The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING; OCTOBER 8, 1860.

Ml?. LINDSAY, M.P., IN THE UNITED STATUS.

Mr. Lindsay, M.P., addressed the Boston, United States,
Board of Trade, on the 24th ult., and stated the object of
his visit to the United States. He said that he did not
visit the United States as a " diplomatist," much less as a
" special envoy," as had been reported in some quarters.;
but he came there as a man of business, to converse with
men of business, about commercial matters, in which
both countries were deeply interested. Having com-
pared notes and conversed with the merchants and
shipowners of Boston, and having ascertained their
views—which they appeared quite ready to furnish—
he would then proceed to New York, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore, and adopt a somewhat similar
course to that which he was following here. The different
boards of trade and chambers of commerce would no doubt
forward memorals to their Government, and by the time
the Government of the United States had considered these
memorials, he would have reached Washington. He
would then see if the views of the respective Governments
could be brought into harmony respecting the questions to
which he would now direct their attention. In regard to
the first and most important question, that of the respon-
sibility of shipowners, he said—" My idea in regard to the
principles of the convention would be somewhat as follows :
—That the ships of Great Britain and the United States
respectfully shall be placed upon an equal footing in regard
to the loss of life, personal injury, &c., by collisions at sea,
and that the liability of the owners of the ship running
down another shall be limited to the same amount, whether
the ship belong to Great Britain or the United States;
and that the mode of procedure shall be in accordance with
the law of the country in which the claim is made." He
next spoke of the necessity of adopting signal lights which
should be always understood. He also spoke of matters
relating to insurance—to that "running down clause"
which is usually inserted in the policy. It seemed to him
desirable that in the United States they should have
rules applicable to insurance somewhat similar to those
which they had in Great Britain. The next point was that
of crimes committed on the high seas. "I do not see," he
said, "why some convention cannot be entered into between
the two countries, so that upon the representation of
the minister or consul repreflenting your country, our
law officers shall have power to issue a warrant for
the apprehension of the American subject in a British
port, in the same way as ho would issue a warrant
for the apprehension of 81443, ritish subject committing a
similar offence ; and, in case of very grave crimes, have
power to send him home for trial ; and, in case of smaller
offences, such as larceny and small crimes and disputes,
giving to our courts jurisdiction, always on the recommen-
dation, or at the request of the ambassador or consul repre-
senting the United States at that port. And if some such
law could be applied to American seamen in England, it
would be advisable to have a similar law applied to British
seamen in American ports." With respect to the question
of desertion from merchant ships, he suggested that the
American Government might adopt our " Foreign De-
serters Act," if the words, " not being slaves," were
omitted ; if they agreed to do so, he would do all he
possibly could to induce our Government to sub-
stitute some such words as " seamen who have
voluntarily engaged themselves, and apprentices indentured
to merchant ships belonging to such and such power."
Passing on to the subject of shipping offices, he said :
"If you were to establish shipping offices, into which
British seamen should be admitted on the same terms, and
subjected to the same charges, as American seamen, then
I think our Government would be willing to allow your sea-
men the same privileges in our shipping offices." Several
other points haying been touched upon, he spoke at length
upon the navigation laws ; noticing the course which Eng-
land had taken, throwing her ports open, so that American
and British ships stood on an equal footing. He said,
" When we opened the coasting trade to you, we expected
that your Government would adhere to this great sound
principle, as laid down by Abbott Lawrence, and open your
trade to us. lam sorry to say that you still retain your
coasting trade ; and you do more—you construe your
coasting trade to include the trade between New York and
California. I am at a loss to understand how you can
call a trade that travels nearly round the world a
' coasting trade.' I will tell you what a British ship-
owner says Why,' says he, ' the trade between Cal-
cutta and London is quite as much a coasting trade as that
between California and New York, because the distance
is less.' Really lam at a loss to see why, if the.one is to
be termed a coasting trade,' the other should not be so
also. Then you call the trade to the West coast, via
Panama, a coasting trade I You land in a foreign country.
You tranship your goods, carrying them over a foreign
territory, and really, on the principle of equity, it seems to
me it would be very difficult for you to hold your ground
there. If you were to give up your monopoly of the coast-
ing trade, what would the British shipowner gain, and what
would you lose ? If my experience is worth anything, it
leads me to think that you would lose little or nothing, and
that the British shipowner would gain much less than he
supposes. I do not believe that you would lose any of that
trade, because I believe that every nation can conduct its
own coasting trade to the best advantage. It was said that
the Swedes and Norwegians, eating "black bread," and
working for low wages, would drive us out of our coasting
trade; but we have retained it, and for this simple reason,
that before the Swedes and Norwegians can engage in the
coasting trade, they must come and live in the ports of
England. They will there be subject to the same duties
and burdens as British owners, and must feed and pay the
same men, as British seamen are fed and paid. The ship-
owners of Great Britain are constantly complaining about
the people of America in regard to the coasting trade. You
may not care a great deal about those bickerings, but
anything that stirs up animosity between two great nations,
especially two great commercial nations, such as England
and America, must -to a certain extent limit the trade be-
tween those countries more than it would be limited if this
cause of grievance and annoyance were removed. Now, if
England were prepared to give up this charge of light dues
upon your ships, and the compulsory pilotage, so that your
ships might not be required to pay for pilotage, except when
they required the services of a pilot, and if we could give
up those dues which we now levy as ' passing tolls'--I
think, if you gave up your coasting trade, and we gave up
these exactions, it strikes me that you would be very much
the gainers, and you would remove a serious annoyance,
and do much to develope your own trade. However, that is
a matter for the consideration of the government of this
board, and I do hope that you and the shipowners generally,
and the American public, will give it a fair and impar-
tial consideration." The registry question was considered,
and also the belligerent rights of the sea. In
connection with the latter subject, he said :—" I do sin-
cerely hope that you may urge upon the Government of
this country the desirability of moving, with England, in
making all private property, except articles contraband of
war, sacred, and putting an end to the seizure of such pro-
perty by privateers, whether it be by ships carrying letters
of marque, called privateers, or her Majesty's ships, fitted
out in England and going forth, in the usual phrase, to
burn, plunder, and destroy.' "—At the conclusion of the
hon. gentleman's speech, it was resolved :—" That a com-
mittee of twelve be appointed to consider the various sub-
jects presented to the government of this board by the Hon.
W. S. Lindsay, M.P., namely, the liability of shipowners—
the rule of the road at sea—collisions—signal lights—the
application of the British Foreign Deserters Act to the
ships of the United States—offences committed on the high
seas—the settlement of disputes relative to wages, &c.—
the establishment of shipping offices—the rights of belli •
gerents•—the registering of British-built vessels—the coast-
ing trade, &e."

The Liverpool Mercury of Saturday says ;--
"From inquiries made at Knowsley yesterday, we regret
to find that the Earl of Derby has undergone a slight re-
lapse, though it is satisfactory to know that no danger is
apprehended."

The Duke and Duchess of Richmond have ar-
rived in town from Gordon Castle, Fochabers, N.B. We
are sorry to learn there has been but slight amendment in
the health of his grace. The noble duke has been unable
to take the field during the shooting season in consequence
of his indisposition.
The Duke of Leinster has arrived in town within
the last few days from the Continent, on his way to Carton
near Maynooth, Ireland.
The Earl of Aberdeen has returned to Haddo
House from his lordship's marine residence near Peterhead,
The venerable statesman is enjoying much better health.
Colonel the Hon. Alexander and Mrs. Gordon, and the
Hon. Arthur Gordon, are staying at Haddo House with his

lordship.
The Countess of Westmoreland and infant
daughter are both progressing favourably at Apthorpe Hall;
Northamptonshire.

Lord and Lady Chelmsford and the Hon. Miss
Thesiger, who are making a tour in Germany, are expected
to return to Eaton-square about the close of this month.

Lord and Lady Proby, Colonel Steele, and a
select circle have been visiting the Duke and Duchess of
Manchester during the week at Kimbolton Castle, St.
Neots.

Lord and Lady Taunton, who has been travelling
on the Continent during the last six weeks, are expected to
return to Stoke Park, near Windsor, towards the close of
the month.

Lord Dunkellin, 11. P., has joined the Marquis
and Marchioness of Clauricarde at Portumna Castle, county
Galway.

Mr. Beaumont, M.P., and Lady Margaret Beau-
mont have arrived in town from visiting the German spas
and Paris. The hon. member and her ladyship leave town
early in the week for Bywell Hall, their seat in Northum-
berland.

The private chapel of the Earls of Shrewsbury,
in Alton Towers, which, up to the demise of the late earl,
had been devoted to the Romish Church, has just been re-
opened for Protestant worship, according to the rites of the
Church of England.
The Turner pension of VO has been given to Mr
J. M. Wright, the veteran water painter.
The camp at Chalons was officially broken up on
Friday. The Duke of Magenta reviewed the troops on
Thursday preparatory to their separation.