There will be seen in to-...
The Times, 1824-03-19T00:00:00

* There will be seen in to-day's paper a project for the cstablishrent of what is called a Chamber of Cominerce in and fbr the city of London., The report of a Committee appoilitec to collect information on the subject, was re- ceived yesterday by a general meeting convened at the City of London Tavern. We believe, the persons colnected in this business to be highly respeibtable. In proof of tbat be- lief, indeed, it is sufficient to point to the name of the Chairman; but we cannot con(-eive the scheme itself to be equally ivise. The term " C 1AMBEe' of Commerce is dierived from France. Wle -recollect, that wshen Sir FRANCIH BURDETT attempted to impose that appellation upon a certain assembly, studiously calling it " this room," and " this chamber," instead of " this house," the rnem- bers were all excessively indignant, and flouted the misno- mer as calculated to convey insult: and for our own parts, we think " the Chamber of Commerce" at least as absurd as " the Chamber of Commons." lVe find, however, from the report, that there alrea4y exist in some of our great trading towns, establishmnents called Chambers of Com- merce. Of the merits of these we know nothing; but we do know full well, that in France, where Chamubers of Commerce are in full operation, they are felt to be verv mischievous institutions. They monopolize privileges, they clog commerce, they deal out partial justice to mercantile suitors, and they make the spirit of commercial enterprist evaporate in babble. A list of persons capable of occupying stations in the London Chamber of Commerce is given in the report. We ask, if those gentlemen will become one whit the -wiser- will their knowledge be extended or their sagacity sharpen- edl, by quitting their counting-houses and entering a com- mon chamber? IMight they not be consultedwith more ease and less confusion each in his own bureaua ? A hint is also given, that the LondonChamber of Commerce might be called upon to decide mercantile causes. This has a fearfill sound indeed. Our commercial law rests at present. like all our other rights, upon the firm basis of a jury, from which each litigant is at li- berty to erase the names of those whom he may believe liable to an unfair hias, either personal, political, or commner- cial ; but " the Chamber of Commerce" would present him with a jury rcadiy struck, and above all human pas- sions, of course. Wlhat ground for challenge could there be against such men as the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England; the Chairman and Deputy-Chair- man of the East India Company? But if these should have a trial with each other, then MEBcuaY, the god who ulles over the commercial woj!d, must be summoned to preside in person. In serious gravity, however, we do' hpe that this matter will not be persevered in. Each of the per,Aons mentioneA in the Report will best serve the interests ot commerce, and most effectually benefit his country, by atte'dinig to his own business, and the duties of the distinguished Zitua- tion which he has been already called to filL There fre then, also, the offices of social and domesticlite to discharge: whatever is suiperadded to all these can only breed distrac- tioni, and impair the operation of the whole.