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SPEECHES

OF THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

WILLIAM HUSKISSON,

&c. &c.

EXPOSITION OF THE STATE OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

May 12, 1826.

A Petition from the Ship Owners of North Shields having been presented to the House, on the 27th of April, complaining of the Alterations recently made in the Navigation Laws, Mr. Huskisson took occasion to give notice, that he would, on an early day, enter into an Exposition of the present State of the Navigation of the United Kingdom. Accordingly, this day,

Mr. HUSKISSON rose, and spoke, in substance, as follows:

Sir:-In the course of the last session of Parliament, the honourable member for Grampound * frequently took occasion to indulge himself in certain oracular denunciations, foreboding the ruin of this country, as the result of the Commercial and Foreign Policy of the Government. At that period, the commerce of the country, it must be allowed, was at least sufficiently active, and the demand for mercantile Shipping greater, perhaps, than had ever before occurred. Whether from these circumstances, or from the solemn tone of mystery in which the honourable member's

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denunciations were delivered, they did not, at the time, make any considerable impression, either in this House, or out of doors.

Recently, however, a variety of Petitions have been presented to Parliament, from persons connected with the Port of London, and with several other commercial towns, expressing their apprehensions, that the Shipping Interest is in a state of decay, and that the foundations of the prosperity and security of the country are, in consequence, likely to be undermined. When such impressions have been created in quarters, where the authority of the Petitioners, so far as their observations go, is entitled to the greatest consideration, I trust that no apology will be requisite, for claiming the attention of the House-or at least of that portion of it, who are now present—to a subject of such vital importance to the maritime power and and greatness of the country. I am well aware of the reluctance which honourable gentlemen must feel to a statement, from its nature, necessarily dry and tedious; but, I am also aware, that the matter involved in it is of too much importance not to demand the deepest attention; for, if the fears expressed in the petitions on the table of the House be well founded, it is scarcely necessary for me to say that the sooner an inquiry takes place the better.

The House, Sir, is aware, that our Navigation Laws have a two-fold object. First, to create and maintain in this country a great commercial Marine; and secondly (an object not less important in the eyes of statesmen), to prevent any one other nation from engrossing too large a portion of the navigation of the rest of the world.

Acting upon this system, the general rule of our policy has been to limit, as much as possible, the right of importing the productions of foreign countries into this country, either to ships of the producing country, or to British ships.

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