The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-23 00:00:00

TO ADVERTISERS.

We beg respectfully to call the attention of
Merchants, Brokers, Auctioneers, and others,
to the important fact that the

LIVERPOOL STANDARD

IS NOW THE

ONLY NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON TUESDAY,

which can be read on that day by the thousands
of Manufacturers and others attending
THE TUESDAY'S MARKET IN
• MANCHESTER.
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surrounding manufacturing district.

A SECOND EDIT ON is published at Half-past
Two, in time for the North Mails, containing the
MARKETS, and any news of importance that
may arrive in the course of the morning.

Ebe Eibtrpool &naiad'.

TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 23, 1848

THE intentions of Government, with respect to
the Navigation Laws, are at length before the
public ; and they are precisely such as might have
been expected from such a set of reckless and
conceited incapables. Mr. Labouchere informs us
that he proposes to deal with the laws in question

•
" in a very large and comprehensive manner."
Being under the necessity of doing something,

and having no constructive skill to repair the feiv

dilapidaticin s which time may_have wrought in the

edifice, her Majesty's Whig Ministers, like other
bungling workmen, mean to raze it to the ground,

and to erect no other in its stead

The carrying

trade of Great Britain with her colonies, and with

foreign countries, is henceforth to be open to all

the world; the
_native industry which it employs,

. _
to be sacrificed to the insolent dem- ands of the
manufacturing free-trader ; and the trade of the
shipbuilder, the carpenter, the rigger, the sail-
maker, the roper, the, blockmaker, and the various

other artisans dependent upon a prosperous corn-
menial marine, to be transferred to the shores of

the Baltic, or to the building ports of the United
States. The policy of centuries, under which this
powerful maritime country has grown to its present
greatness, is to be swept away, root and branch,
at the bidding of a set of political schoolboys and
dreaming theorists ; without inquiry, or anything
at least that deserves the name ; without any urgent
demand from any influential portion of the nation;
and without a single fact substantiated, or a state-
ment which can be depended upon, to justify a
measure which long experience, and the evidence

of nine-tenths of the thinking and well-informed
portion of the community, declare to be utterly
ruinous. _ _ _ _

power be reserved to her Majesty in Council to
withhold the privileges to be given by the bill from
any foreign countries who may refuse to accord
to us reciprocal advantages. This is sheer mockery.
There is not, we venture to say, a single maritime
country, whose trade is worth our notice, that will
be so insane as to throw away the opportunity of
participating in the vast trade which we throw open
to them. The foreigner is perfectly aware that our
competition cannot deprive him of half a dozen
cargoes a year.
And what is the pretext offered by ministers for this
measure, and the evidence bywhich it is attempted to
be supported ? First, a portion of our colonists, dis-
gusted with their treatment by the home govern-
ment, deprived of all the advantages formerly de-
rived from British connexion, claim to be relieved
from the burdens of such connexion. The claim
is reasonable enough, although we believe that it is
based upon much misunderstanding, and that the
irritated feeling which prompts it might be allayed
with ease. We have only to treat our colonies with
justice, and to legislate towards them in a paternal
spirit, to bind them to us once more as valuable ap-
panages of the British Crown. By this concession,
however, we strike away almost the last link of
connexion with us. With respect to British Ame-
rica, in particular, by opening the navigation of the
St. Lawrence to the shipping of the United States,
we prepare the way for its certain and voluntary
annexation by that republic, and should be acting
wisely, perhaps, if we were at once to withdraw our
viceroy and his staff, instead of allowing them to
wait until they are kicked out. Our West Indian
colonies, were they not already lost to us by our
previous injurious legislation towards them, have
now no British element left in them, except the
cruel mockery of a resident British governor-gene-
ral. Our other colonies are no longer colonies ex-
cept in name—except in the cost which we incur
for their maintenance and protection. We no
longer offer them an advantage over the foreign
producer in our markets, and we are now giving up
to the world the advantages which they have hith-
erto afforded us in return.

We shall briefly refer to the leading features of
the measure announced. In the first instance,
Mr. Labouchere takes credit to Ministers for spa-
ring the coasting trade, and our shore and bank
fisheries, from being banded over to the competi-
tion of the foreigner. Dutch and other foreign
luggers and smacks, with foreign crews, are not to
carry our coals, our slates, and our iron from port
to port ; to fish in our rivers and bays ; or to run
between Great Britain and Ireland. This source
of employment—this nursery for our seamen—is
kindly left to us untouched; but why ? Because,
says the honourable gentleman, the coasting trade
is so peculiarly protected by its own nature, that
he does not think foreigners could to any extent
avail themselves of it; and such being the case,

. It is urged also that we have lately been incon-
venienced by those provisions of our Navigation
Laws which prohibit the importation into this
country of foreign produce from a European port.
There was such inconvenience felt, we are aware ;
and a modification of that prohibition would not,
probably, have been objected to. But that this in-
convenience, arising from the operation of a portion
of the Navigation Laws, affords any warrant for
the destruction of the whole system we must deny.
Again, it is urged that we are threatened with reta-
liation by Prussia, and invited to concession on the
subject of these laws by the United States. It is
not certain now, however, that Prussia is likely soon
to be in a position to carry out her threat; and,
with respect to the American invitation, it is re-
g arded by our astute brother himself as something
very like an attempt to coax a fool out of his house
and property. May we direct the reader's atten-
tion to the following letter, which we quote as per-
tinent to the subject, although it appeared in our
columns at the time ?

" throwing it open would produce no very great
amount of good." Mark the admission, ship-
owners of Liverpool ! The "good" to flow from
this onslaught against the Navigation Laws is the
introduction of foreign ships and crews to carry off
the trade of Englishmen. For sparing your coast-
ing trade, you have, by his own admission, to
thank her Majesty's Ministers for—nothing. With
respect to their non-interference with the coast
fisheries, you have equally little to be thankful
for. This branch of trade is spared from other
motives than consideration for the native industry
which it employs, as is shewn by the fact that, by
the proposed measure, the foreigner is to be placed
in precisely the same position, with respect to the
deep-sea fisheries, now exclusively secured to the
British shipowner and seaman.
• With this exception of the coasting trade, the
character of the measure is sweeping. It is to be
rendered unnecessary that a vessel, to enjoy all the
privileges (!) of a British ship, should be British-
built. We are to build or buy them where we
like; and can demand at once for them a British
register. We may have foreign vessels engaged in
our coasting trade, or in any other trade, rigged
abroad, repaired abroad, upon which not a single
Lour of native industry has been employed, the
only stipulation being that they must be owned by
British capital and sailed by the required propor-
tion of British seamen. And, with respect to the
manning of British vessels, an important alteration
is to be made. In consideration of their general
faithfulness, it is pretended, but more likely in
consideration of the lower wages which they may
be induced to accept, Lascars and other Indian
'seamen are in future to be rated as British seamen,
'the result of which will be, that whereas by the

" Washington_, Dec. 21, 1847.
" REPEAL OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS.—A corres-
pondence has taken place between the British Secretary

for Foreign Affairs and our minister at that court, relative
to the repeal of the Navigation Laws of Great Britain.
Mr. Bancroft applied to Viscount Palmerston, early in
November, to learn whether ministers would consent to
establish with the United States a perfect system of reci-
procity, in making all vessels of either country fitting out
from any port in the world, free to trade to any port of the
other nation, whether home or colonial. Viscount Pal-
merston, after the lapse of some weeks, replied that,
although her Majesty's ministers did not feel at liberty to
advise her Majesty at once to make such a change in the
commercial system as was asked by Mr. Bancroft, with-
out the sanction of Parliament, yet, as soon as that body
should meet, a measure would be introduced which would
embrace all the views put forth by Mr. Bancroft in his
note. It is not doubted that Parliament will at once act
favourably on the bill. The importance to the United
States of such a measure cannot be exaggerated. The
British colonial system has been a most grievous restric-..

tion upon our commerce, and its annihilation, as promised
by Viscount Palmerston, will open to our enterprising
merchants the lucrative trade of the East and West In-
dies, and of the other British settlements, from which
they have been hitherto debarred. This will be the great-
est stride yet taken by free trade, and it is not to be
doubted that all Europe will follow the example of Great
Britain. The liberal commercial treaty made by Hanover
with the United States has been, in no small measure,
instrumental in disposing the British Government to this
wise measure. The Rhine provinces have recently imi-
tated the example of Hanover towards the United States ;
and everywhere silently but steadily, our coyntnereiatrela-
tions are being put upon the most advantageous footing.
The repeal by Great Britain of the laws restricting the
trade of the United States with her colonies will be far
more beneficial to this country than any commercial treaty
ever made by our Government."
Undoubtedly, a large slice of "the lucrative trade
of the East and "West Indies and of the other Bri-
tish settlements" will suit our good brother very
well, especially as, having himself no colonies, he
has nothing to offer in return ; and heartily he will
laugh at stupid, old, doting John Bull, when Sa-
turday's mail from England reaches the United
States.
We referred in our last to the kind of statistical
evidence which had been got up at the Board of
Trade, and produced in the committee of last ses-
sion upon this question, and which we predicted
would be made use of to influence the decision of
Parliament. It has so been used ; not, however,
without being pretty well blown upon ; and we
find also that great stress was laid by Mr. Labou-
chere upon the other evidence brought before the
same committee, which, it will be remembered.
made no report, and broke up without hearing the
counter-evidence of the shipping interest. Let us
see who the witnesses for the repeal of the Navi-
gation Laws were. We quote from Mr. Young's

existing law a ship's crew may consist of three- able letter on the subject -1--
fourths British and one-fourth foreigners or Las- "By the party hostile to British Navigation were sum-
we may in future man them with three- moned 24 witnesses, consisting of the two secretaries and
..s Lascars and one-fourth foreigners, to the the director of the statistical department of the Board of
Trade, all distinguished advocates of free trade; one col-
total exclusion of the British-born seaman !
lector of customs in London ; another collector of cus-
The remaining provisions, by which the long tlaennd
a; onenit erannttlemaptienwgthoolet,dtesiuffctreiwrbeidot
voyages and the colonial trade have been hitherto himself hravki'sn
secured to our own marine, are to be abolished, times in almost egvery part oirthe habritele
with a reservation, only, to which we shall refer was merely the managing clerk of an Australian house •,
hereafter. The timber trade of North America— another of extensive mercantile experience connected with
a commercial firm, but who, when asked whether he was
the produce of our East and West Indian colonies araparrtinaear, replied, `I do not sign the firm ;'—a Bremen
—the whole, in fact, of our present strictly pro- ws
seadri sht merchant,
t the Vice Consul, but who
tected trade—is to be thrown open to the shipping thoughte
i:naecSe
nontinzxesstpLgnmenrst the authority of the
of the United States and of Europe. That large committee; a calicoy
owner m e r -
chant, found it unprofitable and had retired ;—ang
portion of partly protected trade, at present insured
to us by the stipulation in our Navigation Laws, ogeeropper mines in South America, who had been resident
nwreenrtsvanyteawrsirh otre Storuntdh American merchant,
that foreign produce can only be imported in Bri- chielalvforcot
tish ships, or in ships belonging to the countries smelter of copper ores, at Shat free
eaingerc,alloprerthearl7)sen;—efiat
in which such produce is grown, is also to be of the people of England, that free trade should triumph
in the importation of the ore as well as the metal in cheap
handed over to the foreigner. The American ship-
foreign ships for smelting in Wales, but jealous to the last
owner can in future load tea and silks in China degree of the consumers having the benefit of separating
f --4ree in Cuba in the the metal from the dross at the mouth of the mine, and

cars,
fourth

,or a British port, sugar awl ~,. ...
Brazils, hides at Rio, palm oil in Africa, and wool being spared the expense of the conveyance of the worth-
at the Cape and Australia, whilst British vessels less dross across the ocean ;—a merchant of Hamburgh ;
a manr of a blic com established for sale of
;dlv in foreign harbours, or crowd our docks
nage ds in Southpu pa ny
the
Australia .—A Canary Island merchant
with the broom at their mastheads. The lean engaged in the importation of cochineal;—one merchant
cheap ships of Bremen can scour the Mediterra- resident in India ;—a German barrister ;—an American
neap, and snatch their freights from our very captain ;—four gentlemen unconnected with commerce,
grasp, so long as British seamen retain their ab- who were examined only on incidental points arising in
ence of stinking tallow as a cheap substitute the inquiry ;—and though last not least, one naval officer
of unquestionable respectability, but having scanty claims
junk and biscuit. to rank as an authority, specially selected from-his known
Nor is the injury to be confined to the ship- crotchetty opinions as to manning the navy, on which it
owner, the shipbuilding trades, and the merchant may well be doubted whether any single naval officer of
Great Britain is no longer to remain the established naval reputation could be found to concur with
principal depot for the produce of the world. The him. Not a single head of any mercantile house of emi-
nence in London, Liverpool, or Glasgow was called to sus-
capitalist will no longer need our bonding system tain the grievous allegations of injury to British commerce
or our bonded warehouses. He can store his from the operation of the Navigation Laws ; not a single
cargoes in any port of Europe, with full liberty to admiral, lord of the Admiralty, or individual of station,
move them either to this country for consumption, experience, or authority, to prove that merchant sailors
or to any country in which they may be wanted. were unnecessary for manning her Majesty's navy, which
vast and sweeping are the changes upon which astounding and novel declaration is left to the unsupported
testimony of Captain Sir James Stirling alone
, !"
• about, blindly and madly, to adventure . What confidence can be placed in the representa-
It is not concealed that one great object of these tions of such a set of witnesses upon a question of
ihanges is cheapness; low freights, cheap ships, such vast importance? Little indeed; and, from
and reduced wages of the British artisan and sailor. the indecent haste with which the bill is to be
pushed through arl twhilst a committee of
in-
It is not any sudden necessity, under which we
iamen , w 1
inquiry is sitting Pin the Lords, we are led to labour, of providing increased tonnage for an sus-
creasing ccmmerce, which prompts the interference pect strongly that ministers are afraid that their
ply whole case will be blown to the winds by that corn-
of Government; for our existing marine is am
sufficient for our wants, and freights are barely, if mittee's report. We have however exceeded our
at all, remunerative. The fact stands confessed by space, and shall probably have time to recur again
Mr. Labouchere himself, that the foreigner will be to the subject.
able to carry upon terms permanently lower than --_________
the British shipowner is able to do; for, in endea- THE question is at length pressing urgently upon
vouring to reconcile the British shipbuilder to corn- us—are her Majesty's Whig Ministers fit to be en-
petition with the foreign shipbuilder, he says— trusted with the conduct of the affairs of this great
" I will also advert to a circumstance which I think nation at a crisis like the present ? We see around
ought not to be left out of consideration, namely, that if us, on every side, the elements of social disorder
we repeal the navigation laws, materials for shipbuilding
will be brought to England at a far cheaper rate than and of danger. Europe is convulsed to its centre ;
they now cost, and in that manner the shipbuilder will and, in Italy and Germany, actual warfare is going
derive considerable advantage from the repeal of those on. In republican France, during the past week,
laws." the commencement of a reign of terror—a reign of

rot .
at home

seaman

How can materials be brought cheaper unless it be
the
because the foreigner has a cheaper ship, a cheaper gullotine and the assassin's knife—has-only
been averted by a miracle, and for a time. The vul-
crew, cheaper stores and provisions ' • and will thus cano only slumbers, ready to burst forth at any
be enabled to absorb the British timber trade ? moment, and to desolate half the civilized world.
The reservation to which we have referred above, We have a vast colonial empire, in a large portion
and which we are to regard as affording a remnant I of which the seeds of alienation have been sown,
of protection to the shipowner, is a proviso that a and the plant has already sprung up—a colonial