The Sun.
London, England, 1850-06-20 00:00:00

MERCANTILE MARINE -fit.

On the motion for the second reading of thia Bill,
Mr. RICARDO wished to inquire in what form the
Bill was to be brought forward on this second reading?
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he would take an oppor-
tunity of stating the new provisions in the Bill.
In answer to Mr. HUME,
Mr. LABOUCHERE said that the alterations in the
Bill were only on the mode of carrying out its objects,
and did not affect its principle.
Mr. HERRIES presented several petitions against
the Bill, and suggested that the second reading should
be delayed owing to the great alterations which bad
been made in the measure since it was last before the
House.

After a short discussion,
Mr. LABOUGHERE rose to move the second read-
ing of the Bill, and said, although the subject to which
it related did not possess any topic of interest connected
with
party struggles, yet it was of the
greatest conse-
quence to one of the most important interests
in the country ; and he threw himself on the Indul;
genre of the House while he stated the alterations
which he proposed to make in tile 13111. The Roues

would recollect that he stated on a previous occasion,
that while the Government would firmly adhere to
what they believed the essential principles of the
measure, yet with regard to the machinery by
which those principles were to be carried out, they
were anxious to obtain the support of the great body of
the shipping interest of this country; and ho was now in
a condition to assure the House that he proposed the
second reading with the cordial approbation of that in-
terest, not only in regard to the object of
the measure, but also with reference to the
mode in which it was to be carried out.
The first principle of the Bill was to put an end to the
indiscriminate discharge of mates and masters of vessels
that had hitherto taken place ; the second
was to put an end to the system of
cflmping which had been a disgrace to the naval
service of the country; and the third object of the mea •
sure was to place the discipline of the merchant
service of this conntry upon a much better footing.
Not only the shipowners, but he believed the whole
of • the merchant service were in favour of the Bill. It
had been said that the great objection to the Bill
was, that its operation was too much in favour of
centralization. He had felt the weight of that objection,
and proposed to remedy it by the amendments on the
measure he intended to propose. He proposed to
institute local boards in all ports that were registered
to the extent of 30,000 tons on the shipping of goods.
He also proposed to appoint shipping officers, whose
salaries were to be regulated by the Board of Trade. He
proposed to give to the local board a concurrent jurisdic-
tion with the Board of Trade relative to the conduct of
captains of vessels. With respect to the coasting
trade, he did not propose that it should be necessary
for vessels in that trade to have captains that had
passed an examination as was necessary in the other
branch of the service. The Right Hon. Gentleman,
after referring at some length to the alterations he pro-
posed in the measure, concluded by moving the second
reading of the Bill.
Mr. HUME had heard but very imperfectly the state-
ment of the Right Hon. Gentleman, but he ngreed with
him that the system upon which our maritime law was
founded was complicated and confused. (Hear,
hear.) The various acts which bore upon it
ought to be collected and consolidated, that was the
opinion of the commercial interest :itself and he
regretted that this coursoihad not been adopted in prefer-
ence to introducing the Bill. (Hear, hear.) He, how-
ever, suggested that the Bill should be delayed, in order
that the new clauses should be printed and considered,
and then it might be possible so to frame the Bill in com-
mittee as to make it desirable to adopt it for a few months.
He therefore proposed, without condemning the prin-
ciple of the Bill, that this debate should be adjourned
till to-morrow week.—(Hear, hear.)
Admiral BOWLES hoped the Hon. Member would
not press his amendment, for at this period of the ses-
sion it was quite usless to delay a Bill for a week with any
hope of afterwards carrying it through. He knew from
experience that this Bill was desired by the maritime
body, and he hoped it would be passed at once.—(Hear.)
Mr. HERMES rose to support the amendment, and
was

(LEFT SPEAKING.)

FRANCE.

The lndependance of Brussels publishes the follow-
ing from its Paris correspondent :—" The all-absorb-
ing question is still and more than ever that of the
dotation. The President says nothing; but, to
make up for his silence, those by whom he is
surrounded speak for him. It is said, at the
Elysee, that the Prince has only one course
to pursue, since the majority abandons him, and
that is-Ist, to choose a blue ministry ; 2, to accept
the resignation of General Changarnier, and to re-
place him by an insignificant but devoted person ;
3d, to go forward. As the prudent appear to
doubt the majority, the bold reply that, in
case of refusal ok co-operation, it must be
got rid of making an appeal to the country. Dif-
ficulties are far from being smoothed down, but
hope is not yet lost. I can guarantee you
the following fact :—King Louis Philippe warmly
and loudly blames the conduct of the Conservative
party in this, affair. He sees nothing in it but an in-
trigue. 'ltis a political absurdity,' he says. The
same quarrel is renewed with the President as took
place on the subject of the dotation of my chil-
dren. Experience is of no avail. The services
which the President renders to society are
forgotten, and a haggle is made with him about his
dotation. They will repent of it.' Since lam
speaking to you of the King Louis Philippe, I may
say that his health is much improved. M. Thiers
met with a very warirs welcome. I will shortly give
you circumstantial and authentic details on the sub-
ject ; in the meatime I will repeat that Louis Philippe
has positively said that he wishes for a fusion. The
Princes seldom express their opinion, with the excep-
tion of the Duke de Nemours, who speaks a little be-
cause he knows that the King likes him to do so.
The Duchess of Orleans is little favourable to the
measure, but she explains herself with reserve, and
with a kind of indecision."