The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-11-01 00:00:00

had received

Is by whom he was su

cerned
his duties as little difficult as r
council that he felt much gratitude for the feelings they had

istance which he had received i

expressed towards him. -
The business of the council then terminated

CAPTAIN FITZROY'S BILL

An adjourned meetin
sociation, was held in their rooms on Tuesday _
for the further consideration of the bill proposed by Capt
Fitzroy, to qualify masters and mates in the merchant s

of the Liverpool

Captain Biss._
minutes of the last meeting.
observations, the chairman conti,
more words to say upon this bill,
proceedings that have arisen out of h
a reluctance at first in taking any st
sure, knowing the conclusion that __
from my doing so, and which has been drawn, in
language, from the conduct of those who have opt
bill altogether, namely, that we were the in'---
were afraid of examination, because,
ignorance and incompetence. I was willing,
brave this sneer, if, as I said before, I could be of any use t,
the profession to which I belong ; and I consider that in
adopting this course, not attempting to throw the bill out
altogether, which is impossible, but to get it modified into a
shape more in accordance with our interests and feelinc-
have taken that course which a rem
common sense alike pointed out.
my hands clear of the consequences. _
no intention of taking any further part in a u,„_
which, instead of that calm reasoning which can alone
to any good partial result, ill-natured bickerings, and o,
fensive personalities have prevailed. I think we should her
have only one object, and that is, the common good ; and tt
promote that, it is necessary that petty jealousies should give
way, and that we shouldgo hand in hand towards the attainment
of that, which we find on cool deliberation, to be the best for
all. I have declared my sentiments sufficiently respecting
Captain Fitzroy's bill. To me it can be of no consequenr
whether it passes or not ; but I say this in no spirit
boasting; for if a bill was to be proposed to
masters of ten or more years standing, I cannot s.
I should begin to tremble for myself. A bench of e
would be no pleasing prospect to me any more
others, and I should be inclined to make myself a little
acquainted with my book and slate before appearing in
presence. At the same time, I think no one ought to
to take charge of a vessel, to be intrusted with life
property, before he is properly qualified ; and, on th.
ground, if we can get rid of the obnoxious clauses in the bill,
I think we ought not to complain. As I said at first, so I
say now—l have no objection to a board of examination ;
but as neither in the Royal Navy, nor in the East India
Company's service, nor yet in any local boards with which I
am acquainted, are such fees charged as are proposed to be
levied under this bill. Ido contend that it is unfair and un-
just to saddle us with the payment of the fees for our certi-
ficates of qualification. Having alluded to the Honourable
East India Company's Service, I may be permitted to hold
them up as a bright example for us to go by : no class of men
ever existed to whom nautical science, and all connected with
practical navigation, owe so deep a debt of gratitude. The-
have not only, by their attainments and their
instance, a Hoesburgh—done infinite honour to tn,
but left a lasting and unrequitable obligation on man..
These, gentlemen, are my sentiments, and I thank you f
the attention with which you have heard me.
chair, determined to act impartially, and I trust you win
me your support, for if I observe any ebullition of thr.
angry bickerings and highly offensive personalities which di:
graced our last assembly, I shall immediately vacate th
chair and dissolve the meeting.
The SECRETARY called attentt
Chamley, which had been read at
subject of a clause which provide,L _
been at sea for a certain number of years before they were
eligible for examination. Captain Chamley suggested that
ere parties were eligible for examination, they ought to haw
served an apprenticeship of at
class, and four years for the second clan.
Mr. JOSEPH BROOK YATES said, he ti
one nor the other was right—neither the
course which the latter suggested. Before and
an examination either as mate or captain,
ought to have not only served an .
served some time at sea besides. 110.
owner, had five or six hundred appre,
most of them had turned out such as w,.
promotion.

T in the chair

Ind the very unseemly
I did, I confess, feel
,ps to oppose the mes-
s likely to 1

)us of our o

and for my

Having do

this, 1 w
t say I

back t
but tha

works—f 6

I take the

ion to a letter f

former meeting, on t

that individuals must have

least five

p, but hay

as an eat

- Captain CHAMLEY said, he would state o
had instigated him to write that letter. C
went on to relate that he was appointed some yea
master of a vessel, in which the owner recommen
dividual to him as a mate. He had not been on
hours when he saw that this man was no seam
him how long he had been at sea, and he sa
two voyages as carpenter ! He gave the man
that he would not do for him, but the man rei
ner that gave him to understand that he con:
particularly well qualified. Becoming more
pressed with,the man's incapacity, he remons
owners at the last moment, but was compelled to
the alternative offered to him was to give up his command
The result was that he found him totally inefficient, and wa!
compelled at length to discharge him, as unfit for his office
This man, who had been two voyages to sea as a carpenter,
returned to Liverpool, and the owners sent him to sea in
command of a ship! (Hear, hear.) He thought ere a man
was eligible for examination he ought to serve five years a
sea. Gentlemen's sons might be sent to sea, as the cl
stood, and they might, out of
two months' practical service

ain Cha

)ard two

tinned, no

Mr. J. B. YATES was decidedly of opinion that the term
of service should be extended alter apprenticeship, both in
the general and coasting trade.

Captain CALLAN, of the ship Bland, had no objection tt.
the clause as it stood, but he thought the alteration proposed
would render the law too arbitrary. His experience, which
had not been trifling, had shown him that any such altera-
tion was unnecessary, and that young men did much better
when left to themselves and their own emulation.
Ultimately, Mr. YATES agreed to give up the two extra
years, and he proposed a motion to the effect that an alterr
tion of the clause should be recommended, making provi-
that the qualification for examination for first-class
should be 21 years old, and an apprenticeship of fi-
and the qualification for the coasting trade
years old, and an apprenticeship of three ye•
This motion was seconded by Ca"
carried.
The 36th clause, to the effect that,
the passing of the act, no British ye
until the master and officers had
was read.
Captain WIIITE.—WiII the owners pay any more because
of the qualification?
Several voices.—No.
Mr. J. B. YATES.—I, as a shipowner, say yes.
The 37th clause, providing that persons not certificated
may take charge of vessels in emergencies, was read without
comment.
The 38th clause, empowering penalties of £5O for forging
certificates ; being possessed of forged certificates ; transfer-
ring, lending, or borrowing certificates, &c., was read.
Mr. CFIARLES HOLLAND was of opinion, that;
vilege would be very great under this act, the penalty w
too low.

should be

iii CHAMLEY, and

'ter six months from

sel was to put to se
sown their qualitieationi