Extracted from Ship Owners Society Meeting, London, December, 16th 1825
1. An Act to repeal the general Laws relating to Quarantine .... —By this act, the shipping interest is relieved from the tonnage duty formerly payable on vessels subject to quarantine, many restraints are removed ; the penalty of death for a breach of quarantine is done away with ; and the pecuniary penalties are considerably reduced. ....
6. An Act for the encouragement of British shipping and navigation, cap. 109.— This act contains the whole law on the subject of the importation of goods of different countries from the several parts of the world ; and should be in the possession of the master of every British vessel trading to foreign parts.
The principal provisions of this act are:
'First, the allowing the produce of foreign countries in Asia, Africa and America to be imported in their own ships.
'Secondly, the allowing all the produce of the Mediterranean, and of the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco, to be imported in British ships, from any place in the Mediterranean.
'Thirdly, as formerly, British ships are to be navigated by a master and crew, whereof fourths at least are British ; but every such vessel is to be deemed duly navigated, which shall have one national seaman to every 20 tons, whatever may be the number of foreign seamen.
'To those parties, and numerous they are, who, with an ample three-fourths of a crew national seamen have unfortunately had a fraction of foreign seamen on board, exceeding one fourth of the whole number, the value of a fixed rule like this will be felt.
'Fouthly, the penalty for an excess of foreign seamen is 10/- for each man. A ship is no longer liable, for trifling or unintentional fault, to be dragged by a cruiser thousands of miles out of her voyage, there being no for feiture of that ship throughout the Act. ....

The Liverpool Packets having met with general approbation and support, the owners of them have concluded to add to the number of vessels employed in that establishment — and they now intend that the following ships shall sail between New-York and Liverpool, in regular succession, twice in each month, from each port leaving both New-York and Liverpool on the 1st and 16th of every month throughout the year, viz:

By a Postscript in the Commercial Advertiser, we are informed that the Packet ship Columbia, which sailed from Liverpool on the 3rd March, had arrived at New York on the 1st instant. There are 9 Packets from Liverpool, 3 from London, and 3 from Havre, now on their way to the port of New York, consequently we may expect by next mail abundance of information, for which we still wait before giving utterance to some reports which are in Circulation through town, upon mercantile transactions.

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The Honorable and Revd. Doctor Strachan of York, U.C. sailed for England from New York on the 1st inst.
Mr. Charles S. Rodier, Merchant of this city [Montreal], came passenger in the Columbia, and arrived here on Thursday last, after an absence of not more than three months.

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The ice in the river is gradually clearing away ; Canoes, with passengers, have crossed between point St. Charles and Laprarie yesterday and Thursday.

Shipwreck.— The ship Queen Mab, March 29th, lat. 42, long. 62 22, fell in with the brig Mary, Mayward, of and from Boston, in a sinking condition— her crew being in such an exhausted situation that they were unable to get their boat out ; on perceiving which we lowered our boat and suceeded with difficulty, a heavy sea running, and it blowing fresh, in getting her crew off the wreck.
Captain Mayward sailed from Boston, 26th March, for Gottenburg, with a cargo of sugar, coffee, fustic, and cotton ; when Captain M. left her, the main deck was a foot and a half under water. The leak commenced on the night of the 27th, in a heavy gale. Vessel and cargo lost. John Blair, an American seamen, one of the crew of the Mary, died on board the Queen Mab.

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From the New York Daily Advertiser
Mr. Canning and Professor Everett.— We find by our late English papers that long discussions were held in the House of Commons in the beginning of March, on the subject of West India Slavery. We quote below a sentence from Mr. Canning's remarks to compare it with a sentiment lately advanced in the Congress of the U. States, on the same point.
During his speech on the Panama question, Mr. Everett said: "Domestic Slavery is not in my judgement, to be set down as an immoral and irreligious relation."
Mr. Canning said
"No man would affirm that a state of slavery is consistent with the British constitution, and still less was it consistent with the mild spirit of Christianity."

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Melancholy Catastrophe.— A letter published in the New-Haven Herald dated at Antigua, West Indies, March 9th states that the whole of the Methodist Mission Family stationed at that Island, had been shipwrecked near a small place called Sandy Island. They were wrecked in the mail boat from Montserrat to Antigua, having left the vessel they had been to St. Kitts in and which arrived safe, she being a dull sailor. — The persons on board, besides the crew, were : Rev. Mr. White, wife, three children and servant ; Rev. Mr. Hilliar ; Rev. Mr. Oak ; Rev. Mr. Jones, wife & infant child ; Mr. ——, and the missionary & wife ; and a young lady — in all twenty-one persons, of whom only the wife of Mr. Jones was saved, and she was so ill that the doctors forbid her being questioned. The folloeing circumstances, however have been communicated by her : the vessel struck on the reef in the night, three or four days had elapsed wen she was taken off. — Mr. White, his wife and three children, and servant were all swept away together, clinging to each other ; Mr. Hilliar attempted to swim to Sandy Island, and was drowned in her sight ; her infant was washed away from her arms ; her husband died on her lap, the night before she was taken off, and was washed away. As returning recollection opens to her the horrors of the scene she has witnessed, I am told she often exclaims, "O, Captain Whitney, why did he save me !" Capt. W. saved her, when only himself and her were on the wreck, by placing her between the bowsprit bitts, where she was found, insensible. The body of Captain W. was the only one found.

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Port of Montreal.— The Steam Boat Le Canadian arrived here on Monday evening, and proceeded yesterday to Laprairie, between which place and this city, we understand she is to ply regularly twice a day until the 20th next month. The Laprairie left here this morning at four o'clock for Laprairie, where she is to take in tow the new Steam Ferry Boat Henry, which was launched last fall. The Laprairie will, probably commence her first trip to Quebec tomorrow night.
There are now twelve schooners and one brigantine in port.

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About 11 o'clock, on Friday night last, a meteor was discovered directly over this city, which for the moment, shed a light of such brilliancy as to strike the beholders with admiraton. The size appeared to be many degrees larger than the moon, when at full, and was visible about two or three seconds, when it dissolved "into thin air," without any explosion. Various conjectures and forbodings have been hazarded by many of our superstitious pretenders to astronomy, on account of this vistor, all of which are too absurd to merit attention.

In York, Upper Canada, an action for damages, in consequences of a disappointment in Marriage, occasioned by defamation, was tried. The Plaintiff was a Miss Jane White, lately arrived from England, and the Defendants name is Mark Hutchinson, who had formerly paid his addresses to her, but was refused. The slander was made in presence of a young man (a Mr. Milburn) to whom Plaintiff was about to be married, but who broke off the match in consequence of the statement of the Defendant. Verdict for Plaintiff, damages £100 — Defendant in now in York Jail for the amount, and costs of suit.

Short Passage.— The ship Navy, arrived at Charleston Saturday week last, from Liverpool. It is stated in the Charleston papers that the ship had been only sixty-one days absent for the latter port. The Packet ship William Thompson, Captain Bowne, of this port, the last voyage, was absent only sixty-five days. He had a passage of only 17 days out, the passengers being only seventeen days from the time they left the City Hotel, in this city, until they were snugly at supper in the King's Arms in Liverpool. Captain B. came back in twenty-five days, having been only forty-two days at sea on the voyage both ways.

Shipping Intelligence.— The Walrus entered the Gulph on the 14th instant, encountered very little ice, and saw a brig on the same day apparently bound up. Montmorenci, Crown, Sir George Provost, and two or three others were to sail about fives days after.

Shipping Intelligence.— There has been but one arrival since the Walrus. A number of river craft have come up from different parts below, but afford no intelligence of any vessels being in the river ; as a number are, however known to have sailed early, their arrival may be daily looked for.

Intelligence.— The Sophia was two days in the ice near the east end of Anticosti, got clear by going round the Magdalen Islands. Spoke the ship Priscilla, from Plymouth for Quebec on the 28th inst. [ult.] off Anticosti, and the ship Columbus, bound to the Gaspé off the Bird Islands—saw a brig (tight) bound up, no name known. The Sophia lost two of her seamen overboard on the passage.

DIED.— In Quebec, suddenly on the 14th inst. on board the brig Southampton, Mr. James H. Dill, second Mate of that vessel, and son of J. Dill Esq. of Bermuda, of an Apoplexy, aged 18.—from May 20th issue of the Canadian Courant

The new Steam-Boat Lady of the Lake, which was built at the Cascades, arrived here on Tuesday, and is now receiving her engine. This vessel was navigated to Montreal through the Rapids, and although the experiment might be considered dangerous, yet we are happy to say that not the slightest accident occurred.— We are informed that she will be ready to commence her regular trips between this place and Quebec in a few weeks. She is owned by Mr. James Greenfield of Montreal.

By private letters from Quebec received in town [Montreal] yesterday, we are informed that the Honble. East-India Company's Ship Roxborough Castle, Capt. Denny, from Canton, laden with teas, had arrived at Quebec on the 10th inst. The R.Castle left Canton on the 21st January last, and learned from the captain of an Indiaman, homeward bound at St. Helens, that the Burmese war had terminated—of this event (if correct) we may expect further particulars by the next arrival from England. We have also heard that another vessel from Greenock had arrived at Quebec, the name of which we have not ascertained, and it is likewise reported that the Honble. Doctor Stewart, Lord Bishop of Quebec, had come passenger in her.

In lat. 47,30, lon. 40,50, the Amethyst picked up the stern of a boat marked "Oxford of Greenock," and "James Davidson," inside.

Quebec, May 22 1826

We beg the attention of the Mercantile community to the extracts from the treaty between Great Britain and France, published in the French side of the Gazette. The principal features are ; That British and French vessels may not be admitted into the territory of Great Britain (except the possessions of the East-India Company) and France, and their colonies, upon a footing of entire reciprocity as to duties—and that the productions or manufactures of either power or of their colonies may be imported or exported in these vessels. A British vessel may therefore go direct to France or its colonies with the productions of Lower Canada, and pay the same duties as a French vessel now does ; and a French vessel may come direct from France or its colonies to Lower Canada, and pay the same duties as paid upon English vessels ; the reports being regulated in either country by the existing commercial laws.— Old Gazette

Canal Navigation.— We understand that the repairs upon the canal, between Lockport and this place, will be so far completed, during the present week, as to admit the passage of boats. Arrivals have been frequent at Lockport, for several days past, and an immense quantity of goods are already there, destined for the west.

Steam Boat Chippawa.— This Boat has commenced plying between Cleveland and Detroit, touching at the imtermediate ports. She is commanded by Capt. Whitaker, and leaves each of the above mentioned ports every fourth day.— Buffalo Journal

Colonel John Bye (By) in 1826 was appointed as Superintending Engineer of the Rideau Canal. He and his family, continued to Montreal aboard the Steam Boat New Swiftsure, on June 1st.

The bark Sydney Packet, from Liverpool, was spoken off the Magdalen Islands by the Active, arrived yesterday from London and supplied with one man. The Sydney Packet had been ashore at St. Peter's Island, where the passengers (nine in number) and four seamen landed and remain.— the same vessel and a schooner are now on shore on White Island shoal.

A distressing melancholy accident took place in the town of Derby, Vermont on Saturday, the 27th ult. Two men, one by the name of Elisha Goddard, the other Winthrop Fox, were engaged in rafting logs across a mill-pond, when suddenly, and unexpectedly, the raft separated, and they were both precipitated into the water. Goddard being a good swimmer, succeeded in reaching the shore, while Mr. Fox, not having the art was drowned. He was thirty-eight years three months, and seventeen days old when drowned, and left a wife and seven children (mostly small) to lament the loss of a kind, indulgent and affectionate husband and father. He was the son of Mr. Silas Fox of Stanstead, Lower Canada.