COMBINATION OF WHARFINGERS IN 1674. Extracts of a Petition of the Merchants and Traders in London, to the House of Commons, in 1674. "Sheweth, "That, by the acts and rates made in the reign of King Charles II. as appears in the book of rates, all goods imported from parts beyond seas to the port of London must be landed at those keys and wharfs only that lye betwixt Tower-Dock and London-Bridge: And that all goods landed in any other place, without particular licence from the commissioners of the customs, are forfeited; which wharfs and keys were formerly managed by separate wharfingers." They complained that the wharfingers" had entered into a combination and partnership to make them all one joint concern, which, if continued, the burdens and losses trade will be subject to by this copartnership will be intolerable, because 1st. The ships are now twice as long in delivering as they were before this copartnership, by their not employing that number of lighters and lightermen that are necessary, but making the merchants wait, that one lighter may do the business of three, which is a great charge to shipping as well as a hindrance to our navigation and trade. "2d. That the said copartners have also advanced the rates of their wharfage and rents of their warehouses upon the said wharfs, and they may further advance them to what rates they please. "3d. That when, by the carelessness of the servants or want of due attendance, the lighters are sunk and the goods perished, or that the goods are stolen out of their lighters or warehouses," -that they did not know whom to sue, as the copartners were not a corporate body, and that they refused to discover themselves. What was the result of this business does not fully appear, than that this petition was referred to the Privy-Council; and from thence to the lord-mayor and aldermen of London. The merchants delivered in the table of rates they had been accustomed to, and which they were willing to give. The wharfingers also delivered in their proposed tables of rates, which was, on an average, very near an advance of three to one on the old rates, and in many cases it was more. The plea for the increase was the great loss by the fire of London, in 1666, and the rebuilding of warehouses at a great expense and more convenient than ever. Near 130 years have since elapsed, and there is now the plea of heavy rents and expenses for an increase of charges. If there were combinations and disagreements in 1674, what must be the evil of 1793 ? If 1666 ENGLAND, &e A STATE OF THE CUSTOMS OF The total Amount of the Customs of England. At the Port of London, Outwards Inwards At all the Out-Ports, per ann. Outwards £61,322 16 7 £. 109,572 18 £25,471 19 7 38,502 94 £. s. d. 148,075 7 N.B. Very near three to one in favour of London. was, per annum 1700-1714 The net revenue of the customs in England, on an average of 15 years, The amount of the customs received, as stated by Davenant, in the port of London Out-ports The gross amount of the customs for the port of London may be estims. 1792 The number of ships cleared out from the Port of London for foreign Parts were RFINGERS IN 1674. nts and Traders in London, ns, in 1674. 1792The number of ships belonging to the port of Of about (and exclusive of Coasters 399,000 tons. de in the reign of King rates, all goods imported London must be landed at e betwixt Tower-Dock and landed in any other place, mmissioners of the customs, were formerly managed by "had entered into a them all one joint concern, losses trade will be subject le, because long in delivering as they ir not employing that nume necessary, but making the y do the business of three, as well as a hindrance to our ve also advanced the rates warehouses upon the said ce them to what rates they ness of the servants or want sunk and the goods perished, their lighters or warehouses," sue, as the copartners were used to discover themselves. ess does not fully appear, than he Privy-Council; and from men of London. The mers they had been accustomed to, e. The wharfingers also delites, which was, on an average, one on the old rates, and in lea for the increase was the n 1666, and the rebuilding of 1 more convenient than ever. and there is now the plea of ease of charges. If there were $74, what must be the evil of If If it were of moment, other periods of complaint might be stated, and particularly in the Earl of Bute's administration, about the year 1763; when the idea of the extension of the legal quays was warmly espoused and taken up by his lordship; but the then landed interests of the wharfs, &c. overcame the interests of com merce. THE |