for this purpose, there is no reason why a State school-ship system, in New York, would not be entitled to the privilege of a dividend from the school-fund. And is it not an object worthy of the consideration of merchants, masters, and others, deeply interested in the wants of commerce and the condition of sailors, to so adapt ships to the benefit of the common school system as to induce boys, desirous of becoming seamen, to enter it instead of the ward schools?

The preparatory course of study need not in any way depart from that established by law; and for the apprentice, the advanced scholar, all that conduces to constitute the materials essential to form the skillful pilot and superior mariner, come under the head of astronomy, geology, and mathematics. The theory of navigation is wholly derived from the two former, and all the machinery and movements of a ship are founded on the latter. The action of the wind and the resistence of the water, and the relation of the ship to these, dictate the application of a good knowledge of hydrostatics and the effects of gravity, while a proficiency in philosophy, in all its branches, would be fraught with ennobling views.

An institution thus established on equal footing with other respectable pursuits, would at once attract youth desirous of following the sea for a livelihood. And it would be discovered that, although some boys may inadvertently be captivated by ungenial situations, yet those who would, under the circumstances here depicted, fix upon a seaman's life, will have already given proof of resolute hearts and noble minds, which will in the end guide and inspire them to climb to the very top of the ladder. The different grades of landsmen, ordinary seamen, and seamen, could be easily met by the necessary length of service for each in a well-graduated apprenticeship.

The great naval captain Nelson, and the warrior Hannibal, both learned to obey before they learned to command, by being instructed in the duties of subordination. And the former all his life inculcated that it was necessary to "be a seaman to be an officer; and, also, that it was impossible to be a good officer without being a gentleman"-principles at total variance with the present condition of sailors.

In whatever light we view the importance of improving the condition of seamen, the benefit to accrue therefrom to the commercial prosperity of the nation, reflects in unmeasured intensity. Hence we must needs conclude that the condition of seamen should, under all circumstances, be an object of the deepest solicitude to the government.

Art. VI. THE NEW YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ASSOCIATIONS of merchants under the name of Chambers of Commerce or Boards of Trade exist in nearly all the commercial cities of America, and in many of the maritime cities of Europe, particularly in Great Britain. The advantages of these associations are getting to be more and more appreciated, and the need of them is more and more felt as one year follows another. Having some acquaintance with the action, proceedings, and utility of commercial bodies both in the United States and Great Britain, we beg leave respectfully to make some suggestions on the subject in general, and particularly as to the future proceedings and organization of the Chamber of Commerce of New York. There has been a less

degree of activity in our Chamber of Commerce, and less reliance on associated efforts in New York for some years than in many other cities. This has doubtless resulted from the fact that New York as a city, and New York merchants individually, have neither lacked position, information, means, or power to carry out any public or private enterprise, either of a commercial or national character. The position of a city through which flows more than one-third of the exports and nearly two-thirds of the imports of the nation; a city that has a foreign commerce of nearly three hundred million dollars a year, is no way equivocal, and needs no special advertisement. But whatever may be the means of obtaining information, or influencing public opinion, possessed by the merchants of New York, it must be admitted that far more can be accomplished by well-directed associated efforts than by individual activity alone. The single fact that the New York Chamber of Commerce has been in existence about ninety years, that it has always exercised considerable influence on public opinion, been consulted and heard with respect by legislative bodies and leading statesmen, numbered among its officers and members the most eminent merchants of the city during several generations, and kept up an active existence for a longer period than the country has had a constitution, is a sufficient proof and guaranty of its usefulness and importance. There is not a merchant in New York, not an editor or commercial writer, not a member of the State Legislature or Congress from the city who does not have occasion to seek, collect, and use commercial information that is scattered over the world, distributed through newspaper files, buried up in books, or otherwise difficult of access, and which it should be the business and province of the Chamber of Commerce to gather together, arrange, and keep for daily reference. Commercial and financial information abounds largely in figures, and everything based on or relating to statistics necessarily involves toil and care, and requires sagacity and intelligence to arrange, collate, and systematize. Any person in such a field of labor who, for purposes of his own, collects information of any description, will necessarily obtain much that will be of value to others. We have experienced this particularly in our own labors as a commercial writer. But when statistical or other matter has been once collected, either for a private or public purpose, the same will often be found of use if recorded, filed away, or indexed for future reference. Many individuals, whether engaged in the active field of commercial writing, or devoted solely to commercial pursuits, will, in the course of a long life, collect in books and manuscripts a mass of information, much of which in a few years would be difficult of access or not obtainable at all. Every such person identified with, and feeling a pride in the commercial position of New York, would most gladly contribute or devise his collection to an active efficient body like the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, provided it had a READING-ROOM and LIBRARY, a "local habitation," as well as a "name," where the city and the great body of merchants could be benefited. This it seems to us is now the great want of the Chamber of Commerce. Individuals become members of a society when the privileges and advantages are worth the money and the time expended. Small advantages, even where the expenditure is trifling, will attract but few persons. Any association of business men in a large city, to be capable of accomplishing much good, must be a numerous body, and have extensive means, collections, and privileges. The organization should in every sense be a popular one. In the Library and collections of the Chamber

of Commerce, besides much that it is needless to particularize, there should be kept the following, which should be accessible at all times:

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Gazetteers, Commercial Dictionaries, and all standard works of every nation relating to commerce. Full sets from the commencement and current files of commercial periodicals and others. Full sets of the Bulletins and annual volumes of the Royal Geographical Society, the London Statistical Society, the American Geographical and Statistical Society, and other kindred societies in different localities and different nations. Catalogues of the Astor Library, the Smithsonian Institution, and of the principal libraries in the country, particularly of the large Universities and the different States. Catalogues of the libraries of the Historical Societies of the different States, and a copy of their annual volumes, which could be procured in exchange for the Annual Reports of the Chamber. Sets of the annual reports, back to the commencement where possible, and of the current regular and special reports each year of each Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade in the United States, Great Britain, the continent of Europe, and other parts of the world. All of these could be obtained in exchange for the Reports of the Chamber of Commerce. Maps and charts of every country and sea, those most required, mounted and exposed to view, and others in rolls and portfolios. Full sets of Maury's and other sailing charts, and records of all deep-sea soundings. All publications, records, maps, and charts of the United States Coast Survey, the Coast Survey of Great Britain, and when obtainable, of other countries. Lighthouse records, and every description of lighthouse information, notifications of localities where lighthouses are needed, where new ones are building, and where old ones have been destroyed. A full set of Congressional Debates, Niles' Register, the Congressional Globe, and of all the Government Reports and Reports of Departments, particularly all those relating to Commerce and Navigation, and, of these last, duplicate copies. Directories of the principal commercial cities of this country, as well as Directories of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Paris, Bremen, Hamburg, and some other places abroad. The London Gazette, and a current list of bankruptcies as they occur. Tariffs, customhouse arrangements, port charges, and commercial laws of all nations. Publications and statistics, and the laws of different States and nations relating to Banking, and to Life, Fire, and Marine Insurance. Rates of postage over sea, and to and in foreign countries, and the postal laws and regulations of different nations. A record of the time of departure and arrival, and the usual length of voyage of all lines of ocean mail steamers, and other post vessels throughout the world, and, where they can be obtained, the rates of freight and passage. Maps and other records of the leading telegraph lines throughout the world, with the constant addition of new ones and the rates of transmitting messages. Samples of telegraph cables used in submarine lines. Blank books should be prepared of convenient size and form for manuscript entries, and in these should be recorded under appropriate headings, every description of commercial statistics and information, and all regularly classified and indexed. Here should be a record of the state of the markets in distant and foreign ports, as received by telegraph and otherwise. A record of new geographical discoveries, new avenues of commerce, of discoveries in navigation, improvements in ship building, and drawings and models of superior or celebrated vessels, both sail and steam. Suitable books should be prepared in which to insert Trade Circulars, Price Currents, and Market Reports,

and others for the insertion of newspaper cuttings and other detached items of important commercial information that appear in print.

We have no commercial body in America that takes the place of "LLOYD'S" in Great Britain. Such a body should be the New York Chamber of Commerce. If necessary, the State Legislature or Congress should be applied to for suitable corporate powers. Whether it was a necessary and legal regulation or not, the character, class, and value of ships and vessels would be greatly enhanced by a registry at this American Lloyd's, the New York Chamber of Commerce. Here could be recorded and posted up for reference the arrival and departure of all vessels that trade at American ports, and a record of all shipwrecks and losses of American vessels. Information of this description so recorded would be of vast use, not only to merchants and shipowners, but to underwriters. With an organization like this it would be a matter of absolute necessity for every shipowner, importer, jobber, insurance and bank officer to become a member. In effecting insurances, in the sale and transfer of ships and cargoes, and in numerous other commercial transactions there would be less chance of fraud. The standard of mercantile integrity would necessarily be raised.

But the great want of the Chamber of Commerce is suitable premises for a Reading-room, Library, and place of meeting. Those who have been in Liverpool and in Glasgow must have observed the long and spacious halls used for merchant's reading-rooms in these cities. It is useless to say that we have nothing like either of these in New York. We never have had. How long shall this continue to be a reproach to our city? Where are the rooms to which a New York merchant can take a foreigner or a friend from a distance, and say with pride and satisfaction, "these premises belong to the merchants of the city, and here you can meet our distinguished men, read newspapers, and obtain the latest commercial intelligence from every part of the world?" The rotunda of the Exchange and the seven-by-nine reading-room in another part of that building, form the extent of these privileges. The elegant Greek temple belonging to the merchants of Glasgow has a reading-room on the ground floor for newspaper files, tables, and desks, not far from eighty feet by sixty. The Liverpool Exchange news-room, in the building forming the north side of the hollow square of Exchange Place, is over one hundred feet in length, and affords ample room and verge enough for three or four hundred gentlemen at once to read, converse, or promenade. There is no public room "where merchants most do congregate" in any other commercial city in the world that equals in extent or popularity this one at Liverpool. And how is its value and popularity created and sustained? Certainly by multiplying its privileges, and making it, as it were, absolutely necessary for every merchant of good standing to belong to it. It is a business concern,

not a club for idlers. There are between fifteen hundred and two thousand subscribers, who pay an annual fee of three guineas each. This furnishes a yearly income of about twenty-five thousand dollars. The privileges we will venture to say are not as great as they might be and should be to members of the New York Chamber of Commerce. This only professes to be a "news-room," and for that purpose it is too small. A late report from the Secretary says they are so crowded for accommodations that the association will be obliged to rent or build new premises. There are in attendance through the day seldom less than from two to four hundred persons. There are taken and placed on file and loose on tables, for con

venient use, sixty copies of the London Times, and from ten to forty copies of other daily papers published in London and Liverpool. Here are received regularly papers from China, Australia, India, the Cape of Good Hope, Buenos Ayres, Valparaiso, Lima, Rio Janeiro, California, Honolulu, Jamaica, the United States, British America, the continent of Europe, and, in fact, from every quarter where commerce spreads a sail or trade owns a votary. The signaling of every ship and the arrival and departure of every vessel is noted on a bulletin, and every important telegraph dispatch is furnished to the subscribers as soon as it arrives. Is there any need of enlarging on the vast utility and great interest of such an association? All this and much more could be accomplished by the Chamber of Commerce. The value of such a corporation to the merchants of New York would be in its current privileges. Its bearing on commercial legislation, and its influence on the commercial interests of the country, would depend on its organization, its activity, and efficiency, and the character of its officers. Rightly organized, such a body could as readily obtain four thousand members as one thousand. The annual fee of ten dollars, or whatever the sum might be, would be willingly contributed, provided there was a tangible quid pro quo. Merchants, in paying out their money, expect to receive their money's worth. A suitable building for a reading-room, for a room for public meetings, for committee-rooms, and for a library, might be owned, or one might be erected by a jointstock company, and rented to the Chamber. This building should be down town, in the vicinity of Nassau or Wall street. For evening meetings, once a quarter or oftener, a room could be hired up town. An officer, either Librarian or Secretary, should be elected, who should be paid a salary and required to devote his time exclusively to the service of the Chamber. On him would devolve the general superintendence of the rooms and materiel. A part of his duty would be to prepare the annual report of the Chamber, and this report could and should be made of great interest and value. A glance at the last report (1857) of the Boston Board of Trade will show what can be embodied in such a report when it is written by a competent person. Commercial statistics, digests of commercial laws, tariff duties, &c., with a general resume of the commerce of the port and of the country, should appear in this annual volume. Commerce rules the world, and unquestionably, with all our enterprise, our cousins across the Atlantic have outstripped us in many a race, and carried away trade that would legitimately belong to our merchants, except for our neglect.

If an individual or a company to-day were desirous of extending steam commerce to the South American ports, to Australia, China, or the Mediterranean, there is not a reading-room, a library, a chamber of commerce, a board of trade, or a single public or private library of books in the United States where anything like a complete collection of current commercial laws, trade reports, and commercial statistics can be found. To get at information necessary to form an opinion of the practicability and success of such an enterprise, the merchant must begin de novo, as he knows not which way to turn for the necessary information, unless he happen to find it in some editor's room, or in other private hands.

There might be two classes of members, resident and honorary members. Retired merchants, officers of other Chambers of Commerce or Boards of Trade, individuals who make valuable donations to the Chamber, or others, could be made honorary members. In a country like