Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/13

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Progress of the United States of America—Their resources—Discriminating
duties levied by France, 1820, against American ships—Rapid
rise of New Orleans, and of New York—Boston ships extend
their trade to India and China—Stephen Girard, the rich and eccentric
American shipowner, note—Mercantile marine laws of the
United States—Duties of master and mate—Provision for Seamen—Special
Acts relating to them—Power given to American consuls
to deal with seamen on their ships—Superiority of native American
seamen, owing to their education—Excellent schools and early
training for them—Spirit and character of the "Shipping Articles"
as affecting the seamen—the owners—and the master or consignee—Conditions
of wages, and remedies for their non-payment; and
other securities for seamen—Power of Appeal by them to the
Admiralty Courts—Laws with reference to pilots—Character of
American seamen, and especially of the New Englanders. Pages 1-26


CHAPTER II.

Necessity of proper education for merchant seamen—Practice in Denmark—In
Norway and Sweden—Russia and Prussia—France—Remarkable
care of seamen in Venice, Scuola di San Nicolo—Character
of this institution, and general working—Variously
modified since first creation—State since 1814—Qualifications of
Venetian shipmasters—Present regulations of Austria—Great
Britain—Need of a public institution for merchant seamen—The
"Belvidere" or Royal Alfred Aged Seaman's Institution, note—Mr.
Williams, observations by, on the advantage of a general Seaman's
Fund, note—Institution in Norway—Foreign Office circular of July 1,
1843—Its value, though unfair and one-sided—Replies to circular—Mr.
Consul Booker—Mr. Consul Baker—Mr. Consul Yeames—The