15 MARCH 1884, Page 2

The Merchant Shipping Bill; of course, does not propose to•

prevent the small capitalist from insuring his ships, but only from recovering more than their real value; and Sir E. J. Reed, on behalf of the Shipping interest, states, in a letter published side by side with Lord Salisbury's speech in Thursday's Times, that the principles on which Mr. Chamberlain's Bill insists are entirely sound, and that the Shipping interest are ready to concede them,—on condition that the Bill is shelved for this Session. Lord Salisbury, then, and Sir E. J. Reed do not at all agree, not even in their end. Sir E. J. Reed's end is to shelve the Merchant Shipping Bill ; Lord Salisbury's midis to bring about the foundering of the Government.