In the next place, the progressive and rapid decrease in our shipping, and increase of the foreign employed in carrying on our trade, since the Navigation Laws were repealed, is so great that from that quarter also the utmost danger to our independence may be anticipated. We need not remind our readers how often and earnestly we have predicted that this effect must take place; and we shall now proceed to show how completely, to the very letter, these prognostics have been verified:-- The shipping returns of the Board of Trade, for the month ending the 5th of November, present the following results:-- TONNAGE FOR THE MONTH ENDING NOV. 5. Entered inwards-- 1849. 1850. British vessels, 370,393 326,058 United States vessels, 30,677 54,164 Other countries, 67,733 140,397 ------- ------- 468,803 520,619 --_Times_, Dec. 7, 1850. The general results for the ten months, from January 1, 1850, when the repeal of the Navigation Laws took effect, to October 31, are as follows, and have been thus admirably stated by Mr Young:-- "In the year 1840, the total amount of tonnage entered inwards, in the foreign trade of the United Kingdom, was 4,105,207 tons, of which 2,307,367 were British, and 1,297,840 foreign. In 1845, the British tonnage had advanced to 3,669,853, and the foreign to 1,353,735, making an aggregate of 5,023,588 tons. In 1849, the British entries were 4,390,375, the foreign 1,680,894--together 6,071,269 tons. Thus, in ten years, with a growing commerce, but under protection, British tonnage had progressively increased 1,583,008 tons, or 56-1/3 per cent.; and foreign 383,054 tons, or 29-1/2 per cent. At this point, protection was withdrawn. Free navigation has now been ten months in operation, and the following is the result:--