onerous detriment, not only to our foreign commerce but also to our large woolen industry and to our commercial marine.

From the fact that the project of a new tariff bill, which was submitted to the House of Representatives at the last regular session, but which failed to pass, contained a sensible reduction, and a most important equalization of those duties, your Committee feel encouraged to hope that the general amendment of our tariff, which it is to be hoped will be carried out at the coming session, will include effective relief in these premises.

Your Committee therefore recommend the adoption of the following resolutions:

Resolved, That this Chamber fully acknowledges the justice of the complaints of the Chambers of Commerce of Australia and NewZealand, and that this Chamber will, at every occasion, renew. its previous petitions to Congress for relief from the exorbitant duties on wool.

Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this report and resolution to the Chambers of Commerce of Australia and New-Zealand, with the respectful greeting of this Chamber.

(Signed,)

Respectfully submitted.

JAMES W. ELWELL, Chairman. NEW-YORK, November 5, 1879.

The report and resolutions were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be placed on file.

Mr. SCHWAB submitted a further report in behalf of the same Committee, on the adoption of the cental, consisting of one hundred half kilograms of the metrical system, as a measure of weight in all transactions where it may be applicable:

To the Chamber of Commerce:

Your Committee having had under consideration the resolution offered by Mr. SAMUEL B. RUGGLES at the last regular meeting, by which it is intended to commit this Chamber to an agitation for the adoption as a measure of weight in all transactions where it may be applicable not only of the cental, but of a cental consisting of a hundred half kilograms of the metrical system, do respectfully report as follows:

That your Committee are deeply sensible of the great advantages which would result to our country from the introduction into general use of the metrical system of weights and measures, which during the past ten or fifteen years has been adopted by nearly all the commercial nations on the continent of Europe and in South America.

That in the opinion of your Committee such a change should not be attempted by any partial introduction of the system, such as seems to be intended by the resolution; success would seem to be possible only by a complete change from the present incoherent system to the scientifically approved metrical system of weights and measures of all kinds, not only in commercial transactions but for all the varied uses of life.

That your Committee are further of the opinion, that a reform of this magnitude will be found practicable only under the auspices of our Government, and in accordance with a compulsory act of Congress to which, therefore, attempts of this kind will have to be directed. Your Committee, however, consider it inexpedient at the present time for this Chamber to take action in the premises, and for the following reasons:

Our present system of weights and measures being derived from Great Britain, and identical with that in use in that country with which we have the most active commercial intercourse, our foreign commerce could derive no benefit, but would probably be subject to greater inconvenience from the system in question, unless the same change should be simultaneously adopted by England. The Chamber, furthermore, are aware that the New-York Produce Exchange is now engaged in a well prepared movement for establishing the use of the pound avoirdupois, and of the cental or a hundred of such pounds, as the standard for buying and selling all produce hitherto sold by weight under other standards. The success of this movement, however, is, up to this time, not fully assured, inasmuch as the difficulties in the way of making the cental the standard for all transactions in the most important article of grain, have compelled that body to grant an extension of the period of its introduction into that branch of business from the first of October, of this year, to the first of January, 1880. Any agitation for the adoption of the metrical system at this time would, in the opinion of your Committee, tend to jeopardize the success of that very desirable reform, which, on the other hand, may well be considered as a most suitable preparation for the future introduction of the best system of weights and measures known to the civilized world. In view of these facts, your Committee beg leave to move that the resolution submitted for their consideration be laid on the table.

Respectfully submitted.

(Signed,)

NEW-YORK, November 5, 1879.

JAMES W. ELWELL,

Chairman.

On motion of Mr. SAMUEL B. RUGGLES, the report was received, and action thereon deferred to the next regular meeting of the Chamber.

Mr. RUGGLES, as the delegate of the Chamber to the late Annual Conference of the Association for the Reform and Codification of the Laws of Nations, recently held in London, reported that Sir

ROBERT PHILLIMORE, President of the Conference, had proposed in his inaugural address a fundamental change in the Laws of Nations by substituting the rule of Christian justice in place of the great armaments now maintained in Continental Europe. Mr. RUGGLES said he had, in behalf of the Chamber, earnestly united in the vote of thanks to the distinguished author.

Thereupon, on motion, it was ordered that the address be printed under the direction of the Executive Committee, for the use and information of the members.

RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. SCHWAB offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That a Special Committee of three members be appointed by the Chair to investigate the various charges levied upon the shipping entering into and clearing from this port, by the National and State authorities, and report to the Chamber such recommendations as the present condition of business imperatively demands.

This resolution was unanimously adopted, and the Chair thereupon appointed as the Special Committee, Messrs. GUSTAV SCHWAB, FRANKLIN EDSON and JOSIAH O. WARD.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A communication was read from Mr. HAMILTON A. HILL, Acting Secretary of the National Board of Trade, dated Boston, October 14, 1879, giving notice that the next Annual Meeting of the Board would be held in the City of Washington, on the 10th December next. The communication was referred, with power, to the delegation appointed to attend the meetings of the National Board. The Chamber then adjourned.

Monthly Meeting. Thursday, December 4, 1879.

A regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held this day, at one o'clock, P. M., at the Rooms of the Chamber, No. 63 William-street.

PRESENT.

SAMUEL D. BABCOCK, President.

GEORGE WILSON, Secretary.

And a quorum of members.

The minutes of the last regular meeting, held November 6, were read and approved.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

Mr. GUSTAV SCHWAB, in behalf of the Executive Committee, reported the nomination for membership of Mr. WILLIAM B. DINSMORE by Mr. ELLIOTT F. SHEPARD, and recommended his election. Mr. DINSMORE was thereupon, by ballot, unanimously elected a member of the Chamber.

Mr. SCHWAB, in behalf of the Committee on Foreign Commerce and the Revenue Laws, reported that the "Bill to facilitate the negotiation of Bills of Lading and other Commercial Instruments, and to punish frauds therein," which the Committee were authorized, at the last meeting of the Chamber, to have introduced again into Congress, was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, by the Hon. L. P. MORTON, of this city, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

REPORTS OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES.

Mr. SCHWAB, as Chairman of the Special Committee on Port Charges, submitted the following report on rates of pilotage, which was unanimously adopted and ordered to be placed on file, and the Committee continued to consider and report upon other subjects referred to it:

To the Chamber of Commerce :

Your Special Committee, appointed at the last regular meeting for the purpose of considering the charges on the commerce and shipping of this port, respectfully report:

That they have so far devoted their attention mainly to the existing pilotage laws, and that they have endeavored, with the co-operation of Committees from the Produce Exchange, the Maritime Association and the Ship-Owners' Association, of this city, to bring about an amicable arrangement with the pilots for a reduction of their fees, and an amendment of the pilotage laws in certain other particulars.

This effort having failed, your Committee would respectfully ask to be continued, with power to apply to the Legislature of this State, in concert with the above named associations, or either of them, for such amendment of the pilotage laws as may be agreed

upon by them, and also to apply to Congress, in case the Legislature should fail to grant relief.

Respectfully submitted.
(Signed,)

NEW-YORK, December 4, 1879.

GUSTAV SCHWAB, Chairman Special Committee.

Mr. CHARLES S. SMITH, Chairman of the Special Committee on Rail-Road Transportation, stated that the investigation of rail-road management in this State by the Committee of the Legislature had closed, and that the Committee of the Chamber had not deemed it wise to make a final report of their labors at this meeting, because they did not desire to anticipate in any degree the recommendations that will be made to the Legislature by the Assembly Committee. He would, therefore, upon this occasion, simply report progress.

RESOLUTIONS.

On motion of Mr. SAMUEL B. RUGGLES, action on the report of the Committee on Foreign Commerce and the Revenue Laws on the adoption of the cental of one hundred half kilograms of the metrical system as a measure of weight, was postponed to a future meeting of the Chamber.

Mr. JOHN F. HENRY called attention to the contemplated visit of Ex-President U. S. GRANT to this city during the present month, and moved that a Special Committee of seven be appointed by the Chair to co-operate with other commercial bodies in extending a suitable reception to General GRANT on his arrival.

This motion was unanimously adopted.

The President said, that with the consent of the Chamber, he would appoint the Committee after the adjournment.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A communication was read from Mr. B. GERRISH, United States Consul at Bordeaux, dated Bordeaux, November 10, 1879, transmitting a letter addressed to the President of this Chamber by M. ARMAND LALANDE, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux, in regard to the establishment of direct steam communication between that city and New-York. The letter was accompanied by a statistical statement of the commerce between the two ports.