Chamber Of Commerce.
The Times, 1824-03-19T00:00:00

Ye~r~a a i~a~erls~ant hihlyresectblemeeting of' MOr chansi.anke~shp.owu~r,&~,too plae a th-City of Londont tavrn,fo:ihfupos o'reeivngtheReortofthe Committee appintdtoconideof he ropiet ofthe fo-mation of a Chiamber of Cmmece i th ciy ofLonon;John Smith, Esq., Al. P., in TheCEIAinu,AN stated, thatstometimeback ithftdbheendetermined at a large.meeting of merchants,hrisd othqers interested in trade, that favourable consequences *ould arise from the establishmcnt of a Chamber of Comnmerce in London, similar to those hi otlher parts of Englihnd. At that meeting a Committee had been appoinird. to takce the subject into,consideration, and report thereoni. The Report, which hael been,: after a great deal of labour, particularly on the part of Mr. Hail, who was prevented, hie feared, lay indisposition from attending, pmoduc5ed would be laid before them, and a future day appointed for itil corisideration, in order that gentlemien miighit take time for its consideration, At the putblic meeting, which wouldt be app itacfor-a discussion of itsi merits, it miight be confirined or re- .~ce.So far thepmeentimeetiiug woulld go butitfurther it wouldI be improper to ventuire, until the R~port lhould be well considered, as in the present condition of the question any debate would be super.. fiusosis. The Report, of whiich the following is a copy, was then enitered as read:.- That from certain doeumenits to which your Committee have hiad acecei4s, the advantage., to be derived from the establishmtert of a Chamber of Comiierce In5 the city of London appear to have en- gaged the atttention of several of its. leadting miercantile chiaracters for sCline time pas,t. w,1,to he v6eaer 181 7 priv-ate meetings were held, at which the stibject wa osdrd and discussed, thib expediency of forniing such an in- sititutIon was unanimously admitted, anid thepropriety of convening a1 general Meeting of nmerchants, bankers. ship-owners, and others, at sonie convenient period for the puirpose Of carrying the objecL, bito. effect, waks determitnedpon. Fromi a variety of circuimstances, none of which, howrever, have beeni Influenced by an- change of Opinion as4 to the expediency of the measutre, the convenlingof a general nieeting hats been hitherto suis- penided. the delay hae nevertheless operated to give additional force to the sentiments, whilch now so generally prevail In favour of the form- Ing ofant Association of Mierchants and others interested in the trade, manufaictuires, navigation,and conimerce of the nietropolis,the objects of whicih shall1 be topromote the interests of thoste classes of the com- munity In general, and of thle comimerce or the port of London in partioular. In the e\pectation that mucb useful Iinformation milght be cc- quhded from the severail Chambers of Commerve, and other mer- cantile ass,ocIations alfeady estatblished in the.principalI ports and nmanufactturlugg distrletsofthe united emnpire,your comirittee applied frsr,an*1 obtained, the rules anid regulations by whichnmost of'them are governed, acecomnpriled by detailed reports of' their respective pro- ceedings: fromn thiese mnuch highly Important and valuable inior. Mation has been collected; and youir Comimittee take the earliest op- portuni ty of expressing their sense of ishligation towards those gentle- men wvho have beeni instruntental in procuring it for them, anid also to the respective officers of the several estatblIshnients-In the follow- log places, for the resdiness ji'ith which they have furnlished the de- 'ired Infocnmatirn, viz. -_Dnislin, Glasgomv, Greenockr. Edinburghi LeithINPesveastle, Liverpool, Brlstol, Mlanichester, Birmlngisasn, 21nd Plssmouth. In the consideration of the subject, youir Committee havle derived mluch assistance from the proceedlogA detailed In those documents; they, fuirnish concelusive evi~denice of mos.t important advantages hav- litg been derived by the commercial lilterests through the mediu m of those Institutioins, and estahllsb proofs beyonid contradiction in) sup- port of anz extension of tbe sygtemi ~o otker parts of the united Your Committee, In the course of their Investigation, found reason to regret that themtrerchanis and orherscisnnected wvith the coiimerce of the metropiolis, impressed as they appear to have been writh the imiportaince of the benefit3 to be dlerived from suchl ani association. shiould not more zealously and effectively have exerted themselves to secure those advantages to the city of London. An institution cOm- prising fin itzeirfan unlon of every descripltion of inercantlifl Interest, Possesssiog a prtctical aequlaintance with the trade and navigationt of the empire, and an Intimate kmnowliedge of all thtat locally concerns the port of Lo)ndon, caninot fail to be attended with great anld peculiar advantages Placed near the seat of flovernmnrritI wrouild be ready to furnish to his Mjtys)nirracuteand psrac tical Information onall points connlected with the comnmerce of the empire, anld to submit, as oct's. a1lone arise, suich suggestionsw asnay conitribute to imnrove the regula- tions, anid the municipal anid sisaml laws afflicting tib traLde. manufac- tot,es, aind navigationl of the uinited kinigdom:; it may also p,Itlut out s ch restraints and burdens apipearing to) operate Iinjuriously upon suv braneh of our commierce. In looking for a period favourablle to the estahliqlhment of suceh an instituition,. it would be difficuxlt to find one in which It promised to eonitribute miore to the public advantage tha-n rise present. Thle atteni- tion of the Legielature,and of his Majesty's Government.has lately been particularly drawn to the subjects of conimerce, trade,,and=nvga- tios,. The defects uinder which tha systern arising out of our cd of conmmiertial lawr has long laimoured hiave been clearly denionstrated: and the los'alitablelidioursof the Parliamentary Committees on foreign trade lhave led to) the enactmnent of lairs distinguished by a mnore en- larged and enilightenied policy, wrhich have thus given a niew character anid Improved priniciple to the commerce of the coisntrv, as ivelil as in its mercanitile relstiIons with foreign stares. liupor-tant advantages hav-e ales, res,ulted from the inqxir;esq of the cosuimissioners into thte branchies of thte revenue of the clustomts and ExcisRe, i,v u'iciih great relief and new facilitiese in the operations of trade liave been aifforded, anrd remedlial tneasuires are In rors i epect to the fiscal regu- lations by- Iv-hicb those trane ees of the revense ate governed. to the fsirther prosecutioni Of simlilar objects of great natiossal import- ance, such an inetiteition must be of v'alssc to the Government itself. Trhe Board of Trade and other of the public department., wouild Cond it advantiazeous tos possens the means, as, occurrences mighit resqifre, of resoirtisig to thosse who, from their habits anid experience. wosiid be quaIlified to alihrd the best information. asid wrhich, being furnished by in associated pubslic body, embracing, in itself so znanv interests, would not be exposed to the suispicioni ot interested or par- thil motives, huit entitle their opinionis to respect, and aid mnost post'- erfsslly In resisting imniortunitles which habve for thjeir object osidue Protection in favour of particular classes, or the establIshing of regu- lationis for pas tial purposes in matters of comnmeree, manufactures, or naVigation: a system which hkg been the esource of all those rastraishits falsely called protections, that, up to a recei,t period. had bs' degree so finterwoven itself with our commercial legislation as deeply tol atffect the best interests of the British empire. The asstociation would likesvise afford an easy mode of conveying to the councils of the nation the deliberate opissioni of the grest miercan- tile body upon any, public commercial qmuestion wrhich nsight eonue uinder it consideration, sad, if required, furnish immiediate evi- dence onm any par-ticular pints to either of the Hlouses of Parlia- nmeslt NMer'ciants and othelrs desirous of ma-lnygrepresentarions to hisi %lajes~tv-'sGoveriiment, orto thieBoards ofltevcnue, touchingecommer- cil matters of Iniportance, mighbt avail themselves of the practical knowviedge so respectaLble a:sd useful a body wvould hbe supposed to possess, anid resosrt to it, In the first instance, for informiation aRid advice, Tise chamnber might,i42 man cases, remnove misconceptions, satisfy, parties by explarnition. and A eTeby render siseh represeiSta- tions unnecessary; wvhereas, Irl eases in wisich it might be expedlieit to memorialize the Governmnent, the appliceitts mbight derive the ad- vantage of stuch suggestions as the chamber couild afford; and whbere liss o reucethoe petesios wthi int and proper limits. regulanted amd governed by legislative eatet;te r lois s'eat,'d wvith a powier of hearing and detriigmtesi ipt between paLrties relating to trade aind navgto,ado sdraig ussdet-certhlslsreguslations, referenceswhcarcofddtsona- hltrators. selected tiy the difectors, or bordsof managemient, of the respective chanmbers. To the advantages wbichl such a regulation presents in countries in wiiim'h the parties engaged in any stilt, whbatever may be Its leans, Are campesplled to pay their own costs, your Committee can in smany cases bear textimony' at the same tunYe, they are sensible that a systensa-hich usnavosidably exposvs parties to have their differenices adju,sted by ludges, somne of whom frequently ihave ani indirect interest Is: the question propousndedl, and others whbo from local cinsiexionss asud pre'isidiees must filnd it ne\t to Impossible to aidminitcrrjusstlce lmpartially or wvith satisfaction to the litigasits, Is ,ipen tO serious objection. It appears, indeed, to have been complained of, and the facilities of appeal which exast In those colintrles frcqtse,:tly, deprive the sulccesful Party of the lienefitof thejudgrrnent be miay hasvs sbtalised. An attemipt has been miade in sonice 01 the British commoercial associatiosns to esta- blish a regulatioin founded upwsi Rnslmilar principle. with a veiew to the mnore speedy and econornicallb'ettlemtent of dispuites arising ourt of eornmaercial transactions. Your Coinmitteecannot but approve of that principle, yet consider it in practice surrounded by great difficuslties; anld they are confirmed Iss th,at opinion by the fact., that the snea- sure doses nut appear to have been actusally brousght into practical opeatiss y ay o th intititins efre referred to. Somre Insur- anc copaslesinded atey etabised in the mnetropolis have adoped areglatin o thelik desripIonin the adjustmient ssf dis- pute ddiasds, he laiantsbeig etited to the option of baring Thesuijec, hwevr, s cne f cnsierable nImportancee and( your Commtteeentetaina ee~dmsopinon,that great gds'antage milgh t be eried romthenoinaionsifrefrres,undersuitable regulations, to urhom recoutrse ih be had, particularly in questions involving matters of accousit n the usagesof commoeree: tise subject nisy therefore usasfily cuy the coidratio of the proposel Chamber of Comnmerce: but It hnd rathier he enetainied as otie of the many mneasnres of Improvenient, srbich will be wvell deserving of its atten- tion, than as conistitutinig a fundamental rule In its formation. Tue importanlce antd utility of Chambers of Commerce have been aso far adImited by the highestt authorjty,. as to haveJed to the liieorpo- ratiosi osf somne of them by royal char-ter; anud as that mark of favour baa eengraiouly onfrre upn etabIshments In somne of our prinipa ouport. suss Com itee Ondently liope that the samne hig a;d dstiguihedpatonae wllnot lie withheld from the Yoss Comitce,thcefoe, fte diigest nqury,and sil attentive conideatin o al th cicmssuacesbefre eferedto, have no he- siration In recummenitin te fring: of -such an Institution, to be designaited "1The Lono Chamuber of Commnerce ;" and that,"a soon as he etals hal hae ben inaly rraged and determilsed upon, til neEssry pplcaton e mde hrogh he proper channel to His Majsty fus rpaihatet f iico'poatin.A drasight of rules and reglaion, ecomedcdfa th grersusi of the chamtber, have 'fou Comitee re ensbletha nomeasures of permanent or of ahapoialeffc:ey an sesucessulwithouit cordial union and cssoeraion tht t gie fll ffet t suh an association, it is indis- l'ensably nessar y th t It shouild receive tile support of the lesading mnercantile estabilbshments, and also Unite the talents and experience of the most eminent commercial character-s of this inetropolis, that It siosild be conduoted uipon 'generaLI and Ibheral principles, free from-evet iofuence of party preJudices or distinction, and that it)irio IM gtiketed -feoiril,those connected with the selveral trancties,of comsmerce, manur;iqtures, trade, and navigatiotn, as wveli ast a stiailited with tlhe local huisitiess of the port of London. And In order.eft-etually to secure the permanient coninexion Of the chamber withi the greatt com meralal in tcesats of the mnetropolis, it appears desir- able that the representatives isi Parliament for the city of London, adthie heads of leadingecorporAttiont and other lnstitutlorns connected writh Its trade, sbosald have seats at - the board of directors du ring their Contnuace n ofic. Your Committnee have partictularly in vfiew- the ovenor nd llisty Governor .f thieBankosf England; the Chair- man n~ eput Cilrfinan ot'tbe Hon. Fast Isidia Compassy; the Go- vernr, Sb, sisi ieptyr' 1vernors of the Royal Exchange Assurassee Cororaion tb Gvernor, Sub, and Deputy Governor of the onidon Assuasss Crpoatin; the Governor and Senior Consul of the RiAssia Compny:the oveosr and Deaputy Governor of the LeviintCompany; the Sub~ovrnoraDecputy Gov6rnor of the Sauth Sea Comipany: Cic Gocvern,sr and Dleputy Gs5s'ernor' of the Eastlahd Cormpan~' the: Mlaster' anti Deputy Msiastr of the Trinity Clorporation : te Governor, and Deputy Governor of the Iludason's Bay Comnpany. the Clsaircisans -anid Deputty dhalrhagn. of eacll of the followinig Cons a- nales WenstIndia flock C6mpanr, Lsindoh 'Dock ComPany, EaLst India Doris Company, Commercial Dod;t company, EasaCounery DockComn- ay.Surrey Canal Dock Company ; tlhe. Clisitman of the Easit India rId (tissmmlttee; the Chairula andrf.D -eputy Chairman qf the West ndila Merthants s, the Chairman and Depulty Chairman of the Soeiete' of Merchant, tratding to the Continent; the fhairman dif the Wisie and Spiklt Trnde~Cdmrnittee: the Chairman of the Committee of the Ship Owners' Soclesy; theChairmanlof the Society of British North Arrierica'.5lerthanLa; the Cha-frman of the Commaittee for Managing the Afralt-at Llo-Ah, Your Comumittee are esually impressed with a necessity of the immediate managEment being confided to han3ds every way qssalfied. for so Important a trust. Upon sitch a selectioni massy of the adv-an- tapes to be derived from the association minst depend; whether that ohject-may be best heconrriprshed by appointing i masLaging director, or a committee of management, whe shall undertake tie active siper- intendence, or whether the dtitles niay be assigned tothe secretary aibohe,with4~qnal advantage to the conmmercial ibs-erests, your Com- a'oittee wUvl not take upon-tbemselVes todetern he: the ofnce uo seere- tary,-however, ivlU be one of honurable distinction, from which no gentleman,.w,hatever be his tnercantile station, reed tosbrink, a;id whbou} accepting and fuiBfilling the duties of it, will render a most Valhiable service to hiscountry. irs conclusion, your (ommittee betg to disavow most distinctly, that, ia the recommesidationthey havefelt it thelr inty tC. make, any dsrespect baa been intended,. to the ruereantile associations which alrtady exist In the city of Loritdon* no desire Is felt to initerfere withi their funetions or pnrthlsiarsihatjects: nor is there,-in the opinion of your Committee, any rea^son vhlqh asnuild prevent the respectaRble in- divi4uatl sho comopose 3hose Xsscoclations rrom enrolling tleir names ardongst t e members of tX;e pwroposed Cbanuber of Conimerce; their cordial co-operation and support wrill on the contrary. he anxiously looked fur in favour of an institution irhich Is intended to be all en. coura*teneat and support to every deseription of merbanti3e interest. The,objects-of.the( Chamber will be general and stich as an institu- tmon ofi ,gbneral character althe ilrbe qualifled to effcet. -'It atm Mwill be the improfeniFeflt and extension of British commerce in-all irbranehes, knd.by those meanseto eontrlbute its aid In utrengtheniog and-extedingdthe keat.foundations of the permanent gfeatne55s,is9YC and- prpz erity of the iatted kingdom. A?esblsdtlen fQlloYrwed that a Gerxieal A1cetuig for, thl consi-. -dierationcf t6 report sbould'takc pja - - -. Dir. \g b .AgeTolr itida it fp necessary itention one trifling ad~iidt;tgb thle cablishtoneIt;0fa Ch xnber of ComMerce Wo6lsd pro- duice; and, in doig so, he iide a reference tcrubat-lbad been done in shmilik iDstitqt~oiop. Sqera'Were of opinion that a chlimber might become arbltarf ihaits proc~i.gs, and tead to place restrictions UPOn tmda lt wouI4 be impoceible that such shoulk be the case, if itwerepatronae4by individac1 of the gisttectabillty. 1o0di*;' nd'thc whole ceuntry, mut bebenefited by its etablishmentubder s-uch auspices; for thbeneral trade of the country Woufd, bitWi- rationshefurthered. Theinsitution atanebester proved this. At the time when the Dutch were so anxious to get possession of Synca- pare, vwhich was abourt to be disposed of, as Java had been,.tbe Chamber of Commnerce at that town, aided in its object by one or two establishments of the same kind, effectually prevented the transfer. I-e stated this one point, but without any ideaof prejudic- ing either sideofthequestion, as their present business was not to discuss the expediency of the measure, but to make preparation for discussion. He then moved, 'hat the report should be printed, and copies sent round to the merchants, bankers, &c., and that the gene. rai meeting should take place on Thursday fortnight. This resolution was carried ; but Alr. G. UiiaBETR said, he felt it necessary to make an observa- tion, in consequence of the opinion with which the bon. gentleman's remarks were prefaced. Nothing could be fairer than the circula- tion of the report. The preface, too, did not appear to be unfair; but as it would in all probability go before the public, he, as one, vould state, that he considered an establisliment of this kind not at all necessary, and that it would on the contrar prove inju- rious. (Hear, hear.) He had his reasons, and should state them at a proper time, for this opinion, in wirich he was supported bv many gentlemen, whose views unon the subject would, he knew', have a very powerful influence. ([ear, hear.) sMr. WOOL.ASTroN then moved for the appointment of a Com- mittee, to carry into effect the views of the ComUmittee appointed to repolt. It was generally urged, that the appointmentof such a Committee would be premature, and that no prejudice would arise from a delay until the next day of meeting. 11Lr. T. 11rIfWsoNMLr. P., observed, that the resolution was neces- sary, in order to show who were to be the patrons of the establish- ment. Upon former oc=sions, the attempt to form a Chamber had failed from this very fact. Mr. WooLLsToON said that the jealousies which might arise amongst some departments of trade would subside when the names of persons of the Iiighest respectability should be seen in the list of those who Patronized the measure. Air. (}. l.BERT said the naming of individuals might have a different effect. If men of the highest respectability were applied to so patronize the, institution, thev would naturaUy say, "F First let me see what sortofa thing it Ls." His (NIr. Hibbert's) opinion was at present against the measure. Tbe stiscussion, so necessary before any resolution of this kind were proposed, might make a convert of himi. Air. MVOOLASTONr said, the success of the Institution entirely depended upon the respectability of its patrons, and the reliance that it was intended for the general good of trade, and not to serve any particular interest. IIe,however, should withdraw the notion. The motion was accordingly withdrawn. It was then resolved, that IV. Ilanning, Esq. A. P., e invited to preside at the next meeting, the present chairman having de- clined the office, as it wvas, in his opinion, nesesary that a person of high commecrcial character and experience should. fill the chair, whichhIse (Mr. Smith) was not qualified to Eake, his situvtion as a banker merely being on such an occa~ion a dsqualif1catki. Air. 0. HTaaCRT.-I doubt whether his sentiments upon the subject will permit him to take the chair. Alr. NVOOLAsToN.-Frosu what I hear, he is not adverse to the proposed institution. T he resolution was then carried, and the meeting separated. i - - A, . p commnWon.