Lord George Bentinck.
Lord George Bentinck resumed the debate on the
9th of June, and defended the shipmasters against the
aspersions cast upon them by Mr. James Wilson, who
had described them as unable to obtain freights from
Rio Janeiro, on account of the bad character they
bore for carelessness in the carriage or delivery of
goods entrusted to their charge, and concluded one
of the best speeches he ever delivered by pointing
out the danger of repeal, as the seamen could not in
future be pressed into our service when the day of
difficulty and danger might arise. "Let us cherish
our brave seamen," exclaimed the noble Lord; "show
them that, alike in peace and in war, we will provide
for them; that we scorn to weigh in the balance
with the comforts, the prosperity, and happiness of
our gallant defenders, the miserable saving of 2s. 6d.
per ton upon the freight of our shipping, and the
eighteenth part of a farthing per pound on our sugar
and coffee, and then we may again, as heretofore,
boldly challenge and safely defy all the nations of
the earth."
Mr. Hume.
Mr. Cobden.
Mr. Hume supported the Ministerial measure,
and pressed upon the Government the necessity
of removing every burden on British ships to which
foreigners were not liable. Admiral Bowles spoke
on the opposite side; and Mr. Cobden, following,
asked, why should not the sailor in his ship, as
well as the workman in his factory, or the labourer
on his farm, be able to compete with foreigners?
He then appealed to the evidence, showing, as this
did, that we could build better ships than foreign
nations, and at as cheap a rate, quality considered;
sail them as well; take greater care of their cargoes;
