Further returns of the Board of Trade, and address of the Shipowners’
Society to the electors, 13th April, 1859—Shipowners’ meeting in
London—Character of the speeches at it—Mr. Lindsay proposes an
amendment—Effect of the war between France and Austria—Mr. Lindsay
moves for an inquiry into the burdens on the Shipping Interest, 31st
January, 1860—Report of the Committee thereon—Views with regard
to foreign countries—The Netherlands—The United States—Generally
unsatisfactory state of the intercourse with foreign nations—The
present depression beyond the influence of Government—General results
of Steamers _versus_ Sailing Vessels—The Committee resists the plan
of re-imposing restrictions on the Colonial Trade—Difficulty of
_enforcing_ reciprocity—Want of energy on the part of the English
Foreign Office—Rights of belligerents—Privateering abolished in Europe;
America, however, declining to accept this proposal—Views of the
Committee thereon, and on the liability of Merchant Shipping—Burden of
light dues—Pilotage Charges made by local authorities now, generally,
abolished, as well as those of the Stade dues—The report of 1860,
generally, accepted by the Mercantile Marine—Magnificent English
Merchant Sailing vessels, 1859-1872—The _Thermopylæ_—_Sir Lancelot_ and
others—Americans completely outstripped—Equal increase in the number as
well as the excellence of English shipping—Results of the Free-trade
policy.