The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-13 00:00:00

THE QUARTERLIES.

THE EDINBURGH REVIEW..IIT; `LXXIV.
A rather superficial, but ingenious, treatise upon
the " Laws respecting Navigation," is the principal
article in this quarters number of the Edinburgh.
The question is becoming one of such extreme im-
portance, however, that any additional argument,
either pro or contra, is acceptable, if it be only con-
ducted with an honest impartiality. ne are gratified,
therefore, in perusing a paper upon this interesting
subject in this eminent organ clad in blue and buff,
even though the writer has adventured upon his
theme without being thoroughly conversant with
the details of his subject. In his anxiety
to enter °at once into the consideration of
the matter, ho has exceeded the bounds o f
discretion, but he has at least afforded another testi-
mony of how eminently necessary the final adjust-
ment of the enactments respecting navigation has
become since the doctrines of free trade have been
admitted by the Legislature into the commercial
portion of the constitution.: Besides its other labours,
Parliament will have to enter earnestly into the
examination of the preceding codes, and we are satis -
fied that, although the entire abrogation of the exist-
ing laws upon navigation would, at least yet awhile,
be most injudicious, as jeopardizing our maritime
preponderance, it will be found that some com -
prehensive modification is absolutely requisite
for the facilitation of trade and the full de-
velopment of our mercantile resources. The
changes which have been already made from
time to time show that the question is one of very con-
siderable difficulty. An Act passed in 1651 declared
that no commodities grown, produced, or manufac-
tured in Africa, Asia, or America could be imported
to the United Kingdom or its dependencies other-
wise than from the place of their production, and in
vessels manned, commanded, and owned by British
subjects. Another Act (the 12th Charles 11., c. 18)
ordained that, in as far as the restriction applied to
goods of all descriptions, it was limited geographically
to the goods of Turkey and Russia ; and that else-
where it affected merely those commodities which
have been since known as " the enumerated articles."
"By the law as it now stands, and has stood sinceiMr.
Huskisson's amendment of it in 1825, the produce of
Africa, Asia, or America may be imported from places
out of Europe into the United Kingdom, if to be used
therein, in foreign as well as British ships; provided
such foreign ships be ships of the country of which the
goods are the produce, and from which they are imported.
And as regards the produce of Europe, the enumerated
articles: may now be brought 'in British ships, or in
ships of the country of which the goods are the produce,
or in ships of the country from which the goods are '
im-
ported.' Goods not enumerated in the Act, which are
the produce of Europe, may be brought thence in the
ships of any country.
" All intercourse between the United Kingdom and its
possessions in all quarters of the globe, including the
Channel Islands, is confined to British ships; and the like
restriction applies to our inter-colonial trade. No go ids
may be carried from any British possession in Asia,
Africa, or America, to any other of such possessions, nor
from one part of such possessions to another part of the
same, except in British ships.
"No goods can be imported into any British possession
in Asia, Africa, or America, in any foreign ships, unless
they be ships of the country of which the goods are the
produce, and from which the goods are imported.
" No ship is admitted to be a ship of any particular
country, unless she be of the build of such country, or
have been made prize of war to such country, or ior-
feited under any law made for the prevention of the
slave trade, or be British built; nor unless navigated by
a master who is a subject of such foreign country, and
by a crew of whom three-fourths at least are subj4ecti of
such country, ner unless wholly owned by subjects of
such country.
" No goods, or passengers, shall be carried coastwise