ, and that, by the Report received at the General Special
Sessions held in the County Hall on Saturday week, the peace
of the County is not likely to be disturbed so as to warrant the
necessity of enforcing the duties of watching and warding.
All accounts from Yorkshire, particularly from Hudders-
field, agree that the manufacturers were never better off, or in
fuller employ. Fakery thing there is quiet, and no discontent.

The Annual Polyanthus Feast was held at the
Globe Inn, Winchester, on Tuesday last, when the first
prize was adjudged to Mr. R. Hopkins ; the second to W.
Ewens, gardener to R. Jesset, Esq. ; the third to the gar-
dener to G.B. Ricketts, Esq., Twyford ; the fourth to Mr.
Malley, of Silkstead. The dinner and dessert were excellent,
and the company more numerous and respectable than on any
former occasion.—We understand that the florists of this city
and neighbourhood feel so confident of the great superiorityof
their pinks, as to induce them to challenge all England.—
( Hampshire ,Chronick, May' 4. )