The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-22 00:00:00

2

NAVIGATION LAWS.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the opel 'atiOn
of these laws met again on Tuesday to continue their
inquiry. Members present: Mr. M. Gibson (chain can),
Mr. Ricardo, Sir R. Peel, Admiral Dundas, Mr. Al der-
man Thompson, Sir G. Clerk, Mr. Lyall, Mr. Liddell,
•
ov
rHf
emTa twenty
swhr
Burton,Southit myeina
years
Mr. Mitchell, Sir Howard Douglass, Mr. Macs rthy,
as
and Mr. Hume.
CommitteesAwruhpeo was
erriocaeneded in their inquiry by calling
a mexeraomhianoedt hadby
been Mr. ti wards
oiwnoSer. America,outhThetrade
firnomChcilihialni
tto
and .Peru.
country consisted principally in the export of cop•
per ore. Alterations Were made in 1842 in the terms
of admission of copper ore into this country; they
also brought into operation the navigation laws with
regard to the importation of foreign ore. Until
that time the navigation laws did not operate upon
the importation of foreign ores. In consequence. of the
navigation laws interfering, they were obliged to send
the copper ore home in British vessels ; previously to
that they might have brought it home in foreign vessels.
That had considerably diminished the export of capper
ore from Chili to this country. The difference i'i the
rate of freight of foreign and British vessels bring-
ing the copper ore to England was about two
guineas per ton. The rate of freight of a Danish
vessel to the United States, for carrying copper ore,
was about three guineas, but an English vessel sits not
to be obtained under five guineas. If they were ens bled
to send the copper cre to England in foreign vessels,
thecertainly
wouldhaveitsentdifferencethereinin
to
United States.of
freight of two guineas per ton on the copper ore was
equal in copper to about 25 per cent. or 81
- per
ton. The voyage to the United States was about
the same duration as to this country from Chili.
In consequence of the export of copper ore to Ann rice.,
a large importation of United States manufactures into
Chili had taken place. The export of copper ore from
Chili bad fallen off since 1842. The consutnption of
English manufactures bad not fallen off in the same
proportion ; he apprehended it was because the effects
of that alteration were not yet fully developed. He
thought that in after years this country would im port
no copper ore from chili.
By Mr. Hume—Smelting had been very extena ively
carried on in Chili since 1842. It had increased, he
thought, about five times. The coal used for the 'pur-
pose was found in Chili. If the law was continued the

trade in copper•smelting would soon be lost to this
country altogether.

By Sir 11Oward Douglas—The repeal of the duty on
copper ore would remove the evil.
By the Chairman—He was not aware that the Board
of Customs had, since 1842, permitted the introduction
of copper ore in other than a British vessel.
By Mr. Liddell—They were not allowed to bring cap-
per ore to England in a foreign ship although not in-
tended for home consumption.
By Mr. Hume—Copper ore might be imported into
France, Belgium, and the United States free of duty for
home consumption.
Mr. Brownell, of Liverpool, was the next witness.
He was examined by Mr. Ricardo—Witness was a
member of the firm of Brownell and Co., South
America merchants. He had experienced consider•
able inconvenience in the Smith American trade re-
sulting from the navigation-laws ; especially in the
importation of copper ore, from the difficulty
of meeting with vessels to bring the ore home, and
also from the differential duties, and in consequence of
their not being allowed to employ foreign vessels to
bring the ore to England, which vessels took the ore to
the United States, Hamburgh, Sweden, and France, and
other plaees, there to smelt it, thereby diminishing our
means of getting returns for British manufactures. Before
the alteration in the custom-house arrangements? the
copper ore was brought to England in foreign ships in
the great majority of cases. In one year, of eleven
vessels his firm employed to bring copper ore to Eng-
land, ten were foreigners. The following was a state•
ment of the importation of copper ore since 1839. In
1839, it was 12,193 tons; in 1840, 9,133 tons ; in 1841,
10,819 tons ; in 1842, 10,186 tons ; in 1843, 12,693 tons;
in 1844, 19,363 tons ; in 1805, 10,302 tons ; in 1846,
10,824 tons. The great increase apparent in the years
1844 and 1845 he accounted for by the great efforts made
in those years by the miners to repay the loans advanced
by the English merchants. The system under which
the mines were worked in that country for years had
been, that the merchants advanced large sums of money
for the purpose, which were repaid in produce. The
repayment of those loans had necessarily been a very
tedious operation. As soon as those loans were repaid,
no more copper ore would be imported into this country
from Chili. It would be smelted in Chili for England.
From his experience he believed that the trade would fail
altogether. It was falling off in the importation of ore,
and increasing in the copper. In 1842, it amounted to
309 tons, in 1843, to 127 tons ; in this year most of the
furnaces in Chili were allowed to go to ruin, and the ore
was brought to England to smelt. In 1844, when the
duty began to take effect, the importation of copper
amounted to 1,401 tons, and it was now greatly on the
increase ; so much so, that a sale was held very lately in
Liverpool, of 130 tons of copper in one lot, a circum-
stance never heard of before. The Chilian authorities
had done everything to increase the smelting trade in
Chili. They had admitted coal duty free, they admitted.
British vessels into their minor ports, allowed the export
of manufactured copper free of duty, and had altered
their navigation laws as respected the coasting trade.
fie thought that the trade iu guano, bark, wool, dye
woods, and nitrate of soda, the chief articles 'of trade
from Chili, would be affected the same way as the copper
ore. lie considered that our merchants were very much
hindered by the navigation laws. The Chilians gave
every possible facility to our trade.
By Sir Robert Peel—The increase in the importation
of ore in the two years imrne liately after the operation
of the chan,-e was in consequence of the increased ex-
ertions made by the miners to
hi
e corepyp•pr ore importedatehelt‘ans advancedi
by the British merchants.
those years was not in the natural course of trade.
By Sir George Clark—The average rate of freights in
1840 was 41. 16s. a ton, in 1842 it was 5/. Os. 6d., in
1843 it was 41. 45., and in 1844, though exclusively con-
fined taariitishthe_suankipsoyandt wasawrot 214,1095ia. 94,,c1ix; 18
ew th4so
it was
average had been very nearly 5Z
By Sir R. Peel—Copper ore was imported also from
Cuba and Australia. The quantity imported from
South America did not amount to half the whole im-
portation. _ _

The next witness called was Mr. Budd, a gentleman
engaged in the smelting trade. He was exanined
By Mr. Ricardo—He was a merchant engaged in the
smelting trade in Swansea. His trade had fallen off
very considerably since the alteration in the Custom-
house regulations with regard to the importation of
copper ore. The consumption of copper had increased
very largely indeed. The smelting trade had been
drawn away from this country. There had been no
falling off in the produce of British ore. This country
produced more copper ore than it consumed. For-
, curly, the smelting trade, with the exception of a few
works in Germany, one in Norway, and one in Sweden,
was confined entirely to this country. Since 1842, the
smelting had been carried on to a great extent in the
United States, in South America, in Fiance, and in
Hamburg. In the two latter places they used English
coal for the purpose of smelting. Coal from Newcastle
would not be so dear in Hamburgh as in the neighbour-
hood of London. At this moment there was not a suffi-
cient supply of copper to meet the demand. The con-
sumption had increased of late years, while the im-
portation had decreased. Occasionally freights from
South America had been very high, but last year they
were very low, in consequence of a glut of ships that
had been enticed there from other ports by the prospect
of high freights. It was better to have a moderate
supply of shipping at fair rates, than to have a large
quantity at low freights at one time, and a small quan-
tity at high freights at another. The injury be expe-
rienced by the navigation laws was, that they were pre-
vented from employing. foreign ships to bring home the
freightsgn t countries, Hamburg ves
sels,
whichcopper
hoarde
enabled
e rforei
hantheFrEannegeli,sh
and Sweden, to receive copper ore at much lower freights
than it could be received in this country.
At four o'clock the committee adjourned.

of
foes
before
followsporreustaihae,es
al
tc2bst
duos
oer ,
wt -no
vtt_hoa
et, The
diyodinnioffnsueerarrde:province
oe,s:inti Cologne
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sGbToyboafetztathehhr
et Gazelle eK
Bing
ni gienepigtavu, es
Deputies
op iai r
tt3h,
the
uotflethesePnrosevitnhcee onfamPruess!oef
Prussia. You are the root of the monarchy, the country
in which my ancestors have always found devotedness
and affection. Your influence over the United Diet
will serve as an example for others. What you
will do will have a double importance ; if you sup-
port the Crown it will be invulnerable ; if you shake
the throne it will be in , danger. Great responsibility
falls on you. My confidence in you is not weakened, an d
ou will justify it.' 2d. To the Deputies 9f* P
in this decisive
worthy of eulogium. They willn?wi
If you have need
mo-
ment remain faithful to their traditions.
'The Pomeranians have always had for t r Duke a fidelity
I refer you to my
of counsel, if you have any hesitation,
friend and brother, your Dukes.
Prussia.' 3d. To the Deputies of Posen :—' Your province
and Governor, the Prince of
must depend upon you to dry up the tears
unhappiness—ithas caused both to me and to you much uneasiness, much
of so many of your fellow-citizens.' 4th. To the Deputies of
also neyeeonaur
youew s ti: ml
and
nyohwme aberet
h.
what
shTna The uniqueveyeorub heeanv
eadnei
sdvt
ever
rrr abbdeeile
nt i 0.n,a,il
s.rotehi ;..
Brandenburg: —' Your province is the heart of the kingdom,
fihlaadantensdi-oenistatlbeahrlasatys been good and dear children to me. lam con-
To the Silesians :—' Your province is a pearl, a precious
jewel of my crown. Your province is greater and richer
than many kingdoms. When you throw yourselves into the
balance you have a preponderant weight. I hope you will
the Saxons : ''You,
make it. your
duty to seek for th •
e right scale.' 6th. To
Saxons, never gave me any cause
of uneasiness. You have been always faithful and devoted.
You will be so again this time.' 7th. To the Westphalians :
—` Your province is proud to form the finest and most noble
race of Germany: the most noble primitive. quality of the
Germans is fidelity. 1 hope that you will prove that you are
the true children of your fathers.' Bth. To the Rhenish
provinces :—' Now to you, my dear Rhenish provinces, a cor-
dial word. You aro aware that for a long time past I have
loved to see myself amongst you. You are nearest to my
heart ; I count particularly on you in the great work that
we are about to undertake. Hitherto all our deliberations
give proof of a great Parliamentary act, and an unalterable
sentiment of propriety. You have surpassed in political
education my other states. I count firmly on you ; your
good example points out to them the real path. All my
heart is attached to the Rhine ; near you I am at home, and
I am firmly convinced that you will justify my confidence."
GLASGOW PIG IRON TRADE.—To-day prices still
advanced, and although quotations cannot be given much
higher, we nevertheless believe that the beginning of a con-
siderable rise has taken place. The accounts received to-day
per the Hibernia, are very satisfactory; as also the favour-
able prospects of an increased trade with France. Priem we
t would quote for to-morrow at 725. mixed Nos., and from
' appearances little offering. Indeed, the late exportation:
have made pig iron scarce in the market; and at.presea
there are more buyers than sellera.4l'aalosaidaTver
I