A deputation of some fifty gentlemen from the shipowners of
Liverpool Glasgow, Greenock, Newcastle, Sunderland, and other ports of the king- dom, had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday afternoon, to urge upon him the necessity for reconsidering the bill now in the House of Commons for the repeal of the Navigation-laws. Mr. Masterruan, M.P., and Mr. Cardwell, M.P., introduced them; and Mr. Dunbar, Mr. H. C. Chapman, and Mr. George Frederick Young, were the chief speakers on, their behalf. Lord John made this reply-
" This is not a new question at all. I am happy to hear all the representa- tions that you can make, but I cannot consider it as a question held out for the first time on which opinions are to be taken; a measure having been introduced last year on the subject, on which a great deal of discussion took place. I feel that Mr. Young, as well as other members of the deputation, have put forth the objections to the proposed measure with great ability and information; but I can- not regard this as a new question which should be now taken into consideration, or one on which my mind is not made up; and therefore, receiving your repre- sentations, and very much lamenting that I don't take the same view as your- selves, I can only say we must proceed with the bill which is to be brought for- ward tonight."
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