The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-05 00:00:00

INCREASE OF TONNAGE.

1849 over 1848. 1850 over 1849
British 226 „ 207 ... 162 „ 843
Foreign
have taken the returns of vessels cleared outwards,
because that is an evidence of work done—the returns of
vessels entering may be affected in a variety of ways,
apart from the evidence of work done within the period
specified. I must also very briefly call the attention of
Hon. Members to the fact, that the repeal of the naviga-
tion-laws has not yet affected either the value of ship-
ping or the demand. The ship-building of the Clyde,
the Tyne, the Mersey, and the Thames, is fully equal in
its activity to any preceding period, and within the last
few days an eminent shipbuilder informed me the
orders for ships and steamers on his books exceeded
400,0001. If I refer to the circulars of firms engaged in
the sale of ships I find the same activity of trade indi-
cated.—(Hear, hear.) One of the largest firms in Eng-
land so engaged, and whose place of business is Liver-
pool, thus writes:—" It gives us pleasure to state that
the amount of tonnage sold in 1850 in Liverpool exceeds
that sold in 1849, being 81,028 tons against 78,212;
showing an increase of 1850 over 1849 equal to 36 per
cent.—(Cheers.) Now, as to the price of shipping, the
same circular states—" New British ships have fully
maintained our last quotations. Indeed we have felt
the want of a larger supply of good vessels."—(Cries
of " Hear, hear.") And as to the ships built in
the Mersey port, their circular shows an excess
of tonnage in 1850 over 1849 of 4,609 tons. I have
made careful inquiries as to prices ruling at New York
on all the items affecting the price at which ships can be
built there. I have failed to find any reason for alarm.
—(Heer, hear.) Their prices cf labour exceed ours
by more than 50 per cent., while the average of the cost
of materials used is quite equal to their cost with us.
A great revolution is now taking place in the shipping
trade, and which revolution was in progress when the
navigation-laws were repealed. That measure helped to
anticipate the result—a result, I believe, which the re-
tention of protection would have rendered utterly dis-
astrous to us. The old mode of shipbuilding, it is ad-
mitted on all hands, will no longer do. Capacity without
speed is the reverse of recommendation in a ship. What the
American shipbuilders effected, the Scotch have surpassed,
and the result of the trial between the Scotch built ships
and steamers and the United States, shows us we have
nothing to apprehend, but mach to gain, if British
skill and enterprise be but relieved from all impediments.
The merchants and traders of Liverpool are generally
considered to be well and practically acquainted with all
the circumstances which regulate commerce. I have
several of their annual circulars before me, and I urn
struck with the unanimity of their testimony. One of
the most eminent says—" The present year opens under
circumstances of great encouragement. Money is abun-
dant—food of every kind cheap—general trade is active
and remunerative, finding ample employment for the
industry of the country."—(flear, hear.) With all that is
so encouraging at home, there are evident symptoms of
the gradual prevalence in foreign countries of sounder
principles of international commerce : they are learning
the lesson that it is better to buy economically, than to
manufacture expensively—they are learning that the
merchants of England are the best customers in every
market—that their manufacturers are surpassed by none
in skill and ingenuity.—(Hear, hear.) To illustrate the
perfect certainty that such must be, in the course of events,
the policy of every state, let us take France and her iron
trade. Her protective iron duties are now so high, and
are of such a comparative amount, that she pays every
five years the full value of purchase of every iron work in
the kingdom on her home consumption only. Is it not self-
evident that it would be far more the policy of her people to
receive our iron, and for us in treaty to take her light
wines 9U 191Yer duties, Uud yield to our owa Lachoquer