The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-03-06 00:00:00

Till LiVIRPOOt STLArkilt

proposing the amendments....-for which see advertisement. ventured to disturb the meeting this day. Did they know
Mr. F. BOULT seconded the amendment. He had had that from 17s. to 255. a month, never exceeding the latter,
vessels of all countries consigned iso him, and he found were the wages of foreign seamen, whilst those of the
this country could now produce ship, taking quality for British seamen were about £3 per month?, (Cries of
quality, as cheap as any nation on the fat.' of. the earth, " No, no, £2 55.") They were so on the east coast ;
he cared not where it was. (Much fatareinson.) This but were they £2 or £3, or whatever they were,
to.:. be they would come down to 255. if the Navigation Laws
instilled into their minds, had no real foundation in ta
fear of foreign competition, which was attempteo:
et. were repealed. (Hear, hear.) It was estimated that the
It evinced a mean, contemptible, and unworthy opinion
maintenance of a British seaman cost at least one shilling
of their own skill and industry, of the resources, capital, p,7 day, whilst the cost for feeding a foreign seaman was
and science of this great country, which he for one should little more than half as much. There was no doubt those
be sorry to participate in. It was an established fact that from the Baltic only cost about sixpence per day. (Hear,
British labour was the cheapest labour in the world—that hear, hear.) He wished to demonstrate that there was
1 quantity for quantity, and quality for quality, there were not a single point on which Messrs. Rawlins and Boult
no men to be found on the face of the earth that could had built their visionary structure which would afford it a
turn out work equal to Englishmen. (Cheers.) All re- moment's resting place. But, said Free Traders, the
strictions, he contended, were impolitic. The first mea- foreigners carry more men : again this is an error, for a
sure which they ought to have proposed was to take off return of 1847, from the custom-house entries of the
all restrictions and liabilities from the shipowner and ship- kingdom, shew that most of the reciprocity countries—
builder. It was unfair to expose them to a competition to that Prussia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland,
which they were unaccustomed, and at the same time to carry a certain per centage fewer men than the British ;
keep on the duties on foreign timber: and the restrictions that the Dutch and French generally carry more, and also
on manning their ships, which were preposterous and an- the Americans in certain trades. And yet, as we have
tiquated, and ought to have been swept away long ago. seen, with cheaper bails ships, manned and fed at half the
They had no need to fear competition. price of British, had the two gentlemen from the platform
Mr. MATHER, from the north, then presented himself demanded that British ships should compete with them.
amidst loud cheers, for the purpose of supporting the (Cheers.) That you should expose to destruction the
original motion. When the cheering had subsided, he British commercial marine—the ruin of her many
said, it would require but a few minutes of their time to thousand families—and risk the safety of this great
refute the principal observations made by the two pre- state on such rediculous assumptions as they, visionary
ceding speakers against the Navigation Laws—the palla- theorists, have this day placed before the meeting.
dium of England, her freedom and independence. (Ap- (Loud cheers.) Whenever the foreigner appeared, the
plause.) With solemn gravity they had laid it down as a British would be inevitably driven out of the market.
maxim that one general principle must be applied to all. (Hear, hear.) These present laws were enacted with all
Like all men with one idea they could not comprehend their stringency against the Dutch—the representative of
another; they could not comprehend that the marl- whom we had the honour of seeing at the meeting that
time interest of England—her supremacy at sea—her vast day—(cheers)—when his gallant ancestors and country
colonial empires—the peaceful defence of the leading state fought so bravely against Britain, covering the two coun-
in the world's history, formed a general principle enough, tries with renown for the supremacy of the sea.
and one, too, of the highest, without referring it to that of These very Navigation Laws, and these alone, had en-
a lesser nature. (Loud applause.) These new philoso- abled us to abide the giant contest. (Loud cheers.)
phers, these beings of the hour, who float like bubbles on He hoped that that gentleman might not behold the
the surface of society to sink speedily, and be no more throes of their destruction, but that the prince might see
seen or heardsofr-preaumesl-to-be-ita-beaccma.-- • . -to-day Tie spirit of British seamen—and in that meeting
modesty proportioned to their value, they set their crude the representative and reflection of the opinion and de-
fancies in competition with the opinions of the wisest termination of the British people. (Continued cheering.)
statesmen that this country had ever produced, and the The MAYOR then put the amendment to the meeting.
experience of a history of 500 years. (Applause.) The Only about a score of hands were held up in its favour.
Navigation Laws originated not in the time of the Com. These were hastily raised, and from the hooting with
monwealth, but so far back as the time of Richard 11, which those who held them up were assailed, they were
500 years ago, when, to counteract the selfish mercantile as speedily lowered. The original motion was carried by
spirit then in existence which employed cheap foreign ships an overwhelming majority. The Mayor (laughing) said
in preference to British, it was enacted that no British he was unable to tell what the majority was, but declared
merchandise should be imported or exported in any but a it carried. The announcement was received with tremen-
British bottom under penalty of forfeiture of ship and dous cheering, clapping of hands, and waving of hats and
cargo. And this has formed in all the Navigation Laws handkerchiefs.
from that period down to that of the Commonwealth and Mr. W. R. COULBURNE proposed the second resolution.
Charles 11, now in existence, the basis and the principle. The more he reflected on the resolution, the more
(Applause.) Whilst the Navigation Laws had been sus- strongly was he impressed with the conviction that the
tained, the commercial marine had prospered, the navy advocates of the bill, and Mr. Labouchere, were bound to
was strong, and the country was great and glorious, (hear.) satisfy the people of this country that this measure would
When they had been departed from the navy became weak not tend to diminish that naval superiority which ren-
and the country was subject even to insult and invasion. dered England the arbiter of Europe. He had listened
(Cheers.) In the contests of the Roses, this law of with the greatest care and attention to the honourable
Richard 11. had fallen into disuse, been so modified and gentlemen who moved the amendment, and it was not a
evaded, that the foreign commercial marine became grea- matter of surprise that, in a large community like this,
ter than the British, so that Henry VII. borrowing sixty two men should be found who differed from their neigh-
foreign ships invaded England, which not being able to hours, and that these two men should be so fond of
man her navy, lost Richard 111. his crown and life. The hearing themselves speak that they would not keep away
politic Henry, feeling that the same means which won a from the meeting. Mr. Labouchere, in introducing the
crown in England could alone preserve it, in the very first measure, said that if the bill would tend to fritter away
year of his reign re-enacted the old navigation laws. the commercial marine, every argument advanced for the
(Applause.) And what said the wise Bacon of this very repeal of the Navigation Law should go for nothing.
law—that Bacon, whom one of the learned gentlemen had Now, what tended to reduce freights reduced shipping.
quoted, like the Devil quoting Scripture, against it—why, and was a permanent reduction of shipping, for capital
he declared that it was enacted "to make the realm was only employed where there was a profit. If, on the
potent by sea as well as by land." (Loud cheers.) other hand, the bill did not diminish freights, who would
The learned gentleman did not tell you .that--it be benefited by the measure ? They ought to consider
would not suit his one great universal principle. that the interest on which they were about to legisalate
Neglected by Henry VIII., Edward VI., and Mary, the dealt with £48,569,000 a year, or a sum almost equal to
wise Elizabeth and her patriotic ministers, the Walsing- the whole national expenditure.
hams and Burleighs, felt the necessity of a strong com- Mr. GEORGE GRANT seconded the motion. After ex-
mercial marine; so strengthening the old law, they pressing the pleasure he felt at seeing so magnificent a
decreed an addition, for " politic" purposes, as they meeting, he said they had heard a great deal about class,
called it another " fish day" in the week, for her entire and they had also heard a great deal about the Navigation
semi-Catholic people, to encourage the fisheries and make Laws being a restriction on the country for the benefit of
British sailors—(hear, hear)—and what was the result ? a class, but he maintained that those interested were not
Why, that when her country was threatened with invasion a class, but a mass. He should have thought that after
by the then tremendous naval power of Spain, British the manner in which the public opinion was expressed
fleets, manned by British seamen, for three days success- during the last session of parliament, that the ministers
fully encountered it, till the winds of heaven completed might have paused a little, or so modified the bill as to re-
the destruction of the Armada. (Great applause.) Here move some of the chief objections made to it. But it was
was England, as in the time of Buonaparte, saved by our not so. He objected to the measure on two great grounds.
navy. But for it, deprived of Colonies, of commercial He had others, but he should confine himself to these.
empires, and of position, England, cooped up in these The first was, that it gave all the advantages to foreign
islands, would be reduced to a third-rate state. (Cheers.) ships, without one single proviso that we were to get any-
This law, neglected by the early Stuarts, the stern thing in return. Its advocates called out for free trade,
commonwealth with the iron-headed Cromwell arose, and, but free trade was that which entitled us to receive as well
whatever he might be, he understood the material inte- as give. He considered that this bill gave the foreigner
rests of England, and made her name respected through the power of taking our carrying trade, while, at the same
the world, re-enacting in the spirit of Richard 11. the old time, the British shipowner would have to conduct his
Navigation Law. (Hear, hear.) While the courtly own with the same restrictions as before (loud cheers.)
Charles 11., though hating Cromwell with a perfect His next objection to the measure was, that it was not
hatred, digging up his bones and exposing them to public called for by any public ,demonstration. It seemed to be
scorn, yet (and be it spoken to the credit of his patriotism the working of some malignant spirit, which, having
and wisdom) he repeated and strengthened the law of the rejoiced over the destruction of the colonies, and seen
commonwealth—our present Navigation Laws. And with joy the impending destruction of their agricultural
these laws of ages—making " the realm potent by sea," interest, now said, "do not leave any longer this last, this
according to Bacon—" the wisest of all the commercial remaining interest with a little semblance of prosperity in
regulations of England," according to Adam Smith, the it, whilst everything else is ruined." (Cheers.) The
great free trade philosopher, who liked them best in more they gave this subject consideration, the more would
their fullest stringency—these laws of statesmen, they be disposed to consider it a most dangerous experi-
sanctified by the experience of our whole history, ment. No doubt it would be said that the meeting was
we must now, forsooth, abolish for an idle theory. packed ; but who had a better right to express their
(Loud applause.) The gentlemen who had come to opinion on this subject than those most deeply interested ?
such a meeting this day,—a meeting representing, he (Cheers.)
would say, the national opinion upon the subject,—(loud The motion was then put to the meeting, and passed,
cheers)—for the purpose of persuading them that these only three or four hands being held up against it.
laws should be repealed, seemed quite ignorant of their Mr. Auctie proposed the third resolution, and in doing
good effects. This glorious meeting was an answer in so congratulated the meeting on the cause which had led
itself, representing, as it did, the genius of Britain, its to the adjournment, and the numbers in which they had
firmness, penetration, and common sense ; such a meeting that day presented themselves, but above all he congratu-
he had never beheld since the time he had the honour of lated them on their intelligence, wealth, respectability,
conducting 15,000 seamen last year to her Majesty. (Loud enthusiasm, and determination. (Applause.) He con-
cheers.) These laws, embodying the national will, pro- gratulated them that Liverpool was determined to resist
duced the largest commercial marine in the world—their the suicidal measure proposed by the president of the
purpose and object ; and we now had 230,000 British sea- Board of Trade. (Applause.) He was surprised that
men, whose very existence placed the world under recog- some gentlemen, after seeing the feeling was so decidedly
nizances to keep the peace. The first cannon-shot fired against them, should have persisted in giving to the meet-
in hostility in Europe against our honour, interests, or ing little driblets or drops of free trade which did not ap-
integrity, and these 230,000 seamen would step from the ply to the question at all. It was not a free trade ques-
peaceful decks of our merchant ships to the armed decks tion merely, not a political question, but one which con-
of our men-of-war, and crush their country's enemies. cerned the defences of the nation. (Applause.) Mr.
(Cheers.) That was something. But one of the gentle- Aikin next referred to what had been stated by a
men who spoke in favour of the amendment had quoted gentleman who had preceded him, as to the evidence
from a paper. He (Mr. Mather) knew that paper well ; given by Sir J. Stirling. That evidence, he contended,
had the party been in possession of it, he would have was irrelavent, and did not bear upon the case. Mr.
shown from it who was protected and who was not. That Boult admitted that Mr. Labouchere's bill should not
paper, of false data, was got up by Mr. M`Gregor, of the be supported, because it was based on injustice to the
Board of Trade. shipbuilder, by not removing the duties on timber ; but if
Mr. BAWLINS.—I did not say "unprotected ;" I said those duties were removed to-morrow, the difficulty they
"partially protected." complained of would not be obviated, as we should still as
Mr. MATHER continued.—What were the States that an Island, be open to a most ruinous competition from
gave the large amount of per centage—the " partially foreign nations. We could neither build ships nor provi-
protected" trades ? Why such states as Barbary, Fez, sion them at so low a rate as the foreigner, and, conse-
Algiers, Turkey, Morocco, the South Sea Islands, Mexico, quently. would stand in a very disadvantageous position
and China. (Laughter.) This gentleman says nothing in that respect. He had gone carefully through the evi-
of the complete protection we have in the law of nature, dente adduced before committees in parliament, in favour
upwards of twenty, two-thirds of the 34 or 35 states of of the abrogation of the Navigation Laws : and the con-
that paper scarcely having a single ship to send to sea. viction had been forced upon him, that this, the most im-
If such states as the kind described were removed from portant measure ever proposed to a British parliament,
the list, it would be found that the greatest increase of was based upon the most flimsy and fragile arguments.
per centage had been on the protected not on the par- He (Mr. Aikin) had deemed it his du:,y, since the last
flails, protected trade. (Hear, hear.) The document had public meeting on the subject, to make many inquiries,
been before analysed, and scattered to the winds, and even to read and reflect, looking upon the question in all its
repealers now, except at Liverpool, were ashamed to refer bearings ; and the more he had done so the more had he
to it. He would now shew the meeting that when we become convinced of the danger and the risk England
had not been protected we had decreased our tonnage; would run from the adoption of the measure. (Applause.)
when protected it increased. (Hear, hear.) The recipro- "We know, gentlemen, said Mr. Aikin in continuation,
city treaties had been chiefly formed in 1824-5, with the " that very little is accomplished now-a-days without
maritime powers of the Baltic, Prussia, Sweden, Norway, some degree of agitation ; and Ido assure you I know of
Denmark, and the Hans Towns. These treaties broke no occupation on earth that would give me such pleasure as
down the Navigation Laws, gave free trade in ships, with to go throughout the length and breadth of the land to
those particular states, and what were the consequences agitate on this subject—feeling convinced that we have the
after 24 years' experience ? At Elsinore, in passing the cause of truth, justice, and safety on our side ; and, that
Sound, a registry is kept of British and Foreign—(their in making an appeal to the common sense of England, our
own)—vessels trading with these States, which tells us cause would prevail. (Cheers.) But when ministers
that previous to free trade with these States, on an aver- were told of such demonstrations as the present, and
age of 1823-4, upwards of 4,200 British ships passed the when they knew that there was not a meeting called in
Sound. Of course after 24 years' experience, with an in- any part of the country in support of the measure, he
crease in our population, wants, and commerce, if free could not think that they would persist in it. (Cheers.)
trade and reciprocity were beneficial, we should have a A repeal of the navigation laws would result in reducing
great increase of British shipping here. (Hear, hear.) the rate of wages, and injuring the operative ship carpen-
What was the fact ? Why, that instead of increasing, the ters, a most useful class of men ' • for it was not to be sup-
number had fallen down to 3,800 and odd—a decrease of posed but that merchants would have their vessels built
nearly 400 ships. (Loud cries of hear.) And what was wherever they could get them done cheapest. If we took
the consequence with regard to the Foreign shipping ? away protection from the British shipowners, it would
had they decreased in proportion Yon shall hear. The cause an inferior class of vessels to be built. Mr. Atkin
foreigners, before the reciprocity treaties, had little more next referred to the rate of insurance, which he showed,
than 7,000 ships passing the Sound. They had now up- in case of a European war, must be greater on British
wards of 12,000. (Loud cries of "hear.") The foreigner ships, in consequence of the risk, than upon those vessels
nearly doubling his shipping by Free Trade with us—ours belonging to countries at a distance, not affected by the
greatly decreasing. This was experiment enough to have operation of such disturbing causes. America, being at
satisfied the wise statesmen who had addressed the meet- such a distance, would, in such a case, get the high rate
ing, for an extension of the same ruinous system to all of freight for her vessels, while our own ships would be
parts of the world. (Loud appjause.) The same prin- lying idle, simply because the former could take their
ciples—the elements of cheapness, that had beaten you in cargoes at a lower rate, owing to the insurance, than our
the Baltic, would beat you on the seas of the world. You own. (Cheers.) In what condition would England be
have expanded your shipping in all other trades where in case of war, if the navigation laws were abrogated ?
protection is afforded. With the United States, a reci- No man would, for the want of the requisite protection,
procity country, though increased, it is not in the pro- ship his goods in a British vessel, and thus the large car-
portion. It is in the nature of things that competition rying trade we at present enjoy would be handed over
with cheap building and cheap sailing nations should de- to the Americans. (Hear, hear.) It was too much the
crease your shipping. But he felt he was standing too long case, in the present day, that every important question
between their able and eloquent townsman and the meet- was frittered away into one of pounds, shilling, and pence;
ing. (Cries of "Go on.") Well, how can you build as but was it right that we should, for the sake of cheapness,
cheap ? You import their timber to build with, paying encourage foreign artisans and seamen, and discourage
freight, and then a duty of 15s. per load, giving in ad- our own ? He thought that we could not (notwithstand-
dition to the cheap building abroad and the freight, a ing the Utopian fancies indulged in to the contrary) avoid
premium to foreigners on a 400 ton ship, nearly £2OO, the risk of war ; and he was sure it would be found that
and that isMr. Labouchere's and the British Government's the best way to protect ourselves from insult, was by be-
justice to British shipbuilders and shipowners. (Applause.) ing in a position to repel it. (Loud applause.) The
While Mr. Labouchere states, as a compensation for the question involved so many considerations, that he urged
timber duty, that the iron fastenings of the maritime the meeting to lock at it in all its bearings, and consider
states of the Baltic are most exhorbitant, (having to im- the results which would be brought about by the proposed
port their iron from Britain,) he says nothing of the bill. For his oan part, he contemplated the measure
Swedish iron. Now, a report had lately been placed in his with alarm, and could not, on such an occasion, do other-
hands—a report by the present Government's own mining wise than enter his protest against a course of policy
agent abroad, Mr. Tremanheere,—in which he states that which was fraught with danger and ruin to the best into-
Scotch bar iron had been selling in the States of the Zoll- rests of the country. (Applause.)
verein, on an average of years, at £3 17s. 6d. per ton, Mr. W. MANT seconded the resolution. He said,
while the Prussian, of better quality, was £3 10s. 6d. per considering the lour and the crowded state of the build-
ton. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.) The gentleman ing, he was sure ae should consult their convenience by
who had just spoken said, with a mighty flourish, that as briefly as possble seconding the resolution proposed by
British skill, and the energy and industry of Englishmen, Mr. Alicia. But previous to doing so, he must enter his
could do anything; and then he had turned round—what protest against tie question which had called them toge-
sailors would call " a round turn"—and had charged Bri- they being consieered other than as a national question.
tish sailors and artisans with monstrous conduct, and slo- (Applause.) It vas not, he maintained, a class question,
venly and disgraceful work, on board of ship and in port. it was a questiox which affected the welfare and the inte-
Nor did he make any allowance for our sailors, after a rest of every mat who calls himself a Briton. (Cheers.)
long voyage, coming home amongst their families and And if there wasany class more especially interested than
friends—flush of money, and with open hands and hearts another, it was tie man who earns his bread by the sweat
—and not living, like the foreigner, upon sour crout, of his brow. (loud applause.) He had taken somelittle
stork fish, and the like stuff. (Laughter and cheers,) trouble to be Me that he was right in opposing the repeal
Change the system to the foreign one, as these ge,ntlemen of the Navigaticn Laws, and though he would not detain
propose, and all that will be changed too. aughter.) the meeting, tip, would state a few facts proved on oath
He did not know whether these gentlemen v ere aware before a eon-imitee of the House of Lords, and which
of these facts. If they had, they would sVarcely have had not ho'on gtinsayed:—that the New York R 014.41141

of the first description were built in America at a cost of
no more than £l5. 15s. per ton ; that vessels were pro-
duced in Russia at £4. 103. a ton less than similar vessels
could be constructed for in this country, and that vessels
might be procured in Sweden at something like £7. 13s.
per ton. He asked any man at all conversant with the
subject whether it was possible we could compete with
vessels built on such terms. (Applause.) The next point
to which he wished to call attention was that the repeal of
the Navigation Laws was uncalled for by any portion of
the British nation, except a miserable section of Free
Traders. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.) In looking
over the proceedings before the committee of the House
of Lords, to which he had referred, he found that there
were only seven gentlemen, in 1846, who were favourable
to the repeal of those laws. (Hear,) The first was Mr.
Porter. He came before the committee as connected
with the Board of Trade, and therefore might be said to
be one of the government itself; and he thought it "highly
improbable that the Americans would interfere with our
China trade ;" and when asked the question, was per-
fectly ignorant of the paper by Sir Henry Pottinger,which
showed the extent of the American commerce there al-
ready. If ships, Mr. Porter was asked, could be built
cheaper abroad, and seamen worked for lower wages, was
it not clear that for British shipowners to compete, the
seamen must submit to the same rate of wages and the
same mode of living ? To that his answer was, " most
certainly." (Hear.) Then, in stating the prices at which
ships were built in this country, he had only been able to
bring forward three instances. One of these was a vessel
of 180 tons burden, whose' builder, he stated, was in diffi-
culties, and therefore he could not give the price—(laugh-
ter) ; the next was one of 535 tons, built at Dundee, for
£l2. 2s. per ton, in 1824; the other cue, of 270 tons,
built also in Dundee, for £l4. 2s. per ton ; but he gave no
information whatever as to the price of foreign tonnage.
(Hear.) The next gentleman was a foreigner, named
Gustave Godefroy, who resides at Hamburgh, and
owns 7,000 tons of foreign shipping, and he stated that
" the building of ships for foreigners in England, in case
the Navigation Laws were repealed, would be eminently
profitable" (great laughter) ; and when asked why he did
not now come here for his vessels, he said that he resided
in Hamburgh. (Laughter.) He was asked to point out
the advantage which England would derive from a repeal
of the Navigation Laws, but he declined to answer that
question." (Laughter.) The next gentleman who ap-
peared was a Mr. Allhausen, also a German, residing in
England, who stated that he had shares in 18 or 20 foreign
vessels, and he thought the repeal " would lower freights,
but not lessen profits." (Laughter.) The next gentle-
man who appeared was a Mr. Mitchell, and his only com-
plaint was as to the incompetence of English captains.
(Laughter, and " oh.") The next was a Mr. Wilson, a
grocer of Sunderland, who said that in case the Naviga-
tion Laws were repealed, he should expect to see a line of
British built packet-ships competing with those now
plying between this port and New York. He said he
liked Repeal, but would prefer reciprocity, and thought it
would benecessary to enforceit, but being" a Friend,' "the
military part of the question was rather out of his line."
(Loud laughter.) The sixth gentleman was a Mr. Hall,
a wharfinger in London ; he thought British ships could
compete with any in the world, and that was all he said.
(Laughter.) The seventh gentleman was a Mr. Minton,
a native of New York, and he gave exceedingly fair and
honest evidence. He stated that the best ships built in
America cost £4 10s. a ton complete. He said that repairs
in England were more expensive than repairs in America ;
and that a second description of ship (that was not such
a ship as the American liners) could be built in the States
for from £ll to £l2 per ton. He had shown that in a
comparatively short period the American tonnage had
been doubled, and he thought it possible that nine-tenths
of the goods which leave England for America go in Ame-
rican ships. (Hear, hear.) These were the only men
who appeared in favour of the repeal of the Navigation
Laws. On the other side, there were 39 gentlemen, all of
whom strongly condemned any alteration. (Loud ap-
plause.) He (Mr. Mann) would just read to the meeting
the evidence of one of the largest shipbuilders in Lon-
don, also given before that committee—that of Mr. Wi-
gram. He stated that " The admission of foreign-built
ships would considerably decrease the number built in
England, America and the European states building so
much cheaper. I see, in the event of the repeal of the
Navigation Laws—(and it should be recollected, said Mr.
Mann, that he was the owner of one of the largest ship-
building yards on the banks of the Thames, and conse-
quently in England)—l see, in the event of the repeal of
the Navigation Laws, it will be my interest to go to New
York, and arrange for building there. I quite anticipate
finding it my interest to induce one of my sons to proceed
to America, and carry on the trade jointly with his bro-
ther here. Government has availed itself of the strength
of private dock-yards when necessity arose, and has al-
ways obtained a supply of shipwrights from them. Any
thing tending to reduce those establishments would mate-
rially weaken the naval force of this country, by depriving
government of the power to provide the royal dock-yards
with artizans in time of need." (Applause.) That was
the evidence of Mr. Wigram, and he (Mr. Mann) thought
that the truth of it must come home to every man who
had not determinedly shut his eyes to facts. (Loud ap-
plause.) Mr. Mann dwelt particularly on this part of the
subject, quoting in confirmation the opinion of Admiral
Sir B. Martin, a sixteen years' comptroller of the navy.
It was to the effect, that the mercantile marine was every
thing to the navy, and without maintaining the Naviga-
tion Laws, he could not tell what we should do to main-
tain our naval supremacy, should such another emergency
arise as that of 1814. Mr. Mann concluded ; I shall
not detain you further, but I would say, let us beware of
these free traders. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Cobden is en-
deavouring anxiously to reduce the army and navy of this
country. And why ? In my humble opinion, because
he finds, that after bringing about the injury he has done
to the colonial interest, that they will be unable to pay
their taxes. (Hear.) And he is now busy with the Na-
vigation Laws ; but I say, let us make the Navigation
Laws our stand (cheers) ; let us be heard from this build-
ing, and I hope the sound will be caught up in every
quarter of England, that the Navigation Laws shall not
be repealed—(cheers)—that the agricultural interest shall,
if it is found necessary be protected—renewed cheers)—
that our colonies shall be maintained; and that we are
prepared still to glory in the flag which has waved over
us in our infancy, the "ships, the colonies, and the com-
merce of Great Britain." (Loud cheering, waving of
hats, &c.) Gentlemen, it has been a hackneyed phrase,
" Thank God that we have a House of Lords ;" and I
say with reverence now, (it is the first time in public
have uttered the sentiment), " Thank God we have a
House of Lords." (Cheers.) 1 have no faith in the
House of Commons—l have no faith in the government
(applause) ; we may petition the House of Commons, we
may petition the government, but my hope now is in the
House of Lords, and if need be, I would petition, let me
say, the Queen herself. (Applause.) Gentlemen, let
not the effects of this meeting pass off as we pass out of
these doors ; let us persevere, and in a honest and good
cause we must succeed. (Loud cheering.)
The resolution was put and carried unanimously, amidst
the most vociferous approbation.
Mr. J. B. YATES stepped forward to propose the next
resolution. He said he held in his hands two petitions,
one to the House of Commons, the other to the House of
Lords, embodying the resolutions which they had unani-
mously passed that day; and he trusted that would satisfy
their friend, Mr. Mann, that they did not place their sole
reliance upon the House of Commons, whatever their
merits or demerits might be, But before he read the pe-
titions, he wished (at the same time promising that es the
day was far advanced he would not detain them long,) to
address one word only on the subject of the misrepresen-
tations made by Mr. Labouchere and Mr. Ricardo, and
he was sorry to say by one of the gentlemen who had ad-
dressed them, in bringing forward the amendment on the
first resolution. Mr. Ricardo, in his speech to the House
of Commons, in introducing this bill last year, stated in
reference to the abolition of protection to the colonial
trade, that the West Indian colonies had expressed their
sentiments by addressing her Majesty and the legislature
in favour of the abrogation of the Navigation Laws. He
was sorry to say that in confirmation of that assertion,
Mr. Labouchere had adduced the authority of,—whom
did they imagine ? His main authority was Mr. Bryan
Edwards, a gentleman who had been dead exactly fifty
years—(roars of laughter)—and who published his cele-
brated work on the West Indies about fifty-five years
ago. And what was at that period the state of things ?
He (Mr. Yates) was ready to acknowledge, and he be-
lieved every gentleman would join him in acknowledging,
that at that period the West Indies did labour under nume-
rous disadvantages and grievances in respect of lumber
and provisions. -At that period they had it not in their
power Lo make such importaions without previously ob-
taining the consent of his majesty in council. But about
1822, that was partially, and in 1843 he might say alto-
gether abolished. (Hear.) Was it, therefore, fair, candid,
honourable, or just, that a minister of the crown should
now come forward and adduce such an authority in favour
of the injurious measure he is about to introduce. (Hear
and applause.) Another argument he could not help ad-
verting to, was (and all this had reference to the colonial
trade, in which he (Mr. Yates) had been engaged, man
and boy, now nearly half a century,)—Mr. Labouchere,
and Mi. Ricardo, his aide-de-camp, in this measure had
stated that now that protection was abolished in reference
to West Indian productions, or, at all events, that protec-
tion was going to be immediately finally abolished, it was
proper that we should do, what ? Why, abolish all reason-
able and fair protection also to shipping ; for that the West
Indians desire, now that they are not to have their produce
protected, to have that produce conveyed to any part
of the world they might choose as cheaply as possible.
(Hear.) That was a singular argument : it was tantamount
to this, that if a man came to him (Mr. Yates) on the
highway, and took his purse, he should say, " I m going
to take away your watch also, therefore I'll knock you
down at once and demolish you." (Laughter and ap-
plause.) He (Mr. Yates) had to complain also that in
regard to the actual strength of British shipping and Bri-
tish ship-building, we had not had the case fairly stated
by the gentleman who moved the amendment. It ap-
peared to him (Mr. Yates) that the ship-builder had an
equal right to have his manufacture fostered and encou-
raged as those engaged in any other branch of manufac-
ture. (Laud applause.) The vessels belonging to Great
Britain in 1815, after the war terminated, till 1839, were
of the aggregate tonnage of 2,400.000. It continued at
that amount till about 1839. It then took a start, and
arrived in 1845 to 3,123,000 tons. Again, the number of
vessels built and registered in the United Kingdom in
1815 was 912; in the year 1839 the number was increased
to 1278 ; and yet in 1845 the number diminished again to
800 vessels, being actually a less number than there were
twenty years before. The increase 'lithe colonies certainly
was greater, and ho presumed it must have been upon that
that the argument of Mr. Rawlins had been in some de-
gree founded. But still supposing it justly founded, that
did not hold out a reason why we should abolish the living
of the honest shipwright and artisan of our town and of
other seaports, from whom it was more desirable that we
should get our ships, than from people whet build ships in
Canada or Nova Scotia. But even admitting that part of
his argument to be fair, what was the actual increase