Marine Police Office, be printed and sent to the Merchants and Ship-Owners, trading from the West-Indies to the Port

of London."

The Marine Police Office, established in June 1798, has a two-fold object: To procure a speedy and regular discharge of West-India Ships by registered and approved Lumpers, under the control of the Office; and to protect the Property in every stage of the Discharge, from the moment the Ship arrives at her Moorings to the final delivery of the Goods at the King's Beam, by means of a Civil Force attached to the Police Department.

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The efficacy of the System adopted for the attainment of these ends being universally admitted, it is unnecessary to enlarge upon it: To the expence only attending its execution objections have been started; and on this score much misconception and unjust prejudice have prevailed. The amount of the Rates, as settled last year by the West-India Committee, has, in some instances, been complained of as an exorbitant charge for Lumping; and in others, as a still more unreasonable remuneration for Protection from Plunder: But it should be recollected, that both these services are included in the charge, and it is presumed are effected without any increased expence to the Ship-Owner; who, on the contrary, derives protection for his Ship, her Tackle, and Stores, from the River and Quay Guards, to which expence he contributes nothing.

The Lumping Rates have been ultimately settled on the lowest Terms, for which honest labour can be procured for daily wages. A Ship-Owner could not therefore obtain it at a cheaper rate, unless in cases where an adequate indemnification for the abatement can be obtained by the Plunderage of the Cargo. The remainder of the expence incurred for ShipConstables cannot be deemed an additional burden, since those furnished by the Office are only efficient Substitutes for very inefficient efficient Watchmen, who were, or ought to have been, employed, according to the established usage of the Port, and at nearly the same rate of wages.(a)

On the subject of Plunder, it seems unnecessary to bring forward the evidence, heretofore adduced, to prove the extent and magnitude of the evil; it is sufficient for the present purpose to repeat, that, in many instances, the Master Lumpers were deeply implicated in the crime, by pocketing the sums for which they contracted to lump out, and allowing their men to remunerate themselves by Plunder. The Committee, therefore, does not consider it possible to make a fair comparison of the expence of working out a Ship, under the former and present Systems, by a simple reference to the amount of the respective Bills; yet they cannot doubt, that, when the Table of Dues, now settled with the Lumpers under the Police System, are carefully perused, they will be considered as fair, moderate, and economical.

It appears to this Meeting, from the Documents which have been produced, that thirty-eight individuals followed the occupation of Contractors for lumping out West-India Ships, previous to the Establishment of the Marine Police, who generally employed Foremen; and, having several Ships working at the same time, seldom attended in person to their Discharge.That, under the New System, sixty-seven nautical Master Lumpers, who either constantly attended themselves, or made it their business to superintend the Labourers under their charge, were taken into the employment of the Institution, and properly sworn and instructed, besides twenty-three of the old Class.

(a) In this View of the Case, it must be admitted, that neither the Expence of Lumping nor Ship Constables can be considered as any new Charge; and ought not to be blended with the actual Expences of the Police System, since Lumpers and Watchmen must be paid for, whether there be a Police or not.

The

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The remaining fifteen were either excluded as impure characters, or declined the employment, either from a dread of the consequences of the oath of fidelity, and the control, or from the encouragement given them by those, who did not or would not, see the advantages held out to them by the Institution. The new Master Lumpers have been in training for a year; and, as they usually work along with the Labourers they employ, and are tied down by specific rules and an oath of fidelity, besides the direct control of the Surveyors, this Meeting is of opinion, that they are likely not only to be able to work at a cheaper rate, but also to conduct the operations of the Discharge with more purity, and with a greater attention to the interest of those, who are concerned either as Ship-Owners or Proprietors of the Cargoes. The average Expence on two hundred and eleven Ships worked out under these Master Lumpers appears, from the Documents produced at this Meeting, to have been 311. 165. 10d. per Ship, which does not seem to warrant the opinions which have been formed of the great increase of expence attached to the New System; nor is it fair to impute to this System those unavoidable charges, which may have arisen from the delays. occasioned by the want of Lighters and the crowded state of the Quays; a Contingency, which nothing but extended Conveniences can remove. The Question submitted by this Meeting to Ship-Owners, and to the Trade at large, is,"Whether, all circumstances considered, the expence is not as " moderate as could reasonably be expected, as a proper remu"neration,-not for criminal but honest Labour ?" And whether, after the great labour which has been bestowed in systematizing this Design, and in forming a new class of men, more likely (from personal attention, and from being under control) to conduct this branch of the business of the Port with honesty and economy, it is not decidedly the interest of Ship-Owners, as Guardians of the Property of their Employers, to attach themselves to an institution, where a Chain of Protection is established,

established, which does not and cannot attach to Ships or Car goes, which are not worked out under the control and inspection of this useful Establishment? Perhaps it may be necessary in this place to inform the Trade, that in all instances, where Plunder to any extent was detected last year, it proved to be from Ships not placed under the Protection of the Institution. It is for Ship-Owners and Agents, having the charge of such Ships, to determine how far they regard the interest of the Freighters in permitting the Property, intrusted to their care, to be open to Depredation, while the means of Prevention are accessible.

For the purpose therefore, of attaining the object in view, and to remove from the minds of all concerned every idea of profit to the Institution, from the exertions that are used to eradicate the Depredations, which have so long afflicted the ShippingConcerns and the Floating West-India Property in the River Thames, the following Propositions are made to Consignees and Ship-Owners:

I. That Master Lumpers, on the application of Ships' Husbands or their Agents, will be recommended by the proper Officer of the Institution who superintends that Department, with whom the Parties applying shall themselves make their own agreements, either on the Terms specified in the Table of Ducs already mentioned, or as much lower as can be obtained, with the benefit of the Protection of the Institution, provided such Master Lumpers, who shall superintend the work; are sworn to fidelity, and placed under the control of the Police, and the prices agreed on for specific Labour registered in the Office; and that two Constables are also applied for as Guards in the Ships and Lighters, at 2s. 6d. per day, and 2s. 6d. per night, each, while the Ship is discharging Goods, and to be reduced to half-pay during the period that no work is carrying on, after the first week; and the said Constables to be victualled on board.

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II. That

II. That on depositing 2s. per Ton, when any Ship is thus placed under the Protection of the Office, the Owners will be relieved of the trouble of paying the Lumpers weekly, which, in most instances, will be necessary where Master Lumpers are employed, who perform the work themselves; and who, on this account, will deserve a preference, although they may be unable to advance money till the work is finished.

III. In all cases where money is deposited, a faithful account shall be kept of the same; and an exact statement of payments and disbursements furnished each Ship's Husband after the Discharge, containing a specific statement or account of the advances to Master Lumpers and Constables, and the sums paid to each on a final settlement, (unless Ship's Husbands should signify a wish to make such final settlement themselves.) And, in consideration of the expence of Officers and Clerks, who must be employed in this Department, to engage Lumpers, adjust Accounts, and attend to the general detail of the Business, a charge only of five per cent. on the whole money disbursed shall be made, and the exact balance, as the case may be, either paid or received, so as to render it clear to Demonstration, that no benefit whatsoever rests with the Institution, inasmuch as the five per cent. on the Disbursements will be more than exhausted by the additional salaries to Officers and Clerks, and other expences which would not be incurred, independent of the Discharging System.

IV. In cases where Ships' Husbands may not incline to place their Ships under the immediate charge of the Office, it is recommended to them to attend particularly to the Police Rates, which have been found, by experience, to afford only a fair remuneration to those who are in the habit of performing a part of the labour themselves. Where separate agreements are made, it is recommended that the parties contracting shall be sent to the Office, for the purpose of having their names registered, and of being sworn to Fidelity. This will cost nothing, while it

may