Mr. Shawrose to present a petition from certain merchants of London, against the Ship Letter Act. They particularly complained of the clause which enabled the port officers to search for letters and parcels on board merchant vessels. Their ground of complaint was, that they were obliged to pay, in cases where Government had provided no mode of communication, for the transfer of their correspondence. To this clause their main objection applied.
Mr. Forbesconcurred in the object of the petitioners. In the affairs of the East India Company he had had opportunities of seeing the inconveniences which arose from such a regulation as this Act imposed.
§ Mr. Finlaysaid, the subject was one of great inconvenience, so much so, that the owners of vessels, in several commercial towns would not allow any letters to be sent through their medium, lest their ships 221 should be exposed to such an examination. This was a hardship, in cases where Government provided no mode of transfer.
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that the Bill contained no new provisions; some of its clauses were as old as the reign of queen Anne. The Government, on behalf of the revenue, had no idea of imposing inconveniences upon the mercantile interest of the country; and he had little doubt, that on a general view of the subject, such regulations might be made as would answer all purposes, without the intervention of injury or inconvenience to any of the parties.
Mr. Forbesrepeated his objections to the Act, and gave notice, that on that day week he would move For copies of all correspondence relative to this subject, between the Postmasters-general and the Court of Directors of the East India Company, also between the East India Agents and the Lords of the Treasury.
The Petition was then brought up, and ordered to lie on the table.