that existing for the seamen of the Royal Navy at Greenwich Hospital; also a measure for the registry of ships, the present system being altogether erroneous and deceptive.
Timber duties, &c., admitted to be grievances. Earl Granville agreed with Lord Ellenborough as to the reduction of the timber duty; and, as to the new registration, he was not prepared to say that he saw any great objection to it. With regard to the Merchant Seaman's Fund, the attempt to restore it made last year, he must remind their Lordships, was opposed and defeated by the Shipowners themselves; the subject was, nevertheless, deserving of the best consideration. It was intended, he added, to bring in a Bill to improve the discipline of the mercantile navy.
Lord Winchelsea, a staunch Conservative, complained that the measure had been carried by the votes of the bishops; and warned them of the danger of carrying secular matters injurious to the best interests of the country by their votes, as in that case England would wish to see Convocation restored, and the bishops represented by a few of their body. Lord Stanley and Lord Brougham satisfied themselves with saying, "Non-content," and inveighing against the Bill to the last. The Marquess of Lansdowne replied; and the opposition Peers now withdrew in a body, and the Bill was read a third time.
On the question "that the Bill do now pass," the Bishop of Oxford proposed to add a clause by way of rider declaring that "the said privileges" should not extend to the ships of Spain or Brazil, or to the ships of any foreign country, until the Queen should declare by Order in Council that such governments had given full satisfaction as to the fulfilment of
