affect ships of other nations, and any special regulations for British ships might act injuriously to British com merce. 4. It appears to Lord Derby that underwriters and shipowners might do much to effect the desired object without Government interference. I am, in conclusion, to state that Lord Derby understands that the Board of Trade are in communication with the Committee of Lloyd's, with a view to ascertain whether steps cannot be taken to secure the adoption of proper rules without applying for the compulsory interference of the Russian Government. I am, &c., (Signed) TENTERDEN. No. 6. The Secretary of Lloyd's to Lord Tenterden. (Received July 22.) LLOYD'S: July 21, 1875. MY LORD, I am directed by the Committee of Lloyd's to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant. I have only to remark, in reply, that it was not the intention of the Committee of Lloyd's to suggest a special law for British vessels loading at Russian ports that was ot applicable to those of other nations, but a universal regulation which might be applicable to vessels of all flags alike. The paragraph 4 of your letter is that which the Committee of Lloyd's is most concerned to answer, and perhaps I may possibly place before your Lordship the opinion of the Committee by enclosing a copy of a letter which has been written to the Board of Trade in reply to the communication from that Department upon the same subject, alluded to in your Lordship's letter of the 17th instant. (Signed) I have, &c., H. M. HOZIER, Secretary. Enclosure in No. 6. The Secretary of Lloyd's to the Assistant-Secretary to the Board of Trade. LLOYD'S: July 21, 1875. SIR, I have to acknowledge your letter of the 10th of July (replying to mine of the 19th of April addressed to the Foreign Office and referred to your Department) suggesting that instead of claiming the interference of the Russian Government to control the stowage of grain cargoes shipped from the Black Sea, the owners and underwriters should be the persons by whom a better state of loading should be enforced. The Committee would probably not have gone further into this question had it not been for the concluding paragraph of your letter, desiring their opinion upon the practicability of their action conducing to a better system; and upon this subject they are glad to have an opportunity of saying a few words, as it seems to them that there is much misconception about it. The province of underwriters is not to lead, but to follow, the course of trade; for the machinery by which commerce is carried on is independent of their control or consent; nor are the interests represented by the Committee really concerned in the matter, for whatever the risks of any special trade may be, proportionately to those risks is the payment for insurance ultimately regulated. It is possible that the interesting letter from the Consul-General at New York of the 24th of June, 1875, sent here from your Department, may have led to a belief that it is within the power of underwriters to regulate the loading of cargoes of the same description as those, the subject of this correspondence. But I beg to point out to you that the control the New York underwriters possess is limited to those ships the insurance of which is offered to their particular associated offices of the Board of Underwriters, while at Montreal, where Government interference prevails, the rules are absolute and general. Further, what may be possible by association in a limited area of business becomes impracticable when that area is greatly extended; and such a combination in England would simply result in transferring the market for insurance to other countries. The Committee indeed entertain doubts whether such a power of control among underwriters (though apparently useful in the present instance) would always be for the advantage of commerce. The Committee, fearing to go at greater length into this question at this moment, have intended to show very shortly that underwriters do not possess the power, and then that they have no direct interest in urging the point referred to in their letter of the 19th of April, and that they were moved only by a desire to bring authority to bear on a custom of trade that led directly to lamentable loss of life and inevitable destruction of property. They consider these subjects as directly coming under the legitimate interference of Governments, and that by them alone they can be effectually dealt with; and the Committee would be glad if you could decide to share these views, and return the letter to the Foreign Office backed with the influence of your opinion. (Signed) I am, &c., HENRY M. HOZIER, Secretary. No. 7. Lord Tenterden to the Secretary to Lloyd's. FOREIGN OFFICE: July 23, 1875. SIR,-I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant, containing further observations on the part of the Committee of Lloyd's with respect to the regulations for loading vessels at Russian ports. (4.) CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE GERMAN VESSEL 'TURANDOT,' CAPTURED BY A FRENCH CRUISER DURING THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. No. 1. Messrs. Smith, Sundius, and Co. to Earl Granville. (Received March 3.) 33 GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.C: March 1, 1873. MY LORD,-We are insurance brokers in this city. During the late war between France and Germany we effected insurances for 6,4007. upon the following goods laden on board the German ship 'Turandot,' Captain Meinert, from Hamburg, bound to Hong Kong, viz. :— The said ship was captured and taken to Saigon by the French cruiser Segond;' the above goods were sold there and realised 104,047f. 15c. The account sales and money for the proceeds were received by the Director of Prizes in Paris on or about the 2nd of January, 1872. Our agent, M. A. Châteauneuf Jeune, residing at 8 Boulevard Montmartre, Paris, has since made many applications for payment of said sum of 104,047f. 15c. G He was told that owing to various interests being mixed up and accounted for in one sum, the French Court of Prizes had proposed to the Reichskanzler in Berlin to pay over the proceeds to him for distribution among the interested. Afterwards he was informed by the Court of Prizes in Paris that the Reichskanzler had declined, or was unable, to make the distribution. We have, when in Paris (through the courtesy of M. Bourdin at the Prize Court), seen the account sales, and found the proceeds of sale of our above parcels of goods separately enumerated and distinctly defined. Wherefore we pray that your Lordship will be so good as to direct our Ambassador at Paris to see the authorities there and procure a prompt payment of the proceeds of sale to our said agent, M. Châteauneuf, unless, indeed, the French Government prefer to pay the sum to our Ambassador for transmission to your Lordship and for payment by you to the interested. (Signed) We are, &c., No. 2. SMITH, SUNDIUS, & Co. Viscount Enfield to Messrs. Smith, Sundius, & Co. GENTLEMEN,-In reply to your letter of the 1st instant, I am directed by Earl Granville to inform you that his Lordship has instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris to make enquiry concerning your claim on the French Prize Court for the proceeds of the sale of certain goods shipped on board the German vessel 'Turandot,' which you had insured before her capture by a French cruiser; and his Excellency has been instructed to give you such assistance in prosecuting your claim as he can properly afford. I am, &c., |