The Sun.
London, England, 1821-01-26 00:00:00

WEST INDIA DOCK COMPANY;

Yesterday•a Meeting of the Merchants and
Ship.o*ners interested in the West India trade,
was held •at the City of London 'l'avern, in con=
seqUenee aids Majesty's Ministers having taken
into their consideration the renewal of - the
Charter• of the West India Dock Company, and
to consider of such. measures as might he neces,;
sary to avert- a- proceeding so injurious to the
commercial interests of the Port of London, and
to secure the advantages to the public which
they were entitled to expect at the expiration of
the existing Charters of the several Dock Com-
panies; and for the attainment of the benefits
arising from free competition. At an early hour
the. room was filled with (,;(:ntle-menof great re-
pu,te in the City, and at one o'clock, on -the mo-
tion of T. WILSON, Esq.; M. P. J. MARRYATT,
Esq. was unanimously called to the Chair.

Nit. AIARRYA:I7 then addresled the Mretin,?, liming

had the honour of being called upon to preside over so re'-
spectable a meetinC -as the piesent, it was proper for him to
state the circumstances under.sshich they had .that day as-
sembled. Early in December last, Mr. Buckle, Chairman of
the Commercial Society, attended •by 1 deputation of that
body, waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in con-.
seriucnee of their having heard that au application had been
made Iry the West India I) uck Company for the renewal of
'heir Charter. The Right Hon. Gentleman observed, that he
had not then heard of any declaration of merchants or ship-
owners upon the subject. Mr, Buckle suggested that a public
meeting might be easily convened. The Right Hon. Gentle-
man replied that a public meeting was unnecessary, but •the
opinions of a. select body of the leading commercialgraimen
of the City would be highly,deairable. A provisional meeting
was accordingly called,, at. which several Resolutions were
agreed to, and transmitted ,to him. The Bight Hon. Gent.
acknowledged the receipt, and informed tile-Chairman- that
he had transmitted them to.the Board of Trade. No answer
having been received from the lioard, a carninunicatiun was
made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that unless some
assmance was receivedfrom his Majesty's Ministers that. the
Charter would nut he renewed, the Ge,itlenren who had

waited upon him felt themselres- . bound .in bonone to I
call a public
.Meeting of the Merchants and Ship- 1
owners, and to obtain their opinion uo she subject.—
The Right Honourable Gentleman, in reply, promised that
on the return of the President of the Board of Trade, a
conference should he appointed. It was considered advisable
to postpone a public meeting' until that conference was over,
as being more tespecttnl to his Majesty's Ministers, and if,
the hope that a- public meeting would not be necessary.
When the Deputation were admitted to that conference, the
w ight of the arguments advanced against the renewal of
!h.! Charter was readily acknowledged ; but file 'Majesty's
alinisters would not hold thethselve's 'pledged, and the De.
potation .departed with an assurance that the
...pinions of
the Commercial interests or the City of London would have
the highest consideration. It was under those circumstances
that the present meeting lead been called. The subject they •
had to discuss was of much more importance than might at first
view be imagined; for although the West India Dock Com-
pany alone were speeificallybroughtar, their notice, it was cer-
tain that if their Charter were renewed the renewal of thoseof
the other Dock Companies would follow as a matter of course.
The question at iss'ta was, whether a system, -of mono-
poly should still be supported, or whether a fair competk
tion should he introduced. It was by no means intended to
depreciate the utility of the Dock establishments in affording
protection to private property and aiding the'collection of the
revenue, nor would ha deny that those -establishments were
entitled to a just and reasonable compensation for the capital
so employed ; but their true interest would be found in a
moderate scale of charges, and by that course they might ren-
der the port of London what Mr. Pitt "so emphatically ex-
pressed it would be—the great emporium of the con-truer ce of
the world. A -different system- would defeat that end and
render a competition
.with foreign markets impracticable.
-During the war; when England was by necessity the mat ket
of Europe, the charges were not of a serious nature, but since
Cue. return of peace they had been felt with the greatest
severity, and threatened to divert the commerce hitherto en-
joyed by this country. An other channels and to ports where
the charges were upon a more moderate scale. In• advert-
ing to theovarions branches of trade, he must admit that
his objection did not apply to that of the colunies,•because by
the enactments of the Legislature, all colonial ‘ produce was.
directed to be brought to this country; but that was lilt the
case with many others, and. in those branches commerce had
'-nraterially declined. The most sanguine expectations bad
been entertained from the emancipation of the Spanish Co-
lonies; yet so long since as 1809 .Cuba Lad admitted to her
port the flags of all nations, and enjoyed the trade that fur
considerable time had been vested in-the port of. Loudon. It
might he said that there were other reasons besides the high
rate of charges tbst tended to dintruish the commerce of this
country, and the principal was the want of facility in our
warehousing system.
.But referring more particularly to the
rates of charges, he would state an instance which came with
his own experience. In the year 1810 he imported 8,200
chests of Havannah sugar; after the confiscation- in the
Baltic, the state of commerce compelled him to-keep them
until the end of Intl and beginning of 1813. The charges
made for warehousing, rent, &c. by the %Vest India Dock
Company, from that time amounted to between 14 and 15001.
The demand at any of the free Ports on the Ciintinent, in the
Haase towns, or on the coast of Flanders, for the same quan-
tity, and the sante time,would nut hare exceeded 3501. and even
-in this country, had he been permitted to select warehouses
iu which to have deptisited those goods, the charges would not
have exceeded 4001. With such enormous bort hens could it
he wondered at that the commerce of the country declined ?
An opening had been made with the Brazils, but every op-
portunity afforded to the enterprise of the British merchant
was counteracted by theenorimots weight of charges to which
they were compelled to submit. The pernicitms effects of the
system might be seen on reference to the trade of the East
India Company : in 1818 its tonnage was 182,000, in 1819, it
had decreased to 64,000, in 1820 to .13,500. They all knew
that the East India Dock Company charged a tonnage of

twelve shillings. He verily believed that in consequence of -
that charge, foreign bhips.etuployrd by British capital, served •
at the present moment to increase the prosi erity of foreign
states. America bad lung made this country the depot
for her commerce, but now the imports from that coun-
try were trifling, beyond what was required for home con-
sumption. In proof of the influence which the charges
of the Port of London had mpou commerce—he knew a
gentleman engaged in the fruit trade from the Mediter-
ranean, who entered his ships at the port of Southampton,
and forwarded the cargoes to London by coasters ; anti found
it more to his advantage to pay the charges for freight, than
submit to the imposition of the Dock Companies. It might
perhaps be contewded, that a transition (ruin war to peace had
caused the diminution of the trade. That he would admit to
a certain extent ; but, with moderate charges, the Port of Lou-
don might still be the empuridm of trade. Ile insular situation
protected it front foreign invasio❑ ; the system of Government
prevented the apprehension of domestic rapacity ; its central
situation rendered it eligible to form the umarhet of Europe;
the temperature of its climate -removed the danger of a
blockade from the severity of the seasons; while the honour
and integrity of a British Merchant, be was bold to say,
was a strong inducement to foreigners to visit our shores. As
to colonial trade, he believed that if all the produce of
time islands dependent on Spain, Portugal, and America, were
brought to this. country, it would find a better price than it
did when sold in various parts of the Continent. lie knew of
no port where an assorted cargo could be disposed of to advan-
tage except the port of London. Property was often sacrificed
on the Continent in the absence of capital, which was never
wanting. in England. Moderate charges, therefore, were
alone necessary to render London, in the language of Mr.
Pitt, the emporium of the world. The port of London had
suffered materially from the competition of the out ports, and
West India planters had often remarked that the prices at
the outposts were nearly as good as in Lip:Am—that the
charges were lower, and that there they mast send their pro-
duce. The difference, therefore, of the charges of the Dock
Company and at the outports operated as a premium
upon the trade of the one and a drawback upon that
of the other. Justice to the Dock 'Compri:dee them-
selv'•s required that the Charter should not be con-
tinued. One of those establishments bail fixed itself in
the centre of trade, while the other had selected a spot
:it three miles distance. Thu London Dock Company had
completed its warehouses, &c. for 3,-230,0001. The West In-
dia Dock Company had not expended more thin► 1.250,0001.
The latter had paid for land in the Isle of Dogs at the same
rate per acre as the former had given for a square yard. They
bad seen that the smaller capital had produced a larger an-
nual income thaln the greater. If, therefore, the Charter of the
West India Dock Company should be renewed, the other
would with reason petition fur a compensation. It might not
perhaps be known to all of them, that when the West inilia
Docks were first established, a compensation had been made
to the props ietors of the quays front the Consolidated Fund,
itid that a tax heel' been imposed of 7d. per ton on all ships
entering ur leaving the port of London ; and that impost had
peen paid tor the last eighteen years.' 'l.tiineet the cumpen-

sation that must be granted- to the
.Lonelon Dock Corn•
party, he sitaposed some additional tax of that kind
would be 'enforted, or'that the money would ble.Atorted
from thetas by scime particular advantages that would be g rant-
Vd'on the.reneival of the-Mailer. It '‘vas 'not of high charges
,alone ash haillo complain.. The del:ty was equallyittioust-7-
Added to that; property was often pit into iniprtiper sitda
tioni Thus in the %Veit India DoekiStigars intended for borne
consotitption. were wareboused at a distance of sheets Miles"
from the ropolis, while wines and hrandies intended fur
exportation were Compulsorily pliet4l iii the Lindtin- DtiCkS.
It this Monopoly did not exist. CS'ery than might select the
Warehouse most tonvenient for himself. ''He-then coMplaioed
that under thti present systeni vessels had been frequently so-
detained as to bite the advantage of a seasrin," and in one. in-
stance, an' Ponerican weasel, hound crimp Boston to London,
and thence to St. Petersliurgh to return to 13(iston, •hael been
detairied in Londrin sir lorig as tti render the voyage to St.
,Peters'.itirgh impracticable, with a loss to the owners erf
15,0001. The London Dock Company verified the proverb,
that mtindpolY an unnatural mother,, that desttoyed
her own children. Finding that their exorbitant charges
had e,.Oyarrassed their fipances,, they began to, consider the
best mode of retrieving them. They reduced them front
Ss. 6d. to lad.—they entered freely into competition with the
legalised quays, and toiekly found their Docks filled .with
ships,aud their warehouses With merchandise. In a few months
an. increased diiidend Of out: percent. Was announced, and
attlie last meeting the Chairman stated, that he expected a
still further increase of one pit' cent. upon the dividends. He
scarcely knew what argument's "Could be opposer) to the ob-
jects of the meeting. It -might he said that the 'Dock Com-
amties had afforded protection to. private property. To this
he would reply that they had been amply repaid for the
accolumodation: The classification of goods was Irulbacti-
cahlc sugars were received in all- the Ducks. as was coffee
Ii! cerise. He spoke ut the examination of one of the Direc-
tors of the East India-Dock Company, Who declared, that not
less than 12s. tonnage could be taken, while a superintendant
of the London Dockcompany had engaged to render the tame
service for 3s. ad. He-ridiculed the idea of enacting rates of
charges for twenty-one, years in prospective, it being
impossible to foresee what events might arise. 'The
principles of maximum and minimum were now explod-
ed, arid every thing ought to be lett to- find' its own level.
Independently 'of the dividends of the. West India Dock
Gunpany, they had an accoinulating food of 500,0001.
This balance seal not known until' the recent discussion on
site renewal of their charter. They ware returned to make an
annual return to Parliament of their receipts and disburse-
ments, but he had not been ahle.to discover any notice of this
sum. He was fearful that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
calculated Upon a portion of it for the renewal of the charter.
He had heard, however, that the Chairman of the West In-
dia. Committee had declared, that upon these terms be would
oppose it. Without some such concession its renewal certain-
ly would not he granted ; for in answer to a question put by
him doting the last Session, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer had declared, that he saw no objection to the ,public's
participating in the profits of the Company. If competi-
tion hr the Warehousing system was introduced, the com-
merce of the country would revive : and if his Ma-
jetty's Ministers viewed it in its proper light, he had no doubt
hut that they would apply their attention to it as a matter
,of interest. During the year 1820, the imports as compared
with 1819, had fallen off 10,000,0001, r • the exports during the
same period had decreased, 6,000,0001. Now, of these stints,
no less than 9,000,0001. may he said to be lost to the country.
It was admitted that the manufactured article bore a propor-
tion of about seven or- eight to one to the raw material ;

that the money expended »1 manufactures furnished pro-
vision for those employed in manual labour, repairs, &c.;
and as it had been ascertained that one-fourth of every
man's income found its way, in the shape of taxes, into
the Exchequer, it was clear that the revenue was thereby
de&ient at least 2,000,0001. a suns far beyond any thing

that the Dock Company could pay for the- renewal of their
Charters. indeed, it reminded him of Esau, who sold
his birthright for a mess of pottage. Monopolies 'at all
times had been described as nuisances; they had been so
►ecogniscd by many statutes, and Queen Elizabeth, in reply
to an. Address from the Commons, had described them as
harpies and -bo►se-leeches that produced the greatest cala-
mities in the State. He Avould not longer detain them,
but should conclude by hopieg that if his Majesty's Mini-
sters persisted in the continuance of these Charters, that
they would, as in times past, be checked and controlled
by the public spirit of the House of Commons; for, not-
withstanding: all That had brett said against that assembly,
be believed, that upon a proper statement of grievances,

they were disposed and would attold protection to the oppress-
ed. He held it) his hand a series of Resolutions, which had
been previously submitted to the Sub-Cormnittee, and a pe-
tition framed thereon, to be presented to the House of Com •
mons, would, if the Resolutions should be carried, be ready-
for-signature after the meeting was concluded, and prevent
the necessity of those who were present attending on a future
day. The Hon. Gentleman sat down amidst the cheers of the
meeting.
Ttiostas'WlLsoN, Esq. M. It. moved the first ReSolution.
He bad only one observation to make; it was, that their
Hon. Chairman had mis-stated the fact, when he said that no
return had been made by the West India Dock Company of
the 500,0001. balance in their hands; it was stated in a man-
ner not easily to be understood, under the head of balance
applicable to out. standing deMands.
Mr. fIocKGE secoOdeal the first Resolution. He congratu-
lated the Meeting, that the question had not been taken up
as relating to the West India Dock exclusively. Some time
since a reduction was directed to be made•of 25 per cent. on
the charges of that Company; and, notwithstanding _that,
during the last four years they had never had less balance
than 400,0001., excepting the last year, when it was some-
thing under that sum. Exclusive of that balance during the
last four years, there were charges for purchase of lands-and
repairs, 3.32,0001. Taking 30,0001. per annum as a fair
average expenditure fur the four years fur repairs, then the
Company had during that period increased their capital
900,0001. All they asked fur was, protection of property at
the most moderate charges.

Mr. SMITH deprecated the system, and spoke of-the incon-
venience and expense of being obliged to sold goods into the
Docks for shipping, when the vessel might take them in at a
more convenient spot, and save much time and expense. The
charges alone were often notte.than the merchant's profit,
besides the delay.
Mr. Fun B rs MITCHELL moved the second Resolution, which
was seconded by Me; RUCKER.
Mr. Ricumuns proposed the third Resolution. He hoped
their zeal would not evaporate with the present meeting, but
that the petition would be supported by their friends in Par-
liament.