The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-27 00:00:00

OUR MEIZCANTILB MA INir'.

- (11,.0m, the -Belfast-41fercaaiile J.ouractl.)
The Merchant shipping Act of 1854, although a
great improve:tient upon previous acts, continues
1 to uphold so many oppressive regulations, that it
2 has been the means of arousing the shipping•inte-
-3 rest of these kingdoms into action, for the purpose
of bringing about a relaxation of the law. . An in-
Huenttal association has lately been formed in Lon=
don, under the auspices of many leading meinlera
of Parliatneet- and merchants, in -concert -livith-
minailar associations in Liverpool; Sauthanipton,
Hull, Bristol, Swansea, Newport,.. Cardiff,
Llanelly, Milford, Cardigan, Newquay, Aberyst-
with, Maldon, the Exeter and West of England
(comprising Plymouth, Falmouth, Dartmouth,
Vruro, Fowey, klayle, St. Ives, • Padstow Kings.
bridge, Brixham, Torquay, Teigumouth, Penzance,
Exmouth, Poole, 'Weymouth, Lyme Regis,
Brid-
port, Bideford, Barnstaple, B; idge water, and
various other ports) with a view to obtain an
aleration in the prcsnat system of investigating
:he causes of wrecks and casualties ; a revision of
the Merchant Shipping Act already, alluded to ,
a charter of incorporation to enable the
n3ereau•-•
He marine service (like other incorpc.rated bodies)
to conduct and manage all matters that relate t
its in' eraal economy—such as the founding of
schools for the training of bays for the merchant
service, the examination of masters and mates
prior to certificate=, &c. ; the establishment of an
hosp'tal, in which a home will be afforded, or by
which assistance will be given to the sick, vrort_
out, and disabled officers of all grades, and seamen
of the British merchaut .service ; to maintain a
constant and efficient attention to Parliamentary
procceiings ; to effect the abolition of light dues
and passing tails, and to have our shores lighted
and harbours of refuge founded and maintained
out of the general taxes of the country ; and to all
;natters affee'ing the shipowners, captains, mates,
nein( ers, and seamen of the United Kingdom.
These objects are proposed to be accomplished,
lst, by the organisation of societies, and the co-.
(operation of shipowners and mariners throughout
the United Kindom ; 2d, The incorporation of the •
mercan tile marine service : and 3(1, By the appoint-
ment to situations under Government, relating to
merchant shipping, of properly-qualified persons
belonging to the mercantile marine service.
As the town is deeply interested in shiPPingi
owning, as it does, a very largo amount of- ton-
nage, engaged both in the foreign and coasting
trade, we are particul-irly auxioul that our ship-
owners should lose no time in uniting with this
important and most desirable association, which
has been formed solely for the protection of the
interests connected with this leading branch of
British commerce. They have now an excellent
opportunity of lending their assistance, as Mr.
Jackson, the talented secretary of the association
we have alluded to, is now iu town, and will no
doubt take a public opportunity of fully explaining
,he views of that body before leaving. He has
already visited all the leading ports of Great Bri-
tain, and t. btained their co-operation, and also been
welcomed in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Water-
ford, iu all of which. places public -meetings have
been called by the respective mayors, at which
resolutions were passed nuanituously to support
raid aid iu the advancement of the associa ion, by
unrolling members, and using their best endeavours
o promote the best interests of the commercial
marine.

The great objcct of the association, as Mr.
Jackson states, is to unite in one common bond
all connected with the shipping interest, whether
they may be the largest shipowners in England.
cr the possessors of but one small craft—whether
they may be in the losition of machants, officers,
or seamen.

Mr. Jacks :n forcibly demonstrates, in li is speeches
made at the meetings held at various places, that,
under the present law, the principles of free trade
have been carricd to such an extent as to give to
foreign bottoms advantages denied to British
vessels, which, in one important branch of trade,.
has been the means of transferring the greater part
of the traffic to foreign ships ; we allude to the lia-
bility clause, which especially operates against
the " passenger trade." The liabilities are so
serious, and of such an arbitrary nature,
that the passenger trade has been .and
is gradually transferred to foreign ships,
whidt are free frbm and not amenable to the act,
thus burlesquing, as it were, the principles of
free trade. Another most important question, in
which the association takes a lively interest, is
that of " passing tolls," to which we will add that
of " light dues." The former tax especially is
justly considered as a most grievous one, as Bri-
tish ships must pay the toll for certain lights,
whether they pass within sight of them or not,
and whether they enjoyed any advantage from
them cr not. Both these dues, the association
very properly argues, should be classed with the
general t axes of the country, as the protection of
the merc.intile marine is pre-ernim ntly a national
obj,ct, and should, therefore, be sustained rather imperial' exelieeitiert" tifan by-this particular"
interest more immediately connected with it.
Lord Palmerston tt uly slid, in his recent speech
in support of Lord Clarence Paget's motion, having
reference to the present system of light dues, that
as well might we call upon the persons -passing
through our streets to pay fur the lighting of the
city; the parishes pay the expense, and, from the
same analogy, the nation ought to ply the expense
of liglying our coast-.
At present, the Government nuke the ship-
owners pay near 150,000/. a-year more than the
actual cost of the lights. Why should this be the
case ? Why, nut transfer them, as suggested or,
at any rate, reduce the dues down to the actual
amount of outlay.

There are several other points of great interest,
upon wuich we should like to have touched, hut
our space precludes our saying more at present.
We hope, however, that we have already said
enough to arouse the attention of our shipowners,
and induce them to co operate heartily with Mr.
Jackson ard the London Mercantile Marine Ser-
vice Association, in their laudable endeavours to
render our mercantile navy more efficient and,
useful.

THE LATE FATAL TV RINK OF THE
EXCEL, VEAIt CALAIS.

The following correspondence between the English
and French Governments, relative to the bravery and
gallantry disidayed by the boatmen and others belonging
to Calais, on the occasion of the fatal wreck of the
schooner Excel, of Weymouth, near that port, has been
ree,:ived by the Bard of Trade :
" Foreign-office, May 22, 1858.
" Sir,—l am directed by the Earl of Malmesbury to
transmit to you, for the information of the Lords 01 the
Committee of Privy Council for Trade, a copy cf a des.
patch from her 11,1jcsWs Ambassador at Paris, enclosing
copy of a note from Count Walew:li iu reply to Lord
vvley's announcement of the gift of medalz, and of the
intemb:2d present of a lifeboat by her Majesty's Govern-
ment, in return for services rendered by the people of
Calais, on the occasion of the wreck of the British
schooner Excel.---I am, Sir, &e,,

" G. HAMMOND.
" J. Booth, Esq., Secretary, Board of Trade."
" Paris, May 16, 1850
" My Lord,—ln compliance with the in,,truciions con-
tained in your lordship's despatch, No. 252, of the 30th
ul'., I transmitted to Count Walewski the twenty-one
silver medals and one gold medal, which her Majesty's
Government were desirous of pre-enting to certain
French subjects, in acknowledgment of the services
rendered by them to the British schooner Excel,
which was wrecked off Calais in the month of
January lut ; and I reque3ted his Excellency to convey
to those persons, at the same time, the sincere thanks of
her Majesty's Government. I have now the honour to
transmit to your lordship the copy of the note which I
rtceived from Count Walewski in acknowledgment of
the receipt of these medals.—I have, &c.,
"The Earl of Malniesbury, &c." "COWLEY.
" Paris, May 14, 1858.

tennciyeddailds
me the honour to address thee,onthe
letter your
in
Esxt.c,
"I have received with m
Isjesty's Government to certain French Fob
in silver and one medal in gold, presented by her 131i-
it' 311 n
olcl‘n the occasion of the shipwreck, on the coast of
cts-('s of the Excel, belonging to the port of Weymouth.
,1,: requesting my colleague, the Minister of Marine
and Colonies, to be so good as cause these medals to be
delivered to the parties for whom they are intended, I
have at the same time acquainted Admiral Hamelin that
the Queen's Government, in order to recognise in the
most distinguished manner the services rendered at the
time of the toss of the Excel, have determined to present
to- the town of Calais a lifeboat, destined to remind them
of the courageous devotieu displayed by sundry inhabi,
tants of that port in favour of shipwrecked Englishmen.
"Permit me, your Excellency, in thanking you for
this communication, to assure you that the Government
of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor highly appreciates
the noble and generous manner in which the British
Government has teen phased to recognise the services
rendered by our maritime population to English mer-
chant-vessels, and that the Government recognises, in
this particular mark of gratitude displayed towards tho
town of Galan, a new means of cementing that cordial
harmony which should ( xist between the navies of the
two nations.
WALEwsm.
"To the Right ion. Lord Cowley, &c."

lIECKINGTON. A. Novel. By Mrs. Gore. 3 volr.—
We have not read any of MrF. Gore's novels which we
like so much as " lleckington." It has all the subtle
and graceful charm of high-bred life and manners whieh
distinguishes that lady's writings, and the plot is deeply
intereAin7. The heroine, Sophia Corbet, is a charming
production. Mrs. Gore lays bare with an unsparing
hand, and with more than her usual skill, the faults and
follies of the fashionable woild. It would be well if
many a match-making mother would read and profit by
her tale.—John Bull.