Mr. Chamberlain 1 80 speculation 3 months. John L. Douglas 1 110 on contract 3 months. Lovewell none. I am, respectfully, Sir, Your very obedient Servant, To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. &c. SAM. PAGET, jun. State of Ship-building at Teignmouth Within, and the Harbour of Teignmouth in the Port of Exeter. Mr. John Stevens' yard-1 brig, 170 tons: 1 sloop, 60 tons; contract; laid down, brig 1805, sloop 1804. Thomas Sutton's yard-1 frigate, 2 schooners, for govern •ment account. John Heath's yard-1 frigate, for government account. Do.-1 brig, 160 tons, on speculation; laid down 1804. William Curtis's yard-1 do. 120 tons, on speculation; laid down 1806. John Tucker's yard-none at present. William Rundle's yard-1 ship, 170 tons, on contract, 1805, just launched. To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. &c. JOHN SPARK. Bideford, May 10, 1806. SIR, YOUR letter of the 26th ultimo, directed to us at Barnstaple, came safe to hand, and we are sorry that it has not been in our power till now to forward you an accurate list of the vessels building within our bar. It will at all times give us pleasure to render our best assistance in all undertakings for the public good; and we beg that you will at all times freely command, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants, To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. &c. JOHN WILLCOCK and SON YOURS I duly received, and immediately waited on the ship-builders of this place; and on the other side you have the number of ships building, and already built, on speculation. The shipping interest of this port is much on the very decline-if any are either lost or taken, the owners do not wish to replace them, on account of every thing being so heavy on the shipping interest.-I have three ships, and if any thing should happen to any of them, I will not replace them. Ship-builders, &c. Mr. J. Shepherd has two on his own account, which have been advertised six months and upwards, and cannot be sold.Mr. P. Atkinson has several from 105 to 215 tons; wishes to decline business, as from what ships he has built, they cannot be sold, there being no demand.-Hall and Richardson are now building one for sale.-R. Gleadow has one on the stocks on speculation, 275 tons.-Westerdale and Barnes one, twelvemonths on stocks, just sold to Liverpool, 265 tons.-Mr. Wm. Gibson is building one for sale, 268 tons. contract. Mr. T. Stevenson, just left Paghill, not being able to get a Several small builders have declined business on account of no demand.-One ship now, all timbered, at Grovehill, and has been two years on the stocks, and cannot be sold, 140 tons.-Mr. Foster, of Selby, one vessel just launched, 150 tons, for sale.-Mr. Smith, of Gainsbro', two for sale; I don't hear of any contract in this port, or up these rivers. Many more ships were built when shipping interest was flourishing.Ships building here for the merchant service are all on speculation, and no demand.-Any further information that I can give, shall be happy in so doing; as amendment for the shipping interest is very much wanted. I am, dear Sir, Your humble Servant, MICH. ANDREWS. To Mr. John Sparke, London. SIR, Aberdeen, May 10, 1806. YOUR favour of the 26th of April was received, and in answer to it, the ship-building trade, not only at this port, but at Montrose, Peterhead, and the other neighbouring ports, has very much decreased of late; so much so that, from the years 1798 to 1801, we had never less than from twelve to fifteen vessels always on the stocks at one time; and their tonnage from 80 to as large as 370 tons register; and they were generally contracted for as soon as they were begun to be built: whereas at present we have seldom more than from four to seven building at one time, and their tonnage from 80 to 160 tons register. The two last that were launched were not sold until several months after they were ready to launch, and then at very low prices; and, were it not to keep the men employed that the master ship-builders.require for old work, we suppose the building trade could not be carried on at the present prices of timber and wages, contrasted with the price per ton when finished; this we can safely assert, as having a large connection in shipping ourselves, we are necessitated to keep a building yard for our own private use, which we find very unproductive.-If the committee want any other information in our power, we shall be happy to give it. We are, with respect, Sir, To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. Your obedient humble Servants, DEAR SIR, Weymouth, May 13, 1806.. YOUR favour of 26th April would have had a more prompt answer, but I was unfortunately from home when it arrived, and did not return till Saturday last, since which I have made enquiry respecting vessels now building here, and find there are on the stocks, One brig of 143 tons, laid down April 1803, nearly finished. One sloop of 55 tons, laid down March 1805, about half ditto. One ditto of 61 tons, laid down April 1805, nearly ditto. One brig of 203 tons, laid down April 1805, about a quarter ditto. All building on speculation. If I can render the society of ship-owners, or yourself, any further service in this or any other respect, I shall be happy in so doing. I am, Sir, Ship-builders. Ships. Tons. April 19, 1806 Mess. Fishburn and Broderick i about 400 SIR, Arbroath, May 12, 1806. I WAS favoured with yours of the 7th current: in answer to which, there are at this port only two small vessels building just now; the one is a sloop, upon contract, and was laid down about the 20th December last, measuring fifty-six tons, capenters' tonnage; and the other is a brig, upon speculation, which was laid down about the 15th Feb. last, and will measure about 138 tons. I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. &c. JOHN CHRISTIE DEAR SIR, Bo-Ness, May 12, 1806. YOUR favours of the 7th instant came duly to hand, and observe the contents. I am building a ship by contract of about 330 tons register; she was laid down the 1st of March last: one of sixty-four tons register, laid down in the month of February: and my neighbour, Mr. Smart, is building one of thirty tons register, laid down last month. I am, dear Sir, To Nat. Atcheson, Esq. &c. Your most obedient Servant, SIR, Hull, May 17, 1806. YOUR letter, addressed to me at Kingston port, under date of 7th of May instant, I have had sent me here, being the place of my residence. I have for the last four or five years persevered in building ships, vainly hoping that the value of shipping would grow better, first one year and then a second year, and so on until I found by experience, and to my very great loss, that my ships kept increasing in my hands, without being able to sell any; it being my plan to build the ships and to sell them: instead of which, I have now on my hands twelve ships from 120 to 610 tons register measurement; and, with the exception of three, which are in the employ of government, are all doing nothing; and I conceived it is more to my interest to let them remain unemployed than to employ them at the current freights, which |