The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-26
British Exaction I'm America.


Tread inyour journal of 18th June, commune
cation signed ''No Fees" and in that of the 23d,
another signed 'Black Eye" both relating to fees
charged at the British Consulate in this city.
trust you will allow me, a subscriber to, and a
daily reader of the Heraid-a small space in your
valuable journal, to notice, dspassionately, the
charges contained IN these two communications,
with view to set the writers and your readers
right respecting the allegations they contain. am
enabled to do this from more than ordinary ac-
qualnance, for many years, with cOnsul's duties,
and charges allowed and from having been rather
an extensive ship owner In my day.
believe your pages are open to plain, straight
forward truth. and that you desire to inure its
cause in no way by &c parte statements.
Much stress is laid by both the writers referred
to, upon the fact they assert 1t, that certificates
granted at the British consulate, marked emo fees
are charged for, despite said endorsement. This l
propose to explain. An act of the Imperial Parlia-
ment requires all masters Of British vessels, ar
irving at this port, Tor at all foreign ports to de-
post sundry papers therein enumerated at the
Office of the British consul Among these is the list
of crew, or ships articles, as 1t is technically
termed. An act of Congress requires that the GER
tfcate of registry be deposited with the British
consul, who certiies to the custom house that it is
30 deposited
Now, the imperial act referred to, requires the
British consul to certify on the ships articles, LIST,
all deserters from the ship, at foreign ports I'd,
any OF the crew discharged with the consus leave;
Sd, any who may be left in hospital sick and 4th,
any men shipped at said port, as crew, to supply
vacancies as above. For each and all of these GER
titcates, fees are allowed and authorised by said
act. Merchants Seamen Act, and Victoria,
chap ll2, So, states that the papers have re-
Irrred to- must be deposited arrival Of the ship,
and returned to the master on again sailing from
the port and the consul required to certify to
the fact, when said papers were deposited with
him, and when returned to the master and for
this certificate (he last of the series of those en-
dorsed on the ships artices,) the act states there
shall be no fees charged and the consul, when he
signs this last, writes on lt-nOt on any OF the
others-the word emo fee," not "no fees" as
stated by your correspondents:
All the tees charged are ordered by act of Par
lament, and if consul acts within these, he is
surely without blame if he exceeds them, there is
an easy and effective remedy by petition to the
foreign Office in London.
Some months since, was at the British consul's
Office on business, and saw In the outer Office Ia
bic of fees placed conspicuously against the wall
and which bore the date of December, 1925. S G
that it must have been for many years in use by
Mr. Buchanan, the predecessor of Mr.. Barclay
! hope this plain statement of facts will not be
unacceptable have given my authority, and the
act can be referred to by any who are interested in
British shipping; and to all such am quite sure
the consul is too amiable and too courteous to re-
fuse information to fees, when asked from him
at his Office. We are commanded "to render
unto Caesar the things that are C@sar's"
Your obedlent servant,
BRTTIsH SUBJECT.
NEw-YoRK June 9th lS4S