General summary

of that province, while it equalised duties, enabled the consumer to purchase in the cheapest market, and, thus, vastly increased the evil to former importing cities; hence, a very large proportion of the export trade also of Canada had now taken the direction of New York. There was, therefore, naturally a serious apprehension, lest the great public works of the St. Lawrence would cease to be useful and profitable, and, that the commercial connection so many years existing between Western and Eastern Canada would thus be altogether cut off.

It has been unnecessary to refer to the export trade in timber from Canada, as this stood on exceptional grounds. Indeed, a general opinion prevailed that the export of timber from Quebec would probably be carried on, under any circumstances, in British ships specially employed in that branch of trade.

From these important considerations it was con

of results cluded :

as to Canada.

1st. That, as Canada then enjoyed but a remnant of Protection in England, she ought to be released from any restrictions for the benefit of the shipowner.

2nd. That, without the free navigation of the St. Lawrence and a repeal of the Navigation Laws so far as British North American Colonies were concerned, there was reason to apprehend that New York would become the emporium of the trade of Canada, and further, that, thus, a community of interests, commercial and political, would be created with the United States.

3rd. That, in such a case, the repeal of these laws would not materially injure the British shipowner, the question simply being whether competition for

trade should take place in the harbours of the United States or in the River St. Lawrence.

Lastly, That the repeal of these laws would have a tendency to perpetuate, and not to destroy, the relations existing between Canada and the mothercountry.

Indians

well as Ca

For these reasons, an organisation of merchants in Montreal, and in various towns in Canada, who had leagued themselves as Free-traders and had been very active in disseminating their views, as well as in enforcing them, with all the influence they could command, on the colonial Governor, and on the English Executive and both Houses of Parliament, now demanded the total repeal of the British Navigation Laws. They did not, however, stand alone in their desire for unrestricted navigation. The West West Indies, as soon as they found that the British for FreeParliament had taken away the protection afforded trade as to them by the differential duties, were as loud in nadians. their complaints as the Canadians, the more so, as having been deprived of all protection on their sugars by Lord John Russell's Equalization Act of 1847, it became indispensable to get their produce conveyed to market at the cheapest possible rate of freight, so as to compete, with any chance of success, with their foreign rivals. They therefore denounced the Navigation Laws in no measured terms; and when Montreal petitioned that its corn should be admitted into the ports of Great Britain in ships of any nation their merchants thought proper to charter, the West Indians preferred the same request, in order to secure the lowest cost of transport for their sugar. While, therefore, the colonists were urging the adoption of the

Divergent principle of an entire free trade with the colonies, capitalists many capitalists of England, and, especially, the ship

views of

at home

Man

owners, viewed with great alarm the total abandonment of what was known as our "colonial system,' and declared their apprehension that such a change would throw the carrying trade into the hands of the United States. Clinging to Protection, they said, in their memorials to Parliament, "that the only remaining thing connected with our whole important and most magnificent colonial system, which enabled us to baffle the efforts of the whole world united against us, was that part of the system under which the produce of the colonies was obliged to be brought to this country in British ships." These alarmists declared that such a relaxation as the colonists now demanded would ruin them inevitably. Regarding every concession which had been made to the Americans during the preceding half century, having as it had for its object increased intercourse with the West Indies, as a pernicious policy, tending to injure British colonies and to encourage American trade, they alleged that the protection of the colonies had not been carried far enough; that British shipowners could not exist without Protection; that the uncertainty prevailing with respect to the Navigation Laws was productive of injury to the country, as no persons would embark capital in shipping; and, further, that, as regarded the West Indies, it was not the general wish of the colonists that the Navigation Laws should be repealed.

Views of In this controversy, the important cities of Manchester and chester and Liverpool each took also a very different Liverpool. view. The great Free-traders of the former desired the

unconditional repeal of the Navigation Laws, feeling convinced that their cotton and corn would then be brought to them at cheaper rates, and that they would be able to deliver to much greater advantage in distant markets the products of their manufacturers; but the shipowners of Liverpool, almost as a body (though there were a few important exceptions), were exceedingly adverse to any material change in these laws, as they regarded with great and natural jealousy the then triumphant progress of American shipping.

examined

by Mr. Ricardo's

Committee.

CHAPTER VI.

Witnesses examined by Mr. Ricardo's Committee: Mr. J. S. Lefevre, Mr. Macgregor, Mr. G. R. Porter-Their extreme views not conclusive to the Committee-Evidence adduced by the shipowners-Ships built more cheaply abroad-Evidence of Mr. G. F. Young, and his general conclusions-Mr.Richmond's evidence-Asserts that shipping is a losing trade.-Replies to the charges against shipowners.-Views as to captains of merchant ships.-Praises their nautical skill and capacity. His character of common seamen.-Attacks Mr. Porter.Offers valuable details of ship-building.-Is prepared to go all lengths in favour of Protection.-His jealousy of the Northern PowersEvidence of Mr. Braysher, Collector of Customs in London.-General effect of the Navigation Laws on the Customs.—With the Northern Ports and America.-Difficulty about "manufactured" articles.-— Anomalies of the coasting and internal trade-Committee's last meeting, July 17-General dissatisfaction with the results of the inquiry-Commercial panic and distress of 1847 - Suspension of Bank Charter Act.

Witnesses HAVING now laid before my readers the substance of the state of the Navigation Laws at the time of the appointment of Mr. Ricardo's Committee in February 1847, I shall proceed to state generally the principal facts put forth by the leading witnesses on the side of the Free-traders and of the Protectionists respectively.

On the side of the former, Mr. John S. Lefevre, Mr. Macgregor, and Mr. G. R. Porter, officers of the Board of Trade, and decidedly inclined to the total repeal