The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-15 00:00:00

NORTH SHIELDS.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The Ship-owners- here were quite rejoiced to find
that Mr. Beaumont expressed himself in the forcible
terms he did, when lie presented their petition to Par-
liament last week, praying a repeal of the Reciprocity
Acts. The Honourable Member, in fact, only spoke
the language of truth, when lie assured Mr. Hus-
kisson that the Shipping Interest here (and the same
may be averred of other places) was in a ruinous and
distressed state.. However well Ministers intended—and
the writer concedes them every credit' for good inten-
tions, in the first instance—the new system, it is but
too manifest, does any thing but work. well. What
Mr. Huskisson's ulterior views of the navigation and
commerce of the Empire may be I pretend not to an-
ticipate ; but this I can assure the Right Honourable
Gentleman—no palliatives, no half measures will be of
any avail : the old navigation laws must in a great de-
gree be re-enacted, otherwise the British Ship-owner
will be involved in misery and ruin. The evidence
'already before us demonstiates but too forcibly the
serious injury which the country has sustained by our
unwise departure from the maritime code of our an-
cestors : the President 'of the Board of Trade, there-
lore, and his colleagues, will do well to lose no time
in retracing' their steps with all practicable celerity.
Taxed as England is, it is impossible that she can
compete with foreigners, who are, comparatively
speaking, free from incumbrancc of debt. As a pooh-
tical writer of some celebrity observes—" The hand
of friendship has been extended to foreign nations—it
has been refused—they (the Reciprocity. Laws) can-
not, under these circumstances, be carried into effect
without ruin to our commerce and manufactures ; and
the proportion of trade we would retain would be
trifling ; the dense population, in that case, must also
be reduced by famine or the sword—a state of things
too dreadful to contemplate." Whatever may be
thought of the present crisis by others, it especially
becomes his Majesty's allvisers to act with a decision
and promptitude consonant to the high interests that
are at stake, when the machinery of a great trading
community has got entangled and disarranged. •
May 116. '
_ -

PROFESSOR DUO A ST.EW ART.--The Royal So-
ciety of Literature has done honour to itself ill awarding one of its
annual medals to our illustrious countryman. " Besides,' thousand
guineas s-year, which his Majesty munificently grants to this Midi-
tution.for the gift of 100 guineas each to ten Royal Associates,
the public are aware that another hundred guineas procseds an-
nually from his princely bounty for two beautiful golden medals
to be presented to two distinguished literary characters, as a tea..
tiniony of respect and admiration lbr their labours. on the
present occasion these were voted by the csouuttil to Dugald
Stewart, late Professor of Moral Philosophy in Edinhur4h, an
author of eminent abilities, and to Professor John Schweiglian-
*or, of Stmsburgh, whose editions of Appian, Polyhius, Athe.
wens, Ilerodotus, &c. &c prove him to he one of the most
learned classical scholars and acute critics in Europe. .Roth these
individuals are far advanced in years; and the appropriation of
this year's medals to them must, we think, be very satisfactory
,to the literary world, and show that the atfairs of the Royal So-
ciety of Literature are administered in a most candid, able, elld
impartial toanner."..—Scotsotan.