The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-25
The Light Dues Levied on the shipping or the
United states In England.

he following correspondence will be found into
resting to our maritime and commercial readers -
Mr.. LAWRENCE TO vIscoUNT PALMERsToy
UNITED STATES LEGATION,
13S Piccadilly, December, 81, 1850
The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Mini
ster Picnpotentiary OF the United states Of Ameri
ca, has the honor, under instructions from his
government, to invite the attention Of Viscouut
Palmerston, her Majesty's Principal Secretary Of
state for Foreign Affairs, to the subject Of the light
dues exacted Of the mercantile marine of the United
states entering the ports OF the United Kingdom.
II is nearly two years since her Maesty's govern
ment determined to respond to the invitation Of the
United States, made TO the world many years ago
and recommend parliament TO repeal the prohibitory
navigation laws of the kingdom and the commerce
Of the two nations has been conducted for now Just
one year. on the reciprocal basis established in ac-
cordance with such recommendation. The United
States ask Great Britain to carry out this principles
TO establish reciprocity in fact, well in name
to do justice TO the commerce of the United States
The lighthouses, floating lights, buoys, and bea-
cons on the whole sen and lake coast and rivers Of
the United states, were constructed and are main
tanned by the federal government, an annual appro
priation being made by Congress for these objects.
No light dues Of any kind are levied, either on yes
sells OF the United states, ships Of foreign
tions. In the year 1872 there but 10 lights in
the Union. In the year 1913, there were 270 light
houses 30 floating lights 900 buoys. besides hume
rous fixed beacons There are probably at this time,
including those under construction on the Pacific
coast, more than three hundred lighthouses, with
proportionate number Of floating lights, buoys, &c,
all OF which are given to the use of the world by the
United states, without tax charge.
The commerce of the United States Is not met
with corresponding lberality in the ports Of the
United Kingdom. The reciprocity intended to be
established by the navigation law of last year, and
80 much to be wished for between the two greatest
commercial nations Of the globe, will not be realized
II American tonnage continues subjected to onerous
light duties in Great Britain, while British vessels
enjoy, without pay, the lights, &C., upon the coast
Of the United States.
The undersigned Il not unaware that the system
Of light dues in this country Is somewhat compli-
Gated; but he believes that, rs reforms have been
made in many other laws and customs adopted in
former ages, under n different state of society, 50
changes can be made in these, adapting them more
to the present condition of the world, and to the
liberal policy Of other nations.
In illustration of the onerous and unequal opera
ton Of the present system Of lights in Great Britain
upon American commerce, the undersigned has the
honor TO ask Niscount Palmerston's attention to a
few examples.
The American mail steamers entering Mt Liver
pool, pay for light dues the sum Of Coz for each
voyage. IL the British steamers were subjected to
the same charge in American ports, il would amount
annuallyto the great sum Of E3,22i Two steamers,
the Washington and Hermann, returning from New
York TO Bremen, and touching on the waya South
ampton, paid last year light dues 10 the amount Of
Isoo, including the charges for the Iicligoand
Light, which the undersigned i informed they have
never seen. The steamer Franklin, running be-
tween New York and Havre, and touching mt
Cowcs, but without anchorng, merely TO laud its
mails has been subjected TO light dues, which have
been paid by order Of the Trinity house, but under
protest Of the consignecs Onc commercial house
IN Now York, running sixteen ships between that
port Liverpool and London paid last year for such
dues, 81, ~ b. oil Another American shipping
house paid for lights in Isi9, the sum Of 81 2j2
The undersigned will not multiply individual ex-
amples OF the amount of this tax. The number of
American ships that entered the ports of the United
hngdom for the ninc months ending Oct. !, 1850,
was 0O2 with tonnage Of t73,gpo. II onc-third
be added for the last quarter of the year, the total
will be 7J2 ships, aud about six hundred thousand
tons, being an average Of nearly 80 tons to each
ship. Assuming this calculation TO be substantially
correct, II appears from the trade list, that 1919
American vessels have entered the ports Of the
United Kingdom in the last four years, with . ton
mage of 2i22, ~. During the last ten years, the
| number Of American vessels entered into the
| United Kingdom has been 1872, with aggregate
| of I.ts1 VS. tons.
The light dues are not the same in all the ports Of
| the United Kingdom. The rate at Liverpool "
l0ad. or lid whereas IN Lond,a the charge IL I'D.