The Sun.
London, England, 1821-12-15 00:00:00

1H EL AN D.

ANOTHER MunnEr..---(Cork, Dec. 10.)—In-
formation has, we regret to find,•reached this
City to-day, that on last night, between the hours
of ten and eleven o'clock, as the Limerick Post-
boy
was conveying the Mail from that City to
this, accompanied, as usual, by two Dragoons,
they were attacked near Ballyhowra Mountain,
by some of the lawless banditti, who are at pre-
sent every. night on' the alert for mischief—One
of the Dragoons was shot, and the POst-boy's hat
was perforated, from another ball. This attack was
made shortly before they reached the place where it
is usual for the Limerick post-boy to meet and ex-
change with the Cork post their respective bags,
and the Limerick post and the single dragoon
had to return over the same ground where their
companion was shot a few minutes before. It is
laMentable to reflect to what an extent the ban-
ditti are proceeding, as the present, attack was
made with no other object than that of com-
mitting a wanton and unprovoked murder.
On Thursday night last, the haggart of the
Rev. Mr. Gash, situate between Macroom and
Carrigdrohid, containing, as we are informed, 10
stacks of corn, was burnt down. Surely this evi-
dence of the contiguity of such a malignant
spirit, spews the necessity of having every mea-
sure of precaution and defence speedily adopted,
to meet the alarming evils.
DUBLIN, DEc.l I.—in the direction of. Rose-
green, some Notices were posted up, a few days
back, purporting, that, no person would be al-
lowed to offer more than thirty shillings an acre
for the best land, and from that down to fourteen
shillings, and no arrears of tithes to be paid.
A Circular has been issued by. Mr. Charles
Grant, Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant, to the
Colonels of the Irish Militia in the disturbed dis-
tricts, calling on them for a list of 'the men and
officers in each corps, in Order that they may be
put in a fit state of equipment to extend their
local duties. •

On Wednesday last, at a full parade of the
Dundalk Yeomanry, commanded by the Earl of
Roden, that corps (with the exception of a few
who hold public situations) volunteered their ser-
vices to any part of the kingdom.
For some years hack, Mr. Robert Barry, of
Caher, as. Seneschal, under a Patent from the
late Earl of Glengall, has been in the habit of
holding, at certain fixed periods, Manor Courts at
Caller, Castle Grace, and Ballylooby. Wednes-
day, the sth inst. was appointed for holding a
Court at the latter place ; processes had been
served accordingly, and Jurors had been summon-
ed to attend ; the Court is always held in a room
in_a public-house in the said village of Ballyiooby.
However, on the night preceding the said sth
inst., notices were posted on the public house,
threatening destruction to the owner, if he should
permit the Court to he held there ; and, on the
same night, notices were served on those sum-
moned as Jurors, that, if they came forward,
they had better first make their wills. The con-
sequence was, that, on the Seneschal's arrival at
Ballylooby, on Wednesday last, the people be-
longing to the public-house entreated him not to
hold his Court there, and several persons,
whose attendance was necessary, did not make
their appearance—in short, the Court was knock-
ed up altogether, for that day, in the village

THE RIVAL PUGILISTS.—Gas, and the Bristol
Hero,met at Jackson's School, in Old Bond-street,
yesterday. It is almost incredible that the van-
quished should display so few marks of the blows
he received in the late terrific rencontre—one
eye was closed and bandaged ; he complained of
a pain in the head only. Several Noblemen
and Gantlemen were present. jackson paid over
to Nectte four hundred sovereigns, for bets made
in his room, and fifty were presented to Gas.—
The contrast in the size of the two champions
struck every one.

THE SHIPPI

NG INTEREST.

REPORT of the COMMITTEE of SHIP OWNERS, pre-
sented to the GENERAL ANNUAL MEETING, held at
the City Of:London Tavern; 18th• December-1821. •
At the General,Anntial 'Meeting, held on the 7th of Decem-
ber 1820, it was recommended. to this Committee, to consider of
a Petition to the House of Commons, praying that a Committee
might be appointed-" to'investigate all our Maritime Laws and
'lnstitutions as regard Seamen; and hear evidence thereon, with
a view to the formation of a Code of Marine Law for our Mer-
chant Service ; and to arrange a System that s'Ao-uld tend to
man our Navy and Merchant Service effectually, during the
time of war and peace, with regular bred British Seamen, and
without the aid of foreigners : and that after such Petition
should have been drawn up, for the purpose described, a public
meeting should be requested of the Merchants, Ship Owners,
and Master Mariners of this Port, to express their sense and
consent to the same, to promote the object intended." In de_
ferenee to the deSire of the Meeting, 'the Committee lost no
time in proceeding iipon the proposed inquiry ; and Mr. Urqu-
hart, the mover of the Resolution, having addressed a letter to
them, assuring them that " they need not be alarmed at any
difficulty which might appear to attend the accomplishment of
the object proposed by him, as a few simple Laws and Regula-
tions, founded on light principles, agreeable to the true natural
maritime policy of the country, would, in a few years, produce
all the desired effect," this letter, together with all former com-
munications relating to the subject, were referred to a sub-corn.,
mittee consisting of all the Nautical Members, who requested
Mr. Urquhart to attend persbnally, and to explain to them, in
a more particulsr manner, the means by which he conceived
that such important
.kesultSlmight be obtained; he aecordingli
attended, and entered into a full exposition of his plan; conclud-
in& by declaring his opinion that, in order to accomplish the,
objects he has in view, a Petition ought to be presented to Par-
liament, " founded on the Outlines of the Plan contained in
his Letter to Lord Melville of May 1815 ; and the extension of
that part of the plan which relates to numbers'for manning the
Navy, and Merchant Service, during the time of war, as stated
in his Private Letter and Tables, (dated March 1818) and that
the principles laid down in this latter statement ought to be
the basis of all laws and regulations that may be adopted as
regards seamen, for the welfare of the country, the interest of
the Ship Owner, and the just rights and support of British
seamen as British subjects."
The Sub-Committee lield-neveral meetings, and finally made
a Report, declaring their- Opinion, that the plan was liable to
strong objections, and by no means one to which this Society
ought to give its countenance or support. This Report was
afterwards unanimously approved by the General Committee,
who deem the subject to be one in which the Society cannot with
propriety interfere; and it is indeed inconsistent with-the ob-
jects for which the Society was funned, (as declared by the Ge-
neral Meeting of September 1818)'namely, " the obtaining re-
lief from the many vexations, charges, and disabilities under
which the shipping property of the country had laboured, and
to guard against their imposition in future :" under these cir-
cumstances it became unnecessary to call the General Meeting
contemplated by the Resolution of December last.
But though the Committee have been so little assisted by Mr.
Urquhart in the formation of 'a 'Code of • Marine Law f•Jr the
Merchant Service, they are well aware of the necessity of some
Rules for the better Regulation of Seamen, and have availed
themselves of every opportunity of submitting for the consider-
ation of his Majesty's Government and the Legislature, such
measures as have appeared to them to be conducive- to that
end.

Desertion of Seamen.—The Committee have, in the most
pointed manner, drawn the attention of Government to the in-
adequacy of the Act 37 Geo. 111. cap. 73, to prevent the def:ar-
tion of seamen in the West India trade ; and to the want of
any provision of a similar nature in the case of British ships in
all other parts of the world. With the view to prevent such
desertions, it has been suggested that a regulation might be
adopted, imposing upon seamen, when abroad, the necessity of
being provided with certificates from the Masters of ships to
which they respectively belong, whenever they shall require to
be absent from their ships for any length of time, stating the term
for which they are.permitted to be absent ; that any seaman who
may be found wandering on shore, without sucheertificate,
should be liable to be taken up, and sent back to his ship; or,
refusing to give an account of himself, when questiOned by the
local Authorities, be aubject to be punished : and that Seamen
who may have shipped themselves abroad; on board another
vessel than that in which they had engaged to-perform a voyage
out and home, should be made liable to the forfeiture of their
wages home, upon proof of their having deserted from the ship
with which they had-first engaged.
The subject is now under the consideration of the Board of
Trade, and the Committee hope that, in the next Session of
Parliament, some remedy will be applied to this great anctin-
creasing evil.
Select Comtnittee of the House of Commons. The Chairman
of this Society having been called upon to give evidence before
the Committee of the House of Commons, and to enumerate the
duties and charges to which ships, both British and Foreign,
are liable in the ports of this country,; and to point out those
Laws, Rules, and Regulations, which appear susceptible of im-
provement ; he has, in a particular manner, directed the atten-
tion of the Honourable Committee to the folloWing subjects,
among many others, viz. :
The heavy Light Dues, particularly thOse on ships in the
British Channel, which appear to produce an income far more
than sufficient for the support of the Light-houseestablishments.
The Tonnage Duty, which was originally imposed as a War
Duty, and operates as a heavy addition to the burthens to which
the Shipping Interest is exposed.
The tort of London Dock Duty, which,although professedly
a temporary tax, there is reason to fear will remain a perpetual
one upon shipping frequenting. the Port of London, unless re-
lief be obtained through Legislative interference ; or, unless
the large accumnlated Fund in the hands of the West India
Dock Company, to which British Ship Owners have so greatly
contributed,-could be applied to that object. This tax was ori.
ginally imposed upon shipping for the purpose of creating a
fund, the yearly interest of which should defray the charges of
Mooring Chains, and the salaries and wages of Harbour Masters
and Assistants ' • and' o. repay advances niade'for compensations
under the Dock Acts, but to which objects (whatever may be
the cause) it has proved inadequate.
The heavy charges for ballast,. buoys, and beacons, in the
Port of Landon, which it is conceived would admit of reduction.
The RaMsgate Harbour and Dover Pier Tolls, which occaa
sion an expellee far beyond any benefit derived from them. -
The Port Charges at several of the West India Colonies,
which are in many instances excessive in amount, and are ex-
acted at every Port the Vessel may touch at, however small may
be the quantity of goods landed ; apractice that, as regards the
supply of cattle, lumber and provisions, appears to be most im-
politic and injurious.
The trouble and expense of obtaining Veenees for vessels in
the East India Trade, 'and the necessity of the existing statutes
which relate to that trade (between 20 and !T in number) being
embodied into one, and divested of their pre. ent obscurity. As
also the desirableness that thecharges Aip94:Xtritish ships. when
in Dutch Potts, and upon glitch ships when in British Ports
in India, should be established upon a principle of reciprocity.
The unsatisfactory state • of the shipping intercourse with
France, the Biazila, and the Havannalit with regard to Port
Dues ; as operating most unfairly and prejudicially upon British
Shipping.
The great advantage that would result from the removal of
the monopolies of the several. Dock Companies, by the esta-
blishment of a free and 'open competition, and the consequent
reduction of the present rates and charges, and the removal of
various grievances which owe their origin and present existence
to those monopolies.
The extensive and universal benefit that would accrue, from
the separation of the business of the Customs from that of the
Excise, the Practice of the .two Boards being frequently at va-
riance, under the same Acts of Parliament ; which is produc-
tive of .the most haraising and injurious consequences to the
Trade and Shipping of the Country.
The expediency and practicability of separating the duties
of these two Public Boards, is treated of at large in an able
Pamphlet recently published, entitled, " Observations upon
the warehousing System and Navigation Laws, &e." which
places-the 'subject before the Public, in a manner that .appears
to this Committee to be at once clear and convincing.
The Charges under the Pilot's Act, for Pilotage and Board-
ing Money; which have so long been the subject of the just and
general complaints of the Ship Owners, but which still remain
unredressed. As hOweVer the Select Committee of the House
of Commons have gone into detailed evidence upon these
Charges, and have expressed their opinion, that they are " sub-
jects of discontent and obstacles to Trade," this Committee en-
tertain sanguine hopes that, in the course of next Session, a
Bill will be introduced into Parliament, under the auspices of
the Honourable Committee, for the purpose of effecting the ne-
cessary regulations.
The regulations regarding the authority of Consuls, and their
remuneration, which appear to require revisal.
.It is with much satisfaction the Committee have heard, that

the whole of this subject is under the particular consideration
of his Majesty's Government, with a view to the introduction
of a Bill into Parliament in the next Session, which, it is hoped.
will remove every ground t)f complaint, by providing a liberal
reward to the Consuls, and relieving the Shipping Interest from
the burthens,, vexations, and inconveniences, of the present
system.
_

Registry Laws.—The representations which the Conirnittee
have made to the Lords of Trade on the subject of these Laws,
have been referred to, and fully considered and reported on, by
the Commissioners of the Customs ; and the Committee have
recently received an assurance from their Lordships, that the
subject will engage their attention previous to the meeting of
Parliament.

The Committee think it necessary to state, that considerable
progress had been made in most of the. preceding matters ; and
indeed; that several of them had been nearly brought to matu-
rity, when the appointment of the Select Committee of the
House of Commons upon Trade diverted them into that chan-
nel, whereby a delay has been necessarily created ; which how-
ever, it is believed, the Shipping Interest will eventually hue
no cause to regret.
• Timber Duties.—Whether the change in the Duties on •
Timber, effected by the Act of the last Session, (founded upon
the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons
on Foreign Trade,) and which the utmost efforts of the Ship
Owners land Ship Builders were. unable to. avert, will be-
productive of benefit to our Trade with the Continent of Eu-
rope, in a degree to compensate for the serious injury ofwhiCh
it has already .been productive to British Shipping, remains to
be seen ; on the present occasion the Committee have only to
express a hope, that whenever this most important subject shall
again come under the consideration of the Legislature; it will be
viewed not merely with reference to its influence upon Foreign
Trade; but as a question involving interests of vital importance
to British Shipping, and consequently to the security, strength
and prosperity of the Empire.
Assessment of Shipping to Poor Rates.—An experimentwas
made in the course of the last Session of Parliament, by certain
inhabitants of Hull, (similar to the attempt made some years
ago, at Liverpool,) to obtain the sanction of the Legislature to
an Act for charging with the Poor Rat,f, the Shipping belong-
ing to the Port of llull, or. of which that Port; for the time be-
ing, should. be "the usual home or'domicile ; or from or to which
the Ship should usually trade ; and a Bill was brought into the
House Of Commons accordingly, but met with such a reception
from all sides of the House, as. to occasion its being withdrawn ;
and which,' it is hoped,, will prove an effectual discouragement
to the renewal of any such attempts,
Trade with Ireland.-LThe Ist - and 2d George 4th cap. 19,
permits the removal of certain Goods from Great Britain to
Ireland. • The object of this Act is, to place tinder •the Coast
Regulations, all goods Which are not the subjects of duties or
drawbacks haween the two Countries; whereby. great -facility
and despat;h is given to .Shipsearrying such goods only ; and
as the Conamittee understand it to be in "the contemplation of

Government to equalize, in most cases, the Duties of Customs
in England and Ireland, in, order to avoid the necessities of.
drawbacks ; and. as the protecting Duties between the two
Countries ate in the progr.iss- of extinction, the intercourse will,
in all probability, before long, be conducted as a Coasting
Trade, (with very few exceptions) to the great advantage of the
Shipping Interests.
Night Signals for Ships in distress.—The Committee for
Lloyd's having brought under the consideration of this Com-
mittee, that many valuable lives and vessels might be an-
nually saved, if' some 'general rule were ad6pted for ships in
distress 0 make their situation known, they have united in re-
commending, by a public notice, that the Master of every ves-
sel should be. provided with a dolen rockets, and 3 dozen blue
lights, to be used mall eases of distress at sea—vii. :
First, A rocket to be fired.
Secondly, Blue lights to be burned until relieved.
With the view to give the most extensive effect to this recom-
mendation, Earl Bathurst has been pleased to cause a number of
the notices to be transmitted from his Lordship's Office to the
Governors of the several British Colonies ; the Committee for

Lloyd's have given the most pointed instructions to their Agents
on the subject ; and this Committee have addressed letters to
the several Eritish Consuls at foreign ports : and they take,
this opportunity of earnestly entreating that no.owner will suf-
fer his ship to put to sea, without the requisite supply ofrockets
and blue k;hts. It may be proper to add, that this mode of
communicating distress is approved by the Elder Brethren id

• .
the Trinity House.
Classification of Ships iniLloyd's Registry Books.—The Com-
mittee have (lb ected their particular attention to the very import-
ant subject of a plan for the improvement of the present system
of classifying ships in the Registry Books, which is found, in
many cases, to operate in a manner extremely prejudicial, not
only to the interests of Ship'Owners, but to those of Under-
writers and Merchants. The Committee entirely concur in
opinion with Close Ship Owners by whom the subject had been
pressed upon their attention, that the existing syitem is suscep-
tible of much improvement; and have prepared the outlines of
such a plan as they hope obtain the countenance and sup-
port of Underwriters and Ship Owners at large, which are ne-
cessarily indispensable to such a measure.
Change in the Method of. Computing the Tonnage of British
Ships—A' Committee of scientific Gentlemen has been ap-
pointed by Government, to consider of a more correct mode of
admeasurement of the tonnage of ships ; who, it is understood,
have recommended the adoption of a method by which the re-
gister tonnage shall btar a more equal proportion to the actual
burthen, in lieu of that prescribed by the Act 26th Geo. 3rd.
cap. 60 ; and it cannot be doubted that, on many accounts, (but
especially with reference to an improvement in the construction
of ships), such an alteration is highly desirable : If, however,
the proposed regulation should be adopted, this Committee will
endeavour to obtain a provision that it shall be confined to ves-
sels hereafter to be built : and that if, upon the whole, the
tonnage would be increased, a proportionate reduction maybe
made in the duties and rates payable thereon, so that the'existing
burthens on Shipping may not thereby be increased. in these
sentiments the Committee have reason to believe that his Ma-
jesty's Government concur.
Light Duties.—lt having been the practice of the Collectors
of the Light Duties at Deal, to demand payment from vessels
merely touching in the Downs for orders, a complaint of such
practice has been made to the Elder Brethren of the Trinity
House, who have signified to the Committee, that " it being
their wish that every accommodation should be afforded to the
Trade in the receipt of the Light Duties, consistently with the
security of the collection, they have (as suggested by this Com-
mittee), given directions to the Collectors at Deal to receive
the undertaking of any responsible local Agent to a British
ship (so touching for orders), to pay the duties, in the event of
the vessel's destination proving to be a foreign port." In the
contrary event, the vessel will, of course, pay at her British
port of discharge.
Navigation Laws.—An important Bill was brought into the
House. of Commons at the close of the last session of Parlia-

went, by Air. Wallace, the Chairman of the Select Committee
of the House of Commons on Foreign Trade, by the title of
` A Bill to explain and amend the several Acts for the encour-
aging' and increasing of Shipping and Navigation, and to regu-
late the Importation of Goods and Merchandize into Great Bri-
tain, So far as relates to the Countries from whence, and the
Ships in which, such importations shall be made."
The groun d of the proposed change in the existing laws, is stated
to be, a necessity that the several Acts which relate to the countries
from whence, and the ships in which, goods and merchandize
should be imported into Great Britain, should be amended ;
and that certain parts of them should be repealed, in order that
the same, together with other necessary regulations, may be
consolidated into.one Act, whereby the Law by which Impor-
tations are to be . regulated, may be simplified and rendered
more certain, as well as more effectual, in promoting the ob-
jects of the said several Acts, and. in facilitating and extending
.the commerce of the Realm.
The Bill accordingly proceeds to repeal various provisions
of Acts passed for the encouragement and increase of shipping
and navigation, of which the most important are as follow, viz.
so much of the 12 Car. 11. cap. 18, as restricts the importation
into Great Britain of Goods of Asia, Africa, and America, to
British ships, and directly from the place of their growth, &c. ;
and the importation of goods of Russia, and certain enumerated
goo& of Europe, and Turkish goods, to British ships, or ships
of the country of their growth. And also, so much of the said
Act as relates to goods of the Streights and Levant Seas, or of
Spain and' Portugal. And so much of the 13 and 14 Car. 11.
cap. 11., as prohibits the importation of certain (bulky) articles
from the Netherlands.

The regulations .proposed by the Bill, in lieu of those to be
repealed, •are, that goods the production of any part of the
world, (except of British Colonies) should be importable in
British Ships, from any part' of the world, though they may not
be of the growth or production of the country from which they
are imported ; and that the enumerated (bulky) goods of
Europe should also be importable in ships of the country of
which they are the production, and in ships of the country from
whence they are exported.
Some exceptions to, and extensions of, these rules, are made
in the subsequent Clauses of the Bill, viz. Gum Senegal is to
lie allowed to come from countries in Europe, in British ships,
or in ships of those countries respectively. The Laws which
regulate the trade between Great Britain and Ireland ; and
that of Guernsey, Jersey, Sark;Alderney and elan ; the Ameri-
can and Portuguese, East India Company, and Cape of Good
Hope; and Mauritius Trade Act; those authorizing the grant-
ing of licenses, in certain cases ; and which relate to the trade
in Corn, Fish, Oak Bark, &c, &c., are not to be affected by the
proposed Act.
It being impossible, in the limits of a Report, to discuss the
expediency or policy of the proposed measures, the Committee
will only observe, that the apprehensions which they had en-
tertained on the subject have been greatly removed by the as-
surance given• by Mr. Wallace to the Chairman of this Com.

mittee, that it is intended to propose higher duties upon goods,
the production of the distant parts of the world, which shall ha
imported from other countries than those of their growth or
production. As the Committee are aware of the anxiety which
prevails on this subject among Ship Owners generally, they re-
gret that they have it not in their power to state the amount of
the intended protecting. duties. The Committee also lament,
that the form of the Bill is not calculated to effect the desirable
object of bringing the Laws of Importation under one view,
so distinctly as they had' hoped would have been found practi-
cable ; it being the decided conviction of the Committee, that
the complaints of Foreigners against the British Naviga-
tion Code are to be more attributed to its complexity and rig-
our than to the principles upon which it is founded.
In the judgment of this Committee, those complaints will
not be removed, unless the regulations regarding importations
shall be more simplified than they will be,- if the Bill in ques-
tion should pass: to effect which object. completely, it appears
to the Committee that all the existing Laws on the subject
should be rep2aled ; and all regulations regarding importations
compressed into a few clauses, and embodied into one Act.: in-
' stead of being left to be doubtfully collected from numerous
Acts of Parliament. .

, . .
It is, however, highly gratifying to the Committee to point
out that, under this Bill, irregularities in importations are not,
as heretofore, to expose the ship to seizure.
Passengers.—Much inconvenience has frequently arisen from
the Laws respecting the carrying of passengers out of the
Country, us well from the difficulty of knowing with sufficient
precision the exact nature of the regulations to which they are
to conform, as from the application of all their provisions to
cases which were never contemplated by the original framers.
The whole system of • these Laws is of recent 'date, the first
Act on the subject having been passed in the year 1803; but
several others have been subsequently passed, introducing such
a variety of plans, and proceeding upon such different prin-
ciples, in different cases, that much of uncertainty and ccrsopli-
cation is the consequence. •
The Committee have therefore great satisfaction in stating
that the Commissioners of the Customs, limier the direction of
the Lords of the Treasury, are employed in fraMing one gene-
ral on this subject, which is to take effect upon the repeal
Of all the Laws now in force. The principle of the intended
Act is, First, that vessels carrying only a few passengers, and
vessels going to parts of the world to which the common people
of this country seldom or never emigrate, shall be wholly free
from the specific regulations of the Law.' And next, that ves-
sels not coining within those exemptions, shall be subject to
such regulations as, upon the most mature consideration of the
Acts which have already been -passed, . and the experience
which has been had under theM, 511'411 be deemed to be most
effectual to the sole object of protectir4 the passengers upon
their voyages, with the least possible embarrassment to the
vessel. •

Trade with the Ea.t their Report for the year
1819, the Committee stated that they had drawn the attention
of Government to the restrictions upon British Ships, imposed
by the Laws relating to the East India and China 'T ratty ; and
they have now the satisfaction of stating, that the Committees
on Trade ofthe two Houses of Parlianient. have; received evi-
dence at great length upon-this most important subject: *At
preseni the only Legislative measure founded thereon has been
the Act of last Session, cap. :hi, which extends to British Ship 4,
exceeding 'AO tons burthen, the general •privilege of trading
froM the United Kingdom, circuitously to. all.parts of Indial
anti also permits British Vessels, without limitation of tonnage,
to trade directly and circuitously between all ports and-places
within the limits of the Company's Charter, and all ports
and places in amity with this country ; with tl,e prohibition
however, in all cases, of treading in tea, or proceeding to
CJ lin a.

The Committee confidently hope that the further considera-
tion of the Asiatic Trade will occupy the attentioh of the 1.3..J-
-liamentary Committees early in the next Session. , • •
Apprentices.—ln the last year's Report, the Committee
stated that a Bill was about to be introduced into Parliament,
for repealing the Act 37 Geo. 111. cap. 73, which obliges ships
in the ,West India Trade to take an 'Apprentice for every hun-.
dred tons, upon condition that vessels in general should take a
limited number of Apprentices in proportion to their burthon
The Committee have now to state, that on Reports being made
by the Select Committees of.Parliamcnt on Trade, recommend-
ing that Duties should be imposed on Timber imported from
the British Colonies, and that those on Foreip Timber should
be reduced, the Committee felt it incumbent on them to repre-
sent to the Right lion. the Lords of Trade, that under the
existing burthens, and the increasing disadvantages with, which
the British Ship Owners were thereby threatened, they would
not be in a situation to sustain the expellee which must :neces-
sarily attend their being compelled to take even the lilnited
number of Apprentices proposed ; and. their Lordships having
been pleased to signify in reply, that under all the circuni-
stances it might be advisable not to submit the proposed re-
gulation to Parliament, until experience should have slicwn
the effect that the alteration of the Timber Duties might heve
upon the employment of British shipping, • the measure in cen-
templation for the present remains suspended.

E"xcise Traiisfer-Entriessesel itch in;:onvenience having arisen
from the practice of the Excise, in requiring that goods shut out
from a vessel outward bound should be returned to the Dock
Or Warehouse from which they had been sent for re-exarninae
tion, before allowing them to be shipped, althoirgli another
vessel might be at hand, bound to the same port,. ready to re-
ceive them ; the Commissioners, assimilating their practice to
that of the Custbms, have (upon the solicitation of the Com-
mittee,). been pleased to give relief, by allowing the goods to re-
main in the lighter, (under charge of an officer) until' shipped,.
provided the shipment be completed within four days. .
South SeaTrade.—An Act of the last Sessions, cap. 60. relieves
vessels in the South Sea Trade, which sail or realm in ballast,
froin the duty of Is. 6d. per ton.
Coasters Laden with Stones.—Cap. 84. affords facilities lo
vessels carrying stones coastwise, foe particular uses.
Warehoused Goods removed Coastwise., Cap. 97. permits'
warehoused goods which have been. removed from one port to
another, to be removed a second time; and authorizes Offi-
cers at creeks and out stations to receive coast duties, and dis-
charge cargoes carried coastwise.
Seamen's Hospital.—The CoMmlttee, have the highest grab=
fication in stating, that in the course of the present year a f'loat-
ing Hospital has been established for the reception of Sick and
diseased Seamen, on board the Grampres, two-decker, which eas
been liberally granted by the Lords of the. Admiralty -for that
purpose.
The Grampus is stationed off Greenwich, and is open for the
reception of all seamen, who are proper objects for an -11nspita4
who have only to present themselves alongeide to obtain a re-
ception. The establishment is maintained by voluntary do-
natiens and subscriptions ; and, it is hoped, will meet with
that support from Ship Owners, to which it is -peculiarly
entitled.
• Registry of Merchant Seamen.---The successful progress of
the Lstablishment for the Registry of merchant seamen, and
the advantages derived from it, both by them and their ems
ployers, were pointed out in the Committee's Report of De-
cemberlast. From returns of the cl...aractrs of the crews which
have. been -made to the eeTee by roasters of vessels, it apneees
that, in the conreee of the current year. upwards of 200 searnen
which belonged to those ships have tliserteil, while abroad,
in order to obtain higher wages. for the run home ; and a rn. atk
has accordingly been set against their • named in the book of
registry. From the earnest entreatiss or these men for certifi-
cates of character, as necessary to their obtaining employment,
there is good reason to believe that if the. returns were univer-
sally made, (but which too many masters cf vessels neglect)*
the practice of desertion -would be - greatly checked, if not en-
tirely prevented.
Post Office Packets.—The Committee have drawn the atten-
tion of the Lords ef the Treasury. to the reemenspesetiee of the'
Post Office Packets between Holyhead and Dublin, in taking
large quantities of goods as cargo, to the serious' injury of mer-
chant vessels, which are subject to Custom House Regulations
and Duties, from which Packets are exempt; and as their
Lordships have instituted an inquiry on the subject, the Com-
iiiittee have no doubt that the necessary orders will be gisal,
to put an end to a practice so extremely partial and unfair.-
Cape of Good Alejesty 's Government have re-
quested that the Committee will Make it publicly known, "that
on the first day of September lest, a- flag-staff was erected on
the Lion's Rump, for the purpose of communicating with ships
entering Table Bay, by Means ofsCreptain Marryat's Cole
of Signals, now in general use in the lilereleant Service.
"'Vessels approaching the land, haee therefore only to make.
use of that Code, as directed, for the purpose of either cone's).-
ingS or receiving, communications to 'or from the Signal-post on
the Lion's Rump:
"Jt is to be recollected, that tit this Flag Stiff a Colonial Tee,
legrap.li is also in:Sise ; but ..no mistake can arise therefrom, 1'
ships in the oiling pay attention to Captain 3larryat's Code, the,
• Flags of which are entirely different from those of the Colonial
Telegraph."
Miscellaneous.—Among other subjects upon which the Cam'
mittee haie been employed, are Gravesend and TilbulyOr
Dues ; Stamp Duties on Policies of Insurance, and on Bills °f
Sale and Custom House Bonds; the stationing of Buoys ut
particular places ; Salvage Act ; Regulations regarding Sea-
men at Quebec; Police Regulations below Gravesend; deter:
tion of British vessels by Lord Cochrane; detention of British
Ships in the West Indies; upon the erroneous idea that the/.
were liable to losses by Droglierse&c. &c.
The Committee have finally to Report, that the Subscription,:
for the present year amount to 4729 15s. sd. being equal t° the
expenses of the Establishment, but-leaving still unproSided for
an arrear of £139 Ms 2d. arisine• from the unusual expellees
which the• Society was exposed by the proceedings in Parlisole--
in the year 1820.
JOHN WILLIAM BUCKLE, Chairtna•
London, 13th December, 1321. •

We respectfully solicit the attention of our
Readers to the Report of the Committee of Ship
Owners, inserted in our preceding columns. The
examination of this important doCument should

be considered a duty, even by persons who have
not any direct connection with the Shipping
Interest, since the preservation and extension of
Our Shipping is indispensable to the power of
the State, and to the general prosperity of
the whole Empire. All parties have an interest
in understanding the principles and regulations
on which the Naval superiority of England rests,
and from which has sprung our commercial and
manufacturing greatness. The vigilance, activity,
and intelligence of the Committee of Ship
Owners cannot be too highly estimated. Their

services are of the first importance, not only to
the Shipping Interest, but to the Country at

In our first Page will be found the Letter and
Advertisement of Mr. PINSENT, which was an.
flounced
,yesterday.

It is deplorable to find that the Slave Trade
Was never at any period more extensive, active,
and prosperous, than it now is. The abolition
or the detestable traffic by England has been
followed by no relief to Africa. By an arrival
°f Sierra Leone Gazettes, we are furnished with
a list of upwards of forty slave ships, examined
by or known to the British cruisers, on one part
°ply of the coast of Africa, in the course of three
°lentils! Thirty-tzoo of these slips are described
as capable of stowing from eleven thousand to
lu:eke thousand victims! These vessels undis-
guisedly bear the flags of their respective coun-
tries, France, Spain, and Portugal ; and few of
them, under existing treaties, can be lawfully
Condemned as prizes. About the middle of Sep-
tember, however,tiie Portuguese schooner Adelaide,
With upwards of 200 slaves on board, was brought
into the harbour of Sierra Leone by his Ma-
jesty's ship Pheasant, and condemned as lawful
Prize to the Crowns of Great Britain and Portugal.
The slaves were liberated. Another Portuguese
vessel,called the Conceicao,with 54 slaves on board,
Vas brought in on the 2ith of September, prize
to his Maiesty's brig Snapper, Lieut. KNIGHT,
commander. A great number of French and
Portuguese vessels, fitted fcr slaves, were
found securely riding at anchor in the dif-
ferent rivers visited by the Snapper, while their
cargoes were collecting in the factories on shore.
When the Snapper was at Calabar, she found,
besides the Portuguese schooner sent up fur con_

'demnation, a Spanish fehfcca .and two Prench
schooners, the Ilypolite and Le Neptune; the
Spaniard was so fast a sailer, that they enter-
tained no fear of her capture when once clear of
the river; she is a constant trader between the
Havannah and Calabar. Lieut. KNIGHT was in.:
formed that a French schooner had lately sailed
with 200 slaves for Cayenne, which vessel,
from the sharpness of her building, for the
advantage of sailing, could only carry at the
rate •of nine gallons of water per slate ! and
her commander had no intention of touching at
any other place before he reached his destination.
It is stated, that in,the.ri.ver of Calabar there
were recently several slave vessels, moored to-
gether, with springs CH) their cables, in such a po-
sition as to present at a short notice a half-moon
battery ; and they Were deterthined, as they
said, to support each other to the last.—The
settlements On.the Gold Coast had been unusual-
ly unhealthy, this . year. AMong the deaths are
those of the G,overtiorGeneral of the Dutch Set-
tlementsat Elwina, the 'Governor-General of the
Danish Settlement at. Accra, and Mr. GORDON,
Governor of the -English Settlements of the same
, -
place. .

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM SIERRA LEONE, DATED

SEPTEMBER 24.

From the tenour of. youi last letters I fully expected that
his Majesty's Government would ere now have taken into their
consideration the deP'ressed state of commerce in this part of
the British dominions, and, according to your expectations,
have reduced the duties on African produce to an equality with
othes of his Majesty's islands and plantations; but, instead of
this, the British Colonies in Africa are not even put on a foot-
ing with FOREIGN STATES. •
"'ln corroboration of this, I need only notice two or three of
the principal exports from our African Colonies, viz. --Ox and
cow hides, averaging 7:1 pounds each, are charged a duty of 6d.
per hide; and ox and cow hides imported from Buenos Ayres,
averaging 26 pounds each, are only charged a duty of 10d. per
hide. Other articles might be enumerated, to shew that Go.
Vernment, instead of favouring the infant commerce of Africa,
has actually denied her the privileges granted to FOREIGN
STATES. •

" About a year ago, our merchants in St. Mary's succeeded
in bringing a part of the gum trade to the banks of the Gambia;
but jnst as they, after great expence and trouble, had accom-
plished this important end, Government, as it would seem, to
thwart their endeavours, reduced the duty on gum from France,
from.33s. 3d. -to 12s. per cwt. and raised our duties from lls.
10,id. to 12s. per cwt.; thus crushing in its infancy this valuable
branch of African commerce.

" The same may said respecting the excellent timber shipped
from this place to Great Britain. As soon as we had esta-
blished an extensive trade, employing from .twenty to thirty
large ship 4 annually, in carrying timber from hence, Govern-
ment imposed a duty of 10s. per load, which has at once an-
nihilated this valuable branch of trade."

[Extract of a Letter from Quebec, Nov. 18.]

" It is not easy to account for the clamour
which has been kept up in Upper Canada on the
subject of duties levied in Lower Canada on
goods, which it is supposed go into Upper Ca-
nada for consumption. It has always been un-
derstood that the Legislature of Lower Canada
always disclaimed any intention of profiting by
duties ultimately paid by Upper Canada con-
sumers (although it might assuredly have main-
tained a contrary doctrine respecting all goods
imported for sale in this Province), and that
the continuing to levy and pay over those
duties, which, in the first instance at least,
in great part certainly come out of the pocket of
the subject : here was a boon granted to Upper
Canada. The Legislature of Lower Canada ap-
pears to be sufficiently jealous of its right of
levying and appropriating to the public use the
monies which come out of the pocket of the sub-
ject in this province, and it ought not to be sup-
posed that it is so lost to all sense of justice, as
to wish to deprive others of a right which it so
so justly esteems. When the matter comes to be
sifted to the bottom, it will .be probably found
that the clamour has been without foundation."
[Extract of a Letter from Bombay, July 2.]

SiK natives have been convicted before the
Supreme Court, in Calcutta, of having inflicted
torture upon two other natives, in order to force
them to confess that they had been guilty of
murder, and have been sentenced to imprison-
ment.—Of our crop of cotton not more than
60,000 bales have found their way to Bombay,
the greater part of which will go to China by the
regular route."
NEW Yona, Nov. 19.—The three new banks
proposed to be established here are the Wash-
ington Bank, the Agricultural Bank, and the
Tradesman's Bank, each with a capital of half a
million of dollars ; the application for the first
is headed by THOMAS FRANKLIN, the second by
BENJAMIN ROMAINE, and the third by JAMES
HAIL.

WINDSOR, DEC. 1 4.----On W' ednesday his Royal
Highness the Duke of YORK arrived at Frogmore,
dined with the Princess AUGUSTA and the Duchess
of GLOUCESTER, and in the evening returned to
Loudon.—Yesterday evening the Princess Au-
Gown and the Duchess of GLOUCESTER took an
airing to Bagshot Park, and returned to Frog-
more to dinner.

Yesterday the Earl of LIVERPOOL arrived at
Fife House from Combe Wood, and in the course
of the day transacted business at the Foreign
Office.

FASIIIOMABLE ARRIVALS.—The Earl of Mount Edg-
cumbe, in John-street, Berkeley-square ; Sir John Hippesley,
in Grosvenor-square ; Lady and Nliss Campbell, in Baker-
street ; Right Hon. George Tierney, in Old Burlington-street ;
Mr. Robert Adair, in Queen-street, May-fair; the Couniessde
Grey, in St. james's-square ; Viscount Melbourne, at Mel-
bourne House, Whitehall, from Brighton ; Earl Morley, at
Kent House, Knightsbridge; Orby Hunter, Esq., in Grosvenor-
place, from Rendlesham Hall, Suffolk; the Hon. W. B. Gray,
in Charies-street, Berkeley-square, from Wales ; the Hon. Mrs.
Robinson, in Privy-gardens, from Durnford, Wilts ; the Hon.
Col. Lygon, from Farmington, Gloucestershire ; the Bishop
of Ely, in Dover-street. from Ely Palace, Cambridgeshire.

DEPART U RES.—Lidy and Miss Hill, for Bath ; Colonel and
Mrs. Clifton, for Brighton ; Major and Mrs. Hammond, for
the Parade, Brighton ; the Marquis of Salisbury, for Hatfield ;
the Earl of Essex, for Cashiobury Park ; Sir R. Clifton, from
the Claremont Hotel, for Clifton Hall ; Captain Delaney, from
ditto, for Ramsgate ; the Dean of Chichester, from Ntrarne's
Hotel, for Chichester. ' . •

CiraxuuS.—Lord Viscount Ebrington and the Hon. Mr.
Fortescue, from a tour, to Cheltenham; Major and Mrs. Max-
well, from Ramsgate, to-Bath.
BATH Ant:mitts—Lady Bankes, Lady Duncan, Lady
Keane, Major-Gen. Sirs J. Ashe, T. Buchan, and J. Nugent—
Dr. and Mrs. Sabine, Dr. and Mrs. Sulltvan:--Col. Croft, Col.
Jones, Cot M'Donnell, Col. O'Neill, Col. Roberts, Lieut.-
Col. Gordon, Lieut.-Col. Goldie, Major llarris, 'Major Rich-
ards, Major Stone Captain and Mrs. Bird, Capt. and Mrs.
Garratt, Capt. Clarke, Capt. Colin Campbell, Capt. Stevens—
Rev. Mr. and Mrs.. Bartholomew, Rev. 111 r. and Mrs. Maule,
Rev. Mr. H. Knapp, Rev. Mr. Bell; Rev. Mr. Estcourt, Rev.
Mr. Eckersall, Rev. Mr. Ellicombe, Rev. Mr. Griffiths, Rev.
Mr. Oliver.

. The Duke of Devonshire arrived at half-past two yeSterday
afternoon at Devonshire House, from Brighton ; after chang-
ing horses his Grace set off for his seat,,Chatsworth, Derbyshire.
The Duchess of Devonshire has proceeded from Paris to
Rome.

The Prince Esterhazy proceeds to the Pavilion in the Holidays
by invitation from his Majesty.
. The Duke of Wellington has left Strathfieldsay for the Earl
of 'Westmorland's, Apthorpe, Northamptonshire.
The Marquess and Marchioness of Waterford arrived yester-
day at their house in Mansfield-street, from Ireland.
The Duke of Rutland is hou'rly expected in town, from his
seat, Belvoir Castle, on his way to the Pavilion, Brighton.
Mr. Greenwood gave an elegant dinner yesterday, in Audley-
square.
Mr. Charles Greville had a dinner party yesterday, in
George-street; Hanover-square.

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