The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-24 00:00:00

SIIIP-OWNERS.

GENERAL ANNUM MEETING.: OF THE SHIP:
OWNERS' SOCIETY.
A General Meeting of this Society was; yesterday held at the
City of London Tai►ern, to receive the Report of the Committee,
and for other purposes. • *
At one o'clock GEonor—LYALL, Esq. was unanimously
called to the Chair, and commenced the business of the Meet.
ing, by proposing that the Report be read.
Mr. Cocx, the Secretary, was accordingly requested to read
it, which is so important,.-that we feel it our duty to give it
entire.

REVENUE AND NAVIGATION LAWS.—At length the
Committee have the satisfaction of congratulating the Ship.
owners upon the near accomplishment of that moat important
object, to which their wishes and efforts have for several years
past been directed, namely, the consolidation of the numerous
laws relating to Navigation and Trade, and the separation of
the Customs from the Excise.
At the close of the last Session of Parliament, a Bill was in.
troduced by Mr. Berries, Secretary to the Treasury, for re.
pealing no less than 4f9 Laws relating to the Customs; and also
four other Bills, re-enacting such of the provisions of those
Laws as it has been thought expedient to retain, viz.
A Bill for the general Regulation of the Customs.
A Bill for granting Duties of Customs.
A Bill for the Prevention of Smuggling.
A Bill for regulating the Customs of the Isle of Man.
Further Bills are also in preparation, -viz.
A Bill for giving certain Bounties for the Encouragementof
Trade and Navigation.
A Bill for the Registry of Vessels.
A Bill for regulating Vessels carrying Passengers, in certain
cases.
A Bill for regulating the Trade of the British Possessions

abroad.
" The Bill to repeal the several laws relating to the Customs,
is intended to eff'ect its object, Ist, by particularizing those Acts
and parts of Acts which are intended to be repealed, in order
that they may be expunked from the Statute Book ; and next,
by general description ; because, however careful the researches
upon which the reference to these existing laws may be pre-
pared, some enactments inserted in Statutes chiefly relating to
other matters, might still be overlooked. The general repeal
will, therefore, obviate the possible evil of any such omission,
and at the same time serve as a legal declaration that no law of
a date anterior to that of the new Code, can continue to have any
force.
" The Bill for the general regulation of the Customs, is in-
tended to constitute the chief and fundamental law of the Cus-
toms, for the government of that department, and for the collec-
tion of the large revenue which is levied under that authority."
Under the three
.general heads of " Inwards," " Outwards,"
and " Coastwise,' this Bill is to " contain all the Rules re-
lating to the arrival or departure of ships, and to the landing
or shipping of goods."
" It will also comprise the Law of _Navigation ; all the pro-
visions of which, as enforced in every part of the world, are to
be re-enacted in it. Some of these may not appear to, he strictly
connected with the law of the Customs of the United Kingdom :
but it has been deemed desirable by the Lords of the Treasury,
that the whole subject should be arranged under one head;
and considering how large a portion of the Law of Navigation
is, in effect, the law of Imports and Exports, it could, seurcely
'have been classed otherwise than as a part of the general law of
the Customs.
" It will probably be found, when this comprehensive BM
has been fully considered, that there are some subjects of' a
local, temporary, or peculiar nature, contained in the Acts to•
be repealed, which are not provided for in it; and their Lord-
ships have therefore considered that a Separate Bill to include
such subjects may be necessary. The attention of Mr. 3.D.
Hume, the Comptroller of the Customs, (who has been selected
by the Board fig this difficult important work,) has been ace
cordingly directed to a Bill of that supplementary description.
" The Rai for regidating the Customs of' the rile of Man;
brings together, under one point of view, all time existing Re-
gulations affecting the Trade and 'Revenue of that Island, pee
culierly circumstanced as they arc with respect to'those of
Great Britain.
• The Bill for granting Duties of Customs, will be a Tariff
only; and, as the duties are to be collected under the powers of
the general Law, time Bill will contain no clauses except such
as may be explanatory of the tables, and cannot well be made
the subject of permanent regulations.
"The Bill for the Prevention of Smuggling, will form an
act in aid and defence of the existing laws of the Customs; its
enactments pre-suppose some infraction or invasion of those
lawsl on some indication of an attempt to evade them. All
provisions relating to the subject of the legal jurisdiction to
which offenders against the laws are amenable, are to be in-
cluded in this Bill.
"The Bill for the Registry of Vessels," and the Bill " for
regulating Vessels, carrying Passengers, in certain cases," will
be nearly transcripts of the Acts of the 4th of the King, upon
those subjects which, in the framing of those Acts, have already
undergone the process of consolidation ; but which, for the
sake of uniformity, and in order that the whole Code of Cus-
toms Law may*commence from the same period, it is deemed
necessary to renew upon the present occasion.
" The Bill for regulating this Trade of the British Posses.
sions abroad, will embody the various Legislative regulations
to which the navigation and commerce of the foreign dominions
of this country have been subjected by the Parliament of the
United Kingdom.
"The Bill for giving certain Bounties for the Encourage.
ment of Trade and Navigation, will be constructed so as to
continue further the allowance of such bounties as may be in
force under any existing laws at the epoch of the general repeal
of the laws of the customs."
The Committee having thus recited the objets contemplated
by the Bills in question, feel that any comment upon the im-
portant advantages that must result therefrom to the shipping
interest, would lie superfluous: they are such as entitle the
Government by whom they have been conferred, and the able
individual who has so successfully devoted his talents and ex-
perience to their accomplishment, to the gratitude of every
merchant and ship-owner in the kingdom. •
EAST INDIA rItADIC.—The Committee regret to Itrare to
state that the advantages which the Legislature intended to se-
cure to British ships in. the t•:ast India trade, by the Act 4
Geo. IV. cap. 80, have only in part been realized.
It will be recollected, that the consent of the British ship.
owners to the admission of' India-built vessels to all the privi-
leges enjoyed by ships built in this country, was given upon
the understanding, that, in return, they were to be allowed to
participate in common with the former, in the coasting and ge-
neral trade in the Indian seas. It appears, however, that the
local Government does not feel itsM authorized to grant its
licences to trade between India and China, to any vessel not
owned by a trader resident in India. The Committee have
laid a memorial on the subject, before his el ajesty's Govern-
Merit, and have no doubt that the necessary-orders will be sent,
to the Authorities in Iptlia to conform to the justice of the case,
and the intentions of the Legislature.
Meanwhile, the Committee have the pleasure to announce,
that the lion. East India Company have so far relaxed their
system, as to b,:come the exporters of tea direct from China to
the British Settlements in North America ; and, as. the reasons
upon which this measure is founded, apply in equal force to
the export from China to the Continent of Europe, and to other
puree of America, the Committee hope that the Honourable
Directors will at length see the policy either of carrying on this
trade themselves, or of allowing other merchants and ship.
owners to participate in it with the traders of all other nations;
as the case now stands, a monopoly is now virtually created in
favour of the shipping and coorimerce of foreign countries, to
the exclusion of every British interest.
PILOTAU T.: —The Select Committee of the House of Com-
;onutoortiteir, trade, having had under consideration the sub-
ofons
pet the close of the list Session made a Report
(and which it may be expected will serve as the foundation of
aim Act in time epproaching Session), wherein they recommend
that a reduction Should like place upon the rates of Pilotage
payable to the Trinity House Pilots of London, as specified in
Schedule (A) annexed to the Act of 52d Geo. 111. equal t0.121i pee cent. upon the ainounethereof; and a like reduction in thZ
rates of the Cinque Ports Pilotage, as specified hi TeLle (II) of
the said Act.
tionra ble Sej
cet Committee have also recommended that no adde.
Cinque Ports Pilots 3110111 a be appointed until the number
aredhaluleitroVne,bhe2
arrive reducedat 3
t 1(,
01120 • and. thet whenever the gradual
a diminution of 21j per cent. Upon
the diminished rates of pilotage shall take place ; and after the
•number shall have been reduced to 120, a farther reduction of
2i per cent., making together 6 per cent. upon the amount
such reduced rates. That the scale regulating a progressive hie
creased pee tentage upon the augmentation of their numbers
all 4 of 26
beyond 120 shall be repealed.; and that a power shall be given
to :I).r e .
l
i%,Verarcdeennt. upono the rates elf Pilotage nsvaltio 'yf the Cinque Ports to discontinue the
4101)3 belonging to foreign countries in which British ships

shall receive the same advantage as the native ones, in respect
of pilotage, upon a notification being. made from his Majesty's
Privy Council to the Lord Warden, upon the principle of
" reciprocity," established by the Act 4, Geo. IV. cap. 77.
BOAILDING.—On the subject of boarding, the Select CoM-
mittee have recommended that the first point of compulsory
boarding should be Folkestone, instead ofDungeness ; that the
following scale of rates should he substitOted for that at pre-
sent existing; and that vessels under sixty tons, and in ballast,
should be exempted from such compulsion.
_ . Polkestosse. Dover. Downs
For Vessels. s. d. .t;, s. d. £. a. d.
Above 60 tons, and under 130 tons 1 11 6 1 llto 16 0
150 — , , w 2OO---- 2 2 0 11160 15 0
200 700_ 3 3 0 .2 201 1 0
700, and above 4 4 0 3 3'o I 11 6
They have also recommended, as the means of relief from
the vexation and expence attending the present mode of obtain-
ing redress in matters of difference between the ship-owners, or
the masters of vessels, and pilots, that a power should be vested
in such of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Corporation, as
shall, for the time being, constitute the Pilotage Committee, to
hear and determine any matters of complaint between the
masters and the owners of ships and vessels arriving in the port
of London, and the pilots generally ; and that such decisions
shall be final.
The Select Committee have further recommended that British
constant traders, not exceeding 200 tons in burthen, between
the ports of Boulogne and the Scaw inclusive, inward and out-
ward bound, whether entering the River Thames by the North
or South Channel, shall be exempted from the compulsion to
take pilots.
The Committee congratulate the shipping interest upon the
prospect of so material a reduction in the rates of Pilotage ; and
trust that, in due time, They will be further reduced, as far as
circumstances will admit,.
Qtranari TINE 14A*A-'4..The Select Committee have also
made a Report on these Laws-
Adverting to the Report of a Select Committee appointed in
1819 to consider the validity of the doctrine of Contagion in
the Plague, they observe, that " whatever difference of opinion
may exist, in respect to danger to be apprehended from the
propagation of the plague in this country, by persons or mer-
chandise, enough of doubt remains to make it a measure of
more hazard than it would be expedient to incur, to abandon
lit once the whole system of precaution which has been hitherto
adopted."

As.suining then that some precaution is to be maintained, the
inquiry of the Select Committee has been directed to ascertain
whether the established system admits of improvement; and
the result is, that they recommend to the Hon. House, that
" goods coming from the Mediterranean, not included in the
first class, being deemed little susceptible of conveying colts-
gion, should cease to be subjected to restraint ; that gods of
the-first class (from which it is possible, on revision, the
Privy Council may be able to erase some articles) should be
alone those to which detention and precaution should be here-
after applied, except where goods of any other kind are con-
tained in packages formed of materials enumerated in the first
class."

" That all ships bound for London, which shall arrive from
any place with foul bills of health, or on board of which infec-
-1 to
haveas
t,spearedg ate
cduringre Creels,
then d
there performance
is
discharge
aorfgteh et
hveo yae
proceedstiloninllshal
enu-
merated goods into the Lazeretto ; that the vessels shall then
perform twenty-one days quarantine from the time of having
so discharged the goods; and the goods shall also remain
twenty-one days in quarantine after such delivery, with the
exception of fruit, which may be delivered in seven days.
" That every ship, from any place, with a foul bill of health,
bound for, any other port of the United Kingdom, shall pro-
ceed to such place or places as shall be appointed. by Order in
Council, and there perform a similar quarantine for ships and
goods.
" That every ship arriving with a clean bill of health, and
where no circumstances of sickness have occurred during the
voyage, from any port in Turkey or Africa, bound to London,
shall bring up for examination at the Lower Hope, in the river
Thames, and there wait, without any other than official corn-
mutilations with her being permitted, for the purpose of a Re-
port to the Privy Council; and upon the answer to such Report
being received, shall then, if so permitted, and after having re-
ceived a certificate to that effect from the proper officer of qua-
rantine, proceed without discharging any part of her cargo.
That.every ship similarly circumstanced, from any port in
Turkey or Africa, bound to any other port in Great Britain or
Jr:land, shall remain at the most convenient station in or elf her
own port of discharge, to be appointed by the Privy Council, or
the proper,officer at the port, without any, other than official
communication, till a Report shall have been made to the Privy
Council, and an answer received, and shall then, if so permitted,
be admitted toimmediate entry, let like manner as in the former
Case.

" That all other ships arriving from any part of the Mediter-
ranean, with tjeari Ea, of health, bound to the port of Lon-
dm), sall bring up for examination at the Lower an and
j h.iving l
been exionined by the, L
officer for quatine,
shall, uptin receiving a certificate to that effect, be permitted
immediately. to proceed; and all other ships similarly circum-
stanced, arriving from any part of the Mediterranean, bound
to any other port in Great Britain or Ireland, shall be subject
to such examination by the proper officer, before entering her
own port of discharge.
" That in all these cases of examination, the ship shalt be
furnished with a certificate by the proper officer; and that no
ship arriving from the Mediterranean, Turkey, or Africa, shall
b, admitted to entry at any port in Great Britain or Ireland,
without producing a certificate of having • been examined and
rele

--The Sub-Committee concluded their interesting Report, as
follows :—" In conclusion, your Committee beg to submit to
the House, that the precautionary regulations to which their
inquiry has been directed, although applicable to a particular
branch of trade, have been established by the Legislature for
the general security and protection ; and that, as it is a national
object that the trade should be carried on with the Levant, the
means of enabling individuals to carry it on without danger to
the country, is a matter of national interest. And notwith-
standing it may be true, that any charges imposed on freight
or merchandise, wherever they may in the first instance, tall,
must be ultimately paid by the consumers ; yet your Commit-
tee are of opinion that it would be more consonant to justice, As
well as more beneficial to the trade, that the charges of quaran-
tine should be immediately borne by the Public; and they
therefore recommend, that in future, all vessels subject to qua-
rantine should be exempted from the duties imposed for the
purpose of defraying the expences arising from it, and the fees
reduced. Your Committee have less difficulty in proposing
this change, because it is only a return to the former system,
which wax professedly departed from for the accomplishment
of an object long.since abandoned.
" Your Committee have only further to add, that should the
suggestions contained in this Report, for the alteration in the
Qoatantine Law, be adopted, they recommend the repeal of the
existing Acts upon the subject, and the incorporation into a
single Act of all the Legislative provisions by which it may be
thought expedient that the British Quarantine should be here-
after regulated." -

The Committee cannot omit this opportunity of expressing,
in concurrence with the sentiments of other public bodies, and
-distinguished individuals, their high opinion of the important
services which have been rendered to the community at large,
and to the shipping interests in particular, by Dr. Charles Mac-
lean, in his able writings, tending to establish, that the Govern.
ments of Eur Ope have acted in error in burthening shipping
and.. Commerce with restrictions, from► tne fear of contagion ;
and the Committee hope that the ameliorations of the Quaran-
tine system now about to take place, may be succeeded by other
measures of a-singainsture, until the whole of these restric-
tions wtich cannot be proved to be indispensable, shall have
been abOlished.
. _

.1.4014h0N PORT DUTY.—The hopes which had been fOrined
of the result of the Parliamentary inquiry on the subject of the
London Port Duty, have been grievously disappointed.--. From
the Report of the Select Committecit appears, that the balanee
still due of the debt created by advances out of The Consolidated
Fundlhwei
tl,iro
ornracticalkeeoinDminupg tryuivnietnmeretesinitet),of the Port of London, amounted,
f:
nt
on the Ist January, 1023, to no less than 550,1951. ss. 4d.
threean /elms ending with 1023 was
30,1201. that the average amount of
30,120/. If therefore that duty is to continue until it extin-
guishes the debt, the shippin trading to the port of London
will have to bear the burthen (or many years to come. The
Committee, however, hope. as the attentu.n of Government
that measures may be adopted
has been drawn to the tattliiect,
to remove the apprehensions of its indefinite continuance. .
It is obvious that if the docks, by which the improvement of
the
had not been constructed, the
immentie Bums awarded to individuals' for " Compensations"
Pert was principally effected,
would not have been required ; which stuns form the great
bulk of that debt; and that it is the Government, and the
Proprietorts of those docks, who have been principally bene-
fited—the former by the additional security to the revenue, and
the diminished expence of its collection—the latter by the in.
come derived front the rates : the Committee, therefore, can.
not but feel it to be a most grievous hardship that the hurthen
of this immense debt should be thrown exclusively on the ship.
owner.
.....:
STAMP utirtEs..._Frere the feeling which pervades the
shipping interest at large, on the subject of the heavy burthen
of the existing stamp duty on the transfer of property in .ship.
ping, the Committee extremely regret their not being prepared
to tagnify the consent °ide Lords of the l'rea.sury. to the reeal
thereof; but being strongly impressed with the injustice and
impolicy of this tax, and at the same time perfectly satisfied of
the desire of his Alltjesty's Government to alleviate the burthens
of the slrip.owners as much as circumstances will allow, the
Connuittee still encourage the hope that their memorial to their

Lordships, for an exemption from this duty, will meet with a
favourable decision in the interim of the meeting of Parliament.
CLASSIFICATION OF SHIPS IN LLOYD'S BOOKS.—A Spe-
cial Committee, consisting of Merchants,Underwriters, and Ship-
Owners, having been appointed by a General Meeting held at
the City of London Tavern in, the month p fJanuarylast, " to
collect the fattest information on the subject of classing Ship-
ping in the books at Lloyd's ; and to consider and report to a
subsequent General Meeting such alterations in the present
system, and to suggest .such. Rules and Relation, as they
shall judge to be expedient for theluture classing of the Mer-
' chant Shipping;"..-the Committee, congratulate the Shipping
Interest at large upon the prospect thus opened, of the imper-
fection of that system being corrected.
The Special Committee having received the evidence and opi-
nions of numerous practical and scientific Gentlemen, have re-
corded their unanimous opinion, that it appears to them, "that
' the opinions which, in the resolution of the General Alecting,
are stated to have been entertained—' that the existing system
of classing Shipping in the Books at Lloyd's, operates in-
juriously towards the Ship-owner; tends to mislead the ship-
per and underwriter in numerous instances; encourages the
building of inferior ships; and prevents essential repairs ;
whereby the efficiency and reputation of the mercantile marine
is materially affected, to the prejutlice of all parties con-
cerned therein,'—are completely borne out by the evidence
which the Committee have received : but that the consequences'
thus stated, are in no degree to be attributed to any error or
misconduct on the part of the Committees of the existing Books,
but to the imperfection of the system on which they have had
to act, and the inadequacy of the Funds to defray the necessary
expences of the establishment.' "
• From the persevering attention which the Sub-Committee
have paid to the subject, it is hoped they will shortly be pre.
pared to lay the result of their labours before a General Meet-
ing of all the parties interested.
STADE DUTIES.--Mr. Robert Taylor having communicated
to the Committee that a Duty is charged in the. Elbe, payable
to the town of Stade, on all goods imported into Hamburgh in
British Ships, from which Duty, importations in Hamburgh
Ships are exempt; they lost no time in submitting an atplica-
tion to the Lords of Trade, expressing a hope that their Lord-
ships would feel, that although the principle of reciprocity in
Shipping and commercial intercourse has been adopted by
Haniburgli and this country, yet, that, unless the Duty payable
in the River Elbe be removed, the object intended by the con-
cession of that principle will be defeated, and the whole of the
British Carrying Trade to Ilainhurgli be lost.
In reply, the Committee have had- the honour of receiving a
communication from their Lordships, signifying that they have
recommended to the Right Honourable Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, that an application should be made to the lte-
gency of Ilanover, with the view of inducing it to give positive
directions that no further demands of this duty should be made.
TRADE WITH lIIELAND.—It having been represented to
the Committee that, notwithstanding the Act of the last Session
of Parliament, cap. 72, and the Treasury Warrant of the 4th
Nov.182:1, vessels arriving at Dublin from Great Britain were
subjected by the Boards of Customs, and of Ballast, to the same
duties as nn arrival from a Foreign Port ; and that the Mer-
chants of Dublin had addressed a Memorial on the subject to
the Right Honourable the Board of Trade, this Committee felt
it their duty to support the application, and are happy to have
to state that orders have been given to consider vessels so em-
ployed as coasters.
Polo' CHARGES IN TIIE HAVANNAIL—The Committee
have again brought under the consideration of his Majesty's
Government, the continued charge of 2A dollars per ton on
British shipping at the Havannah, whilst American only
pay a duty of one dollar per ton ; and have received for answer,
that measures are taking by his Majesty's Minister at Madrid,
with the Otte of securing the admission of British vessels into
Cuba, on as favourable terms as the shipping of other countries.
Lossies OF Cauers, &c.—Heavy losses having been sus-
tained by ship-owners, in consequence of hempen cables, which
have parted in the Downs, being frequently stolen, and it be-
ing impracticable to discover the delinquents, by reason of the
defective state of the Police at Deal, the Committee addressed an
application to the Lords of the Admiralty, requesting that Capt.
Nl‘Cullock, of his Majesty's ship Ramillies, commanding the
Coast Blockade, might be instructed to take an account of all
fishing smacks or boats employed in picking up anchors or
cables; that the buoys of vessels which have left their anchors
might be carefully watched, and that persons detected in cutting
them away might be secured : that in the event of any wrecked
property being brought on shore, the same should be reported
to the officer of the Lord Warden; and that, in the mean-
while, the removal of the article should be prevented, unless
taken into his possession, or released by his order.
In reply, their Lordships have been pleased to cause it to be
signified to the Committee, that as far as watching the pro-
ceedingior the Deal Boatmen, and reporting the same to the
Officers of the Chigoe Ports, their Lordships have no objec-
tion, and that they have accordingly directed Captain .M4Cols
lock, to give the necessary orders to the Officers under his
command.

The Committee trust that this interference on the part of
Capt..sl‘Cullock, will operate powerfully in removing the evil
in question.
(JLAIMS ON THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT.—Tn their last
Report the Committee expressed a hope, that under the Con-
cvbeinntii)oenbswatiitbhb Spain,
woul ebnetebrie)ttlaiinnettti)
biny the month
bounmtheroofuillta,wreihic,rslin
masters of ships, who, since the peace of 1808, have suffered
from unjust seizures and contiscanons by the Spanish Autho-
rities in South America; but though the Mixed Commission
(appointed in conformity with the Convention) has been sitting
upwards of twelve months, such have been the obstacles and
delays interposed by the successive Spanish Commissioners,
that out of some hundreds of claims, not a single one has yet
been admitted as valid; and the miseries of many of the par.
ties, who, reduced to a state of destitution, have been all this
time waiting in London to attend to their claims, when their
turn shall come, have been aggravated to a most distressing
extent. The Committee, however, .are assured that the atten-
tion of his Majesty's Government is specially directed to the
subject.
ItEuisTitY OFFICE FOR MERCHANT SEAMEN.—This
establishment increases in utility, and is approved in propor-
tion as it becomes known, and as the efforts of Mr. Dewdney
are seconded by the regularity of the masters of ships in mak-
ing the requisite returns of their crews.
SEAMEN'S HOSPITAL..—It is with the most sincere regret
that the Committee have to state, that the funds of the Sea-
men's Hospital, into which upwards of three thousand seamen
have been admitted since its institution on the 25th of October,
1821, are in such a state, as to excite the most serious appre-
hensions lest the necessity should arise for limiting the number
of patients. Hitherto it has been an Asylum int') which every
Seaman in want of medical or surgical aid, in the Port of
London, has found ready admission ; and the Committee fer-
vently hope that the Charity will still continue to receive the
necessary support from the benevolence of the public.

Sir IPWTIECK INSTITUTION.—In the month of April last,
an Institution was established in London, under the patronage
of his Majesty, " for the Prevention of Life from Shipwreck,"
founded upon principles, and governed by rules, admirably
adapted to its benevolent objects. The Institution is supported
by voluntary subscriptions and donations. The office is at
No. 12, Austin Friars.
_

In conclusion, the Committee have to state, that their atten-
tion is at present principally directed to the several important
Bills before mentioned„ which will be under the consideration
of Parliament in the approaching Session ; and also to the
formation of a Marine Code ; the reduction of the Private
Light Dues; the London Port Duty; the fees and charges of
Consuls; and a modification of the existing law in cases of
Barratry.
Application baa within these few days been made to the
Chairman, by the Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Office,
stating the inadequacy of the Fund created by the sixpence per
month deducted from the Seamen's Wages, to the object of pro-
viding the relief contemplated by the Act 20th Geo. 11. for
maimed and disabled Seamen and their ‘Vielows and Children;
and requesting that he will ascertain how far the Ship Owners
are willing that the like sum of sixpence per month should be
collected from them, under the authority of Parliament, pro-
vided that they be subjected to no additional trouble or expellee
in the collection, GEORGE LVA LL, Chairman.
Ship Owner's Society, 33, New Broad-street,
December 23, 1024.

After the Report had been read,
The CHAIRMAN' expressed a hope that the Meeting would
be satisfied with the activity of its Committee, and that geode-
men present would be convinced that the zeal of those whom
they had deputed to represent them had not abated. The Chair-
man adverted to the first part of the Report, and observed that
the bills noticed in it would be of the greatest advantage. With
respect to pilotage, the attention of the Committee had been
constantly engaged, and had, from time to time, examined evi-
dence on the subject, the result of which was before the meet.
ing ; and although, probably, the plan did not answer the ex-
pectation of all, it must be considered as a great improvement
upon the old system. He should be happy to hear suggestions
from other gentlemen on this or any other point. Upon the qua-
rantine, he thought gentlemen would feel with him, that madly
improvements bad taken place, and that delay had been much
shortened by the late regulations. That part of the Report re-
lative to this subject, printed in italics, was very important, viz.
". That the charge of quarantine should be immediately borne
by the public; and they (the Committee of the house of Com-
mons) therefore recommended that, in future, all vessels • sub-
ject to quarantine should be exempted from the duties im-
posed for the purpose of defraying the expouces arising from'
tt, and the fees reduced." As to the London Port Ditties,
the Report was not so satisfactory as could have been
wished.—(The Chairman here desired the Secretary to read
a correspondence between the Committee and the ,Vest India

Dock Directors, bearing on this point, to chew that the Conte
mittee had not been unmindful of the subject.]—With re,
spect to the Stamp Duties, the Committee had yet received
no reply from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the appli-
cation made to him, but the subject would net be allowed to
rest. The Chairman next called the attention of the Meeting'
to a point that was of consequence to every inhabitant of the
island, and was particularly so to a Meeting,of this kind.". ha
meant the interests of British seamen.—( Hear l)—When he was
first applied to, for the purpose of gaining the sentiments of the
ship.owners by. the Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Office,
&d
who stated tot= th:alknudequacy of the fund created by the 6d.
sixpence per month ucted from the seaman's wages,
to
the object of providing the relief contemplated by the -Act
20th George 11., for maimed and disabled seamen, and their
widows and children ; and reqUesting that he would ascertain
how far the ship-owners were willing that the like sum of six-
pence per month should he collected from them, under the
authority of Parliament, provided that they be subjected to no
additional trouble or expence in the collection. He replied,
that no means could be adopted so satisfactory for ascertaining
the sentiments of the shipowners, as at a general meeting of this
Society. He could not avoid, after hawing alluded to the ad-
cation thus made to him, of declaring that he had possessedthe
opportunity of witnessing the conduct of the Directors of ihat So•
ciety, and he was happy to assure gentlemen who now heard
him, that it was strictly just and impartial on all occasioni•
The course pursued by that Society had been much misrepre.-
sewed, or, he would rather say, much misunderstood; for, if
its principles had been understood, it would have been found
worthy of support. The Chairman here read extracts from the
Act of the 20th Geo. 11. to show that the Society were cote-
wiled to act under certain regulations that they could not, un-
der any circumstances, depart from. He wished particularly to
call the attention of gentlemen to the cases to which alone relief
could be afforded, and be could assure the Meeting, that the
Governors of the Merchant Seamen's Society had uniformly
acted up to the provisions of the 20th of George the Secorpl.
The e iactments were as follow :—For sailors manned or dis.
ahltd ; for those worn out by service, or arrived at an ad-
winced age; temporary rilief in cases of disease. • Sailors'
who bad stifle ed ship w.-eck were also included in the
Act, and relief was arded to the families of such
seamen as could not 'support them. Beyond these ffili-
mits the Merchant Seamen's Society could not go. The
best proof that lie could give of the liberality of the Institu-
tion was, a reference to its books. The distribution of the
Charity extracted from its books, which are referable only to
the Port of London and some out-ports ithmediately connected
with it, are as follows :
Dead Men's Wages - - --
Total amount received to Michaelmas, 1824 £179,151 1 7
519 9
3 11 2
Rum Money - -
- 10,

- £189,674 2 3

Total re-eipts
DISBI7fiSEMP:NTS.
Paid in Pensions to 3lichaelmas, 1t124
Present Relief - - -
Amount of Duties received to last year
Pensicns to last year - - -

- £182,144 8 5
- 12,331 3 5
- 3,000 0 0
- 5,460 0 0

£203,035 13 10
The Meeting would recollect, when the Society was
esta-
'dished eighty years ago, 6d. per month might meet its exigen-
cies bu: now all the necessaries of life were doubled. It wal
on those grounds the Society wanted to increase its funds. The
Institution had at present on its books, as pensioners, one men
96 years of age, who received 31. per ann. ; 16 at GO years, "11°'
received 71. per ann. ; 65 at above 70, who received 61.
425 who received 61. per annum • and 155 who received 41. per
annum. It was proposed to add to the amount of the funds by,
dead men's wages (not claimed) in all trades, as well as that ol
the West Indies. The principle of this scheme, he thought
was unobjectionable: it did not lead to prodigality; and deny
stimulus could be wanting to English Ship-owners to assist
British sailors, it would be found in the late tremendous plot
that have encircled the shores of the island, which have deprivea
many valuable men of their lives, and left desolate a numher
of women and children.
Mr. I.llax x 'KG observed, that after the satisfactory Memel
in which their worthy Chairman had adverted to the sevf:.
topics in the Report, it would he idle in him to go into anl
tails. His object in presenting himself to the Meeting was,l"
per ann.;
move, that the Report Just read be received. The Ilon. Gen
";
man offered his tribute of praise to the Seamen's Society, and
concluded by recommending the Meeting to raise the funds
the Society by Ship-owners subscribing for each ship, which
would probably not amount to more than 2/. 10s. or 31. ahl;
This measure, he thought, would put sufficient funds into ttw
hands to meet every exigency.
Mr. 'l'. Ws es° N WORM content himself with one obervado_ne•
None possessed more daring spirit than British seamen ; a';'l
they were as independent as they were daring, for they wal
not bear rebuke. Sense there were in the wulk of life of cat"l
.
sailors who knew well how to apply for parochial relief; games;
knew it not., and he hoped they never would. This relief ought!
to be afferded to these brave men, not as charity, but as their right
That fund which arose out of their sixpences they had a ditcc
right to : and any other furnished to them by shipowners they
and
an indirect right to, because they served that body so well
and at so much hazard. The Hon. Gentleman concluded with
seconding Mr. Manning's resolut'on, for which, and the fol-
lowing ones, see advertisement in another column.
takeinr.inlittesitenTi„Bme
oefietchneatraiende
must wait till the end of the East India Company's
fore any thing could he done on that point. One great point
had, however, been gained. viz the trade with China being
was
sth aforgn an, oanndothi eeefehaeread beenthe
c tried on direct with the colonies, instead of vessels coming t°
England first, by which course the United States gained e 9
great an advantage. Mr. Blanchard hoped that as the sate°
principles applied to the trade between China and the Continent
of Europe, a similar course as to that trade would be adopted,
He then adverted to the necessity of assisting the Seameel
Hospital Fund. •
M. it ucx LE observed, that Mr. Blanchard had stated thatil
feared the general questio as to the China trade must Atat,
over till the close of the Company's charter; but he hoped "'"
meeting would not rest satisfied with the pre-ent state of thing!
charter be:r
built in this country, was
with regard to India-built vessels. It would be recolleeteo
that the consent of the British ship-owners to the tulmimsi°°„
of India-built vessels to all the privileges enjoyed by Ii
i 5
in return, they were to be allowed to participate in cotton();
given upon the understanding, 132
wish the former, in the coasting and general trade in the India
Seas. It appeared, however, that the local Government did elea
feel itself authorized to grant its licences to mule between Indli
and China, to any vessel not owned by a trader reside Viol
India. He (Mr. Buckle) hoped that question, which
much justice in it, would not be lost sight of. Committee
The CHAIRMAN assured the Gentleman that the se°
woul press it as much as possible.
Mr. FENDALL to the chant sown PaYi3g !' a
and was not returned to the merchant service. This wasit
pendent of the sixpence for the Merchant Seamen's _
Mr. MAurE culled the attention of the Meettngstoton,,,
man to Greenwich Hospital, which went to tee natio,4nal slyvire:
to state to this Meeting the state of the funds,
rat u,so,
funds of its Committee.. He said that it had been cubutt'X'3,
last year he had not dared to do so. The plainnujie then]
that they were so low that he was aehatned to Aid not
public. It should be recollected that this Society,
_te
act for the Ship-owners of London alone, but for the.. ,egtWto
number of Ship-owners of all ports, and therefore all tn are
contribute to it. The disbursements of the present. ),!...etipg.
945/. 4s. 7d. The meet's that the Committee had olinirei, of
those disbursements were 6601. Cs 7d., leaving a 01'-
2761. besides arrears of last year's amount, of 141/.62 jade
ing in all above 400/. He then proceeded to shew,s Filtered
meets and otherwise, the benefits that ship-owners n
by urging the meeting not to suffer persons who ale
wilt'' ;t
itously to be left in the lurch. He particularly adve ,i,„l es
from the labours and exertions of the Committee, antiactrtue4
efforts of their Secretary, Mr. Cock, and characterised„.tit_7o4,
most zealous and indefatigable. In conclusion he ID „et 'ration
that if the Committee had existed at the time of the t %law
of the docks, the ship-owners would not now be loaded "'
duties they had to pay. e 0
sOlO
Mr. GILLESPIE begged for a moment to call th bout,
of the meeting to a subject now a good
Witco
fettled ; he
and put in a train, for pronpectuses have been poly wo pro•
alluded to the docks on the !liver Thames, which 't ply t°
posed to form, and it was, he understood, intended ?
tnosae docks
Parliament next Session to make the claim,' of t
idea of e
compulsory. The coal trade were" alarmed at the _ „est
ing compelled to unload in docks, and had determined Ship'
any such attempt. They had had an interview ivitthsr nag yet
owners' Committee, who informed them that theY,d resist ttnY
taken any step in the business, but that they egm'cks.
compulsory measure for unloading sessels in the age aue
deal
Mr. PoweEs thought that the thanks of the meet'
tones'
to his Majesty's Ministers for the liberal and enlighrter ate
of policy they were pursuing as to trade, and to 8,.a, might
navigation laws so perfectly clefts, that any
.811111•49/"`d theol
in a week. On the Ist Jan. 182
make his shipmaster understand tie whole tendencYhoe le°
of t they Were
will commence and it was to his Majesty's .Minieters
oindebted foorithsk‘tfde,attlaiadtvathnetairgene port did not °Alluitteseloot,te
Board of Customs. The fact was, every thing ha— 'tad "'—
smoothly and satisfactorily with that Board, and they to
treated with so much courtesy by it, having attention Pint of
all their requests that there was no opportunity, as laSert ille
business, which ;lone could enter into the Report! „t° rbeeke °'
any way to that Board ; but at the same time tne '
the Meethig were strictly due to the Members of it. motel
Thanks being voted the Committee and Chairs die
/
broke up about four o'clock, • •