§ Mr. Robinsonwas anxious to call the attention of the noble Lord to a subject of very considerable importance to the Shipping Interest of this country. Some time ago an agreement had been entered into between this country and France, by which the vessels of each country should be 310 charged the same Tonnage Duties in the ports of the other. Now, according to this regulation, French vessels in our ports were charged a duty of only 7d. per ton, while English vessels in the ports of France were still charged the high duty of 3s. 6d. per ton. He wished to know from the noble Lord, the cause of the delay of the French in not reducing the duties in their ports to the same scale as ours. He also wished to call the attention of the noble Lord to the fact, that British ships in the ports of France, were charged with high rates for lights, though it was well known that from Ushant to Dunkirk there was not a light-house which was of the slightest use to British vessels. Supposing that the French should at last make the tardy admission of our ships at the same rate of tonnage duties as we admitted theirs, still we were subject to high rates for lights, which in justice we ought not to be called upon to pay. He hoped to have a satisfactory explanation on this subject from the noble Lord, to prevent the necessity of a specific motion, which otherwise he should feel it his duty to make.
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, that an unexpected delay had occurred in carrying the arrangement between the two countries into execution on the part of France. It was thought necessary that a measure should be introduced into the French Chambers, to render the arrangement effective on the part of the French government, but the closing of the French Chambers prevented the introduction of that measure; but he hoped that the French government would take speedy steps to carry the arrangement into full operation. As to the duties on British ships, a very considerable reduction had already taken place in the port of Calais.