Mr. Ricardo's motion carried. with the trade of which the whole of the eastern parts of this island were directly connected? It was proved, he urged, before a Committee of the House, that the relative cost of a British and Russian ship, both as regards construction and current expenses, was much in favour of the latter, and he called, therefore, on the House not to fritter away the great interests committed to its charge. He, in a long and closely-reasoned speech, strenuously opposed the appointment of the Committee. The motion was supported by Mr. Hume, Mr. Bright, Mr. Labouchere, Lord Sandon, and Mr. Mitchell, and opposed by Lord G. Bentinck, Alderman Thompson, Captain Harris, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. Disraeli; but, Sir Robert Peel having given a very decided opinion in favour of inquiry, and Lord John Russell having supported the proposal on the part of the Government, Mr. Ricardo's motion was carried by 155 to 61.
Committee appointed, February 1847.
Meeting of Ship-*owners' Society, August 12, 1847.
This was the first blow aimed with serious effect
against the existence of the Navigation Laws; and,
though the Free-trade party affected slightly to disguise
their intentions by only asking for inquiry,
their zealous partisans out of doors made no scruple
in avowing that the total abolition of the Navigation
Laws was the real object of their agitation. Circumstances
connected with this inquiry led the
General Body of Shipowners to hold a special meeting
on the 12th August, 1847, but, curiously enough,
they did not advance a single remark on the increasing
activity of their own business, brought about as this
had been in a great measure by the legislation to
which I have referred. It cannot be questioned that,
if British shipowners had suffered severely in previous
