The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-12 00:00:00

SHIP-OWNERS' SOCIETY.

Yesterday'tho general Annual Meeting of the
Society of Ship-Owners was held at the City of
London 'Tavern.
At one o'cloelc,Mr..LYALl. was called to the Chair.

The CZIAIR IfADT, on taking his seat, stated that the 6ect.,
ing was called in conformity with the constitution of the Society,
for the purpose of filling up the vacancies which had occurred
by rotation in the Committee during the last year, and generally
to regulate, direct, and controul all the affairs of the Society.
The. Scc lIETARY then read the Report of the Committee,
(which we shall insert at full.length to.morrow.)

The CHAIRMAN said it must be gratifying to the society to
abserve that so many of the important objects to which their
attention had been directed were accomplished ; he was sorry to
add that an equally satisfactory result had not attended all their
endeavours. He spoke particularly of the rates of pilotage and
boarding-money, the London port duty, and the quarantine
charges. He had thought it expedient to wait upon the Chair-
man of the Select Committee of Foreign Trade. Yesterday
morning he had had an interview with the Chairman, who
had informed him, that with respect to the rates of pi..
lotage there had been much evidence heard before the Com.
mittee, and that, in fact, the evidence was closed, and a report
would have been made last session, if it had been so far
advanced. As soon, however; as the Committee was revived
next session, the Report would be made. With respect to the
London post-duty, he (Mr. 14.) had also learned that great
progress had been made last Session in preparing the mate-
rials of a Report, which would be made at an early period
after the revival of the Committee. With regard to the ree
gulations of quarantine, nothing had yet been clone by the
Committee; but it would be the first object to which they
would direct their attention, after the rates of pilotage and the
London Port Bill were disposed of. On the subject of the
I fees and charges of consuls, he had hail a conversation with Mr.
Lack, or Mr.litiskisson, he forgot which, at the Board of Trade,
and it was the impression on his mind, that those Gentlemen
hail stated that some essential alterations and material improve-
ments were in contemplation. Nothing had been done as to the
question of the stamp-duty on the transfers of property in
shipping ; but it was proposed to address a memorial to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and pray for that relief to which
the shipping interest was most justly entitled. On the subject
of the classification of ships, a letter would be read in the
course of the day, front a respectable member of the society.
The attention of tie Committee had been directed to this hue
'portent question, particularly during the hest and preceding
year, but not meeting with a cordial concurrence at Lloyd's,
they were not able to carry that point. During the next year,
the subjects lie had mentioned would fully undergo the atten-
tion of the Committee.
Mr.' CIIAP3tAN then moved that the Report of the Commit-
tee be Agreed to.
Mr. URQUHART said, before that motion was passed he
hail some observations which he was desirous of addressing to
the society. He approved thoroimghly of the alteration and con-
solidation of the registry laws ; but he disapproved wholly of
the Act regulating the proportion of apprentices to be taken
by vessels in the Wrest India trade. It would afford no relief
to that trade. lie contended, that ships of HO tons ought not
to be compelled to take out an apprentice, though looking at
the Act altogether, he objected not to the number apprenticed
to the admeasurement of the vessels; but to the principal on
which the Act was founded. The Report stated, that the first
and second mates were to be protected from impressment; but
how were they to be protected ? The nature of the protection
was such, that if the mete stepped over the side of the vessel he-
lost it. It was a protection solely for the benefit of the ship
owner, attaching not 'to the man but to the ship. It was a
selfish measure which redounded to the discredit of the Ship
Owners. There ought to be no litw to authorise the im-
pressment of seamen out of merchant ships in time of
peace. The consequence was, that ships came home un-
manned. It was the duty of Government to take care to
eend out seamen' for their own service, and not take away
those belonging to the Merchants. As to the Seamen's
Hospital, he objected to its being dependent on charity. It
should be established on solid foundations, as at Jamaica, and
supported by. a rate on the shipping. The next subject on which
he should animadvert was the Trinity House. In no instance
was the power of truth and reason more apparent than in the
exposure of the abuses of this Corporation. Last , Session it
had been brought before the house of Commons, in a re-
port, in such a shape as would have subjected any individual
to a prosecution for libel who should previously have said that
such was the state of the Corporation. It had been made
manifest that 11,0001 ea-year was divided among the Elder',
Brethren, in violation of the charter. Formerly the office Was
purely honourary. Formerly, too, the Elder Brethren were elect-
ed every year by the Younger Brethren ; but now they were
self-elected for life. Every. Younger Brother bad a power to
vote in electing a master. If they were, on the next occasion
to assemble and exercise this right, it would probably sur-
prise Lord Liverpool not a little, to find himself displaced
in favour of a fitter substitute. When the Trinity House Cor-
poration existed under its present management, the Society of
Ship-owners would never attain the consequence which it ought
to possess. As to the rates of pilotage, be was surpriSed that the
Committee had not directed their attention to the necessity of
code of maritime laws. Time most trivial things were continually
giving rise to law-suits, and an entire state of ignorance prevailed
among the parties concerned, as to their respective legal obli-
gations. In fact, there was no law between master and man
on ship board. This subject ought to be pressed upon the
attention of Parliament. The code might be compiled in the
most simple manner. To begin with, 50 regulations might be
made, and the number gradually increased, until all the cases
were met. This, the first maritime country in the world, was
without any regular system of maritime law. He hoped the
Committee would turn these subjects over on their attention
during the ensuing year.
The motion fur agreeing to the Report was then carried una-
nimously.
The erfAutmAH, then called the attention of the Society to
the election of eight members of the Committee, instead of
those who went out by rotation. Lists were lying on the table,
on which each member, before he retired, would mark eight
names. _ - _

l'ilr. MAP SHALL MOVed Iwo Resolutions, the first of which
was declaratory of the evils of the present system of classifica-
tion of ships at Lloyds,- and the urgent necessity of a remedy.
The second proposed a General Meeting of the Ship Owners
on Tuesday, the 20th of January, to appoint a Committee for
the purpose of carrying an amended system into execution.
111 i. UnQu TWIT cited several instances within his own know.
ledge to prove the inadequacy and incorrectness of the present
system of classification. A ship which be had sold as not being
sea-worthy, he had found afterwards marked A. 1. She was,
on his remonstrance, reduced to 1 2, but by some means con-
trived to mount again as high as E L In his opinion the sur-
veyor should give a description of the vessel to the Cqmmittee,
and they should, on his report, fix the rank of the vessel. The
classification ought not to rest on any individual. In all sur-
veys the builder's name should be attached.
The first resolution was carried unanimously.
The second resolution passed in a similar way, an amend-
ment having been suggested by Mr. Wilson, M.P., thet the
meeting should be held on Thursday, the 22d of January, in-
stead of Tuesday the 20th.
„A third resolution was also moved by Mr. Marshall, and
carried unanimously.
The Cuatitstior then explained why the dinner, which
usuallyy followed the annual meeting, was this year postponed.
;4; r. Wilson, who was to do them the honour of presiding, was
engaged on that day. It was intended to have the dinner in
the first week of January, or at least early in that month; due
notice would, however,. be given to the Members.
Mr. SPENCER moved, that the thanks of the Society be
given to the Committee, which was agreed to unanimeusly.
Mr. BUCKLE moved that the cordial thanks of the Sodety
be given to Thomas Esq., M.P., for his general atten-
tion to the interests of the Society, and for his zeal on all occa-
sions in promoting them.
The motion was carried by acclamation.
Mr. WILSON said the honour was perfectly unexpected; he
was afraid he had had but few opportunities of shelving his zeal
in their cause, and that he was altogether indebted to the kind-
ness and friendship of the Committee for his supposed merits.
He pledged himself, however, to be ready at all times to exert
himself to the beat of his ability to serve them.—(Applause.)
Mr. 0 TIlltIE told they had yet another agreeable duty to
discharge, and that was, to return their thanks for the services
rendered to them, both that day, and on other occasions, by
their worthy Chairman, whose zeal, ability, and unremitting
attention, entitled him to every recommendation.

The motion was put by Mr. Wilson, and carried with ap.
pla use.
The Members then proceeded to ballot for the supply o
the vacant places in the Committee ; after which the Society
separated.

31 generally
Mrzzou t not, perhap
known that we are indebted to Prince Rupert for
this mode of engraving, of which the idea struck
him while seeing a soldier scrape the rust from
his fusil.