Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/16

CHAPTER VII.

New Parliament, November 18, 1847—Speech from Throne—Mr.
Robinson and Shipowners deceived—Conversation between Mr.
Bancroft and Lord Palmerston—Mr. Bancroft's declaration—Official
letter from Mr. Bancroft to Lord Palmerston, November 3, 1847—Lord
Palmerston's reply, November 17, practically giving prior
information to the Americans—Lord Clarendon tells the Shipowners'
Society that the laws will not be altered, December 26, 1846; and
repeats this assurance, March 15, 1847—Interview between Lord
Palmerston and Mr. Bancroft, published in 'Washington Union'—Excites
great indignation when known in England, January 1848—Parliament
re-assembles, February 3, 1848—Lord Palmerston admits
the correspondence with America—The Earl of Hardwicke's proposal,
February 25, 1848—Earl Grey grants a Committee—Evidence
of the Shipowners before the Lords' Committee—Mr. Young proposes
some modifications, the first concessions of the Anti-Repeal Party—Claim
in favour of direct voyages—Government insists on Total
Repeal—Detailed views of Admiral Sir George Byam Martin—Importance
of keeping up the merchant navy—Arguments from his
personal experience as to its value as a nursery for seamen—Working
of the system of apprenticeship, and of impressment—Evidence
of Admiral Berkeley, and of Mr. R. B. Minturn—Details
about American ships—Reciprocity treaties so far as they affect
Americans—Their whale fishery 161-190


CHAPTER VIII.

Motion of Mr. Herries, 1848—Protectionist principles stated—Extent
of shipping trade—National defences endangered—Mr. Labouchere's
reply—Alderman Thompson—Mr. Gladstone's views—Mr. Hudson—Lord
George Bentinck—Mr. Hume—Mr. Cobden—Mr. Disraeli—Sir
Robert Peel—The resolution carried by 117, but abandoned for
a time—Temper of the Shipowners—Efforts of Ministers to obtain
reciprocity by a circular from the Foreign Office—Reply thereto of
America—Mr. Buchanan's letter—Reply of other Powers—Progress
of Free-trade views—Parliament of 1849—Death of Lord George
Bentinck, September 21, 1848—Mr. Labouchere's new resolution,
February 14, 1849—Proposed change in coasting trade—Mr. Bancroft
recalcitrates—Hence, withdrawal of the coasting clauses—The debate—Alderman
Thompson, &c.—Mr. Ricardo—Meeting of Shipowners'
Society—Their report—The manning-clause grievance—Policy proposed—Agitation
in the country 191-229