Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/601

 your letter, I am to state to you that the matters to which they relate are under consideration.

I am, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

.

To, Esq., Manor House, Shepperton.

Manor House, Shepperton, Middlesex, 29th September, 1866.

,

I have to acknowledge receipt of your letters of 21st and 26th inst., and I am glad to learn that two of the questions to which I ventured to direct your Lordship's attention have, since 1860, been settled in a satisfactory manner.

As regards the third, viz., the limitation of shipowners' liability, may I trouble you with an extract herewith Extract from the 'New York Herald' of 10th October, 1860:—

""

'Remarks of Mr. W. S. Lindsay, M.P., at the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Tuesday evening, 9th October.

"Mr. Lindsay said: With these preliminary remarks, allow me to state to you the objects which I have in view in meeting you this evening. I will speak first in reference to the liability of Shipowners, because that, perhaps, is one of the most important questions, and one which I think is not sufficiently understood. I do not think that it is generally known how the Shipowners of both countries stand with regard to each other on this question. As our respective laws now stand, any Shipowner of this country or of England, however wealthy, may rise any morning and find himself a ruined man. That is a serious thing to consider. The law of England limits the responsibility of our Shipowners to the value of the ship and freight. In most other countries of Europe the responsibility of the Shipowners is also limited to a similar extent. That is likewise the law in this country, as far as I understand your law. That is to say, if one of your ships runs down another at sea, and you pay into your courts the value of the ship and freight, your responsibility cannot be carried beyond that value. Now this is very good so far as the laws of the respective countries stand. But if my ship runs down another ship in which any American subject is interested, I am made responsible, in your courts, not merely for the value of my ship and freight, but for whatever amount of damage may have been sustained through the collision brought about by my ship. Therefore if my ship runs down a vessel with cargo and freight on board to the extent of 200,000l. sterling, I would be responsible for the whole. If, on the other hand, your ships at sea run down any other ship in which a British subject is interested, and the action for loss is raised in our courts, you are held responsible for the full amount of the damage which your from the*