The Sun.
London, England, 1823-06-17 00:00:00

SIIIP.OWNEitS) SOCIETY.

•
Yesterday a general meeting of the Ship Owners' SoCiety
was held at the City of London Tavern, to take into considera-
tion the propriety of petitioning Parliament against the passing
of the bill for establishing reciprocity of duties in certain cases.,
G. LsraLL, Esq. was called to the Chair, who stated that.
the meeting was called pursuant to a requisition of a special
meeting. They were all aware that the object of the bill was
to allow the importation of foreign goods in foreign bottoms
upon the same duties as those countries lay upon our shipping.
The general opinion was, that this would be a most disastrous
matter to the British ship-owners, as the President of the
Board of Trade had candidly admitted, that the' principle'
of the measure would be extended to all foreign nations who
should adopt a reciprocity of duties. This would be a
serious alteration of part of our mercantile code, which had
existed since the time of Charles H. He then read a corres-
pondence between the late Chairman of the Society and the
Board of 'Trade on the subject. 'rhe President of the
Board of Trade admitted that it would be desirable to retain
things on their present footing, but that it was not practicable,
because other countries of the north of Europe were imposing
countervailing duties, In opposition to our restrictive measures ;
and that if we went on imposing other restrictions, it would
lead to the annihilation of commerce. He (the Chairman) ad-
mitted himself friendly to free trade, but they only sought a
continuance of the protection which they had enjoyed for
nearly two centuries. Other trades, such as the woollen, silk,
&c. had similar protection ; and why were the ship-owners
alone to be deprived of that safeguard, when from various
causes the shipping interest had lost mach within these last few
years.
Ir. POWLES said, that in Norway and Sweden they had
materials at hand. (and without being subjected to any duties),
for ship-building ; and the expence of navigating their vessels
was more than one half less than required for British shipping.
How, then, Mr. Wallace mild say in Parliament that the
British ship-owner could compete with all foreign ship-owners,
he was at a loss to comprehend.. He then read tile Resolutiteis
to be propotied for the adeptien of the Meeting. The Com-
mittee looked on this as the commencement of a series of ex-
perimental measures to be tried on the shipping interest. There
was an advantage in favour of wood brought from Prussia in
British ships of 2s. Iki. a load: If. Prussia then laid a counter.
vailaig duty, our Government, might lay on a duty of bs. fid.
and then the trade in timber would be driven into British
America, a measure which Pruisia would riot be disposed to
hasten or to produce.
On the first resolution being put,
Mr. HALL said he owed no apology for addressing the meet.
ing, though he bad to controvert some of the facts stated in the
resolutions. He was disposed to say that Alp-building bud
nothing to do with this question, though he allowed that 8d..;
tish ship-building had fallen in extent ; but that arose from
a return to a state of peace with a superabundance of unem-
ployed tonnage. The exports of the country for the last year
were three millions and a half over that of the year preceding.
Mr. POWLES and others thought the exports and the im-
ports of the country had no bearing on the question of British
shipping.
Mr. HaLLthought he could shew that it had something to
do with the question. He would not be put down by clamour.
He held in his hand the-Parliamentary documents, which
spewed the Increase of British shipping over foreign of 410
ship., and 147,000 tons. The tonnage increased, exclusive
or Ireland, had amounted to so much as to prove the truth
of his argument, that there was no danger from the aboli-
tion of restrictive duties, or by freedom of trade. The alarm
therefore was groundless. Would we wait until foreign nations '
compelled us to a reciprocity of duties ? or was it not more
worthy of a free and great nation to adopt such measure spon-
taneously? lie contended that the American countervailing Acts
navigation had had the eff,:ct of throwlug the trade out of
British shipping. This was a
:practical proof of the truth
of his argument, and would show theta what the consequence
would be if we continued our restrictive duties. In this way
they would lose the trade with Holland, Prussia, Russia,
Sweden, &c., who had all put countervailing. duties on sonic
of ow articles, and prohibited others. He contended that the
duties on hemp and ilex were so small, as not to afford
any protection to the British ship-builder anti ship-owner,
although almost all the trade in those articles was carried on in
British bottome.. Besides, the ships of the countries which he
hail mentioned were locked up for four months in the year,
while ours could be employed in other voyages. If we (lid not
repeal our restrictive laws, he knew what he should do were he
in the situation of any foreign government; he would meet us
with a navigation act like our own, arid that would confine our
trade to our own pentium. lie denied that foreign vessels could
navi..ue cheaper than ours, because if that hail been so, why
had they not run away with all our trade.
Mr. PowLEs said they differed with Mr. Hall as to the in-
, crease of Britiskihipping, which he contended was decreasing
during the last six yeats, and that.the foreign shipping had in
fact increased during that time.
Mr. I/ALL said, thatlte argued from documents of the House
of Commons, and if they were wrong he could not help it. lie
had been asked whether he was a ship owner, and lie was not;
but he was an annual subacriber of five guineas to their fund.
Many of the most eminentship owners had stated before the
committee of the House of Commons, that we had nothing
whatever to fear from the competition of foreign shipping.
He could not help thinking that there was something more in
this than the mere naked question of navigation. Knowing,
as he did, that Lord Liverpool was the patron of the shipping
interest of the country, he was satitied that he at least was not
afraid of this measure being injurious to the British ship
owner. It was time for us to give up the petty war of duties,
which Prussia had properly called a system of nuisances, and
to trust to the superior skill and enterprize of the British ship-
ping interest over that of all foreign nations.
Mr. Buce.L.E contended, that the British tonnage employed
in the continental trade had decreased, compared with the fo.
reign tonnage. He admitted the great importance of our export
trade to America, but it would .not bear out the conclusion
which the last speaker had drawn from it. He also disagreed
with him, in not thinking that this measure must necessarily be
carried, because it had been made a Cabinet question ; for they
had, not long ago, obtained an abandonment of the obnoxious
parts of another measure, which would have had injurious
consequences to their interests. They had not met so numerously
SS he had wished, but their was quite a sufficient number to
represent the great shipping interest of the port of London.
Mr. COAPAIAN contended that there was a proportion of
Norwegian tonnage of fl 4 to G. He was sure that if they repre-
sented their case properly, Government would give them the
relief they sought for. •
J. WlLson, Esq. M.P., gaie Mr. Hall great credit for his
talents and extensive knowledge of the subject, but he did
not think the facts he had stated would bear hint so far as he
seemed to expect.
Mr. CIIAPIWAS said, such was the distressed state of ship-
building, that except one, or two vessels for the East India
Company, he did not believe that there was one ship building
in the port of London by <order. In Whitby there were five
only, two of which were by order. He did not know the state
of Liverpool; but in Sunderland, at the beginning of the year,
mine persons entered bite a speculation, in expectancy of a
war, for which they were now heartily sorry. If any one would
q vs him half to embark the other half as a capital, he would
beg leave to decline it.
Air. Rowcuovar wished them to be able to shOw to Govern-
ment the extent and nature:of the injury which they would
suffer from this measure being carried in Parliament.
Mr. Pow i.r.s contended that' the duties and charges on'Bri-
OA shipping over those 9f foreigners showed fully the injury
which our trade would 'itutrerliom this measure.
After some farther observations, the Resolutions were
agreed to. •

grant efrroeme lthPislecoatstnutrrey . the sake of humanity, that
s for
the disasters which were reported to have occurred to the end.
• this subject the London prints contain a very spirited letter
to Poyais, have been contradicted. On
from the agent in London of the political head of Po cis,
wherein it is directly asserted, that the letter said to
have been received front .Honduras was fabricated for
a base Purpose. On this point we do not pretend to
give an opinion; we, however, perceive by a contemporary
paper, that so recently as the 22d April, the Scotch settlers were
all in the enjoyment of good health, and that the number at St.
Joseph's alone (independent of course of those who had proceed.
ed up the country,
wax at that date above '220 It ap.
pears that 2 or 3 restless young men had seizedp a canoe or ship's
boat, in which part of them had reached Belize; where, in excuse
for their own conduct., they might have propagated the reports
1 which have been so eagerly caught and circulated. We have
,
I been favoured with the perusal of a sensible letter front one of
the emigrants
expressing his wish to have his family sent out to him. Ile
giving a favourable account of the country, and
states as 1.°11°w!:—" On the morning of the 22d March, I
went ashore with the first boat, but got my chest, clothes, and
about the half of my books very much wet, but had. them
soon dry, as it -is just such weather here as I ant sure
Mrs: ---- wishes for, wheti- she has a large washing to dry,
although we Nave had a wet morning this day." ,4 Up to this
date, I have every reason to bless the Lord for the health that I
have enjoyed, and still am in the enjoyment of : —we do not
expect to remain long here, neither do I wish to be long here,
I wish to go more up the country, were soil and climate are
both better. Any of the natives I have had occasion to be with
appear to be very fond of us. t' I could wish very much that
my family had been With *llo.'l—We-have also seen a letter
front another emigrant which is equally satisfactory.—(Edin-
burgh Observer, June 14.)