CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Dom John of Portugal prosecutes his researches for India—Expeditionunder Vasco de Gama, 1497—Description of the ships—The expeditionsails 9th July, 1497—Doubles the Cape of Good Hope, 25thNov.—Sights land at Natal, 25th Dec., 1498—Meets the first nativevessel and obtains information about India—Arrives at Mozambique,10th March—Departs for Quiloa, 8th April—Arrives at Melinde,29th April—Sails for Calicut, 6th August—Reaches the shores ofIndia, 26th August—Arrives at Calicut—Vasco de Gama disembarksand concludes a treaty with the king—His treachery—Leaves Calicutfor Cananore—Enters into friendly relations and leaves Cananore,20th Nov.—Reaches Melinde, 8th Jan., 1499—Obtains pilots and sailsfor Europe, 20th Jan.—Doubles the Cape of Good Hope—Death ofPaul de Gama—The expedition reaches the Tagus, 18th Sept., 1499—Greatrejoicings at Lisbon—Arrangements made for further expeditions—Departureof the second expedition, 25th March, 1502—ReachesMozambique and Quiloa, where De Gama makes known his powerand threatens to capture the city—His unjust demands—Arrives atMelinde—Departs, 18th Aug., 1502—Encounter with the Moors—Leviestribute, and sails for Cananore—Disgraceful destruction of aCalicut ship and massacre of her crew—De Gama’s arrangement withthe king of Cananore—Departure for Calicut—Bombards the city—Horriblecruelties—Arrives at Cochym 7th Nov., where he loads, andat Coulam—Opens a factory at Coulam—Calicut declares war againstDom Gama—Success of the Portuguese—Desecration of the Indianvessels, and further atrocities—Completes his factory and fortificationsat Cananore, and sails for Lisbon, where he arrives, 1st Sept., 1503—DeGama arrives in India for the third time 11th Sept., 1524—Hisdeath, 24th Dec., 1524—His character as compared with that ofColumbus—Discovery of the Pacific by Vasco Nuñez de Bilboa—Voyageof Magellan | Pages [1]-[48] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Progress of maritime discovery—Henry VII., 1485-1509—His encouragementof maritime commerce and treaties with foreignnations—Voyages to the Levant—Leading English shipowners—Patentto the Cabots, 1496—Discovery of the north-west coast ofAmerica, June 21, 1497—Second patent, Feb. 3, 1498—Rivalclaimants to the discovery of the North American continent—SebastianCabot and his opinions—Objects of the second expedition—Thirdexpedition, March 1501—How Sebastian Cabot was employedfrom 1498 to 1512—He enters the service of Spain, 1512—Letter ofRobert Thorne to Henry VIII. on further maritime discoveries—SebastianCabot becomes pilot-master in Spain, 1518, and afterwards(1525) head of a great trading and colonising association—Leavesfor South America, April 1526, in command of an expedition to theBrazils—A mutiny and its suppression—Explores the river La Platawhile waiting instructions from Spain—Sanguinary encounter withthe natives—Returns to Spain, 1531, and remains there till 1549,when he settles finally in Bristol—Edward VI., A.D. 1547-1553—Cabotforms an association for trading with the north, known as the “MerchantAdventurers”—Despatch of the first expedition under Sir H.Willoughby—Instructions for his guidance, probably drawn up byCabot—Departure, May 20, 1553—Great storm and separation of theships—Death of Sir H. Willoughby—Success of Chancellor—His shipwreckand death at Pitsligo—Arrival in London of the first ambassadorfrom Russia, Feb. 1557—His reception—Commercial treaty—Earlysystem of conducting business with Russia—The benefits conferredby the Merchant Adventurers upon England—The Steelyardmerchants partially restored to their former influence—Cabot losesfavour with the court, and dies at an advanced age | [49]-[87] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Henry VIII. resolves to establish a permanent Royal Navy—Deriveshis first supply of men from English fishermen—Royal fleet equippedand despatched from Portsmouth—Its first engagement—Increase ofthe French fleets—Extraordinary exertions of the English to meetthe emergency—The rapidity with which they supplied men andvessels—Outfit of the ships—The Great Harry—Number and strengthof the fleet at the death of Henry VIII., 28 Jan., 1547—The GreatMichael—Trade monopolies—Mode of conducting business—Mistakenlaws—The Bridport petition—Chartered companies—Prices regulatedby law, and employment provided—The petition of the weavers—Stateof the currency, A.D. 1549—Its depreciation—Corruption ofthe government—Recommendation of W. Lane to Sir W. Cecil, whoacts upon it, A.D. 1551, August—The corruption of the council extendsto the merchants—Accession of Elizabeth, A.D. 1558—War withSpain—Temporary peace with France, soon followed by another war—Demandfor letters of marque—Number of the Royal fleet, A.D.1559—The desperate character of the privateers—Conduct of theSpaniards—Daring exploits and cruelty of Lord Thomas Cobham,and of other privateers or marauders—Piratical cruises of the mayorof Dover—Prompt retaliation of the king of Spain—Reply of Elizabeth—Elizabethattempts to suppress piracy, 29th Sept., 1564—Herefforts fail, but are renewed with increased vigour, though invain—Opening of the African slave-trade—Character of its promoters—JohnHawkins’ daring expedition—Fresh expeditions sanctionedby Elizabeth and her councillors—Cartel and Hawkins—They differand separate, 1565—Hawkins reaches the West Indies with fourhundred slaves, whom he sells to much advantage, and sails forEngland—Fresh expeditions, 1556—They extend their operations,1568—The third expedition of Sir John Hawkins departs, October1567, and secures extraordinary gains—Attacked by a Spanish fleetand severely injured—Reaches England in distress—Prevails on theQueen to make reprisals—Questionable conduct of Elizabeth—Vigorousaction of the Spanish ambassador—Prompt retaliation—Injuryto English trade less than might have been supposed—Hatredof the Catholics—Increase of the privateers, 1570—Theirdesperate acts, 1572 | [88]-[140] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Certainty of war with Spain—Secret preparations for the invasion ofEngland, and restoration of the Catholic faith—Philip intrigueswith Hawkins, and is grossly deceived—The Spanish Armada, andEngland’s preparations for defence—Destruction of the Armada,July 19, 1588—Voyages of discovery by Johnson—Finner and MartinFrobisher—Drake’s voyage round the world, 1577—His piratical actsand return home, 1580—First emigration of the English to America—Discoveryof Davis’s Straits—Davis directs his attention to India—Freshfreebooting expeditions—Voyage of Cavendish to India, 1591,which leads to the formation of the first English India Company,in 1600—First ships despatched by the Company—The Dutch alsoform an East India Company—Extent of their maritime commerce—Theytake the lead in the trade with India—Expedition of Sir HenryMiddleton—Its failure and his death—Renewed efforts of the EnglishEast India Company—They gain favour with the Moghul Emperorof India, and materially extend their commercial operations—Treatybetween English and Dutch East India Companies—Soon broken—Lossesof East India Company—Sir Walter Raleigh’s views on maritimecommerce, 1603—His views confirmed by other writers opposedto his opinions—The views of Tobias, 1614—His estimate of theprofits of busses—The effect of these publications—Colonising expeditionsto North America—Charles I. assumes power over thecolonies—English shipowners resist the demand for Ship-Money—Itspayment enforced by law—Dutch rivalry—Increase of Englishshipping—Struggles of the East India Company—Decline of Portuguesepower in India—The trade of the English in India—Increaseof other branches of English trade—Ships of the Turkey and MuscovyCompany—The Dutch pre-eminent—The reasons for this pre-eminence | [141]-[181] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| English Navigation Laws—First Prohibitory Act, 1646—Further Acts,1650-1651—Their object and effect—War declared between GreatBritain and Holland, July 1652—The English capture Prizes—Peaceof 1654—Alleged complaints against the Navigation Acts of Cromwell—NavigationAct of Charles II.—The Maritime Charter ofEngland—Its main provisions recited—Trade with the Dutch prohibited—TheDutch navigation seriously injured—Fresh war with theDutch, 1664—Its naval results—Action off Harwich, 1665—DutchSmyrna fleet—Coalition between French and Dutch, 1666—Battleof June 1 and of July 24, 1666—Renewed negotiations for peace,1667—Dutch fleet burn ships at Chatham, threaten London, andproceed to Portsmouth—Peace concluded—Its effects—The colonialsystem—Partial anomalies—Capital created—Economical theoriesthe prelude to final free-trade—Eventual separation from the mother-countryconsidered—Views of Sir Josiah Child on the NavigationLaws—Relative value of British and Foreign ships, 1666—Britishclearances, 1688, and value of exports—War with France—Peace ofRyswick, 1697—Trade of the Colonies—African trade—Newfoundland—Usagesat the Fishery—Greenland Fishery—Russian trade—Peterthe Great—Effect of the legislative union with Scotland, 1707—Themaritime commerce of Scotland—Buccaneers in the West Indies—Stateof British shipping, temp. George I.—South Sea Company,1710 | [182]-[214] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| English voyages of discovery, 1690-1779—Dampier—Anson—Byron—Wallisand Carteret—Captain Cook—His first voyage, in the Endeavour—Secondvoyage, in the Resolution—Third voyage—Friendly,Fiji, Sandwich, and other islands—His murder—Progress of theNorth American colonies—Commercial jealousy in the West Indies—SevenYears’ War, 1756-1763—Its effect on the colonies—Unwiselegislative measures—Effect of the new restrictions—Passing of theStamp Act—Trade interrupted—Non-intercourse resolutions—Recourseto hostilities—Position of the colonists—Fisheries—Shipping ofNorth American Colonies, A.D. 1769—Early registry of ships not alwaysto be depended on—Independence of United States acknowledged,May 24, 1784—Ireland secures various commercial concessions—Scotchshipping—Rate of seamen’s wages—British Registry Act,Aug. 1, 1786—American Registry Act—Treaty between France andEngland, 1786—Slave-trade and its profits—Trade between Englandand America and the West Indies re-opened—Changes produced bythe Navigation Laws consequent on the separation—New disputes—EnglishOrders in Council—Negotiations opened between Mr. Jayand Lord Grenville—Tonnage duties levied by them | [215]-[256] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Great Britain, A.D. 1792—War with France, Feb. 1, 1793—Commercialpanic—Government lends assistance—High price of corn—Bountiesgranted on its importation—Declaration of Russia, 1780—Confederacyrenewed when Bonaparte had risen to power—Captureof merchant vessels—Do “free ships make free goods?”—Neutralnations repudiate the English views—Their views respecting blockades—Rightof search—Chief doctrines of the neutrals—Mr. Pittstands firm, and is supported by Mr. Fox—Defence of the Englishprinciples—Nelson sent to the Sound, 1801—Bombardment ofCopenhagen—Peace of Amiens, and its terms—Bonaparte’s opinionof free-trade—Sequestration of English property in France notraised—All claims remain unanswered—Restraint on commerce—Frenchspies sent to England to examine her ports, etc.—Aggrandisementof Bonaparte—Irritation in England—Bonaparte’s interviewwith Lord Whitworth—The English ministers try to gain time—Excitementin England—The King’s message—The invasion ofEngland determined on—War declared, May 18, 1803—Joy of theshipowners—Preparations in England for defence—Captures ofFrench merchantmen—Effect of the war on shipping—Complaints ofEnglish shipowners—Hardships of the pressing system—Apprentices—Suggestionsto secure the Mediterranean trade, and to encourageemigration to Canada—Value of the Canadian trade | [257]-[289] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Mr. Fox tries to make peace with France, 1806—Napoleon’s Proclamation—EnglishOrder in Council, April 8, 1806—Berlin Decree, Nov. 10,1806—Its terms, and the stringency of its articles—Napoleon’s skilland duplicity—Russian campaign conceived—Berlin Decree enforced—Increasedrates of insurance—English Orders in Council, 1807—Preambleof third Order in Council—Terms of this Order—Neutrals—TheOrders discussed—Embargo on British ships in Russia—MilanDecree, Dec. 17, 1807—Preamble and articles—Bayonne Decree, April17, 1808—Effect of the Decrees and Orders in Council in England—Interestsof the shipowners maintained—Napoleon infringes his owndecrees—Moniteur, Nov. 18, 1810—Rise in the price of produceand freights, partly accounted for by the Orders in Council—Ingenuityof merchants in shipping goods—Smuggling—Licencesystem in England—Cost of English licences—Their marketablevalue—Working of the licensing system in England—Simulatedpapers—Agencies for the purpose of fabricating them | [290]-[319] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Effect of the Orders in Council on American trade, A.D. 1810—Complaintsof the Americans against England—Policy of Napoleontowards neutrals—Non-intercourse Act—Secret terms with America—Partialityof the United States towards France—Contentions at homerespecting the Orders in Council—Declaration of war with America—Motivesof the Americans—England revokes her Orders in Council—Condemnationof the conduct of the United States—Impressment ofAmerican seamen—Fraudulent certificates—Incidents of the system—Warwith America—Necessity of relaxing the Navigation Laws duringwar—High duties on cotton—Great European Alliance—Napoleonreturns to Paris—Germans advance to the Rhine—Treaty of Chaumont—TheAllies enter Paris—End of the war by the Treaty ofParis, 1814—Napoleon’s escape from Elba—His landing in Franceand advance on Paris—British troops despatched to Belgium—Subsidiesto European Powers—Fouché—Last campaign of Napoleon,and defeat at Waterloo—Reflections | [320]-[344] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| United States of America—Her independence recognised, 1783—Commercialrights—Retaliatory measures—Threatening attitude ofMassachusetts—Constitution of the United States—Good effects ofan united Government—Maritime laws and laws respecting Neutrals—Feelingon both sides the water—Treaty between Great Britainand United States—The right to impose a countervailing tonnageduty reserved—Difficulty of the negotiation—Remarkable omissionrespecting cotton—Indignation in France at the Treaty—The Frenchprotest against its principles—Interest of England to have privateproperty free from capture at sea—Condemnation of ships in theWest Indies and great depredations—Outrages on the Americans—Torturepractised by French cruisers—The advantages of the warto the Americans—Impulse given to shipping—Progress of Americancivilisation—Advances of maritime enterprise—Views of Americanstatesmen—The shipwrights of Baltimore seek protection—GreatBritain imposes countervailing duties—Effect of legislative measureson both sides—Freight and duty compared—Conclusions drawnby the American shipowners—Alarm in the United States at theidea of reciprocity—Objections to the British Navigation Act—Threateneddestruction to American shipping—Popular clamour—Opinionsin Congress—Great influence of the shipowners—Earlystatesmen of the United States—Their efforts to develop maritimecommerce—First trade with the East—European war of 1803—Itseffect on their maritime pursuits | [345]-[380] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| A special mission sent to England—Concessions made in the Colonialtrade—Blockades in the Colonies, and of the French ports in theChannel—The dispute concerning the trade with the FrenchColonies—What is a direct trade?—Reversal of the law in England—Effectin America—Instructions to Commissioners—Proceedings ofthe shipowners of New York—Duties of neutrals—Views of theNew York shipowners—Conditions with respect to private armedvessels—Authorities on the subject—Negotiations for another treaty—Circuitoustrade—Commercial stipulations—Violation of treaties—Complaintsof the Americans against the French—Language ofthe Emperor—Bayonne Decree, April 17, 1808—American Non-interventionAct, March 1, 1809—Intrigues in Paris against England—Hostilefeelings in United States against England—Diplomaticproceedings in Paris—Convention with Great Britain—RetaliatoryActs to be enforced conditionally—Hostile legislation against GreatBritain—Bonds required—Treaty negotiations renewed—Dutchreciprocity—Bremen reciprocity | [381]-[407] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| Earliest formation of wet docks and bonded warehouses—System oflevying duties—Opposition to any change—Excise Bill proposed,1733—but not passed till 1803—Necessity of docks for London—Depredationsfrom ships in London—The extent of the plunder—Instancesof robberies—Scuffle hunters—“Game” ships—Rat-catchers—River-pirates—Theiraudacity—Light-horsemen—Their organisation—“Drum-hogsheads”—Long-shoremen—Harbour accommodation—Notadequate for the merchant shipping—East and West Indiaships—Docks at length planned—West India Docks—Regulations—EastIndia Docks—Mode of conducting business at the Docks—LondonDocks—St. Katharine’s Docks—Victoria and Millwall Docks—Chargeslevied by the Dock Companies—Docks in provincial ports,and bonded warehouses—Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks—Portof Liverpool, its commerce, and its revenue from the docks—Extentof accommodation—Extension of docks to the north—Hydraulic liftsand repairing basins—Cost of new works—Bye-laws of the MerseyBoard—The pilots of the Mersey—Duties of the superintendents—Conditionsof admission to the service—Pilot-boats and rates ofpilotage | [408]-[442] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| East India Company—Early struggles—Rival company—Privatetraders—Coalition effected—Their trade, 1741-1748, and continueddifficulties up to 1773—Their form of charter—Rates of freight—Grossearnings—Evidence of Sir Richard Hotham before the Committeeof Inquiry—The effect of his evidence—Reduction of duties,August 1784—Extent of tea trade—Opposition of independentshipowners—India-built ships admitted to the trade—Board ofControl established, 1784—Value of the trade, 1796—Charterrenewed, with important provisions, from 1796 to 1814—Restrictionson private traders—East India Company’s shipping, 1808-1815—Thetrade partially opened—Jealousy of free-traders—Effortsof the free-traders at the out-ports—Comparative cost ofEast India Company’s ships and of other vessels—Opposition to theemployment of the latter—Earl of Balcarras—Her crew—Actionsfought by the ships of the Company—Conditions of entering theservice—Uniforms—Discipline—Promotion—Pay and perquisites—Abuseof privileges—Direct remuneration of commanders—Provisionsand extra allowances—Illicit trade denounced by the Court,and means adopted to discover the delinquents—Connivance ofthe officers of the Customs—Pensions, and their conditions—Internaleconomy of the ships—Watches and duties—Amusements—Gun-exercise—Courts-martial—Changein the policy of the EastIndia Company—Results of free-trade with India, and of theCompany’s trading operations—China trade thrown open, 1832-1834—Companyabolished, 1858—Retiring allowances to commandersand officers—Compensations and increased pensions granted—Remunerationof the directors—Their patronage | [443]-[488] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| Progress of shipping—Thetis, West Indiaman—A “Free-trader”—Internaleconomy—Provisioning and manning—Shipping the crew—Crimpsand agents—Duties on departure of ship—Watches—Dutiesof the Master—Who has control over navigation—Makingand shortening sail—Tacking, etc.—Ordinary day’s work, how arranged—Rightof the Master over the cabin—Authority and usagesin the English, Dutch, and Prussian marine—Danish and Norwegiansystem—Duties of Chief Mate—His duties in port—Tacking “’boutship”—Reefing topsails—Log-book—Mate successor in law to theMaster—Mode of address to Chief and Second Mates—Duties ofSecond Mate—Ordinary day’s work—Care of spare rigging—Stores—ThirdMate—His general duties—Carpenter—Sail-maker—Steward—Cook—Ableseamen, their duties—Division of their labour—Dutiesof ordinary seamen—Boys or apprentices—Bells—Helm—“Tricks”at the helm—Relieving duty—Orders at the wheel—Repeating oforders at wheel—Conversation not allowed while on duty—Colliers. | [489]-[538] |
| APPENDICES. | |
| PAGE | |
| Appendix No. 1 | [541] |
| Appendix No. 2 | [555] |
| Appendix No. 3 | [557] |
| Appendix No. 4 | [559] |
| Appendix No. 5 | [561] |
| Appendix No. 6 | [563] |
| Appendix No. 7 | [564] |
| Appendix No. 8 | [570] |
| Appendix No. 9 | [572] |
| Appendix No. 10 | [576] |
| Appendix No. 11 | [578] |
| Appendix No. 12 | [583] |
| Appendix No. 13 | [585] |
| Appendix No. 14 | [586] |
| Appendix No. 15 | [588] |
| Index | [593] |
THE
LIVERPOOL AND BIRKENHEAD
DOCKS.
Published by Sampson Low, Marston, Low & Searle, Crown Buildings 188 Fleet Street, London.
Engraved by Edwd. Weller. Red Lion Square
Large Map
MERCHANT SHIPPING.