- —Charges levied by the Dock Companies—Docks in provincial ports,
and bonded warehouses—Liverpool and Birkenhead Docks—Port
of Liverpool, its commerce, and its revenue from the docks—Extent
of accommodation—Extension of docks to the north—Hydraulic lifts
and repairing basins—Cost of new works—Bye-laws of the Mersey
Board—The pilots of the Mersey—Duties of the superintendents—Conditions
of admission to the service—Pilot-boats and rates of
pilotage Pages 408-442
CHAPTER XIII.
East India Company—Early struggles—Rival company—Private
traders—Coalition effected—Their trade, 1741-1748, and continued
difficulties up to 1773—Their form of charter—Rates of freight—Gross
earnings—Evidence of Sir Richard Hotham before the Committee
of Inquiry—The effect of his evidence—Reduction of duties,
August 1784—Extent of tea trade—Opposition of independent
shipowners—India-built ships admitted to the trade—Board of
Control established, 1784—Value of the trade, 1796—Charter
renewed, with important provisions, from 1796 to 1814—Restrictions
on private traders—East India Company's shipping, 1808-1815—The
trade partially opened—Jealousy of free-traders—Efforts
of the free-traders at the out-ports—Comparative cost of
East India Company's ships and of other vessels—Opposition to the
employment of the latter—Earl of Balcarras—Her crew—Actions
fought by the ships of the Company—Conditions of entering the
service—Uniforms—Discipline—Promotion—Pay and perquisites—Abuse
of privileges—Direct remuneration of commanders—Provisions
and extra allowances—Illicit trade denounced by the Court,
and means adopted to discover the delinquents—Connivance of
the officers of the Customs—Pensions, and their conditions—Internal
economy of the ships—Watches and duties—Amusements—Gun-exercise—Courts-martial—Change
in the policy of the East
India Company—Results of free-trade with India, and of the
Company's trading operations—China trade thrown open, 1832-1834—Company
abolished, 1858—Retiring allowances to commanders
and officers—Compensations and increased pensions granted—Remuneration
of the directors—Their patronage 443-488
CHAPTER XIV.
Progress of shipping—Thetis, West Indiaman—A "Free-trader"—Internal
economy—Provisioning and manning—Shipping the crew—Crimps
and agents—Duties on departure of ship—Watches—Duties
of the Master—Who has control over navigation—Making
and shortening sail—Tacking, etc.—Ordinary day's work, how ar-*
