The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-03-15 00:00:00

asserte.l, apt it had been originally excited by the
penalties given, by certain olisolete stwotes. which
were no,ltingar applicable to the marsufadure. and
wh.:cs rendered the Suspension Bill necessary. , He
&tasted the 11. a t would now look at the .strojelt in
a bead and comprehensive manner, so as to put it
completely at rest. He had always been of opinion,
that any me.isure on the subjea ought to have ori-
ginated with Government.
Atter a few words, in explanation, from Lord
Henry Petty and Mr. Laacelles, the motion was
agreed to. The Committee was then appointed,
and ordered to meet to-morrow in the speaker's
Chamber ; that five be a quorum ; that they have
leave to sit, notwithstanding any adjournment of
the House ; and, on the suggestion of Mr. Las-
celles, that they have power to repeat their ob.erva-
tions and opinions on the matters referred to them,
from time to time, to the House.
The several Petitions of the Woollen Manufac-
turers and Cloth Workers of York, Yorkshire, Lan-
caster, Wiltshire, szomersetshire, and Gloucester-
shire, were then referred to the Committee.
Mr. ALEXANDER reported the following Bills:
—the British Militia Pay Bill, the I►ish Militia Pay
Bill, the Stelalt •rs Militia Officers, Allowance Bill,
and the Militia Adjutants Bill, which were severally
ordered to be read a third time on Monday.

TORTOL% FREE PORT BII.L
Mr. ROSE, as he found the Noble Lord opposite
(Lord Temple) meant to persist in the measure for
establishing a tree port in Tortola, begged deter, for
the bei ter illutaration of the subjed, to move for the
follown g accounts, to the production of which no
objeniiiii, he understood, would be nude :—" An
account of the amount of all exports from Great
Britain to the Island of Tortola, for the last seven
years, distinguishing British from foreign goods;
also an account of the quantity of sugar, rum, and
cofee, exported from the Island of Tortola to our
foreign settlements ;" and copies of all orders of
His Majesty in Council relative to the execution of
the Ael of the 42d and 43d of His Majesty.—
Ordered.

INDIA TRADE.
Mr. Alderman PRINSEP, in submitting the mo-
tion of which he had given notice to the !louse, de-
clared his object to be no less, than to enable His Ma-
jesty's Ministers and the House to discover the pro-
portion of the trade with India that was possessed by
neutral nations, particularly by America. This vast
proportion he conceived to be un iatural, when he
considered the expense of blood and treasure which
it cost th's country to acquire and maintain its East
India settlements, when he looked to the anxiety
now excited with regard to it, and the proportion
of the populatine, and of the naval strength of the
country, required for its defence. He conceived,
that the document he was to move for, would show,
that neutral nations had an infinitely larger share of
the Indian trade, in the proportion of three to one,
than this country or the faculty of the India Coni-
pany could ac:omplish. Ile did rot wish any alter.
ation to be made in existing Treaties, which would,
at any time, be impolitic, but never more so than at
present. It the catital emoirked is toss trade were
not to be so applied, the ma iura,llures in Leslie would
decline. We were now in the s tuation, that our
settlements in India were snip cried by stints sent out
by the nations of Europe ai.d America. This trade
was chießy cart ied on for taw materials, purchased
with specie; se that our territorial revenues were, in
a great degree, supported by the loteign trade. The •
neutral traders had free ingress and egress, and so
they ought, to our settlements; but was that a rea-
son that three-fourths of the benefit of the trade
should he transferred from the mother country,
merely for want of competition in carrying it on ?
This would be evident to the House, when inform-
ed, that in one port alone, the number of shipping
in the trade had been trebled, and the tonnage aug-
mented in a greater proportion. Was it not fair, un-
der such circumstances, to have some document
before the House to refer to? There had been,
in the port of Calcutta, in the years 1800 and
101, twenty-six Americas ships; in 1807 and
1803, thirty-two ; in 1803-4, twenty-seven; and,
last year, twenty-nine ; besides ten Portuguese,
two Danish, and one Spanish. The exports
of Calcutta, in the year Ixo3-4, were nearly
three millions, exclusive of the exports of the
Company, and these in six articles only. The quan-
tity of bullion imported into Bengal. in four
years, exclusive of what had been sent out by the
Company, amounted to nineteen millions of dollars;
last year it amounted to five millions three hundred
thousand dollars. The paper he was to move for,
would expose, more fully, the details of this subjea.
He disclaimed any concert with any individual or
individuals, in bringing forward this motion. Ile
and his fellow traders knew their duty too well, not
to wait until His Maj..sty's Ministers should have
time to give this important sabjea the consideration
it required. It was not his intention, therefore, to
found any resolution capon it. tie could not conceive
what ohjettion could be made to its produnions ex-
cept the trouble of making it out, or that it might
reveal to the private traders, circumstances thought
necessary to withhold from them. But the intelli-
gence this document would contain was to be found
in every public paper containing the arrivals and
departures of vessels, and in the monthly statement
in The Calcutta Gaulle. lie thereto,' moved, " That
there be laid before the House a list of all the ships
and vessels navigating to the Rest Indies, whether
under Portuguese, or other European and A mei ;can
colours that enteteo inwards, and cleared outwards,
in the ports of Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Surat,
Columbo, Prince of Wales's Island, and their sub-
ordinate Custom (louses, from the years I SOO-1,
inclusive, distinguishing each year, with the amount
of their tonnage, ard the value of their cargoes
also, an account of all British ships, not chattered,
that cleared out of the ports of Great Britain, for
India, during that period."
Mr. FRANCIS availed himself of the opportunity
of seconding the Motion to dectare, that the Hon.
Mower, in bonging it forward, did not Aa under any
concert with himself, or with any outs r pernso, to his
knowledge. If India alone were cancerned, he
thought nothing could tend vs much to its benefit, as
to throw open its ports to Europe. He understood
the Hon. Gentleman to decl ire, that notwithstanding
the advantages possessed by the East India Company,
the profits of the trade were, in a high degree, t.iken
away by Neutral Nations. kle should ask the lion.
Direaur opposite (Mr. Grant), a few questions ort

Iti,;., s i•i:st. -1.;:e a,3 'Cant. Oh 1.,;(1 je :r. A If slow.
had stated. that is a few y-ars a MI ro of nineteen mil-
lio..s of dollars had hem, imported into India dam
foreigti nations, and in a short tree it woliftl apfr•ar
that seven millions had also been imported form this
country. It appeared, however, th it there tros no
circulation of specie in our settle:to:Jos, every pa,-
ment from Government having been made for some
jean back in paper, and under such circemstances,
that it was not then his intention to twice. This
was a problem that required solution. He should
ask ton of the Hon. Dire tor, if he knew where these
19,000,000 came from ? whether he thought they
came from Poi tiigal, Denmark, America, or the
neutral nations? because, if they did not, three WAS
hut one other pla.:e whence they could come, nano-
ly, this country, by British Merchants carrying on
the trade in neutral bottoms. Another question he
should ask was, if the trade were carried on, Bona
.aile, by the neutral nations, upon what ground of
policy, of prudence, or of justice, it was, that the
private trader was excluded from a traffic allowed
to foreigo nations? The last question he had to
ask was, where those cargoes were for the most
part finally disposed of? for he had some suspicion
himself, that the greatest part of them was dis-
posed of in British ports.
Mr. Alderman PRINSEP explained, by declar-
ing, that the Hon. Gentleman had col realy repre-
sented what he had stated in prefacing his motion.
Mr. CHARLES GRANT requested to trouble
the House with a few observations in answer to
those of the Hon. Gentleman on the opposite side.
It had been observed, that the Americans had a free
coinmerce to the East Indies. and that the trade of
this country to that part of the world was limited.
These privileges were allowed to countries in amity
with Great Britain, for the best reasons ; for if we
were to go to colonial exclusion, it would only ex-
clude our commodites from these countries. There
were still other, and stronger reasons why Foreign
Countries should have a free trade to India ; they
can trade with much less expence to themselves,
and much greater security, than we could. Under
these considerations, he conceived much greater ad-
.vantages must arise to this country firma free trade
to:foreigners in amity with us, than could possibly
be derived if the commerce of that country were
open to all the British navy. With respell to the
quantity of bullion imported, as it was said, from
this king,dono and foreign countries, it had been
made a question, whether it were all British. or in
part foreign? The I lon. Gentleman assured the
I louse, that it would appear the much greater part
of it was from foreign neutral powers, but most
particularly from America. They purchase the cern-
modifies at the India market, and carry them, lay a
circuitous rout, to the different ports in their way
home ; and therefore this country must be verrsensi-
ble of the great importance of this trade. The • lon.
Gentleman (Mr. Francis) wished to know where the
greater part of the bullion imported into that coun-
try went to, as he thought there was no circulation
ler it, paper money being almost the only thing used
in the principal towns and seats of the government?
He assured the Hon. Member thet it would appear
that in the interior nothing but specie was in circula-
tion, rio manufiaurer would take paper for his
goods, no labourer would take paper for his Labour,
and therefore in this way was the bullion disposed
of. Tee paper money was only taken in the seat of
governmmt ; in fir this subjea was accounted for.
As to what became of the cargoes, a great deal of
them were carried under American colours, to va-
rious ports, and constituted a cnnsiderable branch
of trade in India. The Hon. Gentleman was of
opinion, that, in a vet y few years, this suOjeift should
go through a very serious discussion ; and, there-
, fore, though he had no objeaion to the produaion
of the papers called for, yet he considered, that at
present, it was not a question necessary to be gone
into ; hut when the time should come for a full in-
vestigation, he ventured to say, that the East India
Company's conduit upon this subjea, would be
found satisfaitory to the House, in a high degree;
and that it wculd appear, that it WAS by an niter-
course with that country, through foreigners, that
1 the balance must be in favour of Great Britain ;
and it would be seen, that their revenue was raised
30 per Cent. by giving this enlargement to foreign
I neutral colours. He hoped the Gentlemen would
keep their minds open for any advice which might
be suggested upon the subjea hereafter; and when
it came properly before the House, that it should
meet a fair, full, and candid discussion.
Mr. FRANCIS, in explanation, said, that he
certainly understood there was a great scarcity of
specie in India ; and Marquis Cornwallis had said,
that' he could not procure specie to pay the army,
who had five months' pay in arrcar, without taking
it from the ships irtvested for China.
Mr. BitOGDEN thought the produaion of the
papers very necessary.
Mr. ATKINS said, if his Hon. Friend would
consent to withdraw his Motion, he should move
for a paper, which would answer every end t would
be more saosfaanry, and give a complete and
general view of the subjea. He then proposed to
move for an account of the Imports mad Foports, to
. and from the E tst Indies, by Amer;can,Portoguese,
and other neutral States, in amity with Great
Britain.
Mr. Secretary FOX said, there was a considera-
ble degree of doubt upon his mind, whether the
produCtion of those papers might tilt lead to a pre-
mature and impede& jitdoment, unless accorapa- ,
nied by others upon the suhjeft. If the Honoura-
Isle Gentlernan had moved to Jay those others he-
fts' e the Morse, it WAS quite another matter ; but it
did not stand that the lions: should have papers
given them, which took bat a partial view of the
subject. He could not help thinking, that the India
Company themselves, or even toe Board of Von-
troul, to the members of which he wet as trilling
as a.y ma's, to abuw their furl merit, could not, in
the pre ent state of affairs, make nn7 thing of it.
Little as he knew on the sulieft„ and he confessed
he knew very little, he did nos think there WAS any
great necessity for the produaion of these pipers at
i present. He submitted, that, as to the general
maxim, no one was more ready than himself to
admit the prodinlion of all papers that might
be deemed necessity or important to the qn'es-
don. Another matter was to be colleaed
Irons this debate, relating to the carrying trade
in general, and to the trade carried on from
the Lioited States to India, This 'Oita, he ob-

Was at that morneet under this Irma sort, in,
consid.,ration of liis Islisjeaty'A :r',
these papers, theretore, were to g a.:y g n 0,4
information to Hit Maj 'sty's Ministers, he
have no ohjetrism.444raforselSaiss of them but if,
On the other hand, they gave onlya partial view el
the aubjetl, he submitted to the House, that these
papers were not necessary then to badaid fact-ore the.l
House, unless it was slime, that they would th-cor
considerable light upon the matter ; 'sod unless it
should appear that it was the intention of the Hon.
Gentleman to bring forward other papers which
would give a clear and distino view of the subja
Mr. ATKINS shortly erplained.
Altiermair PRINSEP, in reply, said, that his rilt.
j-3 was, that the great and important foe of the
course of trade should appear to the House, and to
have these Papers laid upon the table as a rename, 1
to His 7vlajesty's Government, of the necessity rf
taking than great and inti;tortan: subjeßinto considcr.
atidn, the eteat magnitude of which induced hies .
to bring the question forward. tie did not nitre'
to carry the snatter much further; but he woirf
tell the Right Hon. Gentlenan how he should
obtain the carrying trade, so as to increase the cram.
merce of this country far beyond its -portent
He would have the raw rn.itesials, and not the me--
nefaltured commodities imported into th s es-iarttiy,
and thereby increase the carrying trade, wiithi
would nourish oar Navy beyond eomprehensi
He had too much resped for the, opinion of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, rut to allow it its e•.•
weight ; but he was satisfied( when the leas should.
meet his cool and calm judgment, and when he
should refer to the papers he then moved for, it
would bring the matter to a short issue ; he tnere.
fore eranteoded, that these papers would armee
every purpose. and humbly submitted we prooriely
of the predufhon of them, to the discretion of tba
[loose.
The CWANCELLOR of the EXCIIE(YrER
expal,rd, that all this discussion would have led to
something for the information of the House, bet
nothing had resulted from it. His Mrjesiv'r Mi.
nisters had already been for some time al •,ie,se.
riots consideration of this important sebjeft with
re,pea to America, and at a time when a most re-
ran's discussion was about to take place upon that
suhjeCt, he thought it would but involve the matter
in much confusion, and therefore moved, rr that the
other ordeis of the day should than 107 read."
Viscount CAS thout.t the suhjea
then before them was the most difficult tr.a co iid
b brought into discassion is that House. It was
a question of so very large a etatnre, that it StlG':4
lott »ell understood, before the great: question of this
Country with America came before the House; he
deprecated the produNon of the papsrs at this time,
and heartily concurred in this with the Rt. Hon. Gent.
(Mr. Fox). He cons dared it a 012It•T in which the
country was deeply interested,- and hoped His Ma-
jesty's Ministers would treat it with coolness, and
with that firmness that the sulrjesi required. He
tutted. that' they would conduit it with temper,
with calmness, and with prudenci. He should pre-
ter having the papers moved fort in the shape of an
annual document, Riving a retain bf the yearly im-
ports and exports of r!llia. This would be a most
interesting and important article of information to
that House. Ile concluded, by giving his concur-
rence to the Motion of the Noble Lord.
Alderman PRINSEI', after a few observations,
in the course of which he approved of the sogges-
tine of the Noble Lord who spoke last, wittd:ew
his Motion for the present.
Mr. WHITBRLAD gave notice, that on Mon-
day next, he should move for an account of the dis-
bursement of a sum of 10,000}. voted to defray the
expences of investigating the affairs of the Nary,
and for the documents respeeting that sum.
DEFENCE of THE COUNTRY.
Mr. Secretary WINDHAM gave notice, that he
would, on Monday next, move for leave to bring to
a Bull to authorise His Majesty to make certain
rules and regulations respeding the Commerce from
this country to the Cape of Good Hope, during a
limited period. While on his legs, he thought it
also necessary to give notice, that on Monday
senniglit, he should submit, for the consideration of
the House, a proposition respecling the Defence cf
the Country, but this he did not mean to have en-
tered en the Journals as a formal notice.
Mr. CANNING asked, whether the late Addi-
tional Force Bill made any part of the Right Hun.
Secretary's proposition
Mr. Windham did not make any answer.
General TA RLETON gave notice that i'r
ahoti'd. on Mond' next, offer some observations t.,
the House,reiplting.the Ordnance Ilepartmcur,
that time the.p.tperi, would be printed, and be cou...i
bring forward the suttien with propriety.
Mr. W. W. WYNNE gave • notice, 'that, o'.
Monday next, he should move for leave to brini,
in a Bill to amend an Mt of the last Sessions, t, r
appointing Commissioners to investigate the Fatiet
_
Accounts.

ORDNANCE ESTIMATES.
On the Motion of Mr. Calcraft, the House went
•into a Committee of Supply.
Mr. CA LCRAFT. in proceeding to move th.r.
Ordnance Estimates for the year, erprsssed a
that in future years, considerable deduaions may lie .
made from the amount of the present expeiti-,
this department. The Estimates of this ra•.
Great Britain, were less by 300,01)01. than ti.use of
the last years s hut a large and necessary esta-
blishment for Ireland increased the expence in that
country, so as to coonteraa this reduainn in a coo-
:Zia:3le degree. There was, however, will on the
general account a dimiemion of 180.0001. tie
moved, that a sum of ?.957,1811. Gs. 6t. begrawed
to I iis Mrjestr„ for discharging the charge,. or o,d•
nance for Lord Service in Great &ham, for the
year 130 G."

lair. POLE. on examining the Eetiurates, new
move.l, found them precisely the SAMS with thou
prepared by the late BLiard of Ordnance. Then
was merely a diffo-ence in a few items. the total, of
which were not made up when the late r 371Tti W 4, is
!filet. making the whole amount of the Estimates
about 7.0001. more than the late Board had mJ•le
it. Ile thought it Saß!rt to Kate, that these Bei-
mates were the estimates of the late Bo.:rd. adoP"
by the present ; an t, hente, he inferred, that the
present BOard, had not only found the El"
mates entree/. but the general system of the WI
Board was wise and good: 1 he reduerlon of 3C0,00e•1