§ Mr. Humerose to move for certain returns respecting the fees of British consuls abroad. It would be admitted, that the officers appointed to superintend our commerce and protect our commercial interests abroad, should be men acquainted with our commercial relations—men a experience, diligence and activity; and that is should be a duty with the government at home to make such regulations as would prevent the support of the consuls from becoming a vexatious burthen to the trade of the country. It was, however, curious to observe, that, though the greatest commer- 367 cial nation in the world, we were almost the only one which had not established a regular system of fees to be charged by our consuls. The consequence was, that in every port they were different, in some very high, and in many instances they were most arbitrary. From this he would except the Brazils, where the fees were regulated by special act of parliament. In the United States there was a regular system of fees established. In France, also, the charges of the consuls were fixed. Some countries paid their consuls a fixed salary, and no fees were charged as in France, except some small ones upon the exhibition of the ships papers. These charges to an American ship would not exceed two dollars, whilst a British ship, of the same tonnage, would perhaps be 5l. or 6l., and this charge varied according to the port; so that it was scarcely possible for any merchant to know, except, perhaps, the ship was proceeding to some part of Holland where the charges were well known, what would be the amount of charges to which she would be liable. The remedy which he should suggest would be, that government should fix a regular scale of moderate fees, and then give to every British vessel, at her clearing out from a custom-house in this country, a printed table of the fees charged by the consul in the port to which she was bound. He had some extracts from bills of fees charged by British consuls in several ports, from which the House would perceive, the difference in the charges and the total want of system. An English vessel of 150 tons paid consul's fees, for the exhibition of her papers, at Hamburgh, 1l. 17s. 6d. At Rotterdam she would have to pay the same; but let her go to Rochelle, and she would have to pay 5l. 16s. 8d.; at Bordeaux, 8l. 2s. 6d.; at Naples, 4l. 8s. 10d.; at Leghorn, 3l. 8s. 9d.; at Genoa, 3l. 15s., and so on; the charge varying almost in every port, but exorbitantly high in all. A small vessel of 60 or 70 tons belonging to England, taking in a cargo of fruit at St. Michael's, would have to pay three guineas, whilst an American vessel of the same size, would only pay two dollars. So that, instead of the fees being less in proportion to the great number of mercantile vessels which the British navy have, they were greater. Besides those sums coming in a vexatious way from, the pockets of individuals, the country was burthened with a large sum for the salaries 368 of many of those consuls. The sum paid under this head in 1792 was 10,000l. In the present year it was 30,000l.; but he Would not go at that time into the details on this part, nor, would he stop to inquire whether it was just that we should be paying 1,000l. a year to a consul at Venice, where there were but a few British ships in the year. He put it to the House, whether it would not be more advisable to have regular tables of moderate fees drawn up for each consul, than to go on with the present irregular system. He was very glad to learn that this subject had occupied the attention of the board of trade, and that a plan was in contemplation for lessening the present charges. After what had passed between the president of the board of trade and himself on this subject, he should not have thought it necessary to have brought the question before the House; but he found that when questions of this nature were under the consideration of the government, they often remained year after year without any thing effectual being done. One word as to the selection of individuals to fill those offices. It was not necessary for him to show that such care should be taken in the selection as would place none in those situations whose character were not most respectable. There were, he was sorry to observe, some of this description among our consuls, vice-consuls, and others, who, from their former character and conduct becoming known in the places to which they were sent, were obliged to leave the situation. He would not now name individuals. He hoped the noble lord would have no objection to a return, showing how long consuls-general and consuls had been absent from their several situations since 1815. Many persons looked upon those offices as appointments for life, and that it was only necessary to go out to take possession, and then, obtaining leave of absence, to remain away for years. It was known that a vast addition to the number of our consuls had taken place in 1815. This made a considerable addition to the amount of fees; but it contributed very little to facilitate business. He did not see what necessity there was for giving a consul-general in the Netherlands upwards of 3,000l. a year. Another at Paris had a very large salary; and there, he must suppose, the business could not be very heavy, for the office was opened only from eleven to one o'clock. The hon. member 369 concluded by moving for "a return of the table or rate of fees charged by British consuls-general, consuls, or vice-consuls, from British shipping, or British property in ports abroad, in the years 1792 and 1821; also, by what authority such charges were imposed." His second motion would be, for "a return of the periods each consul-general, consul or vice-consul, have been absent from their station in each year, since 1815."
The Marquis of Londonderryallowed that the subject was one of great importance. It had for some time been under the consideration of the board of trade, who were endeavouring to frame a law to regulate the fees of all the consular establishments. Although the consular system was in his (lord L.'s) department, yet it was always administered under the advice and recommendation of the board of trade. It was certainly highly desirable to arrive at some equalization of the fees, or rather, that the individuals in question should be paid by salary, and not by fees. The theory was excellent, but the practice was difficult; for to carry the theory into practice, it would be necessary very much to enlarge the present allowance for salaries, which was only 30,000l. It had been asked, why government did not select a respectable merchant of the place in which it was necessary to have a consul, and appoint him? In many cases that had been done with respect to vice-consuls. There was considerable danger, however, of such appointments being perverted to purposes of private emolument. The board of trade were preparing a bill on the subject, and it was his wish that it should be brought in as soon as possible. With respect to the attendance of consuls at their respective stations, he felt no difficulty in furnishing all the information in his power, and should be very happy to suggest any thing that could forward the object the hon. gentleman had in view; while, at the same time, he should feel happy in profiting by any suggestion which the hon. gentleman might throw out upon it. He would now advert to another topic, connected with this question, to which the hon. member had called his attention on a former evening. He alluded to the complaints alleged against Mr. Chamberlain, the consul-general at Rio Janeiro; and he could assure the House, that the charges made against that gentleman were without foundation. The 370 amount of his fees could not be considered too great, when the very high prices of provisions were taken into calculation. As to his general conduct, Mr. Chamberlain was seven or eight years abroad, during four of which he acted as Charge d'Affaires at the court of the Brazils, during very arduous times; and in that capacity conducted himself with so much ability, that he (lord L.) should have considered him a valuable acquisition to the diplomatic corps of the country, but that he was unwilling to make a transfer from one branch to another. After residing eight years abroad, Mr. Chamberlain returned home in a very bad state of health, and though his situation was considered so very emolumentary, yet he would have been glad to have accepted the situation of consul-general any where in Europe, rather than return to the Brazils. He did, however, as no opening was made for him in Europe, return. With respect to the amount of fees, they had increased at Rio Janeiro in consequence of the great increase of trade, and they had been three times under revision in this country. It was said that trade was injured by the high rate of fees. He certainly would not sanction any thing which he thought would injure trade; but he believed it would be found, that so far from being injured, the trade in the port alluded to had very materially increased.
Mr. Robinsoncould assure the hon. member that he had never encountered greater difficulties in the investigation and arrangement of any subject, than in those of consular fees. They were at present levied by an authority, against which he certainly felt much disposed to protest. Conceiving it necessary that some more general and equal system should be adopted, be, with his noble friend, had gone through the various establishments with a view to ascertain how far it would be practicable to diminish the fees, and to substitute such moderate and properly apportioned salaries as would afford a sufficient remuneration. This, however, was a very difficult matter; as it became extremely difficult to ascertain the exact amount of duty performed and expense incurred by each individual. He (Mr. Robinson) trusted, however, that some arrangement might yet be made of a satisfactory nature, without any additional burthen on the country. Part of the expenses of the consuls was paid out of the civil list. The question was, how the 371 difference between that which was allowed by the civil list, and that which it was necessary to allow, was to be made up? Whether by a tonnage on goods, or in what other way, he was not at present prepared to say.
§ The motion was agreed to.