History of Merchant Shipping

Head of William Lindsay and Co., one of the largest shipowners in the world. Member of Parliament for Sunderland and for Tynemouth and South Shields.

• Table of ContentsSelected contentsVolume 1Ch.1 Rapid rise of New Orleans and New York; Boston ships extend the trade to India and China; Mercantile marine laws of the United States; Superiority of native American seaman owing to their education; Conditions of wages; Power of Appeal to the Admiralty CourtsCh.2Education of merchant seamen in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, Russia and Prussia, France; Qualifications of Venetian shipmasters; Present regulations of Austria; Consuls of Genoa, Ancona, Naples; Report of Consuls in South America; Shipowners condemned for character of their ships and officers; Necessity of a competent Marine DepartmentCh.3High estimate abroad of English Navigation Laws; Change necessary owing to Independence of America; Commercial treaties with America; Conciliatory steps of the Americans; Reciprocity treaties; Shipowners who seek protection against Colonial shipping; Lord John Russell leads the way against protection; Effects of Irish FamineCh.4Equalization of Sugar Duties; Navigation Laws suspended; Rules in force in the Plantation Trade; First infringement of the principle of confining the American trade to British vessels; State of the law before the Declaration of American Independence; Trade with Europe; East India trading and shipping; Trade with India in foreign and in United States shipsCh. 5Progress of changes in Navigation Laws; Reciprocity Treaties; Registry Laws; Naturalization of goods brought to Europe; Story of the cochineal; Special views of the Canadians; Free Trade with United States desired; Canadian urge abolition of Protection; Welland Canal; West Indians for Free Trade; Divergent views of capitalists at homeCh. 6Ships built more cheaply abroad; Views as to captains of merchant ships; Praise for their nautical skills; Views of Collector of Customs in London; Difficulty about manufactured articles; Anomalies of coastal and internal trade; Commercial panic and distress of 1847Ch. 7Suspension of New Parliament; Mr Bancroft’s Declaration; Lord Clarendon tells shipowners laws will not be altered; Lord Palmerston admits correspondence with America; Evidence of shipowners before the Lord’s Committee; Claim in favour of direct voyages; Importance of keeping up the merchant navy; Working of the system of apprenticeship; Details about American ships; Reciprocity treaties so far as they affect the AmericansCh. 8Protectionist principles stated; Extent of shipping trade; National defences endangered; Mt Gladstone’s views; Lord George Bentinck; Mr Disraeli; Rely of America; Proposed change in coasting trade; Meeting of Shipowners’ Society; Agitation in the countryCh. 9Question of reciprocity; Difficulty of ‘favoured nation’ clause; Burdens to be removed from shipowners; Coasting trade; Americans not free-traders; Smuggling in the coasting trade; Details of American law; Lord Russell; Mr DisraeliCh. 10Protected and unprotected trade; Napoleon’s desire for ships, colonies and commerce; Increase of foreign peace establishments; Canada not our only colony; Claims of shipowners and fear of competition; Timber duties; Coasting trade thrown open; Americans throw open all except their coasting trade Ch. 11Dependence of many shipowners on repeal of Navigation Laws; Advantages naturally taken by foreigners, especially Americans; demand for enforcement of reciprocity on foreign nations; Certificates of examination; Institution of Naval Courts abroad; Merchant Shipping Act 1854; New measurements of ships; Registration of ships; WrecksCh. 12Parliamentary Inquiry 1854-5; Emigration system; Runners and crimps; American emigration law; Disgraceful state of emigrant ships; Resolution of New York Legislature 1854; Legislation in the United States 1855; English Passenger Act 1855; Fraudulent tickets; Merchant Shipping Act discussed; Question of limited liability; Powers given to Board of Trade; Examination required for engineers