THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE.
the shipping interest, so lang depressed, is again in
the Dutch, and by Great Britzio, in commercia wealth, that the Navigation Act came to be looked on as a means of enriching the nation; and the 12th Charles I. cap. 19 comprising and extending the Act of the Rump Parliament, was passed to pro mote the "wealth," as well as secure "the safety and strength of this Kingdom. Since then, the
a very prosperous state from increased employ.
"Referring to our political position, present ap pearances are in favour of continual peace near homa, and in the East it is to be hoped that no re. yival of war will occur, but that peace and civiliza: tion will continue to spread there, and to this end establishment of railways.may greatly contribute. increase of wealth, in consequence of the manner "At home the high price of provisions alone seems in which it flowed into all Europe, from the exten- to occasion uneasiness, though hitherto, in England,sion of commerce in the 16th and 7th centuries, in consequence of the good employ from the con. has been, and is at present, the principal idea to struction of railways, there has been less distress maintaining our Navigation Laws. Those who than elsewhere
The present severe winter causes object more stoutly to the increase of Danish, great claims on charity; this will probably be re- Swedish and Prussian ships, which, they allege, moved in a few months, except with Ireland; at the
has heen, and will be caused by alterations in the
same time let us hope that their recent offlictions may result in changes calculated to promote indus- try and peace hereafter.
sereial important fiscal changes on which, many placet implicit reliance as a remedy for all existing impediments to extended and prosperous coinmerce. It is perhaps ton early to judge correctly, as to what ta be the ultimate consequences, from the re modeling of our Tariff and the recinding of the old protective Corn Laws. The past year was not cal. culated to give them a fair trial, inasmuch as it com menced with a stringent money market, rising from the great investments of capital in railways, and a previous indifferent harvest--and though, in the se of the past year, the money market gradually clief, the want of brend staffs was aggravated and increased by a second and still greater falling of domestic productions and more particularly of po Later, every where, and this to an extent, at once to me serious alarm, which still continues, and may unlikely increase before another harvest can be scared; indeed want has become painfully alarm-
Our monetary affairs at present give no cause ing so much so, as to influence prejudicially almost for uneasiness, except the fear that too much gold every branch of business—it would therefore be un will be required to leave this country in exchange fr to draw any positive inferences, as to the real for food. Titherto, however, no serious drain of herent or otherwise of our altered commercial laws, this kind has occurred, and if postponed a few ail they have had the trial of ordinary seasons of
months longer, would perhaps be looked to with less We may, however, remark, that alarm, as the nearer approach of another harvest productiveness.
class who were most urgent to effect these might diminish the necessity, and except in idea, hares, do not appear as yet to have derived much the abstraction of a few millions of specie could, benefit therefrom. We now refer to the manufaa.perhaps, be spared, if to be accomplished without tating interests, for they seem of late to have been giving alarin to the Bank directors, and so induce regrading, perhaps from the effect of a falling off them to put on the screw, At present no want of in the home demand (and which we have always money exists for all useful purposes; and though the sesamed as the safest custom) without a correspond. capitalists may obtain a better remuneration, this ng increase of that of export, now that our markets does not appear to prejudise the general business of
the country. are opened on such favourable terms to the produc
It would appear thus tions of all foreign nations. fat, that no practical improvement has occurred. It is true a great change has been made in the tariff of the United States-first, however, proposed with aut reference to our changes, and if both tariffs re- in as they are no doubt great benefits are likely mutually to follow, and such seems likely to bo the case from the tenor of the President's message just received.
Referring, however, to our continental neigh hours, they appear, as heretofore, to take all they Indeed an can get, and give nothing in return. istance occurs of a very bad feeling, in raising the defy on
the
Looking forward after these remarks to the business prospects of the year just commenced; for our manufactures belter and more extended markets may be found in the United States, (where our li beral measures are likely to be reciprocated), also to India and China, where the glut of goods seems to be working off, and with a good harvest at home, doubtless to great consumption and a very prosper ons trade. Though the manufacturer's business may become very prosperous from these causes, its influences are sure to extend to the agricultural and mercantile interests, these cannot but benefit also by such favourable changes. Let us therefore look for to abundance at home, at al times the safest founda. tion for us to rest upon.".
Navigation Laws, never dream of the increase it those vessels endangering the national safety. It is only supposed to be hostile to the wealth of the shipowners.
As long as the United States of America remained
Germany Portation of British cotton yarn into ward with hope to a favourable state of trade, and engaged in an unequal struggle. Inconsequmice,
equivalent to the reduction of the duty on the raw material formerly payable on importation into Great Britain, but now given up. So long as this spirit exists in Europe, we do not contemplate the extension of our continental intercourse, nor do their governments merit benefit from the relaxation in our commercial code hence, we formerly ad
rated the making such measures reciprocal, and ligatory by treaty, and not to trust the liberality of her governments.
We have before remarked, that these new mon sures could not have a fair trial, at a period of scarcity and dearthan that such is the case, to the pre- alice of our social system, may be inferred from tay single fact that the consumption of sugar, always 72 sach general use, has fallen off as appears by the livares for that purpose in 1848-being rather less than in 1345, notwithstanding the great reduc tion in the duty, and the increased encouragement and facilities for supplies,
"We have before referred to a lessened activity inseveral manufacturing branches of business, in the past, as compared with preceding years, when there wes great prosperity, and large profits accumulated, His however, satisfactory to observe, that, whilst sch the case, the mercantile interests have of late hd good or much better times since capital has be more directed to commerce, and less to railway operations this latter business will, however, pro. bably extend but carried on, more with reference to actual and practical wants, and not unlikely, a large field may be opened in India for investments, tending greatly to improve the condition of nativas of all classes, more than any circumstances before existing in ladia and here the investment of capital woold probably prove much more advantageous to the British Empire, than any benefit derived from opening our markets for foreign produce, where our manufactures are not, as in India, taken in re-
turn.
ca tea.
"This brings us to an important movement now in progress, in order to effect a reduction in the duty The Chinese trade is decidedly entitled to every encouragement from this government. Into no country do British manufactures go so lightly taxel, nor are so generally consumed, or perhaps better paid for. Therefore this movement is based on solid and just grounds, and cannot, wo should suppose, be well rejected by the government, unless as a matter of actual necessity, on account of the
revenue. It is to be regretted, before the late changes
in duties were carried into effect, that a committee. had not been appointed to inquire into the whole system of import duties, when, in all probability, it would have been found that by continuing to derive
onlonies of England, the Navigation Act of Charles II, strengthened and confimed by the 7th and 8th Will. III., the 5th of Anne, and the 6th of Gea, II. cap. 31, and relaxed and modified by various other acts, could be and was enforced. But when they become independent, one of its main provisions was of necessity given up. The whole trade with these. which was confined by the set of navigation to British-built ships, or ships built in our colonies, was opened of course to American ships. By the commercial treaty, sanctioned by Parliament in 1797, "all goode, whereof the importation is not prohibited, were allowed to be imported from the Gaited States, either in British vessels or in vos: "sels of the United States." The liberty, too, of trading with the British possessions in India was confirmed, notwithstanding the prohibition of the Navigation Act." At the same time, American shins, in common with all other foreign ships, were subjected to heary duties in our ports. Retaliatory measures were had recourse to by the United States after their independence. They passed a Naviga tion Act. "Farious devices,” save Mr McCulloch, "were fallen on to counteract the navigation systeta of America, without in any degree relaxing our own; but they all filled in their object:"and, at length it became obvious to every one that we had
the convinction of the necessity of making conces. sions gained ground progressively, and it was ulti- mately fixed by the commeetrial tresty agreed on A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NAVIGATION LAW, between Britain and the United States in 1813, din, (From the Economist, February 6.) in future, equal charges should be imposed on the The earliest Navigation Act, according to Mac-ships of either country, in the parts of the other, pherson's Annals of Commerce, was an Act of 5 and that equal duties should be laid upon all articles Rich. II., c. 3 to prohibit" any subject of the King the produce of the one country, imported into the other, whether such importation were effected in the "from shipping any merchandise outward of "homeward, except in ships of the King's alle-ships of one or the other. From that time to the
giance, on penalty of forfeiture of vessel and "cargo This Act was passed with no view to increase commerce, but to augment the navy of England, then greatly diminished, and the leading idea was to provide for the defence, not for the en richment, of the state. Almost contemporaneously with the passing of this statute, there was another statute passed, 2 of Rich. II., cap. 4, which recog nises the practice, says Blackstone," of mariners being arrested and detained for the King's service," and provides a remedy against their running away. In that early period our soldier kings and baronial legislators, having no correct information either of the origin of cominerce, or the source of navigation and maritime enterprise, and living themselves in the tented field, or in the midst of baronial feasts and tournaments, felt apprehensive for the want of a navy. The means they took to have one at their command, was to prohibit trade, except in vessels which acknowledged their dominion, and to seize all the able-bodied seaman who were able to serve them. Thus the Navigation Laws had the same origin as impressment, and, like that unhallowed practice, was intended to provida a navy for the King,
In the same spirit, that of augmenting the navy, the original Navigation Act was extended and strengthened by the 14th Rich. I., cap. 6, the Is Henry VII, cap. 8, the 4th Henry VII, cap, 10, which expressly sets forth that the navy was dimi. nishing, and that" without reformation by had therein, noble reatme shall not be of ablytye ne of strengthe and power to defende itselfe," and sundry other acts, till the Rump Parliament passed the celebrated acts of 1650 and 1651, both of which were more dictated by a desire for naval superiority "In fact," as than for commercial greatness.
D. Hume observes in his essay on Civil Liberty writing in the eighteenth century, "trade was never * esteemed an affair of State till the last century, and there is scarcely any ancient writer on poli Even the Its #tics who has made meation of it.
lians have kept a profand silence with regard to it, though it has now engaged the chief attention as well of
of State as of speculative
a permanent and large revenue from curo as well as rea has does he trace the attention
which
been paid to it by statesmen all over Europe, to "the great opulence, grandeur, and military achievements of the two maritime pow. ers, which seem first to have instructed mankind in the importance of an extensive commerce So completely have the ideas of statesmen chan
suspension of the Act and 9 Vict, cap. 88, the Jelaxation of the Navigation Laws has been inces. sant, and always forced, like the first great relax. tion in fivour of the United States, by circumstan-
at one time for Holland, and at another fo United States; and now help to depriTE Southern Whsle Fishers as the bes in the men of war of the Up from her brow the laurels of her manx
MARRIAGES,
Ashe Colonial Chapel, Hongkong, by the Rev. V slap- ton, on 156 ukzsing of Wednesday the 6a 19man! Andiew Balfer, Surgeon, to Miss Aus: L. Hoz., Daughter of Mr Andrew Hunter, of Ecobergan.
At the Roman Catholic Cleoper, Victoren, on the 4th in- atau, ir Jane Adres Brons, to Me Mary Leader
DIED.
At Mocan, ca the dib sattest, after a Short minnie, Mr R> bert Edsverde, in bus tits-E TOET
SUBSCRIPTIONS
POR RELIEF OF THE DESTITUTE IN
- THELAND AND SCOTLAND. FL. D. Str Joba Fracza Davis, Bart, . The Bon A. R. Jabrista
Major W. Came, WT. Marcee, Es. C. St. G. Cleverly, Eng.. J. Hyndman, Esq. 1. Gutierres, Eag
Major H. J. Bar The Rev. V. Stenton, P. Dudgeon, Esq. T. Michean, Em, T. S. Smith, Esq. H. F Hance, Esq., W. Connor, Eeg Alex Bird. E W. H. Miles, Esq. W. Dent. Esq.
A. Campbell, Esq. E. Pereira, Esq C, E Braine. Esq,
Dicklasca, Exq, G-445umacher, Esq., F. Chomley, Esq. W. H. Michell Ex... Gro. Strachan, Esq., T. T. Bash, Esq., J. F. Edger, Bay. son Caires, Esq., Walter Davidson. Eig.. W. A. Bowra, Esq., Messrs. Bowrs, Hempreys & Co, F Thompson, Esq. Cape Pruen.
Macariene, į
per W. A. Bowra, Esq.,
A. Hudson, Esq. L. Josephs. Es.. Messrs. Franklyn & Milne, R. Rutherford, Esq.. E Farncomb, Beg... R. Jackson, Esq.,
Buckton, Est
A sherreds. B, (for Scotland only). Messes. W. Pasta & Co.,
Rawle, Duus & Co. John Car, Esq.,
75
J Phillips, Esq.. Messrs. Drinker & Heyh
Jardine, Matheson & Co... Pape, Esq.
Wm. F. Betan, Esq., D. Flacher, Beq., G Findlay, Esq.
ces which the Government could not control Now it was the independence of the New South Ameri. can Sintea opening a profitable employment for our shipping, while those states threatened to ex- clude thera by Navigation Laws, which compelled. us to relax our Navigation Laws in our own sod their favour. Next it was the demands and the threats of Prussia and the other states of Europe, and lastly, the wishes of our own colonies, whose welfare was compromised by restriction on their traffic, which induced the Legislature, in spite of remonstrances from the ignorant and selfish ship, owners, who wished to make their ill-understood interest the law of the lend, to sher the law so as to leave it only a poor remanant of what it once was. The spirit is, in truth, now whely craporsted. and little more remains of it then a very usokes | prohibition against foreigners carrying on our coasting trade. The 8th and 9th Vic, cap 88. allows every other trade, originally prohibited by the Navigation laws, provided only that the goods imported be not consumed by our own people, to be carried on by foreign ships of every nation.
The commercial effects of these laws were so fully and lately discussed by us (see the Experi July 13, July 27, and August 10th, 1944), and we then showed, so conclusively we think, that they had always been injurious to our national wealth.
and that what remains of them still bears the same
Notwith-
character, that we shall now confine our further observation to its effect on our seamen. standing our great paral success, we think it will be admitted by those who are acquainted with the seamen of Holland, Denmark, Norway, and Swe den, that they are a superior class of men to ear seamen. They are much more domestic, not sa reckless, and altogether mora prudent, frugal, and steadily industrious. In a pamphlet lying before us, by Charles Enderby, Esq, he enters into a some what painful inquiry concerning the causes of the decay of our Southern Weale Fishery, and the success of the Americans, in which he
of an improred system — jog
says,
speak-
A man my vastades of superior energy an
Vin beo
of baring to wait four years, is now, in so
who:es
cially
eps from cotton, that relief might have been afford ed to the agricultural and other interests, by a re- duction in the duty on malt, and on tea, and thus British interesta be actually and permanently bene fed, instead of changes made in the hope of benefits at all times uncertain, when the interests of foreigo fiations, either real or apparent, are in opposition.ged since the Navigation Acts were passed, that disgusted At the moment it would appear difficult to effect an
na onal defence and naval supremacy (with any portant reduction in the duty on toa, without ramadan on every sen) are no longer thoug Palting the revenue at hazard, so few means exist of the Navigation Acts are whole regarded to make up a deficiency; for we must keep in mind as a means of increasing our mercantile shipping that no large amount of revenue can ever be raised and the wealth of the ship-owners. Our istest N. except by faxing articles of necessity, which go into vigation Acts 6th of Geo. LV.cap. 109 and Bra and general consumption with
ith all classes, such as beer, 9th Viet cap 82 far from throwin any onsole s, tea, sugar, Ace. To raise a large revenue by in the way of foreign ships bringing s high duties ou luxuries can never be accomplished. I laul to be warehoused, expressly santa co
that the toa duty puts the Chancellor of the Ex to such as shall be used therein
into a fix, out of which it may be difficult ebrated as to secure u A BET
chequer
to escape, for it would, perhaps be found impos. tible to re onset the postage and some other duties given up from time to tim such as salt, soap, beer, limber, &
windle ing the Thuy a
into so mid to
Noat is at once a pro freatmen received by the seame consegnent degradation Bat the a
ert werd coeval wit Los practice
$100.
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109
10
3
100
60
50
20
20 26
18
10
19
5
30
10
19
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500
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50
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It is proposed to place the sums collected at the disposal of the British Association for the Relief of Extreme Distress in the Remote Parishes of Ireland and Scotland" in the hope that this arrangement will giza general infection to insure which res ference is repectfulip requested to the published state- ments of the Association.
The Macager of the Oriental Bank has kindly consented to fecere and transmå the money.
VINCENT STANTON, Hongkong, 7th May, 1847.
patch.
FOR LONDON. THE fee Brst class Ship QUBEN
Commander, will have immediate dos- For Freight or Passage apply to
MACLEAN, DEARIE & CO.
Ceston, 5th May, 1845.
TO LET.
THE HOUSE presently occupied by De PETES TOTNE Y Le Haare inde mediately sujuining it. Apply to
LINDSAY Ca
Victoris, 7th May, 1847.
NOTICE.
LT. Persoas indebted to.or haring clakus against A the Estate of the late Mr NATHANIEL KINS requested to forward their secounts in us. XAS, aro
WETMORE & C
Capton, 3rd May, 1847.
FOR SALE.
HEATHING COPPER Apply to,
SHEAT
GIBB, LIVINGTON & Co.
Donghong, th Mar, 1847-
FOR SALE
TRESH SYDNEY PLOUR $8 per Bag of
PRINKLYN & HIEND
FOR SALE.
SMITH & BRIIFLOW
11:00 10.00
“We have alluded to the late altered position
*me of the manufacturing
is this more experienc
this, from its progioca
well be borne
or pent
es the price of manufact jasted to this araños in maning sol metal trainer Perus, and sono ficely,
continuo so throughout the
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