The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-08-29 00:00:00

LAW OF MERCIIANTS AND FACTORS.
A respectable Meeting of the most distinguished cam-.
mercial men in the Cify was yesterday held at the London
Tavern, to consider the state of the above law.
SMITH being unanimously called to the Chair,
proceeded to state the course which had been taken with
retard to the Bill, by the Committee appointed by the last
Meeting, and by himself and those who actively stipportotE
it in Parliament. They were all actin tinted with the griev-
ances which arose out of the operation of the existiog law
between Merchant and Factor. The report of the Committee
wonU be read to the Meeting, and would explain, better
than he could do, what had been done on their part. But
as he was esetremely desirous that the Committee should
stand well with the Meeting, he u•ould make a-few remarks
upon their conduct. II t lamented that they bad met with
an opposition so formidable from some of the most distitt-
gitialieol individuals in the profession of the law, as to be
oblige!' to give up a great portion of what they asked, in
order to secure something. It had been °Mooted to this,
that by accepting the smaller part they- had given up the
:weer; but he was 'of a decidedly *different opinion.—
Baying the grand principle conceded to them, he knew
not upon what ground their opponents won' I stand when
they came to refuse the rest. After acknowledging the
geelont and able attention which had been paid to tke sub
.1(43 by:Loril ititerpoid, Mr. Hnskisson, and Mr. Wallace,
the lion. Gentleman a sitl he would call the attention of the
Meeting to another subject not wholly disconnected with
the especial object for which they had assembled. The
commercial interest was certainly most important, be liked
not to say the most important to the welfare of the country.
Its prosperity was undoubtedly bound up with the general
prosperity of the empire. lie would therefore suggest whe-
ther it would not be worthy of consideration that some per-
manent body shonld be established for attending to thenn-
terest and remedying the grievances of commerce in gene-
ral—(lieer, .hear.)—All other countries possessed such
institutions, and had derived bent fit from them; was it
therefore .proper that this, the greatest commercial state
upon the earth, should rein tin withoutthem?—(ifear, hear.)
The lion. Gentleman coneleded by moving, " That the
Iteport be veld," and intreated that strict attention might
be paid to it.
Thelteport was then read to the Mi•eting.
Mr. HALL and Mr. Sheriff THOMPSON briefly expressed
their concurrence with the Report of the Committee, and it
was moved and seconded by them, That the said Report
be printed and di.tributed amongst those Gentlemen who
signed the Petition to Parliament."
The Resolution was onsnimoasly agreed to.
A Gentleman, *hose name we could nut hear, said that
he agreed with every etilogiutn which hail been passed
ripen the conduct of the Committee. Although little had
been gained by the immediate provisions of the Bill, yet
the information which Itail been conveyed to the Mentbers
of the Administration, ;tett to the public in general upon
„the question, would have gained so much for them. that
they should return to the contest upon the very ground
which their opponents formerly possessed. lie enforced
the necessity of a holy whose especial care it would be to
watch constantly over the interests of the City of Lon-
don 1 • and co•iclitiling by tinning a resolution of thanks to
the Parliamentary Committee, which was carried unani-
monsly.
11.solittions of thanks were also voted to the Chairman
and to Mr. T. Wilson, who briefly return-11 thanks.
It was moved and carried that copies of the Report be
presented to Lord Liverpool, Mr. Iltisksson, and Mr. Wal-
lace, as the best means of shooing the ze.pect and grafi-
!tele of the meeting.
A resolotion of thanks was next voted to Mr. Fresh
field, the Solicitor of the Committee, who rein neii thanks.,
310 explained the nature of the law which It been passed.
Mr. WILSON moved a resolution, which stated that in
eon...gamice of the strong feeling which had been expressed
by the meeting upon the subject of instituting a Chamber
of Commerce in the City of London, it was expedient to
refer the subject to the Conintitte.l with power to add to
their rointher. The resolution was carried unaniusousiy,
and several Gentlemen expressed their warm concurrence in
its ohject. The meeting then adjourned.