DUBLIN HARBOUR. (Hansard, 18 May 1815)

Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald
said, that the neces- 268 sity of improving the harbour of Dublin was so strongly felt by the merchants and ship-owners of that city, that they most cheerfully concurred in the proposition which he was about to make for levying certain duties upon vessels entering that port; and their sentiments would now have been before the House in the shape of a petition, if unfortunately the time had not elapsed when it could be presented. He would not take up the time of the House in enforcing the necessity of making the proposed improvement in that harbour, because it must be obvious to the gentlemen opposite to him, and, indeed, to every person acquainted with that port. In order to defray the expense of this work, he should propose a duty of 6d. a ton upon every foreign vessel, 4d. a ton upon every British vessel, and 2d. a ton upon all coasting and coal vessels entering that port. And as the proposed alteration would contribute greatly to the safety and accommodation of persons arriving there in the packets, he should propose, that each cabin passenger should pay 2s. 6d., and that the same sum should be paid for each horse and carriage brought by the packet. In addition to these, he should propose a duty upon invoices, outvoices, cockets, &c. making altogether about 15,000l. a year. The sum necessary for the completion of this work was to be advanced by the Exchequer; and the sum to be raised by these duties, was to be applied to the payment of the interest and principal of the sum so advanced. The right hon. gentleman concluded with moving the Resolutions.

Mr. Shaw
, of Dublin, expressed his decided approbation of the measure.

§ Sir H. Parnell
also spoke in favour of it.

§ Alderman Atkins
> said, he was very much averse to any tax upon shipping. He thought it would be better, if the whole expense was paid out of the public purse. He added, that if these duties were imposed, the ship-owners would be obliged to raise the price of their freight.

§ Mr. Wellesley Pole
expressed his surprise at the objection of the hon. alderman. Every seaman knew how dangerous the bay of Dublin was; and he was convinced that there was not a ship-owner, whose vessels entered the bay of Dublin, who would not cheerfully pay the duty to have the harbour improved.

Mr. Peele
said, the worthy alderman's argument answered itself; he first ob- 269 jected to any tax upon shipping; and in the same breath said, that the ship-owners would not pay it themselves, but lay it upon the freight, so that, in fact, the citizens of Dublin would really bear the expense. He then stated the great number of vessels lost in the bay of Dublin, and particularly two transports in 1807, when between 7 and 800 soldiers were lost to the country.

§ General Gascoyne
did not object generally to the measure; but as it must affect the interests of his constituents, he hoped the right hon. gentleman would not press it, but give time to the merchants of Liverpool to consider of the proposed duties, and to state their sentiments upon the subject.