The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-05-07 00:00:00

Sneakirtg Yr thasifialsioir of Ike $
free port, eligibly situated amongst the Indian
Islands; the Committee adduce the following in-

with which traders might he expected to perceive
its value:—" The port of Sitio-more, during the
year that it hasbeeu in the posseasien of the British
Government, and opened for the purposes of gene-
ral trade, has rapidly risen. The population,
which had before scarcely amounted to 200 ‘outs,
in three months 'ow:reeved to not• less than 3,000,
and now exceeds 10,000 in the whole ; while 173 •
sail of vessels of different descriptions arrived and
satle.l in the course of the first two months."
That ex: and important branch of inquiry,
the China t ceives particular attention.—
After adve he several opinions entertained
regarding the o rag of that trade, the Committee
say—
"To what extent such hope+ or such opprehen-
Pions might be realized, in the extension of a trade
which has never yet been permitted to exist, it is
diftieolt perhaps to form in accurate judgment.
The most natural, and indeed the only means. of
forming one, inort be derived from dist circuote
stances and progress of the foreign independent
trade, end more especially that of the vessels of
the United States with the port of Canton. That
Wade, although carried on in yeast Is of nearly
the same description that would probehly he
employed by the British merchants, has con-
firmed to flourish without being productive of
injurious cottarquences either to trade in gene-
ral, or that of the East India Company in par-
ticular. It is stated that it would not have dime so,
had it not been for the protection and other advaii-
tages derived (rein the establi-hinent of the Coin-
pany's Factory at Canton ; but no suati.fuetuury
reut;nn has been assigned, why the British ire
trader should not derive the same benefit from its
countenance and protection, to which he certainly
would not lie less eittitleil. It must also be ob-
'sr /vett, that the circumstance which has been prin-
cipally relied up
between the character of the American and British
seameu, isernely, the former having a share in the
profits of the vutyaer, applies only to that portion
juot a large oneLuf their trade with Canton, which
is employed. in the export of furs from Noith
Ametjca, and might be expected to apply in the
same degree, as far as respects that portion of
/rude to vesoels, if permitted to, engage in
it. It is admitted also, that all danger arising
from disputes is greatly diminished, if me entirely
removed, by the abolition of the custom which
permitted seamen to go, at particular periods, in
large bodies, and under no control, to enjoy
liberty-cloys on shore at Canton."—" On the
whole," the Committee afterwards state, " they
ere inclined to the opinion, that regulations might
be established at Canton, either by placing the
free trade of Canton under the supetintendence
of a Consul, or investing the principal servants of
She Company with 'tome authmity over the senora
engaged in the free trade, by which any ap-
prehension or inconvenience might be removed ;
and withotit interferiug with the monopoly of
the British market, enjoyed by the India Comp my,
the British merchant. might be safely admitted to a
participation in a trade. winch has proved safe, lu-
es•ative, and capable of great improvement, in the
!taunts of the foreign trader." The existing Char-
ter of the Company expires in 183 4 ; " hut,"
odds, the Report, 'I there are some vies.. of this sub-
ject to which the attention of Parliament may be
immediately directe4.".
The Repot t,iu conclusion, gives the following im-
pertant information The Committee have been
informed, by the Aletubers of his Majesty'. Govern-.
meld, who are Members of the Committee, that a
8111 was prepared to be submitted to Parliament,
in the course of the last Session, for extending the
private trade between India and foreign Europe,
rind that the introduction of such a B:11 has only
been pmaponed in consequence of the inquiries de-
pending iii Parltarne.nt coumeeted with Asiatic
cuionne rce." _

(of wood, shout 14 feet square). with inauelerailsk
small spars. ttc. were washed away by the first tre-
mendous 'urge. No one on the Island ever wit-
nessesteo awful a visitation, nor any for half the pe-
riod of duration. It is worthy of notice, that they
were assailed at Ascension at exactly the same
Litnne_hy the same sus?, and it aubsided also at the
same time. The damage done at Ascension has
been compsratively greater than at St. Helena : ull
The new end good road communicating from Tartar
stairs has been washed away, boats swamped, &c.
hut fortunately no lives were lost. —The Redwing
fell in with the United States' sloop Ontario, Cala.
Chauncey, who most politely sent Capt. Holm
some jars of sweetmeats and a large file of papers,
with a most civil message; in return for which he
was presented with a line Ascension turtle, weighing
50011m.—/.Mo'tley's Hampshire Telegraph.)