HISTORY
OF
MERCHANT SHIPPING
AND
ANCIENT COMMERCE.
BY
W. S. LINDSAY.
_IN FOUR VOLUMES._
VOL. III.
With numerous Illustrations.
LONDON:
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, LOW, AND SEARLE.
CROWN BUILDINGS, 188 FLEET STREET.
1876.
[_All Rights reserved._]
LONDON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS,
STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.
PREFACE.
On publishing the first two volumes of this work, it was not my
intention that the following volumes should be preceded by any preface.
I have, however, been induced to reconsider this resolution, in order
to acknowledge the ready assistance I have received from men of great
experience, not only of this but of foreign countries. My first volume
treats more especially of the antiquities of the mercantile marine,
and closes with the sixteenth century. In the second, I trace the
progress of maritime commerce down to about the close of the great
French War (1815), when a new era dawned and a new state of things
was inaugurated. Details, relating in an especial manner to this
period, form the subject of my last two volumes—in one I treat of
the Navigation Laws of Cromwell and of the causes which led to their
abolition, together with the effects of their abolition; while the
other is devoted, entirely, to the rise and progress of steam-ships and
to the different branches of commerce in which they are engaged.
In order to render this portion of my labours valuable for the purpose
of reference, I have sought the aid of those best able to afford me
trustworthy information, and to supply me with documents and tables of
unquestionable authenticity.
To none am I more deeply indebted in this respect than to Mr. Farrer
and others, of the Board of Trade, whose kindly promptitude I again
acknowledge. For that part relating to France I have profited by the
valuable aid of Mr. Michael Chevalier, who has not grudged the pains
of carefully and critically revising the proofs of that portion of the
work, and making many interesting additions to it.
Nor must I omit to record the readiness exhibited by Mr. R. B. Forbes,
of Boston, United States, by Commodore Prebble, Commandant of the
Philadelphia Dockyard, and by the Presidents of the New York and other
American Chambers of Commerce, and to the United States authorities
generally, in supplying me with official data with reference to the
development of the maritime commerce of the United States.
To my own countrymen, whether Shipowners, Merchants, Shipbuilders, or
Underwriters, my thanks are heartily due, and to the Directors and
Managers of those large Shipping Companies which arose in the middle
of the present century, both at home and abroad. And, in an especial
manner I have to thank Mr. John Burns, of Glasgow (Cunard Company),
Mr. Alfred Holt, of Liverpool, and Mr. B. Waymouth, the Secretary to
‘Lloyd’s Register.’
To enumerate all those who have so courteously and generously striven
to forward the views of an historian whose only object has been to
chronicle facts and events, would be to give an undue extension to
these prefatory remarks. I have, therefore, contented myself with
acknowledging the sources of my information in foot-notes throughout my
work; and I trust they will accept my thanks in the sense in which they
are tendered.
In conclusion, I must refer to the kind attention paid to my request by
Earl Russell, in revising that portion of my work which refers to the
repeal of the Navigation Laws when he was First Minister of the Crown;
and to other eminent Statesmen (two of whom have gone through the whole
of the sheets of both volumes, making many valuable suggestions) for
the approval expressed by them of the manner in which I have compressed
the debates on these Laws which have now passed into the domain of
history.
W. S. LINDSAY.
SHEPPERTON MANOR,
_18th January, 1876_.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. Pages 1-26
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.