The Sun.
London, England, 1840-02-15 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 1840.

CONTRACTS FOR FRES?! BEEF.
DEPARTMENT OF THE COMPTROLLER FOR
VICTUALLING AND TRANSPORT itERVICES,
SOMERSE PLACE, Fee. 15, 1840.
THE COMMISSIONERS for Executing the
OFFICE of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Irerand, do hereby give Notice,
that on THURSDAY, the sth of March next, at One o'Clock,
they will be ready to treat with such Persons as may be will-
ing to Contract for supplying (under separate Contracts) all
such quantities of

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FR I!. 14.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woolsack
shortly after Five o'clock.
Swaine's Naturalization Bill was read a third time.
INDIAN COMMERCIAL DISABILITIES.

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said he had to present
a petition from a body of persons, who were of themselves
of considerable importance ; and when their Lordships
considered the immense mass of population on whose be-
half these petitioners appeared, he:was sure their Lordships
would feel this petition was entitled to their most respect-
ful consideration. Not being prepared with any proposi-
tion on the subject of this petition—not being prepared to
state either his own opinion or tho opinion of the Go-
vernment as to any practical measure which: could be ap-
plied to attain the object of the petition for the In•
dian population, he could do Le less in presenting that
petition than to enter into a full statement of its objects.
The petition was from the Directors of the East India
Company, who, in pursuance, as they stated, of that duty
which they had always felt incumbent on them, of
providing to the utmost of their power for the inte-
rests of'tho immense population which was confided
to their care, had thought it expedient solemnly
and distinctly to refer to the commercial disabi-
lities affecting that population. He was not going to
offer any opinion as to the possibility of bring-
ing forward any practical measure to remedy their com-
plaints. He could do no more than draw their Lordships'
attentiessi so the subject, and stated that he considered it
was their duty at all times to be prepared,
as far as circumstances would permit, to en •
courage the industry of the population of India.
It was represented by those petitioners that although
some measures of late had been. adopted towards ancou•
couragin,g that industry, in some respects the encourage-
ment was essentially deficient. And that they are still
deprived of benefits to which, as part of your do-
minions, they are entitled as being a peaceful,
loyal, attached, and industrious population. The
first complaint related to the sugar duties. It was true
that the sugar produced in one presidency ( Bengal) was
admitted into Britain upon payment of a duty equal to
that paid by West Indian and American sugar, but with
respect to all the other presidencies the duty was accompa-
nied with so many restrictions that their sugar was
not admitted for British consumption upon equal terms.
With regard to many other commodities the same restric-
tions continued to exist in consequence of the legal ambi-
guity of the terms, " Her Majesty's Dominions," or the
" British Dominions." A great many portions of the
Indian Empire which deserve to be included in the facili-
ties afforded to Indian commerce, and especially the wealth
of the Mysore country, were deprived of that facility and
encouragement. The petitioners therefore prayed their
Lordships to give a more extended, and, in some respects,
a more definite and precise intepretation to those words.
Another point to which they referred was the extent to
which Indian manufactures had been extinguished
by the importation of English manufactured goods.
They thought it was but reasonable that, if the
products of English industry were admitted free of
duty in India, so Indian produce should be admitted
free of duty for• British consumption, or at least upon terms
on a par with the produce of other parts of the British dorni •
nions. With regard to spirits, there was a greater difference
between India and the West Indies than perhaps in any
otber commodity. That difference reached as high as Bs.
or 9s. They prayed that that difference should be removed,
and that in this respect also there should be no difference
between Bengal and the other Presidencies. They further
stated the injurious effects of the navigation laws as affect-
ing the population of India, and they prayed that those
13ws should be revised, as regarded the employment of
native Indians in British commerce. They next adverted
to the large extension of the growth of tea in Assam,
which held out expectations that Assam would be able to fur-
nish a large proportion of the supply of that article to Britain.
They therefore prayed for encouragement for the growth
of Assam tea, by means of a protecting duty. These
were the different topics dwelt on in the petition, and
which could not be approached without 'great conside-
ration ; at the same time he was convinced that if their
Lordships were not prepared to assent to any
measure, having for its object the giving redress
to the petitioners on the points alluded to, they would
have no hesitation in assenting to the general policy of
promoting, whenever they had the means of doing so,
the growth of the produce, manufactures, and industry,
and the immense mass of the industrious and loyal popula-
tion ; and while they succeeded in their purpose,—
whenever they wished to make them instrumental
in war, would also by every means in their power improve
them in the arts of peace, and assist the development of
that industry which no persons who had recently made them-
selves acquainted with the state of the country, and the
improvement of the population, could doubt they were ca-
pable of attaining. He therefore hoped the petition
would meet the consideration of their Lordships; and as
he should not have another opportunity of bringing it under
consideration, he begged it might be read by the Clerk.
The petition having been read at length,
Lord E L LENBOROUG H said that he was not aware
that morning of the intention of the Noble Marquis to pre-
sent the petition, although yesterday he saw the petition
printed in the Newspapers. It was matter of disappointment
to him (Lord Ellenborough) that the Noble Marquis, al-
though he had presented the petition, had not offered
any opinion as to the expediency, or inexpediency, of com-
plying with its prayer. He thought there was a great deal
of reason in many of the complaints, and the demand
of the petition. He was prepared to go a great
deal further than the Noble Marquis on that subject, the
Noble Marquis was prepared to do for the people of India
all that policy and circumstances permitted. Now
he ( Lord Ellenborough) was ready to do that which
policy and circumstances demanded.—( Hear, hear, hear.)
He thought the people of India were entitled to be
looked upon with the greatest consideration, for they
were entirely at the mercy of the Parliament of this coun-
try. He thought it was a matter more worthy of the con-
sideration of the House whether the petition was not of
that importance that it ought to be referred to a Select
Committee. _ _ .

......
The Marquis of L. ANSDOWNE said the Noble Lord
misunderstood him, if he thought that he had said that so
measure would be founded on that petition. The peti-
tioners, with whom he had consulted on the subject pre-
viously to presenting the petition, could not be disap-
pointed, inasmuch. as he had told them that it was not
in his power, neither would it be fitting in the present
state of the finances of the country, for him to declare
any opinion on what they desired, and the Noble Lord
must be aware that it would be exceedingly unwise for
them to excite any expectations which might not afterwards
be realized, and he fully agreed with the Noble Lord in
opinion as to the duty of Parliament attending to
the interests of the Indian people, and taking into their
serious consideration those circumstances involving their
future interests. He considered that they were impera-
tively called on to do so on the score of justice. He agreed
with the Noble Lord, that these persons not being repre-
sented either in this or the other House of Parliament, were
entitled to look not to the generosity only, but to the justice
of Parliament for the fullest attention to their representations.
ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY.
Viscount MELBOURNE did not anticipate any oppo-
sition to the motion which he was about to bring forward.
He should therefore, without further observation, in the ex-
ecution of the pleasing duty which had devolved upon
him, proceed to move that an humble address be pre-
sented to her Majesty on the auspicious occasion of her
Majesty's marriage, assuring her Majesty of the great
satisfaction which the House felt at that auspicious event,
which they felt was a fresh assurance of the great interest
which her Majesty felt for the welfare of her people.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said, notwithstanding the
certainty which the Noble Viscount had expressed
that this motion would pass without discussion, he
could not permit this occasion to pass without
giving expression to the feelings of sincere satisfaction
which were felt by Noble Lords on his side the Houle.
He could not help saying that the circumstances under
which this connection had been formed were most pro-
pitious. It was seldom that persons in the exalted situa-
tion of her Majesty were able to gratify those emotions
and affections that seemed generally to be reserved for
persons in a lower stamp of life. He could not but consider
this union as most auspicious, and he heartily prayed the
issue might be most prosperous. It would be unpardonable
in him to detain the House longer, and he would, there-
fore, content himself with expressing his entire satisfac-
tion at the motion of the Noble Viscount.

The Marquis of LONDONDERRY said he had no
intention of long trespassing on the attention of their
Lordships; but whatever appellation might be given to
him by Noble Lords on that side of the House, whether
that of Carlist or of any other sect, there was no indivi-
dual more anxious than himself that this auspicious
alliance might carry with it every possible happiness to
their Illustrious Sovereign, and great pdvantage to
the country. He had offered himself to their Lord 'hips'
notice, from a circumstance connected with the Illustrious
Prince, now, he hoped happily for the country, united
to the Sovereign. It was a circumstance, which, if they
could judge of the child from the sire, was most propitious.
He had the honour, ten years ago, when Ambassador at
Vienna, to be intimately acquainted with the illustrious fa-
ther of the Prince, and could fairly say, that amongst
the great Powers assembled at that time, there was not an
individual of higher public :character or greater worth,
and he would venture to hope that the illustrious Prince
inherited all those qualities which so greatly distinguished
his father, whom they had the happiness to se© in this
country on this auspicious occasion. Ho hoped also that
the Noble Viscount would give them the satisfaction
on this occasion of carrying up the Address to her

Majesty by the whole House. Oa a former occasion
many of their Lordships were disappointed that they bad
not had notice, and were thus prevented from attending;
it was true that on that occasion there were other points
introduced ; but it so happened that only about half-a.
dozen of their Lordships went up with it ; but he hoped
on the present occasion the Nubia Viscount would
do them justice, and allow the whole body of
the House to go up, and inform them of the
time of meeting. He could not forget that the last time
they went up was on an equally important occa-
sion--.with an address to her Majesty to uphold the
altar, and he hoped on the present occasion,
as then, the great body of the House; by their attendance,
would exhibit that the address they carried was that of one
and all.
Lord MELBOURNE said, that in tha case to
which the Noble Marquis alluded, the usual notice
had been given, and, of course, the same would
be done on the present occasion ; so that every
Noble Lord who wished to accompany the Address would
have an opportunity of doing so.
Lord KENYON conceived that on this occasion every
Noble Lord would wish to go up with the Address, with-
out reference to any political views.—( Hear.)
Lord MELBOURNE then said that as the Address
would be presented by both Houses of Parliament, he
could not know, until her Majesty appointed a day, when
the address would be received ; but he supposed it would
be on Monday or Tuesday.
Lord KENYON said that it could not be sooner than
Tuesday, as the time must be notified to this House.
'MESSAGE TO PRINCE ALBERT.

Lord MELBOURNE then moved that a Message of
congratulation be sent to Prince Albert, but in so low a
tone that it was impossible to collect the precise terms in
the gallery.
The Message having been agreed to,
The NOBLE LORD moved that the Message be conveyed
by the Marquis of Anglesea and the Lord President—
Agreed to.
MESSAGE TO THE DUCHESS OF KENT.
Lord MELBOURNE said he had now to move for a
Message, to which he was sure the House would agree,
although there was no exact precedent for it, and that he
might be liable to some blame for not having given notice
of it.—( Hear.) He moved that a message be sent to her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, congratulating her
upon an event which was so deeply interesting to her, and
of so much importance to her Majesty's subjects.
The Message was agreed to, and it was committed to
the Lori President and the Marquis of Anglesea to pre-
sent.