Star.
London, England, 1826-12-21 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE, Decetnber 20, 1896.
ITHE COURT of DIRECTORS of the UNITED'
COMPANY of MERCILtiIkTS of ENGLAND, trading to
the EAST INDIES, do hereby give Notice,
That the Court will be ready to reeeive Proposals in writing, ea
or before Waneasoar, the 17th January next, from the Owner or
Owners of good, sound, and substantial COPPER BOTTOMED-
SHIPS, of the BURTHEN of SEVEN HUNDRED TONS
and upwards, Registered Measurement, specifying the Rate of
Freight at which he or they may be willing to let such Ships, [Or,
one Voyage, to and from China.
The Tenders, with tbe wordi " Ship Tender" on the cover, to
be severally sealed up. and left with the Secretary, at this House,
at or before Twelve o'Clock at Noon, on the chid Wedneidap, the
17th January next, beyond which hour. the -Court will, ntlt re•
ceive any Tender. JOSEPH DART, Secretary.
The patticulari. of the Terms and C litious upon which the
Ships will be employed, may he had upon application at the. Office
of the Clerk to the Coinmittee of Shipping-, on o Mee Friday,
the 22d fib:ant.

THE SHIPPING INTEREST.
Colonel MAXWELL stated, that he had given notice.
of a motion which he would now bring forward, relative
to the manner in which the shipping engaged in the
China trade were taken up. By the 58th Geo. 111. they
were now obliged to take op ships for six voyages, and
they were also to be of a certain tonnage. He would
now endeavour to spew that this system was highly
prejudicial to the shipping interest of this country. If
ships of any size not under 590 tons were allowed to
enter the China trade, it would be of the greatest ad-
vantage to the shipping interest of this country. From
the strict manner in which the 58th of Gee. 111. as related
to the China trade, was adhered to, not less thanl9-90ths
of the ships in the port of London were prevented from
entering into a competition. It was needless to argue up-
on the benefit that would be derived if a fair competition
were allowed. As it now stood, only a select few were
enabled to enjoy the trade to China. It was well known,
that at the present moment a great number of excellently
built merchantmen were rotting from the want of em-
ployment; and were this objectionable clause in the
Act he bad mentioned repealed, activity would be seen
in almost every part of the port of London. After
taking a review of the Marine of Bombay, Stc. be gave
it as his opinion, that his Majesty's Ministers would have
no objection to repeal the objectionable clause, and
stating, that by this means the Company would get rid
of the appellation of being a monopolizing body, he
concluded by moving Resolutions, to the effect that, in
order to defray the expenses of the late war, it was ne-
cessary to economise ; that, in order to lessen the charge
of freight, the Directors use their endeavours to get the
repeal of the 58th of Geo. 111. in order that every
British-built vessel, above 500 tons burthen, might
become eligible to be taken up for the China trade,
either for one or more voyages, &c. &c.
The CHAIR4SAN said, he felt considerable difficulty
in replying to the observations he had heard. These
Resolutions were jumbled together with so much ex-
traneous matter, that be scarcely knew how to take
them. No one, however, could hesitate on the necessity
of pursuing a system of economy, and the first Rosolu-
tion was therefore unobjectionable. The manner in
which that Resolution was to take effect he objected to.
It was thought when the 58th Gee. 111. was passed,
that a cheap rate of freight would be insured by en-
gaging vessels to go six voya;es, thus rendering it
certain to the owners that their vessels would be en-
gaged for what might be considered the natural life of
the vessel. He could not conceive that they should be
enabled to obtain a cheaper rate of freight by hiring
vessels for less than six voyage►, and should, therefore,
not feel disposed to vote for the Resolutions of the Hon.
Proprietor. After briefly alluding to the Marine of
Bombay, and stating that improvements were about to
take place in it, he concluded by observing, be thought
it was unwise to agitate the question at the present
moment.