Star.
London, England, 1824-11-04 00:00:00

PRICE SEVEN-PENCE.

Another decree provides for the establishment of
armed vessels on the coast, to prevent smuggling. Ano-
ther apportions 300,000.slollars out of the last loan for
the reraiting old and constructing new firtifications.—
Anothey aboli•hes the NW by w hich foreigners wete
compelled to consign their merchandize to a Colombian
citizen. Another declares confiscated to the use bf the
State all property of Spanish subjects. (The preceding
Congress, it will be recollected, passed a decree of ex-
pulsion against all Spaniards). The United States, it
appears, has communicated to the Colombian Govern-
ment its wish to receive the co-operation of the latter, for
the more efFsctu tl abolition of the slave trade. The
subject was before the Senate, for the purpose of con-
sidering the best means of affording this co-operation.
On the subject of finance, there is a decree for the esta-
..blish meta of a sinking fund, for ptoviding for the annual
intereia and ptog:essive liquidation of the national debt.
Another, on the subject of the tobacco duties, and a list
of all bills drawn by the Government on its Minister
here, in respect of the loan last contrkcted. There seems
to be, in appearance at least, great openness in all the
proceedings of the Government in money matters, every
step they take being published in the official Gazette. All
this is calculated to beget a national spit it. As soon as
a people begin to watch the proceedings of their rulers,
they imbibe that feeling by the temperate exercise or
which the relative position of both is best preserved.

FOREIG N T'R'ADE.

Three additional Reports from the Committee of the
House of Commons, presented at the close of the last
Session, upon Foreign Trade, have been recently printed;
they embrace as usual objects of great importance to
the commercial and shipping interests.
The subjects treated of are, the laws fixing the rates,
establishing the regulations, and govet ning the system
of pilotage generally ; the quarantine laws ; and the
Port of London Duty.
With respect to the first branch of inquiry, many im-
portant improvements have been sugge ted, and a scale
of reduced rates and boarding money, more consistent
with the existing state of navigation, recommended. It
must be highly satisfactory to the shipping interests to
observe, from the
.concluding part of the first Report,
the progress which has been made by the Trinity Cor-
poration and other public bodies, to carry into effect the
remedial recommendations of the Committee. • Consi-
derable reductions have already taken place in the va-
rious and complicated rates under the management of
the Elder Brethren ; many oppressive charges have been
discontinued, others modified, and unnecessary bur-
' thens upon shipping with& awn ; not with-tanding which
additional relief may be expected, as will appear from
the following extract of the Report in question
" What has hitherto been effected, however, by the
Corporation of the Trinity House, must rather be re-
ceived as an eurnest of• progressive reduction, and as 4
general pledge of the disposition of that boiy to satisfy
the reasonable claims of the shipping interests, than of
the real extent to which it is capable of being carried."
Amongst other improvements, the removal of the col-
lection of the dues to an office in the Trinity Hone,
has,upon the suggestion of the Committee, been adopted;
means arether efore now afforded fur consolidating the
receipt of the whole of the light, pilotage, harbour dupe,
Scc. &c. into one office, at a diminished expense to the
Public, and of introducing by degrees a system of sim-
plicity and incalculable convenience.
The inquiry into the Quarantine Laws, &c. sit ill also
be attended with most beneficial results; various judi-
cious regulations and alterations in the esi-ting forms
and rules of quarantine have been suggested, by which
`the trade from the Mediterranean will be relieved from
unnecessary restraints; and in some instances from vex-
atious pratique, without in the slightest degree endan-
geing the safety of the public health. A repeal of the
qoarantine duty is also recommended, the amount of
which, although trifing in the aggregate, has been felt
oppressive from its machinery, and unequal rate of
charge, it appearing that a ton of stone, value only four
pounds, is subject to eight shillings duty, whilst a ton
of silk, of the value of two thousand pounds, is liable to
only .seventeen shillings. We are therefore rejoiced to
find that Bills will he brought in next Session, to carry
these highly valuable suggeitiens into effect.
The third head of inquiry, udon which a distinct Re-
port, full of highly valu rble information, has been pre-
sented, is the London l'ort linty. It is to be lamented
that the extent of debt with winch that fund is charge-
able, proceeding from advances made under the sanction
of Parliament out of the Consolidated Fund, towards
the improvement of the Port of London, renders the
prospect of a liquidation under the terms of the Acts of
,Parliament perfectly hopeless, and has indeed precluded
the Committee from suggesting means of removing a
burthen imposed upon the trade of the Porto: London,
which has therefore assumed the character of a perma-
nent tax. Some alleviation may, however, he loiked for
in the reduction of expenses, and the sale of the Canal.
The Committee have recommended seer al alterations
and improvements in the Port of London, and the ('weal
Establishment: amongst these it has been suggested
that the business now conducted by a separate Coo.-
mittee of the Corporation of London at a considerable
expense, may without disadvantage to the public service,
be in future managed by the London Navigation Com-
mittee ; that the office of Surveyor to the mooring
chains should be abolished, the Sopet intendant um,
now conducts the practical part, if placed under the di-
rection of the Harbour Masters, being consisiered tun),
adequate to the duties ; and they further recommend it
minute examination into the general expenditure, from
which and a vigilant supervision the disbursements of
the Port and Canal Establishments may be materially
reduced, and the fund proportionably relieved.

The sale of the Canal is also recommended, as being
calculated to diminish the annual charge on the Port
Duty Fund, its maintenance being attended with an
expensive and an unprofitable estab►►shment. The West
India Dock Company have applied to Government to
purchase it, upon the plea that their works are not
adequate to the accommodation required by the trade
of the Port. It is uiirler %rood, in the event of the dia.
pobal of the Canal being determined upon, that• this
advantage of open cuturetition in sate ssill be gireat to