The Sun.
London, England, 1812-05-14 00:00:00

EAST-INDIA HOUSE,

stli May, alz.
At aGENERAL COURT of the UNITED COMPANY
of MERCHANTS of ENGLAND trading to the LAST-
. INDIES held this Day,
Resolved Unanimously, -
'THAT this Court has learh't wilh.deep concern
and surprize that his Majesty's tylinisters have been
induced to change the view they first entertained of the pro-
priety of confining tot he Port of London the returns of the
Trade to India now to be permitted to all British subjeds
that the measure of opening the Outports to Vessels of all
descriptions from India, comprehending in that teion the
Eastern .]:,lands, appears to this Couit to be fraught with
consequences ruinous to the Company, and ail the long train
of interest conneled with it ; by removing from the Port of
London the greater part of the Indian Trade, whith it has
hitherto enjoyed; by rendering useless many of the extensive
establishments formed there fur the Merchandize and Ship-
ping of that trade, and throwing out of bread many thousands
of persons who now derive constant employment from it; by
deranging the pradice and frustrating the end of sta'ed Pub-
lic Sales which are useful and important both to the Country
and the Company, who are necessarily restricted to this prac-
tice; but, above ail, by affording facilities for the Smoggling
of Teas into the Ports and Harbours of England, Scotland,
and Ireland, to an extent unlimited, and as this Court ap-
prehend, uncontroulable. _ _

That the consequences of this must be the destruction of
the. Company's China rade, their best source of commer-
cial profit i - the tailure of their Dividend, the depreciation of
their Stock, and unless a' Lund is provided irons some other
source tor the payment of .the Dividend, inability on their
part to continue to perform the functions assigned to them in
the Government of British India_

That it the Constitution ley which the Indian Empire is
now administered should. thus -Se subverted, the excellent
:. system of Civil and Military Service formed under the Com
pany, and maintainable only by such a body, will be broken
down, the tranquility and happihes's of the vast Population
which that Empire contains, the Interests of this.Coontry in
Asia, and its Constitution at home, will be imminently en-
dangered.
..That the professed objel f:r which the proposed changes
• are to, be nude, and such immense Sacrifices hazarded, name-.
ly, the Increase of the Commerce of this Kingdom, cannot be
in anyireat degree attained; there being no pradicability Of
extenatne materially the use of our Manufadures among the
Indian pceple, the tonnage allotted by the Company, or af-
forded by Indian Ships in. the management of individuals,
for such Exports, not having been fully Occupied ; neither
does it appear praelicable largely to augment the importation
of profitable Cominodities from thence; ot all which the.
example ot•the American Trade to the East is a proof;
.Bri. •
tish Manutadures, which they could easily have procured,
making no part of it, nor their returns exhibiting any new ar-
ticles of importance.
That, .therefore, the Trade now enjoyed by the Company
and Individuals will be the only, certain trade :to which new
adventurers can have recourse ; and this will be no addition
to the Commerce of the Country, but only a transfer from
one set of hands to another; so that Old Establishments will
be sutwerted, without substituting any thing equally good in
their place; and to all appearance with great detriment to the
Nation, particularly in the Defalcation of a large part of the
Duties now'coPeoled on Pea to the amount of oor Millions
Sterling per annum.; for all which Detaleation, whether one,_.
or two, or three millions, New Taxes must be laid on the
People.
That the Cause of the Company has been deeply injured
by preindice, ignorance, erroneous ass,ump;ions, and of „fare
by extensive combinations, and by 'unfair representation,
canvas, and intimidation—in all which, the merits and rights
of the Company,rthe Political Interests of British India,
and of this Country, as connected v.ith them, have been
lett out of sight, and the single object of the Extensk4i of
Commerce, an object too only of speculation, in opposition
to past experience, is the governing principle.
This Court, however, confidently hope that Parliament
will not decide the tate of the Company, on the representa-
tions and demands of private interests, but on just and corn.
prehensive views of National Policy ; and the Court must
alsb believe that his Majesty's Ministers are too enlightened
and equitable finally to adopt any measure calculated to de .
stroy the conunercial profits of the Company, and thereby
to disable them from performing their political fundions.
This Court, therefore, entirely approving, both ot the firm-
ness which their Directors hive shewn in maintaining the
interest of the Company, and of the manner in which they
have, in the Papers now produced by them, defended those
interests, (loth recommend it to them to persevere in the
Negociation with his Majesty's Nlinisters upon the.. same
principles • assured of the determination of this Court to
support them to the utinost in maintaining the permas:ence of
the. Company and the National Interest, which are involved
in theit- stability.

resolved Unanimously, • •
That the Thanks of this Court be given to Randle Jackson,
Esq. for his very luminous and excellent. Speech, this diy,
for the great zeal, and industry he has on various oc-
casions, and-particularly on this, displayed fur the honour
and advantage of this Company.
Resolved Unanimously,
That the warmest thanks of this General Court be offer-
ed to the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Court of
Dire6tots of this Unipany, for their very, able condud in the
Negotiation with Government for the Renewal of the Char-
ter ; alikeevincing the most luminous ideas of the best Inte.
rests of this Company, and their most honourable conclud in
the rr►ana;iernent of so important a concern.
WILLIAM RAMSAY, Sec.