Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/17

CHAPTER IX.

The debate, March 1849—Speech of Mr. Herries—Mr. J. Wilson—Question
of reciprocity—Doubtful even in the case of shipping—Difficulty
of the "Favoured-nation" clause—Marquess of Granby—Mr.
Cardwell—Mr. Henley—Mr. Gladstone—Burdens to be removed
from Shipowners—Conditional legislation recommended—Views
on the subject of the coasting trade—Americans not Free-traders—Smuggling
in the coasting trade—Mr. Robinson—Mr. Clay—Mr.
T. A. Mitchell—Mr. Hildyard—Mr. Ricardo—Mr. H. Drummond—Mr.
Labouchere's reply—Majority of 56 for Bill—Committee
on the Bill—Coasting clauses withdrawn—Mr. Bouverie's amendment
opposed by Shipowners' Committee—Mr. Gladstone's scheme
also opposed by the Shipowners—Questions of reciprocity, conditional
legislation, and retaliation—Details of American Law—Mr.
Bouverie's plan rejected—Mr. Disraeli's speech—Third reading of
Bill—Mr. Herries' speech—Mr. Robinson—Mr. Walpole—Sir James
Graham—Mr. T. Baring—Lord J. Russell—Mr. Disraeli—Majority
for Bill, 61 230-263


CHAPTER X.

Debate in the Lords, May 7, 1849, on second reading—Speech of the
Marquess of Lansdowne—Lord Brougham—Condemnation of Mr.
Porter's statistics—Protected and unprotected Trade—Voyages to
the Continent—Napoleon's desire for ships, colonies, and commerce—Earl
Granville—Earl of Ellenborough—Increase of foreign peace
establishments—Earl of Harrowby—Earl Grey—Lord Stanley—Admits
need of modifications—Canada not our only colony—Majority
for the Bill, 10—Duke of Wellington votes for it—Proceedings and
debate in Committee—Lord Stanley's amendment—Rejected by 13—Earl
of Ellenborough's amendment—Claims of Shipowners, and
fear of competition—Amendment rejected by a majority of 12—Bill
read a third time—Timber duties, &c., admitted to be grievances—Lord
Stanley's protest—Royal assent given, June 26—Coasting trade
thrown open, 1854—Americans, October 1849, throw open all,
except their coasting trade 264-286


CHAPTER XI.

Despondency of many shipowners after the repeal of the Navigation
Laws—Advantage naturally taken by foreigners, and especially by
the Americans—Jardine and Co. build vessels to compete with the