OF

INTERESTING AND IMPORTANT

REPORTS AND PAPERS

ON THE

NAVIGATION AND TRADE

OF

GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND, AND THE BRITISH COLONIES
IN THE WEST INDIES AND AMERICA,

WITH TABLES OF TONNAGE AND OF EXPORTS AND IMPORTS,

&c. &c. &c.

Some people he understood had been at infinite pains to condemn the
framers of the Navigation Act, and to ridicule those who were weak enough to
look up to it as beneficial to the country, notwithstanding which, he would confess
bimself one of those weak beings who admired its construction, and would gladly
see it preserved inviolate.
Lord Loughborough's Speech, Feb. 22, 1785.

At present, amongst European nations, a naval strength, which is the
portion of Great Britain, is more than ever of the greatest importance to sovereignty,
as well because most of the kingdoms of Europe are not continents, but, in a good
measure, surrounded by the sea; as because the treasures of both Indies seem
but an accessory to the dominion of the seas.
Lord Bacon.

-It is good not to try experiments in states, except the necessity be urgent,
or the utility evident; and well to beware that it be the reformation that draweth
on the change, and not the desire of change that pretendeth the reformation; and
lastly, that the novelty, though it be not rejected, yet be held for a suspect, and as
the scripture saith" That we make a stand upon the ancient way, and then
" look about us, and discover what is the straight and right way, and so to walk in
" it." Ibid.

PRINTED BY ORDER OF

"THE SOCIETY OF SHIP-OWNERS OF GREAT BRITAIN."

AND SOLD BY

J. STOCKDALE, PICCADILLY; J. BUTTERWORTH, FLEET-
STREET; AND J. AND J. RICHARDSON, CORNHILL,

TO

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOHN LORD SHEFFIELD, &c. &c. &c.

THE FOLLOWING COLLECTION

OF IMPORTANT PAPERS

ON NAVIGATION AND TRADE,

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

By the society of ship-Owners

OF

GREAT BRITAIN,

IN TESTIMONY OF THEIR GRATEFUL SENSE

OF THE EMINENT SERVICES RENDERED

BY HIS LORDSHIP TO THE SHIPPING INTEREST

OF THE UNITED KINGDOM;

AND OF HIS ZEALOUS EXERTIONS,

ON ALL OCCASIONS, ΤΟ ΜΑΙΝΤΑΙΝ,

UNIMPAIRED,

THE MARITIME STRENGTH OF THE EMPIRE.