The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-18 00:00:00

PARLIAMENT IMPERIAL •
(THIS DAY.)
—o._—_____
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the. Chair at Twenty minutes after
Twelve o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Bath Improvement, Markets, Waterworks, and
Bath Commons or Freemen's Estate, and the Brighton
Extramural Cemetery Bills were read a third time and
passed.
The Cameron's Coalbrook Steam Coal and Swansea
and Louhor Railway Bill was read a second time.
NEWSPAPER DUTIES.
Mr. ROEBUCK presented a petition from Sheffield,
praying for the abolition of newspaper duties.
THE TRUCK SYSTEM.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE put the following questioifto the
Secretary of State for the Home Department:—lf he had
taken any and what steps, in consequence of a memorial
that had been forwarded to him by workmen employed
in the mining district of South Staffordshire, complain-
ing of the prevalence of truck in that district, and that
one of the firms deeply engaged in this illegal traffic is
that of Messrs. Dixon and Hill, one of which firm, Henry
Hill, being a justice of the peace, not only sits and acts in
Petty Sessions, but is Assistant Chairman of Quarter
Sessions, whereby the difficulty of the memorialists to
obtain justice and to enforce the law is materially in-
creased?
Sir G. GREY said that he had drawn the attention
of Mr. Hill to the facts stated in the memorial alluded
to, and he had received information from that gentleman,
that though he had formerly a share in the colliery, ho
had never taken any part in the management of it, and
at the present time he had no interest in any collieries or
works, in; South Staffordshire. He (Sir George Grey)
was, however, sorry to say that the truck system pre.
Tailed in South Staffordshire to a great extent, but he
had written to Mr. Hill desiring him to exert his influence
in order to discourage it as much as possible.
LORD ASHLEY.
Sir R. H. INGLIS, in moving for a new writ for the
city of Bath in place of Lord Ashley, called up to the
Home of Peers, entered into a lengthy eulogium of the
services of Lord Ashley in the service of Christianity
and philanthropy.
Mr. BROTIIERTON and Sir G. GREY concurred in the
praises which had been bestowed on Lord Ashley.
SUNDAY TRADING BILL.
Several petitions were presented against this Bill from
the metropolitan boroughs.
The adjourned debate on the motion for going into
Committee on this Bill was resumed.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS complained that the object of
Hon. Gentlemen opposed to this Bill was to defeat it by
procrastination.
Mr. ROEBUCK thought the whole was nothing better
than so much waste paper. lie proceeded to canvasa the
provisions of the Bill, with a view of showing that it
was impossible to carry such a Bill into execution.
He thought there was not the slightest necessity for a
Bill, and be appealed to the House whether, if there
were any necessity, this Bill was one which would supply
the dellaiency.
Mr. SPOONER urged the Hon. Member for Lambeth
to withdraw the Bill. He himself was favourable to the
principle, but there were many provisions in it which
were highly objectionable.
Sir W. CLAY supported the Bill, because he felt con-
fident that it was the expression of opinion of some of
the best persons in the metropolitan districts, and that
it would tend materially to raise the condition of the
working classes.
Mr. W. J. FOX said that his objection to the Bill
was that it had no principle whatever. It was not
formed on the Sabbatical principle, the object of which
would have been to prevent all manner of work and not
trade merely, and on the other hand it only aimed at ae-
kecuringers.
a day of rest for the shopkeeper and apple-stall
ep
Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR supported the prin-
ciple of the Bill, but recommended that it should be
withdrawn for the present year.
Sir G. GREY did not see any prospect of attaining
the object which was sought, the restriction of Sunday
labour, by going into Committee on the Bill; and he
therefore hop.d the Hon. Member would withdraw the
Bill, which, even if passed, would lead to many evils,
and would leave many items of Sunday trading un-
touched. He believed it might be left to the good
sense of the people to remedy the evils which wire com-
plained of, and to make Sunday a real day of rest.
Sir BENJAMIN HALL supported the sugges-
tion for the withdrawal of the Bill. He objected
to the system of legislating merely for the
metropolitan districts, of which this was a sample. A
Bill of this sort ought either to be a general one, or else
framed so es to apply to the particular district from
which it had emanated. If shou recommend th
withdrawal of the Bill for thise stssiOn,ld in orderme for its
introduction next year in the shape of a private Bil/, in
order to test the sincerity of the promoters of the Bill.
the B
Mirll.. HINDLEY was opposed to the withdrawal of
C
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said that he had been opposed
to this kind of contemptible legislation from the nays of
Sir Andrew Agnew up to the present time, and he denied
that the Working classes were favourable to the Bill. He
was sorry to hear that Lambeth, that great archiepis-
copal district, was sucho a sinful place—(Laughter)—
but he advised the n.Altlenfear to confine his legisla-
tion tiot thatwaa baurfaouregah.
that
hadto been acted every session
for some time, and so it wold be again until Govern-
ment took up the qu„tiou.
few words fro
m Mr. TRELAWNY and Mr.
After a
ALCOCK,
The House divided, when there appeared—
into,.t.. Committee... 1:1
For going
...... 42 Against it
majority agains going into Coranaittee 35
going into Committee '
LANDLORD AND TENANT BILL
On the motion for
explained
the
object
on this Bill,
Mr. MULLINGS
which was to place farmtebr
the power ttoingianasotenants
esmon the same Ct. of the Bill,
in trade, and to
on ofetheniyr
ed compensation for all •
buildings which ingtievrefer.ed with the carrying v,a
owing
business, unless they reciev
them to remain .
ei t,
wweae sn
the better
lan
dto.
Sir G. STRICKLAND strongly opposed the 4th
clause of the Bill, because he thougbt,
send matters of this sort to be arranged D &
lord and tenant themselves.
'
After a short discussionwent
the House into Com-
mittee on the Bill. Mr. Bernal in the chatr.
Clause 1 was agreed to.
Clause 2 was negatived without a division.
Oa clause 3,
Mr. GRAINGER objected to the clause as giving
landlords an advantage over other creditors.
After a short discussion the House divided, when
there appeared_
For the clause .
t•
Against it.., .a. •••...
Majority ••
The clause was then agreed• to.
On clause 4 being proposed, giving power to the tenets
to remove buildings which he had erected,
Mr. MULLINGS moved the insertion of the words
" with the consent, in writing, of the landlord."
After a short discussion the House divided, when
there appeared
For the amendment ...
...
...
82
Against it ••• ••• ••• .., 23
Majority ... ••• ••• .., 59
The clause as amended was then agreed to.
The remaining clauses and the preamble were then
agreed to, and the House reetimed.

DEFEAT OF THE AMAZONS.
The subjoined letter gives an account of the defeat
of the Dahoanan army before the walls of Abbeokuta,
a town sixty miles inland from Lagos, in the Bight
of Benin. The invasion was wholly unprovoked, and
their discomfiture is likely to have an important bear-
ing on the decline of the slave trade :
" Abbeokuta, Tuesday, March 4, 1851.
" I hasten to write a few lines to forward to Badagry,
with a hope that it may meet with a early opportunity
for England.
" Yesterday morning we received hero your commu-
nications of 29th November, 1850, which proved most
acceptable to us. It is with the greatest thankfulneess I
desire to communicate the joyful tidings of the defeat
of the Dahoman King before the walls of Abbeokuta
yesterday, and that they have fled, according to our
latest accounts, some sixteen miles, and that the Ab-
beokuta people are pursuing them. The motions of
the Dahomans have been watched most thoroughly by
the people of the smaller towns to the westward of this,
and information sent to the chiefs here. On Saturday
morning such intelligence was conveyed as convinced
the chiefs of the necessity of immediately arranging their
affairs for self-defence. On Sunday the war chiefs formed
their camps in three companies on the walls of the town.
It became evident to me on Sunday evening, from the
preparations which I saw going on when returning from
Mr. Smith's church, where I had been to assist him, and
from their talk which I heard when passing, that a des-
perate encounter was before their minds, and that they
were preparing for it with a spirit befitting the occa-
sion. Yesterday (Monday) I went out after breakfast
to view the camps from one of the heights. I did not
direct my glass to search for the Dahomans, not know-
ing the road they might take, nor thinking of their being
at hand. On returning home I heard that they had been
seen, and that the advanced party of Egbaa (the Abbeo-
kuta people) had exchanged shots with them. Mr. and
Mrs. Smith came up to see us for a little change, hav-
ing been so long ill ; and •Mr. Dennis, who came on
a visit from Badagry, about a week since, also un-
well, was also with us. About twelve o'clock we heard
a rapid discharge of firearms. I was in the act of
showing my interpreter how to form a bullet-mould out
of clay, in his house, when we heard it. With groat
impetuosity of manner he called for his son to bring
him his gun, powder, and shot, that he might hasten to
the fight; and with extreme difficulty I restrained him,
he frequently exclaiming, ' I cannot bear it; I must
hasten to the battle.' He was restrained, however. My
cook, without sa)ing anything, or our knowing of it,
tcok his gun and ren off' and fought until the Dahomans
were retreating, and shot in the fight one of the female
warriors. Another confidential servant ran off in the same
manner. Having no arms, ha purposed stoning the enemy
if they gave him an opportunity. Goodwill, who is Mr.
Smith's interpreter, and was left by Mr. Smith to look
after the premises, ran also to the battle; all seemed to
be beside themselves. In order to view the encounter,
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Townsend, Mr. Dennis, and myself got '
on a high rock on our ground, whence, with a telescope,
we were enabled to view it. The Dahomans advanced
in compact lines or masses, bearing all before them.
The Egbas endeavoured to check them at the ford of
the river, but were utterly unable. They therefore re-
treated until withinside their walls. The walls were
black with people. They poured forth their fire upon
the advancing enemy, who were checked, and could
not march straight on as they expected, but extended
their lines in front of the wall. A most furious dis-
charge of muskets took place from both sides. The
Dahomans extended their lines, expecting to find a
weak place to attack, and the Egbaa extended parallel
with them. At this stage of the battle I observed
a large mass marching in good order to the attack,
and I feared for the result; but they also ex-
tended, strengthening their companies. Mr. Bowen, an
American missionary who lodges in our compound, now
joined us, he having gone out long before the Daho-
mans appeared, to see what preparations the Egbas had
made, and was on the wall at the time of the first
attack. He encouraged us by his account of the
firmness of the Egbas. Having once been a soldier
himself, he had had practical knowledge of warfare in
actual service. After a time we observed that the Daho-
mans showed a disposition to retire, and also that the
Egbaa had outflanked them, and were becoming the
assailants, setting the grass on fire to annoy their ene-
mies, and firing on them whenever they could. Tho
Dahomans were now evidently retiring, but turning
about con-tautly and discharging their muskets. They
retired after a while out of our sight, the firing be-
coming less and less. While this was going on, the
Abbeokuta women were leaving the town at the back
pouring out before us with a few men with them,
terrified and cast down; our compound was filled with
terrified people. The Egbas now began to show, in
truly savage style, some proofs of their success; the first
was the foot of a man woo had been slain, then the
hand and foot of a woman, and after a while a living
captive, one of the renowned women soldiers. I fol-
lowea her to the house of her captor, near my own;
she was attired in a sort of vest. She spoke to me as
freely as our ignorance of each other's language would
admit of. The Dahomans retired to the ford. Mr.
Bowen returned to the wall as a spectator, and told me
that he saw a daring feat performed by a few of the
Egbas. They went, and provoked the Dahomans to
attack them, which they did; the Egbas fl d, but sud-
denly faced about, and discharged their guns with great
effect. He thought he saw four of the Dahomans full,
but the smoke prevented diatinct vision. The Daho-
mans left many of their party on the battlefield dead,
the greater part of whom were women, and many as
prisoners, but the number we have not ascertained with
any certainty. Tho King of Dahomy, as soon as dark-
ness permitted, fled with 200 people, leaving the bulk of
his army to cover his retreat. They were too strong
to be attacked by the Egbas after a long fight, and
the Egbas had too little discipline to execute an attack
in the night; but they were harassed all the night
through by skirmishes, and early in the morning they
decamped in good ordr, followed by the Egbas. Theyy
atataPed their character with infamy by an act of great
Igrbfaarrmityerbsefo.re retreating. They had taken a number
carried ell e3:heirdecap
leaving,
the
in their march, prisoners, but, before
friends, proved are, hand
decapitated 42 or upwards, and
as captives
are heads. Their hands being tied,
of them were won,
the heads were
This King is the
of the white e ,
. reopie
trade, and Dy such vf „ vlih
would the members of the
many being identified by their
t they were not slain in battle; two
eeala and one a boy. I understand that
r:totiastweay in the retreat afterwards.
att• who_. calls himself the friend
Peace sttiesetydbisajel..done be-
ydah, and of the slave
s aves are procured
hmercy
fa
lien,
and
.manytearaeftseervneoroenly iis 1 0 u niatuddehda.d
hind the walls of Abbeekuta, with What
Thedrohthey have been repelled; bet many of the Egbasug
bar-
barians advancing in masses to the attack?ip
ging for
entered ne
Oner°lmayt
people came to us in n
from his shouldereg-
passed about
flesh outside of
r part of the arm,
the ehoulder-blade.
six inches through the
.
try, although he had never Mr. Dennis ventured to ver done
tthoeexsitdreacotfathsheoutppe .
and after considerable
poortrou-
man's first act, on hearing that
ble cut it out. The
"ng himself into an attitude of
it was out, was to bring himself anythin;4 of the s9rt before,
thanks to God for
prayer,
is doing wi 11. t is supposed that
his mercy. he are lying dead on the
and silently
200 or 300 of the Dahomans
he offered up,
been captured. They are
battlefield, and many have
in great distress. If
retreating in a compact body, but
they had broken in their retreat scarcely a man or wo-
man could have escaped the Egbas today.the Egbas
They are
of still being 'pursued, but a large number
have returned, worn out by their two days' cxertions. I
feel, also, worn out by excitement, and by aitnesing
and hearing of BO mush slaughter and cruelty. lam
not aware that the Egbas have acted cruelly towards
their prisoners.

71
41
-30

NAVY.
Sir G. PECHELL moved for a copy of the memo-
rial of the clerks of her Majesty's ships in the AlEditer-
ran,•)an, forwarded to the Admiral by Sir William Parker.
dated the 31st day of January, 1850, praying that the
same rank and priveleges ar arded to other subordinate
officers may be granted to th,na.—Agreed to.
Sir G. PECHELL moved for a return of all vessels
that have been purchased for the royal navy since the
10th day of May, 1847 (the date of the last return),
stating from whom purchased, the price paid,
and the tonnage of each; distinguishin the slave
vessels (and by whom captured) that have been
taken into the service under Cie provisions of the Act 2
and 3 Vie. c. 73, for which the sum of 6,500/, has been
voted in the estimates.—Agred to.
The other orders of the day having been disposed of,
the House adjourned at Six o'clock.

" Wednesday, March 5. "Several persons have returned from the pursuit this
morning, bringing the intelligence of a desperate encounter
at a town called Isbaga, about 14 or 16 miles from this.
The Dahomans endeavoured to enter this town, for rest or
pillage, but wore reaisted.ThoEgbas came up with strong

GREAT EARTHQUAKE in CHILI,
VALPARAISO NEARLY DESTROYED.
(From the Valparaiso Reporter.)
On the 2d of April, at a quaver past six, A at., Valpa-
raiso was visited by one of those calamities so frequent
in volcanic countries.
The severest shock ever felt since the great earthquake
of the year 1822, when Valparaiso was almost totally
destroyed, has created a panic not equalled by any
former event.
A severe trembling of the earth of fifteen seconds du-
ration, prolonged by less violent after shocks to two
minutes, which two minutes appeared as so many hours
to those whose lives and property were endangered,
has in so short a time destroyed several hundred dwell-
ings, and has made a great number of persons houseless.
It is generally believed that from the violence of the
shock, ten or fifteen seconds more would have brought
on the same disastrous consequences as the earthquake
in 1822, though the houses at present are generally
built in a more substantial manner, and less liable to fall.
The motion came from the south, and directed its course
to the north, notwithstanding some of the northern ports
of the country, as Copiapo, Coquimbo, and Cobija, have
only felt very slight symptoms of the shock, and it is
supposed that the motion, though severe, bas not spread
over much territory. From the South, Conception, Tal-
cahuano, and other places, we have received no intelli-
gence up to this date, but are led to believe from the
irregular course of the motion that the effects have not
been severe.
Constitution, we have ascertained, has not suffered.
We have received further accounts from the captain
of a vessel from the South, who reports to have felt a
severe commotion in the sea 40 miles off St. Antonio.
This confirms ns in our opinion that the motion of the
earth has been very irregular.
The temperature during the earthquake was hot and
oppressive, but no alteration took place in the thermo-
meter, which stood at 62.
The American frigate Raritan let go her lead imme-
diately, and had great difficulty in hauling it in ; the
convulsion at the bottom of the sea having caused it to
sink three feet in the sand.
The motion of the earth was observed to be of less
violence in some parts than others, not 100 yards dis-
tant, so much so that old and decayed houses stood the
shock better in some parts than newly and strongly
erected edifices, and those houses in the structure of
which the most timber has been employed remained
almost sound.
During the eventful 15 seconds the houses rocked to
and fro as so many vessels at sea.
Not a breeze of air was perceptible during the whole
of the day, and slighter shocks continued at 6.46 mi-
nutes, 6.56 minutes, 8.55 minutes, 10.55 minutes, and
have continued ever since of more or less strength and
duration, and even at this moment of writing on the
7th inst., at half-past one P.M., a short but severe motion
made the inhabitants rush out of their houses.
The houses in the port, where the greatest part of the
commercial establishments keep their offices, have, com-
paratively speaking, suffered but little, being built on a
solid rocky foundation; and we can only hear of one of
General Herrera's houses, occupied by Messrs. Gibbs
and Co. being in a dangerous state. The Custom
House has: suffered little; some slightoonstructed orna
ments having been demolished, and part of the roof
having been carried along with it. The consequent
heavy rain, however, on the 4th inst., has damaged a
number of packages, the extent of which we have not
ascertained. A few houses situated on the top of the
hill (main top) a sailors' resort, came tumbling down
with a crash.
In those parts, however, spreading along the beach, the
Almandrale, Calle Nueva, and others, where the ground
is loose and sandy, considerable damage has been done,
and about 200 houses are unfit for habitation. More than
200 families have been obliged to pass the first day and
night in the streets, partly from fear of renewed shocks,
partly from the danger attending the stay in their houses.
The middle of the streets were crowded, particularly
with the female portion of the city, until, in the course
of the following day, tents and wooden houses were
erected in the Piazza de Victoria, for the housele3s.
The captains of vessels of all nations in the port placed
immediately their vessels at the disposal of all those who
wanted a refuge, either from necessity or fear, and haVe
since then received the thanks of the Government for
their hospitality, expressed in a letter from the Inten-
dente, General Blasco.
Much damage has been done to stores where liquids,
glass-ware, and other breakable materials are kept.
e are happy to say not a single life has been lost, nor
can we hear of a severe fracture. On the 4th instant,
at twelve o'clock p.m., a heavy rain set in, which lasted
uninterruptedly for twelve hours, which cooled the at-
mosphere considerably, but destroyed still more property,
pouring into the roofless houses, and compelling those
who had taken relisge in the Pisan and were living
in tents, to leave, and seek shelter in the theathre, or
with friends in the port. The loss is generally esti-
mated, including the damage done to buildings, at one
million of dollars.
The principal public buildings which have suffered are
the Addana, the churches Merced and Martz, the cartel
of the national guard, the hospital, and the Temple Saint
Domingo.
The scarcity of houses, so much felt before the earth-
quake by the fast increasing population of our city, has
now reached the highest degree.
Business has only been interrupted for the day, the
Custom-house has been closed by order of the Inten-
dente.
Casa Blanca, as well as Quilletta, have suffered
severely, and in some parts in the latter places, as well
as in the capital, the ground has opened and thrown up
a quantity of hot water.
The damage done in Santiago is similar to that in
Valparaiso, with the exception that there being a larger
number of public buildings in the capital, the pecuniary
loss must be severer.
The principal public buildings more or less damaged
are the Mint, a splendid new building in the Plaza, at
the same time the residence of his Excellency President
Buldes, the cathedral, and several other buildings.

ADMIRALTY, JUNE 11.
10th instant, of Admiral of the
Red John Ccchet
quTenhteofteillto
hweindgeaptrho,monotitohnes have this day taken place cense-
Admiral of the White Henry Richard Glynn to be Admiral
of the Red.
Admiral of the Blue Sir Thomas Livingstone, Bart., to be
Admiral of the White.
Vice-Admiral of the Red George McKinley to be Admiral
of the Blue.
rice-Admiral of the White the Honourable George Elliott,
C. 8., to be Vice-Admiral of the Red.
Vice-Admiral of the Blue Sir Francis Mason, h.C.8., to be
Vice-Admiral of the White.
Rear-Admiral of the Rea the Hon. Sir: Anthony Maitland,
C. 8., K.C.N.G., to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White Phipps Hornby, C. 8., to be
Rear-Admiral of the Red.
Rear-Admiral of the Blue William Fairbrother Carroll,
C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White.
Captain Arthur Fanshawe, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the
Blue.
The following Retired Captains have also been promoted
to the rank of Retired Rear-Admiral, on the terms set forth
in the London Gazette of the Ist of September, 1846, but
without increase of pay :
Captain Arthur Philip Hamilton.
Captain Daniel Lawrence.
Captain Robert Henley Rogers.
Captain George Bentham.
The followin g
ADMIRALTY, JUNE 16.
promoti have this da taken lace, cn-
sequent on the death, onons the 14th instant of Vicpe-Admio al
Sir Charles Malcolm :
Vice-Admiral of the Blue Thomas Brown to be Vice-Admiral
of the White.
Rear-Admiral of the Red the Honourable Granville Leve-
son Proby to be Vice• Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White the Honourable William Gordon
to be Rear•Adnairal of the Red.
Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir Andrew Pellet Green, K.C.H.,
to be Rear-Admiral of the White.
Captain Houston Stewart, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the
Blue.
The following Retired Captains have also been promoted to
the rank of Retired Rear-Admiral, on the terms set forth in
the London Gazette of the Ist September, 1846, but without
increase of pay:—
Captain James Arthur Murray.
Captain Thomas Renwick.
Captain henry Higman.
Captain ;eorge Hewson.
Captain John Macpherson Ferguson.
Captain John Gourly.
Captain Augustus Baldwin.
Captain Henry Colins Deacon.
Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries-shire.
Sir John Heron Maxwell, Bart., to be Deputy-Lieutenant,
June 2; Edward Maxwell, Esq., to be Deputy-Lieutenant,
June 2.

Commission by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxford.
Oxfordshire Rkgiment of Militia—The Honourable Gerald
Normanby Dillon to be Captain, vice Spencer, promoted,
June 12, 1851.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed Robert Clitherow, of
Horncastle, in the county of Lincoln, Gent., to be a Master
Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
I3ANKRUP CY SUPERSEDED.
Charles Gazeley, builder, Torriano-villas, Kentish-town.

ANKRTS
Henry Mills, glover, B
Lynn, NUPorfolk., to surrender June 26,
at twelve, and Aug. 1, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy.
Cannan, ofilcial assignee, Birchin-lane, Cornhill ; Reed,
Langford, and Marsden, Friday-street, Cheapside.
Michael Common, draper, North Shields, Northumberland,
June 24, at eleven, and August 5, at twelve, at the Ne .cas-
tle-upon-Tyne oistrict Court. Wakley, official assignee,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Chater, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
Bell, Brodrick, and Bell, Bow Church-yard.
Thomas George Phillipps, grocer, Newport, Monmouth..
shire, June 30 and July 28, at eleven, at the Bristol District
Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Lawrance,
Plews, and Bowyer, Old Jewry-chambers; Bevan, Bristol.
Samuel Williamson Isherwood, woollen draper, Kingston-
upon-Hull, July 2 and 23, at half-past twelve, at the King-
aton-upon-Hull District Court. Carrick, official assignee,
Hull ; Wells, Smith, and Dodd, Hull.
William Henry Edwards, hosier, Leeds, July 1 and July
22, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Hope, official
assignee, Leeds; Marsden, Friday-street, Cheapside; Richard-
sons and Gaunt, Leeds.
Thomas Dixon, iron merchant, Bradford, July 4, and Aug.
7, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. I oung, official
assignee' Leads; Terry and Watson, Bradford; Bond and
Barwick, Leeds.
IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

SEABORNE MAILS.
[N signifies that the malls are sent from the General Post-office
by the night—and M by the morning—etispateh.]

i When made up in From what I PLACES. GeneralPost-ofice port Ills-
when
London. patched. due.
•
America (by Brit. pkt.)N June 20 .. .. Liverpool .. ,iJune 23
America (by U.S. pkt.) II! .. .. Liverpool .. Arrived
America (by U.S. pkt.) M June 18 .. .. Southampt. June 26
1 Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month ;Plymouth July 3
' Alexandria* ........ N 19th & 3Clth of mo.;Dover .. June II
Beli,,lum .. .. .. NlDally .. .. .. !Dover .. Daily
. Brazil .. . • .. M'9th of the month Southampt. July 12
' Buenos Ayres .. .. M'9th of the month Soutbampt. July 12
. California(viaChacres)M 2d & 17th of month Southampt. June 20
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth.. Ju y 3
Constantinople* .. •• N 7th 17th 27th of mo , Dover .. dune 20
Central America .. M2d & 17th of mon. ISonthampt. , June 20
Channel Isles • . • . N Mon., Wed., & Fri.;Southampt. I Tn. Th.S a
Chili •• •• •• - M 17th of the mouth Southampt. June 20
Ireland
r Franc,
.. .. Id &N Twice daily .. .. Dover .• Twicedaily
• Greece* .. .• •• N 7th 17th 27th of mo ;Dover .. June 10
India iaStarsell(levis)a l'i
• Haniburgh •I
t Holland • • • • IsT; Tuesday & Friday London; .. Tues. Sat.
. • • Id liVedn
i linedizai • •
__; es. & iiatur.'London .. Mon.Ther
....
11... Nll7th of the mouth Southampt.,June 20
F India (via South & N,Twice daily .. .. ;Holyhead .. II wicedaily
—anlP.) 51;20th of the month Southampt. ;June 23
N7th& 24th
17:1tit,ti:thm,,,2n7tthh
slithampl
Jane
20
7th& 24th ef month Dover .. ,July 1
Medlterraneini
Southampton\
. , •• li 20th of the month I,"4outhampt. ;June 23
Mediterranean (via ,
Marseilles) .„
.;.
..
.. _ h 27th of
ninfoo
C I & 30th of month mane.
..
•. month
:311
,717thtb,
Mexico .. -• ••li2d of the month„ftn Dover .. I
JulyJy
51
Dlatielra • • • • • . I\l 9th of the month Southampt. Southampt.
I July 12
i Dover ;June 18
Naples* .• ..
papal States* .. ..
5f./4175thili
11751th25th °fin°
Nisthlsth2sth ofino,Dover •• !June 22
Dover .. Jane 22
bSoouvtehramp..t.
June 20
2226
TuicanY* • • .• AI 17th of the mo
Peru • • • •
.. N sth 15th 25th of
West Indies • • nth Southanapt. June 20
West Indies (except
M 2d of the month „Lathampt. July 5
Havana & Nassau)
Peninsular ..
mails to those c ountrlen Ulna marked (*) ere 11. The
conveyed by
French pactiot 114 Alaraelllci.

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 17.

The LORD CIIA2IOELio; took his seat on the Woo,
sack at Five o'clock.
ENCUMBERED ESTATES IRELAND.
The Earl of GLENGALL moved fur certain returns
relating to the working of the Encumbered Estates
Commission in Ireland, and in so doing he would com-
ment upon certain returns which had been recently made.
The Noble Earl then went into a long statement, iu the
course of which he complained of the practice of that
court as tending to favouritism, to the disadvantage of
those whose estates were for sale.
The LORD CIIINCELLOR defended the practice
of the Court of Encumbered Estates, which was in con-
sonance with the practice of every other court in the
U❑ited Kingdom. In the Court of Chancery it was the
constant practice to give short causes precedence, and
every court took causes in the order which to the Court
seemed fit.

The Earl of GLENGALL explained.
The motion was then agreed to.
IO
PE TITS.
The Earl of LONSDALE priNtented a petition from
the shipowners of Whitehaven, complaining of the re-
peal of the navigation-laws.
The Earl of CARDIGAN presented a petition pray,-
ing for the repeal of the duty on assurances.
Lord STANLEY presented a petition from certain
attorneys against the Registration of Assurances Bill.
NAVIGATION-LAWS.
Lord STANLEY then presented the petition, of which
he had given notice, from the Shipowners' Association
of the Port of Liverpool, complaining of the evil effects
of the repeal of the navigation-laws. The petitioners
complained that they were oufforing greatly (nu tin ri.

peal of those laws, and that all the injurious conse-
quences which they had anticipated had been more than
realized. They did not assert that the foreign trade
had not been increased, but the advantage of that in-
crease had been reaped much more by the foreigner than
by the British shipowner in consequence of the great
decrease which had taken place in the rate of freights,
which to the British shipowner were now scarcely re-
munerative. The Noble Lord then entered into
minute statistical details for the purpose of showing
that while the foreign trade had increased the rate of
freight, and therefore the profit of the shipowner had
decreased, and that the share of the foreign ship-
owner of the increase had been greater than the share
which had accrued to the British shipowner, who had at
first indeed suffered a decrease, although latterly he had
had an increase. They also complained of the peculiar
burdens to which they were subjected; among these was
the stamp duty on marine assurances, which he thought
ought to be removed, as it drove merchants to insure
abroad ; another burden was the extravagant fee
charged by British consuls in foreign ports. They also
complained that officers in the navy were authorised
to receive a pecuniary reward for the salvage of mer-
chant vessels, and also to the encouragement given to
seamen to enter from the merchant ships into her Ma-
jesty's service. They also complained that while the
vessels of Spain, France, and the United States were
admitted to the ports of this country on the same
footing as British ships, our ships were not
admitted to the ports of Spain, France, and the United
States on the same footing. An advertisement issued
during the past week by a steam-packet company trading
to Antwerp placed this matter in its true light. This
advertisement said—" Shippers are respectfully informed
that as this vessel is under a Belgian flag, they will have
an advantage of 15 per cent, on the duties levied in Bel-
gium by shipping on board this vessel." Thus shippers
were induced to repudiate the British flag, to deny their
Sp
nationadlity,one? and to accept the Belgian flag. What had Spain Why, the table of duties levied te
Spanish tariff of 1849 actually imposed differential by
duties
on produce brought by all foreign vessels, British in-
cluded, of from 50 to 100 per cent. But France was
even worse, for she strictly adhered to her old restrictive
system as rigorously as we ourselves did before 1849.
Consequently, while from any part of the world French
vessels could bring any goods to this country on equal
terms with our own vessels, no British ship was per-
mitted to take into the port of France a single ton of
foreign goods, except from the country in which they
were produced, or rather he believed they were not per-
mitted to introduce any foreign produce whatever. He
knew one instance where a British merchant, at the
Brazils, had a cargo of hides to send to France. He had
a British vessel in the port belonging to the house with
which he was connected, and which would have taken
the cargo for twenty shillings a ton less than the French
vessels in the port were demanding, but in conse-
quence of the French navigation-laws, he was com-
pelled to ship the cargo in a French vessel at the higher
rate of freight, although the cargo was his own, and
the vessel was his own, and although a French ves-
sel could have taken a similar cargo to England
without any obstacle. Was that the amount of recipro-
city they had a right to expect, and which they were
told they should obtain if they passed the Act of 1849?
But it was said there was one country which had given
us full reciprocity. The law of the United States ad-
mitted the ships of any country on exactly the same
terms on which United States vessels were received in
the ports of such country. He admitted that as far as
the letter went they had received perfect reciprocity
from the United States. But we had thrown open to
them the trade with our colonies, for which they had
riven us no reciprocal advantage. It might be said the
United States had no colonies, but at least they had one
distant possession which virtually stood in the position
of a colony. Instead, however, of acting up to the
spirit of the law, they insisted that the trade between
California and the Atlantic ports of the union was a
coasting trade, and that as we had retained our coasting
trade it was only fair that they should retain theirs,
Now what was a coasting trade? It was trade between
port and port of the same country performed entirely
hrough the waters belonging to that country. The
Atlantic seaboard of the United States was far
arger than ours, but perfect reciprocity was main-
ained, although they retained the trade between
Boston and New Orleans as much as when we
retained the trade between Leith and London.
But they could by no principle of interpretation
all the trade with California a coasting trade
where the voyage was of four or five months duration,
cud passed through waters which not even American
eretensions could claim as belonging to the United
States. But that WAS not the only point in which the
United States withheld reciprocity. American built ves-
,els were allowed to obtain English registers, but the
United States would not allow a vessel built at Liverpool,
u• at Halifax. or Quebec, to receive a United States re-
gister. The Noble Lord then proceeded to contend that
under the existing arrangements, American vessels were
eiabled to pass from California to East lodic or China,
irid thence to Liverpool with a cargo, and afterwards to
N'ew York; and the result was that the American' vessels,
saving entered into competition with the British vessels,
were enabled to make three distinct voyages for two
taken by the British vessel. He was told that freight
tied fallen to an enormous extent in consequence of this
unfair competition. They bad the power under the 10
and 11 clauses of the 12th and 13th of the Queen, to
impose duties on the ships of such foreign countries as
did not reciprocate with them in respect to the commer-
cial policy pursued by this country. They had now an ex-
perience of the effect of the alteration of the navigation-
laws for the last 18 months, and he wished to ask the
Government what they had done in the way of taking
advantage of the powers which they possessed by the
Act to which he referred, to oblige foreign nations to
reciprocate with them in their commercial policy? He
heard that morning that within the last three or four
lays an American vessel, on reaching Liverpool, was
informed by the authorities of the Custom-house ,Eat
20 per cent, differential duties would be imposed upon
her. Now, he should be glad to know what instruc-
tions had been given? The Act of Parliament required
bat notification should be given in two successive
London Gazettes, and that the order in council should be
laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament. The
name of the vessel which he was referring to was the
Hortense. He thought there must be some mistake, but
he had no doubt, now that he had mentioned the case,
the Noble Earl (Granville) would make inquiries as to
the accuracy of the information which he had received.
His object in calling attention to this subject was to
show to the House the enormous disadvantage to which
the British commercial marine was subjected in conse-
quence of the absence of reciprocity on the part of fo-
reign powers, and also for the purpose of asking her
Ilisjesty's Government how long they intended this
itate of things to continue, and whether they intended
to impose on foreign powers such restrictions as would
compel them to do justice, nothing more than justice.
and to enable this country to obtain fair competition, and
eothing more, between foreign vessels and rho vessels of
his country.—(Hear.)
Earl GRANVILLE said that the petition which had just
been presented by the Nohle Lord stated that the shipping
interest of this country was not able, without protection, to
compete with the foreigner; and that their difficulties were
much increased by the want of reciprocity on the part of
foreign powers. But as the Noble Lord had laid most stress
upon the question of reciprocity he (Earl Granville) would
take that first ; and he would begin by reminding their Lord-
ships that when the navigation-laws were repealed 2 years
ago the Legislature did not repeal a law which was common
to all countries, but one which, with constant modification,
had been first instituted in this country about two hundred
years ago, and that the example of this country had, to a
greater or lesser extent, been followed by seven other nations.
As soon as that law was repealed it became the duty of her
Majesty's Government to communicate with Sweden, [Tol-
land, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United
States of America, upon the question. In the case of Sweden
she at once consented to remove the restrictions upon our na-
vigation, and Holland, too, proposed to meet us in a liberal
spirit; but negotiations went off because she was anxious to
retain certain privileges with regard to her colonial trade.
He was happy to state, however, that within the last tort-
night communication had been received from that country
to the effect, that reserving her coasting trade she was ready
to admit our vessels to an equal participation in her foreign
and colonial trade.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord referred
to that excellent work, " Bradshaw." He (Earl Granville)
remembered hearing an old lady had once advised her son to
read " Bradshaw" at Oxford instead of the first six books of
Euclid.—(A laugh.) It was quite true that English goods
carried by Belgian vessels into Belgian ports paid a duty not
of 15 but of 10 per cent., but it was equaly true that we
levied 20 per cent. on Belgian vessels carrying Belgian goods
entering our ports. He next came to France. That country
ever since the time of Louis XIV. had protected its mer-
cantile marine. But though the French Government were
so hampered with protective duties and commercial re-
striction they had assured her Majesty's Government that
they would meet our a tvances in the most liberal
spirit. The last communication received from France
offered some considerable concessions, and negotiations on
this subject w. re still pending. If they considered the
extent and riches of France—the excellent harbours she
possessed—the scientific skill of her people in building
vessels, and the general intelligence of her inhabitants—
that for the last 200 years she had been protecting her mer-
cantile marine; then if we looked at her official reports, and
saw that within the last 15 years the increase in her vessels
under 200 tons had not been the 176th part of the increase
of our tonnage; and that the number of her vessels above
200 tons had also decreased during the same period, these
facts, he thought, must show that protection alone was not
sufficient to give encouragement to the mercantile marine of
that country. If she still continued to impose protective
duties on raw material and finished articles—if she did not
avail herself of her mineral wealth and of her skill in ship-
building, she would still be practically excluded from the
general carrying trade of the world. With regard to Por-
tugal, he would only say that negotiations were going on.
But the case of Spain was of more importance. A communi-
cation had lately been received from Spain ; and it was hoped
that. some satisfactory arrangement would be come to. He
agreed that it would be beneficial to Spain to get rid of her
restrictive duties, which were only of advantage to the
smuggler ; but Spain, by a late revision of her
tariff, had reduced her differential duties from one-third to
one-fifth. Spain was a country slow of movement; but it
could not be acted upon by us without consulting existing
treaties. He now came to the United States, the only
country which was a formidable rival to us in commerciald
matters; and with respect to its commercial navy, he did
not deny that it was a disadvantage to us that we were ex-
cluded on the long voyage between the western ports of
America and California; but we were not excluded by the
repeal of the navigation-laws, and the repeal of these laws
had opened to us an indirect foreign trade with California.
There was no doubt that the United States were technically
right in treating their trade with California as a coasting
trade, as the latter country formed an integral portion of the
United States. There were other advantages connected
with the repeal of the navigation-laws which had not been
mentioned—those, for instance, which enabled our vessels to
carry sorted or mixed cargoes, and w I had given rise to
a new branch of trade. He had now dealt with the question
of reciprocity, and had shown that with the exception oe six
or seven countries we had reciprocity; that
with respect
to Sweden and Holland we had perfect
reciprocity :
and that with regard to the United States '
we had
that technical reciprocity which we had a The whop right to claim.
(1400(41 11'44 94° "VII" dif4Calth aleril

could he no doubt that if negotiations failed
with-----.-'-------------'--1
three other countries into the French colonies in British shiplte
countries to which he bad referred, it would be a matter of The effect was that the few French colonies,
in spite e
consideration with her Majesty's Government whether they their enormous expenditure to bolster them up, were drag'
would not, even at some selOsacrifice, sake use of those gine. on a miserable existence. There was Algeria, for,
powers which Parliament had confided to them. Ina great instance—a territory highly endowed by nature, upon which
commercial country, however, like this, there was nothing ' millions had been expended by France. Every year it tos
so important as to combine together simplicity and uniformity the source of an enormous expenditure. That country that
in all their regulations respecting trade...4lloer, hear.) And i was great in the time of the Roman empire, and was one 01_
when the Noble Lord insinuated that her Majesty's Govern- ; the most productive portions of the civilized world—that
when the
neglected entering into negotiations on this sub- 1 enormous ory, instead of making any progress
,our
ject, he could not avoid reminding the Noble Lord that there j own colonies,
punish France by sayin was but a source of expensg
that French vessels
e to France. like‘l ere
were difficulties thrown in the way of the Government by they then to
the example that was given by the Noble Lord himself, and should not carry any commodities into our own colonies?
' vesse
those who acted with him.—( Hear, hear.) For it was ina- Tis weuld be but a ry to the French shipowner,
possible but thatforeign Governments, when they saw a great beganse he was alreadexcluded by a competition raga gat
and powerful party, led by one so distinguished by his abili- which he could not make head, in the carrying trade to .
ties as the Noble Lord himself, and heard them declaring colonies; but it would be, so far as our colonies were ono,
that every interest was going to ruin in consequence of the cerned, to deprive them occasionally of the opportunity ,
changes that had been made—it was impossible, he said, for obtaining at the cheapest rate commodities which a French
foreign Governments to hear such statements made without ship, under accidental circumstances, might be
enabled
an impression being produced upon them.—(Bear.) And to convey. tithe c
between the
shipowners
even though foreign Governments might find it difficult to shipowner and the French and Spanish
shiPre°s7 the
reconcile such statements with the notoriety of the pros- might be compared to a race between the hare
a
perity that England enjoyed, and with the extension of its tortoise. He found by a reference to the official accounts_se„
commerce, which they themselves witnessed, still these that the French mercantile and commercial navy i leyi;
statements must influence them, must make them slower to numbered only one ship exceeding 800 tons burden.
from
enter into new arrangements, because they did not first know 1849, that one solitary 800-ton ship had disappeared.6at year
In
what changes might be made in the commercial policy of the list of the French commercial navy.
600 tons,
this country, when the party from whom such statements France possessed altogether five ships exceeding
In 1850
tons.
emanated came into power.—(Cheers.) As to the United and carrying a collective tonnage of 3,760
exceeding
States, and the charges in their tariff to which reference this French navy possessed still those five ships
~ being
had been made, he could only say that what occurred in the 600 ton burdens, but they then only carried 3,609 ton
had re"
United States showed that it was much easier for a party a diminution of nearly 160 tons. His Noble Friend.oe
ships
when in opposition to embarrass a Free-trade. Government, ferred to the case of Mr. Lindsay, who had added nine
than to re-enact protective duties when it came itself into to the number he had usually employed.
fir
power.—(Cheers and laughter.) He referred to several tleman possessed in one year nearly three times as many ,
suet'
returns to show that their shipping trade had increased class ships as the French possessed altogether. Such
in every way, and pointed to the example of such men being the case, to talk of competition between
the
trade of
as Mr. Lindsay, of Liverpool, Mr. Duncan, of and the French mercantile marine in the general
t trade
Dunbar, and Mr. Wigram, who had predicted the most the world was most absurd. With regard to the direct t
ruinous consequences to themselves from a repeal of the navi- between France and England, retaliatory measures
s..
to e
gation laws, but who had since then increased their trade, and have no effect. If they were to imitate trance, and
opened new branches of commerce. He also referred to the tablish the same sort of restrictions in trade, they would
de-
great increase in the buildidg of iron ships in the Thames, stroy all legitimate trade with France, but no advantage
Why this onegene
the Clyde, and the Mersey, and to the statement made by would be gained thereby to our own shipowners. He thoughtwhich they
Mr. Anderson before a Committee of the other House, that it would be much better to follow that wise policy
__.,
,ate
such was the prosperity of the shipwrights that it would be had adopted in respect to other commercial matters. ut '
impossible to procure any one engaged in the trade to bind years they had Altered the duties payable by foreign countriest
himself by contract to have an iron vessel built within a for foreign produce in reference to our own interest eerc!auTf
certain period. The Legislature, he said, must go on in the sively. It was generally received as an axiom thaha.nonebeeo
course it had commenced—that ofencouraging the great bulk our restrictions could be removed until a pledge a
of the community, and not particular classes. He was able given to this country that a similar course would be putr.su!e
to show that more British shipping was now emloyed than by other countries. That impression, however, must have
formerly; that there was a greater demand forgo ther ship- been removed wieen an Hon. Friend of his—he meant,_se of
ping; that the shipowners were extending their business, Ricardo—had brought forward a motion in the bee_ e,
t these
and that the shipwrights were in a singularly prosperous con- Commons on two occasions, for the removal o
other
dition. It was no answer to him to tell him that the freihts restrictions, without reference to anything that any
had then
had been lowered, for that was part of his case.—(Hear.) nation would do. That Hon. Member
He did not think either that it was an answer to him exposed, with the greatest success, the fallacy of the
founded.ntieil
to tell him that the shipowners were complaining of great upon which it was supposed these Bills were
distress. No one had a greater respect than he had for the He certainly clic! not succeed in inducin the other Hoeties:
shipping interest, but still he said that in adopting such lan- to lay down any formal resolution ; but be had frontu!'re,
gunge they were using a conventional term—that which was time removed such an impression from the public rel. a L'i
K. Pair
common with every other occupation, even the most pros- showing that in the administration of the late Sir
.nono,
perous. Ile rejoiced, therefore, that this debate had taken that Right Hon. Baronet had more upon the pie
u?th;
place, and he rejoiced in it the more because the Noble Lord of making our co Am relaxation ofacted duties utterly irrespettl
in presenting the petition laid before them had not allowed of what any foreign nation did in this respect. The result of.
a word to fall from him which could lead the shipping in- these measures h rid been beyond measure most successtala
terest to hope that there was the slightest chance of this For a quarter of a- century before this country was engageet
country ever going back to the
navigation-laws.—(Cheers.) pernicious delusion of the in endless negotiations with other countries in order 10 g*::'
The Earl of HARDWICKE had, he said, been entrusted Instead of making' any progress towards that endby t
Since
rid of restrictions upon trade that were injurious to b.houtUs;
with petitions from the shipowners of several ports—from negotiations, these restrictions were rather multiplied.
Dartmouth, London, and Sunderland, which were to the that mime had not their commerce made great ands ",l_tt,
same effect and upon the same subject that was now before paralleled advances, such as it had sever before made? °"'
to
their Lordships, He did not feel it necessary to enter into than that, foreign natio: s were beginn
the details of these petitions, as they were the same in sub- follow in their footsteps. All foreign
stance with that presented by his Nobl., Friend. He would were tending to the reduction of those duties which
endeavour to make some reply to the admirable speech were destructive of their trade. The alternative presenting
which had been made by the owe Lord opposite. He did itself to those nations which refuse to follow in :It;
not think, from the speech of the Noble Lord, that the ship. course is, to be left far behind in the general rac ot.
owners could hope that her Majesty's Government would competition of the nations of the civilized world; and
el
make use, in dealing with tear uestion of reciprocity, of consideration, they- might depend on it, would produce its
those powers that the Act of iament had confided to natural result with the nations. No doubt, '°
them. He had never heard a speech less calculated to raise France, public opinion had hitherto been averse to making,,_s,
the spirits of a drooping interest than that which had been changes of that de ecription ; but they must remember Le',
delivered by the Noble Lord.—(llear, hear.) The Noble their navigation restrictions are so intimately connected wc,"`.
Lord had told them that the Government wee endeavouring their general commsercial restrictions—the system Wa9 gitied,
to negotiate with foreign powers, but he held out no expec- Aeniously absurd, and at the same time so complica . _
tation that if these negotiations should fail he would do any- that it was impossible to touch one part of' it without tnv
c oi tin ng.t r, i_ehs
thing for the shipping interest.—(flear, hear.) Here an whole fabric falling to the ground. Was it possible that_!t
people like the French would not open their eyes to a'n"of
experiment—a oangerous experiment—was made with a
great and a wealthy country, which would have broken was going on around them, and, comparing the Pr°grteisciset a
down a country if weak, or poor, or embarrassed. It was their country with that of their neighbours, perceive ` the
like taking a large handiul of gold from a huge mass—the flourishing mercantile marine can only be formed on
loss was not immediately perceived, as it would be if the basis of a flourishing commerce, the state of the one beingnt:
same amount had been taken from a small hoard of treasure, the natural result of the state of the other. The whole C°,„
Let th m compare what had occurred with other countries merce of France was languishing under the preeent restrtee
in consequence of the chan that had been made. Taking tive system. Let them test it by the amount of tonnage 7
the three months ending in May tor 1850 and 1851, he found of all ships. foreign and national, coming from forefee
the British shipping had increased only 21 per cent., whilst ports into France during a given period, and let theta
France had increased 19 per cent. In the outward trade apply the same test to England to see the Pr°g fie
during the same period the increase of British shipping was made in each country daring the last few years. we
8 per cen.t., Franca 13 per cent. The increase in the inward would commence with 1842, the first year in which the
trade (as we understood) was British 21, Russia 340, Sweden began to relax our restrictive system, and end with 184", the
192, Norway 1 19, Prussia 141. Outward, British 8, Norway last year that he had the opportunity of making the
cout"
127, Holland 111, and so it was with every other nation. parisoe. In France, tben, the total amount cleared
cod
They had increased their clearances in an infinitely greater wards in 1842 was 3,247,003 tons; in 1849 it was 3,75' ite
ratio than England had.—(Hear, hear.) What was their tons, being au increase of only 128,000 tons, or not guts!
position in respect to the trade with India and China prior to 4 per cent, in seven years. In England, in 1842, the Who
the repeal of the navigation laws? Why, the whole trade was 7,347,000 tons; and in 1849 it was 12,620,000 tons, toe,
might be said to be entirely in their own hands. But the increase being 5,273,h00 tons, or 71 per cent. within tits,
repeal of those laws enabled America to do what she conld seven years. [A NOBLE LORD - "There was no revo.
__
never do before. She carried on an enormous trade—first, tion here."] tNo ; but the year 1849 showed ratnet•
between New York and California - then, between Cali- favourably for France, for after the erection of
81111
fornia to China—and then between China and Liver- President of the Republic confidence was restored, .
erl'et
pool. The freight she obtained from New York to Cali- trade made a great spring in that year; but in England
fornia paid the whole expense of the ship, the cost of the year 1849 was not so favourable either as the yera
building, and the equipment of the voyage. She then 1850 or as the present year. The results of the famitleeet
started for China, from whence she was enabled to carry Ireland and of the railway speculation in England haa not
teas at low freight, and landed them at Liverpool; being yet cleared away, and 1849 could not be considered a pros'
thus enabled to force the British shipping out of this enor- perous year in this country. But let them apply the
testd
mous trade. The American ships could obtain at that me- of the state cf the manufactures of the country In Englafie,
meat from 61. to 101. a ton freight from New York to Cali- every description of manufactures was busily and rap did
fornia, while the British ship in her voyage from Liverpool progressing; their railway communications were h°l
to California and India could only obtain irom 20s. to 255. a speedily completed upon a gigantic scale of construction, an
ton. When his Noble Friend said that the repeal of the na- fixed capital was invested in public works of immense int-
vigation-laws had not improved the American shipping he portance. In France, on the other hand, they had nothing,
did not seem to be aware of what was going on in Ame- but stagnation ; railway communication was advancing but
rica in reference to the extraordinary trade with California. slowly to completion, and that slow advance was mainly Ile-
The stimulus thus given to the building trade of America sisted by the state; no public works were carried on 0Y
was such as to astonish every one. When first the trade private companies, and stagnation was pervading every
with San Francisco was opened the American ship-holders branch of industry. ofas that a state of things that France
employed nearly the whole of their ships by freighting was likely long to submit to ? Would her people not inquire
them to San Francisco. At present there were 600 of their into the causes of it, and trace it to the restrictions placed 0u
.
ships at California, and 600 more were employed in the her commerce? Though in the home markets the mannfac
whaling and coasting trades. The year before last the turer might be compensated for the restrictions imposed 0u
Americans built about 1,100 ships, and there were in the him by protective duties, there was no means of protecting
last year 1,100 on the stocks. This great increase in the the manufacturer of Lyons silks, or the seise grower of Bor•
shipping trade of America was occasioned by the combined deaux, from the competition oi the foreign producer of cot-
action of the Californian trade and the enormous advantages responding articles, in the markets of the world. The
co !erred upon them by the repeal of the navigation laws. English manufacturer reaped the advantage of the restrice
It was impossible that the British shipping could long times imposed on the Fre. cli pr ducer by his own Govern..
contend aganst such a state of things. By a document went, which enhanced to him the cost of his motive steam
which he held in his hand it appeared the outfit of a British power, his iron, indigo, and other raw materials, the in'
ship for a long voyage amounted to 2,1744, and the amount creased cost of which wets so far an injury to the
of its outward trade only to 7941,, leaving a balance of about French producer to which the English manufacturer
1,3001. against her. Such a state of things if permitted to was not subjected. Those were facts which would sooner or
continue would assuredly involve this country in difficulties later be understood by the people of France; and it WAS not
much more serious than ever it was in before. It was al- by following the present erroneous example
of that country
ways the opinion of their ancestors that these laws were of a that they could induce her to remove those restriction%
knew
defensive charactensoughtr, and the repeal of them they very well which did most injury to her own manufactures. If he
country. was u for and ked by the people of this wished to retard the progress of France he would desire the
continuance of those commercial restrictions; but he di I not
Earl GREY could not help cengratulating the Noble look upon that country with an eye of commercial jealousy;
Earl opposite upon the admission that the alteration of be knew that in the markets of the world there was sufficient
the navigation laws was calculated to give a great demand for the produce of both countries, and certain be
stimulus to the commerce of the world. If it bad done that, he was that it was a wise policy in us to wait with patience
thought it followed pretty clearly that 'the first commercial until a change of views took place in France on those mat-
nation in the world could not fail to receive its full share of tem, and to abstain from any measure of retaliation. until we
the traffic. Individual cases of great dilliculey arid unbar- saw practically that we were suffering from the competition
rassment might no doubt be found; but upon a great ques- of that country, and that the retaliatory measures they
tion of that kind, they must look to, the general result of the might adopt would be calculated to relieve their own fellow-
whole. The Noble Earl, then, did not attempt to show that subjects from any disadvantages to which they might have
the shipowners generally were not extending their business. been unfairly exposed.
The Ea-1 of COLCHESTER said that as both the Noble
As it had been truly stated by his Noble Friend, there was
one shipowner alone who had in a single year added nine Lords (Granville and Grey) admitted thet the vexatious
more ships to the number usually employed. The Noble character of the restrictions existing in France arose from
want of reciprocity, he hoped when the proper time arrived
Earl had spoken of the extraordinary results in
The subject then dropped.
the trade of the world by the opening of California, and they would be prepared to act up to that opinion.
by the sudden creation of a large community in that part
of the world. No doubt very great effects bad been pro- On the mot on of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE, the
duced by this Caliiornian trade, and America, of course, Schools' Sites Act Amendment Bill was read a second time
reaped the first advantages by the increa-e of their freights Adjourned.
to that part of the world. In the peculiar situation in
which she was placed in reference to California, it was no
her
doubtin most
at difficult for
But any other country to compete with
th trade. he was unable to understand
how that' circumstance affected the question of the ravi-
gation laws. He (Earl Grey), however, believed that this
country had shared in the benefits of the Californian trade.
If they could believe the ordinary information which they
received, no inconsiderable number of English vessels had
gone to California. It appeared by the last accounts re-
ch egad recentlyshipping been to California, no less than 6,800 were
British, and ore-half of the remainder were American.
There was no doubt that America had a superior advantage
over British ships in the trade with California, but in conse
quence of that trade she withdrew' a large portion of the
ships which bad been previously employed in the Brazils,
New Spain, and other countries, and their places were imme-
diately supplied by British ships, He at once admitted that
the regulations maintained both by France and Spain were
contrary to every principle of fairness, and of which this
country had a great right to complain. He thought, too,
that they were entitled to adopt any measure consistent
with their interest in order to meet these unjust pro-
ceedings. 'With regard to these regulations, they
were not only to consider whether France and Spain bad
acted fairly towards them, but also whether they affected
this country as much as they affected the countries that had
adopted them. And on the other hand they were called
upon to consider whether they would, by retaliatory
measures, do more harm to ourselves than to those coun-
tries. The Noble Lord opposite said that when the retalia.
tory clauses were introduced into the Bill, it was with the
understanding that the Government were to have made use
of the power thus given them in opposition to such regula.
tions. If he (Earl Grey) remembered right, it was stated
Theyf merely
distinctly that these clauses were introduced with this
ound it
object—that if it were found that British ships were really
aliatory
suffering in the competition with the ships of other count"
2 ifwere imposed
tries, in consequence of the adoption by them of such e.
re.
gulations, those powers were to be employed.
reserved to themselves the power, in case thelyet
imported in
advantageous to themselves, to give effect to those
clauses against foreign nations. With regard to
The effect
ly injurious to
Spain, the
grievance was that high differential duties upon the importation of all commodities British ships, instead of their own nationalhisiehipter.iwtiassh,
sahfitper.
of such a regulation was, no doubt, highs
StvnP°aa3ti.jataegre ;of very
but, as
trade. But to whom was it injurious? owner now and again, perhaps, lost a
interest of Great Britain.
the Noble Lord stated, the whole trails all, so inconsiderable, that it was really, oaf
" tost'rerenrcesettroicttible•esshr)ai'stem that Spain carried on such
and insignificant t pdpeisnvgith all the world. But what
might in,terpose countervailing
a little
Thanks
pettyc
could this country do? They
Spain irom this country in
Ws dutiesphayn,isthh uesyph oi
ships.
.0 gulodwedshsi
be the result of such a course?
our an end to trading between the.
nufactu-rerser'atvodhich would be a eerious injury to
etrhasduerdoftet
shterictions.
two countries altozeth
our own ma
mercha
sraugglerstea great extent. France maintained
ma
tpgroyi°.riejPtigli'Ll(ult'soedSit o'. renctesi
tical operation of this was, t
ported in English ships,:eaenvdenstitniheuipartoeduthcee
and manufacturer,
of her own colonies if '
The prac-
hat the French merchant
aifdaff9rded every opportunity of buy-
English
ship.
If there
as compelled to ship
jog cheap cotton
from doing so if and
in the Baltic, and that
indigo in London, were prevented
was an English ship lying
an
it on board
en obtained
not take advantage of the circumstance
hemp could be th •
the k rench ship-builders could
a cheap cargo of timber and
to the serious injury
of the latter. The loss to the English shipowner was the
loss of an occasional voya e•• b t '
raw material for carrye nilmthue'iradtrvaarnietagine
the deprivation of th ' g ' u the
loss
to
the French
was
ingoor
toblebest
it
theth e
cheapest manner. In the same way as colonial
regarded the
trade. It was not permitted by the
french law to carry any
c amwdities between kraace and their volgiiies, nor from
_ __

EOCSE OF COMMONS, June 17.
CEYLON.
Mr. HUME wished to ask the Under-Secretary for the
Colonies when the proceedings sent by mistake from Ceylon,
and connected with the courts-martial, would b laid on the
table?
e.r. HAWES said the reports of the Commissioners ap-
pointed to inquire into the allegations in the affidavits had
been laid on the table, but the evidence on which those re-
p arts were founded had not yet been produced, because the
proceedings had not yet been returned.
Mr. BAILLIE asked why they had not been retur d and
when the Hon. Gentleman expected to receive them ne
'
Mr. HAWES said that the Indian mail by wayeinol South-
proceedingsampton had not yet arrived, by which, in all probability, the
had been sent.
THE MALT TAX.
Mr. BASS then rose to bring forward the motion of which
he had given notice, for the repeal of hlf the lt tax on
October 10, 1852, with a view to relievea the raparoducer_ i?..f.
barley and the consumer ofbeer, without matrial and ul.tie
mate loss to the revenue lie said the House would perceive
that his proposal would not interfere with the financial ar-
rangements of the present year, In bringing that proposal
before the House it Was not his intention in any way to em-
barrass the Govern
Government had himmseenlft. The Noble Lord at the bead of the
expressed an opinion in favour of the
reduction of the malt-tax. The lion. Member then referred
to the opinions of several Hon Members on the subject of
the reduction of the malt-tax., and appealed to the Hon.
Member for the West Riding, as the head of the Free-
traders, to sa towhether it was consistent with free trade
to give relief foreign producers and at the same time
obstinately to resist the reduction of the duty on an
article of the North R domestic production. The lion. Member for
ding had informed them that Sir Robert Peel
had stated that whenever the corn-laws should be repealed
it would be the duty of the House to remove also the malt-
tax. A remarkable pamphlet was published in 1836, imme-
diately after the celebrated Cornmitteeon agricultural distress,
and one of the assertions in it was that the enormous amount
of the duty on malt was one of the principal grounds upon
which agriculturists could rest their claim for protection
against foreign competition. Tbat protection had, how-
ever, been abolished. He had been told that that was a
mere brewers' motion. Now, he could say that he be-
lieved the few brewers who had expressed an opinion upon
it were opposed to it; and he bad received various com-
munications from rnaltsters who were decidedly against it.
There was another part cf that pamphlet to which he
had already referred, in which it was stated that "it
was impossible not to admit that the reduction of the
malt duty would cause an increased demand for barley, and
would operate most beneficially for the interest of the agri-
culturists." That assertion was as true now as it was at the
time at which it had been made. He might be met with
statements that the reduction of the malt tax would not be
productive of so many benefits as it might be supposed.
The lion. Member for North Warwickshire, however, had,
he thought, answered that assertion, for he had shown that
all the variations in the consumption of malt had originated
in bad
auses , harves
whicts, genera
hel distress throughout the country, and
other ch would not then eu. There
was as great a disposition to consume beern inmerate this country'
now as ever there had been. The consumption, indeed, bad
decreased somewhat for some years after 1836, because other
articles had been brought into competition with it; but in
the middle of the last decennial period a considerable in-
crease had again occurred. In 1847 the amount of malt
consumed had been 4,385,000 quarters, while last year it
had reached 5,350,0 W. There was a great alte-
ration, moreover, in the taste of the public of late which
did not tend to increase the consumption, for in gene-
ral light descriptions of beer were preferred to that
more solid and intoxicating beverage which was, formerly
popular. There was a decline also in the price of articles
which entered i4to competition with beer, while in its price