The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-20 00:00:00

PUBLIC MET:TING—anis DAY).

A numerous and respectable
Meeting' of Ship-owners
took place to-day at the City of • London Tavern, for the
purpose of adopting some plan respecting the classiiizattion
of ships at Lloyd'S.
About a' quarter past one o'clock, ThornasWilson,Esq.
took the chair. and opened the proceedings of the day by
standing the ad'vertiSernent which appeared in the public
prints, for convening the Meeting.
Mr. Lindsay, the Chairman of the Committee, said that
in consequence of the communication which they had
reeeived.from the Chairman of the . West India Ship-
ping Company, they had come to a. resolution of de-
ferring the , consideration of the Report. Circumstances
had prevented that body frpm paying that attention to
the subject wider consideration which it merited, and feel-
ing convinced it was necessary that some change should'
take place, they begged that the Committee would not
some to a enticlusion' respecting it, until they should
make up their minds as to what form they, should
deem most expedient to adopt. Independently of this
there was another circumstance which weighed strongly in
deferring the consideration. They had sent copies of the
report to 40 out'ports, for the puTose of receiving their
opinion respecting its provisions; and out of that number
they had received answers only from four. He then
lila* the following resolution
consequence of an intimation which they had:
received from the Chairman of the West. India Ship-
&niters, expressing a wish not to tome to any conclusion
at present -tesnecting the Report, and having received
answers only from four out of 40 outports, that the cow.
sideratiOn of this Report be adjourned for three months,
and that fourteen days notice shall be given in the News-
papers before any ing Meet shall be held for the purpose
• • •
of taking it into consideratithi;
Mr. Mitchell, in seconding the resetntion, said that the
West India Ship-owners had admitted, that something
ought to tie dtitte they only required time to consider that
which circumstances herettifoteprevented from paying that-
attention. to which a matter of stieh deep importance
required. Under these and other circumstances, he thought
that they ought not to be precipitate in deciding MI Men-
' sores which involved the interests of so extensive a class
The Chairman having read the •resolution as proposed
as the Ship-owners of
and seeondedi England.
Mr. Burridge, of dry rot
memory, ot up and said
he would oppose the proCeedingS 'altogether. They were
beginning at, the wrong end. He wrote a letter to
the Chairman of the Committee, pointing out the abso-
dity of their, proceedings, bale had received noanswer.
A Gentleman here interrupted 'him, and said he wished
to know if Mr...Burridge was a Ship-owner.
Mr. Fletcher said, that he knew • nothing respecting
Mr. Burridge, but he was opposed to every word of the
report—(Hear,hear!)—and came there to a., for the pur-
pose of repeating his disapprobation of it.—(Applause.)
But he hoped dint the present resolution would he carried
unanimously ; he would pledge himself, and he hoped
his friends would do the same to wait, and do nothing for
three months respecting it. If then it should be attempted
to be carried into effect, he trusted it would experience the
opposition of all the Ship-owners, as most injurious to their
interests.—(Loud applause.)
Mr. Burridge again got up, and vas received with
hisses, and a general cry of " No dry rot.''
The Chairman here interfered, and said that a resolution
had been proposed and seconded ; it was competent for
any person who thought proper to 'oppose it, but he did
not think any collateral subject should be introduced tmtil
this resolution was disposed of.
'Mr. Burridge.—lt is every man's duty to move. an
amendment.—(Loud laughter, and cries of "No dry rot.")
The Chairman.—lf any gentleman proposes an amend-
ment I shall be happy to put it from the chair.
Mr. Burridge," We have no need of a code of ship
building laws ; let us only- return to the ancient mode
atioptea fly uu. 1011'144.rib. icaUS mtv,
building laws; the French have no ship-building laws;
the Dutch have no ship-building laws: yet•still they all
flourish. Why should you introduce laws now forthe
first:time; that can only operate as a tonnage on your ship-
was interrupted , from- making any further
remarks by !froans,and hisses.)
The Chairman asked if he had any amendment to pro-
pose. He replied in the affirmative, and moved that the
question be entirely given up, which not being se-
conded, of course fell to the ground. The original
Resolution was then pat from the Chair, and carried with
acclamations ; Mr. Burridge " if I stand alone,
I shall never agree to it."
After this the Meeting separated.