The Sun.
London, England, 1828-06-17 00:00:00

EAST INDIA TRADE.

Mr. HUSKISSON, although he had given notice
of his intention to present a petition from the mer-
chants of Calcutta respecting the trade with India,
still did not mean to provoke -any discussion on the
very important question to which it related. Ind-
dental discusSions 'were not, likely to lead to any
practical results, arid therefore he should on this oc-
casion confine himself to stating, as shortly as pos-
sible, the nature of the petition which be held in his
hand. That petition was intrusted to him, he might.
almost say, on behalf of every British merchant in
Calcutta, and of a very considerable number of the
most wealthy and distinguished native merchants in
that opulent city,—persons whose skill, enterprise,
and industry, if fostered and encouraged, must prove
highly beneficial 'to this country, inasmuch as many
of that active class of individuals were willing to em-
ba:k their property in the furtherance of manu-
factures, of navigation, and of those arts which.
led to general prosperity. He would also say,
as these parties were not, either direct y or vir-
tually, represented in that House, that they
came before the Legislature with peculiar claims to
attention.—(Hear.)---.-Now the petitiOners stated, and
they did so, he had no doubt, with great sincerity,
that they felt much satisfaction at the increased faci-
lity given of late years to a commercial intercourse
with other countries and nations, as well as with the
/mother country and all its dependencies. They felt
confident, that the same system would still be pur-
sued, and that on any occasion, When the Legislature
introduced measures affecting the trade between this
country and India, they would consider free inter-

course as the rule, and restriction as the exception,
to be only maintained on some specific ground of
necessity or of commercial policy. He could not
think there was a doubt that Parliament Would take
this view of the subject, when called on, as at no
distant period they would be, to consider of the re-
newal of the East India Company's charter ; because
if they looked back to the effects produced by the
relaxation that took place after the last renewal of
the charter, they would find, that the direct com-
merce between this country and 'British India had
been more than► doubled.—(Hear, hear.) New
branches of trade had sprung up, and others were
every day arising ; and that, too, contrary to the
predictions of those who were considered great prac-
tical authorities on this subjectond who were well ac-
quainted with the manners and habits of the immense
population placed under our rule. In the same manner
those authorities confidently`stated; that the greatest
possible evil would result from any permission or
privilege being given to British subjects to send
their capital to India, for the purpose of investing it
in projects connected with the improvement of ma-
nufactures and commerce in India. These opinions
had, however, he believed, given way to more libe-
ral views, and it was now allowed that the, capital
of this country might be employed with great 'prO-
piety, and most beneficially, in the improvement of
the arts and manufactures of British India; and he
knew, that where such a system had been acted on,
in Calsatta and its neighbourhood, a.greater bond
of union and good-will was observable bet Ween the
British authorities and the natives, a great improve-
ment in arts and manufactures had taken place, and
those moral feelings which enabled individuals to
discharge all the duties of social life were more se.
dulously cultivated. This country, therefore, was
not slow in extending civil rights to the people of ,
Calcutta, which they did not before possess. The
natives were now competent to serve on juries—
and, in proportion as they formed an acquaintance
with the English language and habits, their improve-
meat would become more rapid. He could only
look to the increased intercourse between individuals

of the-two countries as a source of. mutual benefit.
It might be, and indeed was,: consi4ered as u
subject which involved some difficulty, end
demanded the inaturest investigation.. He made
these brief remarks with no other view but
to deprecate discussion at present, and at the

same time to point out the great importance co]
the petition. It would.lJC a matter of the utmost lin•
portance when the renewal of the charter came un-

der the consideration of Parliament, not to lose sight
of those principles necessary for the improVeinent of
navigation, the extension of commerce and manufac-
tures, and what was of infinite importance to the

welfare of both those interests—a subject to which
the anxious attention of the Legislature ought to be
directed—the improvements of the native popula-
tion 6f India. (Hear, hear.) With these general
views, and wishing to defer to the proper period the
minute discussion of this very extensive question, he
should merely state, that the petitioners farther ob-
served to the House, that they were satisfied that
much inconvenience was felt, and much injury sus-
tained, in consequence of the, difference of duty on
East and West India sugars. (Hear.) ,That ques-
tion had, however, been postponed to a future
period, and therefore he should not offer any opinion
on it. The petitioners also complained that other
staples of India, such as cotton, &c., were, in conse-
quence of the rate of duty,: excluded from this coun-
try. In fact, they felt that those articles were treat-
ed as if they were not the produce of a British pos-
session, but of a foreign colony;, and they prayed
that even in the present session some reform might
be effected in tIA Scale of duties. When these sub-
jeets came regularly to be discussed, he had. no
dotibe that the utmost. attention would be °paid to
them ; and looking to the bade. with the Indian. A-
rchipelago—looking 'to the various new sources of
trade and commerce. which were springing up—
but more particularly looking to the probable inter-
course between India and the liberated states of
'South Ameriea, he was perfectly satisfied that a
field would be opened for the employment of British
capital, much more extensive than was imagined by
theige WhO had not narrOwly, considered the subject.
These brancheS Of .commerce were only in their in-
fancy, but he was convinced that if they were en-
couraged the country would den ye,. incalculable be
neat from them. .Having.made these few.remarks,
he
.should beg.leave to bring up the petition.,

Mr, W. WHITMORE did not agree' with 'his
Right Hon. Friend that this' question` ought hot to
'140461*cl- Oifth4.present peOtsiim.. . On the con-
ti4y, euOt:viraS'itiiinnSitiip6o'cit the aubjeCt, that :n
his opinion it ought constantly to be brought before
the,House.. His Right Flon.Friend had allUded to
.0e difference of, duties on commodities the growth of
.InOia, and on the-samacommodities produced else-
.where.- .He (Mr. Whittuore) had always contended
that so manifest an inequality should be remedied.
His Right How Friend hatlobServed, that these re-
strictive regulations should be iiinsidered as the ex-
ception; and Pot as the rule. He Concurred in that
principle With his Right Hen.,'Friend, but 'he would
go farther and .ay, that there ought to be no re-
strictions at all,—(Hear, hear,),--because he really
could see no ground for them.---(Hear;)—He en-
tirely agreed with the statement contained in that pe-
tition, that it was not the. removal of :these - hedvy
duties alone which would open to this country- a
great field of commerce but that it depended, in a
great degree on a considerable change in the 'Go-
vernment of India, and on that ariplica'tion of British
capital to the productions of the east, which would
a
bring them into general consumption, and cause trade
to flourish ' to an extent sreater than had ever
been contemplated. His Right H n. Friend had
observed,- , that great improvement would be
effected in .the manufacture of" East India produc-
Otitis, by the agency of ..British capital. That he
(Mr. Whitmore) believed would be genera ly the
pro-
dciuscee,
whichbut there
stood Nva s
outo nseoarticle
"prominently of E a bast
from ,
t I n f' all.
the
otbaiesi that he begged leap e especially to i'lll • the
attention of the douse to it, as illustrating, in a re-
mar ibli degree, the position of his Right Hon.

Friend. That production was indigo, and ti ea
the only one almost on which British capitals' et
ployed. What then had been the effect of, o
penditure of British capital on the manufselfiss
that article ? In 1786, little or no East:lndiB de
was imported. It was a very indifferent
and scarcely any 'was callod for; but since tu'otj
riod when British capital was embarked in of
manufacture, it improved in quality, and, i°)°iii
of being superior to indigo manufacte,r
other parts of .the world, it was now 01;fi
per cent. better than the indigo imported freaVy
nish America. The demandhad increased3Osfolooo
that time. Almost the whole of what ‘lB5
sullied in England, and in the other market
Europe, was imported from the east, whereas,'.o
time to which he had referred, scarcelyanyOst
ported from India. Now, he was sure, if they
sued the same course with respect to sugar, sors
and various other articles, which he svotthreetsb
tion more pi rsicularly, the result would be foe b'
same as with indigo. The disqualificationstt
at present existed with respect to, British set,
.at
in the east, prevented the extensive employll'y
British capital in that country. Those disqat'ds
tions were of a galling, vexatious, arbitrary,
rannical nature. An English subject could net''
ceed to that country without a licence, 'rand he c`t
not travel above 10 miles from any presidency',
out a r articular permission, fled in the regular 'fr„,
had frequently seen a notice in the Cal'
Paper, stating, that it was absolutely neces
an. Englishman left India, that he should f
duce a document signed by the proper author
that country, declaring that while there lie had'
ducted himself well, if he wished to proeu'l
licence here to enable him to return. Now, he,
tended that a more arbitrary proceeding could`ortj
be adopted by any Government-than the rl'
to which he referred—particularly when it
collected that the-licence was to be given by
who were'rivals in trade. The House, he hepeds,
see that such a regulation was exceedingly veit',
and must be attended with injurious conseque",
He could not help pointing out to the Compel
extremely impolitic it was, when the charter
about to.be reneived,—if indeed it should bests
renewed,—to select that particular time fnct
couraging vexatious regulations, which °pea
against the interests of British subjects in 11'
His Right Hon. Friend had alluded to the Met!,
natives being suffered to serve on juries. No's,
should be recollected, that natives could only u'h
lowed to serve on petty juries in Calcutta, apdt
could not serve at all on the trial of civil cases•
had lately been recommended from the bench VI
they should be allowed to serve on grand juries,'
also to sit on the trial of civil cases.
Mr. STE WART, on a former occasion, "Is/
presented to have stated, that there was little o,ld
demand for iron, copper, and other metallic aro
in the EaSt Indies. Ile had said just the 'cent'.
He saw, by the American tariff, which he bads
in the Times a few days ago, that the duty 00 t,
tish manufactures was greatly increased by)
American Government. The average cost of
cotton cloth sent from this country was sd•
square yard, but by the American tariff itswa°os
sunned to cost 841. the square yard, and a duty ecio
to 4A-d., or 90 per cent., was laid on each scidis
yard' of that plain cotton cloth; which reallYitsi
but sd. While the American GovernMent did `,
we admitted their cottons at an ad valorem
6 per cent. Now he thought it exceedingly. WI
to the East Indies to continue such a system. „
Mr. HUME said, that the petition contained ti
main propositions,—one with regard to free use%
and 'the other with respect to the intercourse 0.,
ropeans with India. The rights of British obi 6
in that country had been violated by the Acts,
Parliament, and by every regulation passed by h
Court of Directors and the Board of Controul. I
House would hardly believe, after, heating 511 t,
liberal principles as had been laid down ,
Right Hou. Gentleman, that while 271. a ton
,l,
.paid on sugar imported from the West Indies,
ton was charged on EaSt Indio sugar. The
observation.thigl3i be made with respect to cot
turrnt,rie, and Spirits. When the Charter was
newed, they had been told, that under no changroil
circumstances could any increase of exports
.to In
take place. But what was the fact ? An, inuntb,
increase of exports had succeeded the renewal of t ,
Charter. In 1814, we exported 213,000 yard' „(
plain manufactured cotton, but that speciesof (i,
port had gradually increased -until 1826, Wheflos
amounted to 16,000,000 of yards of plain eettO
With regard to dyed cotton, instead of 600, 00
yards, it appeared, from a return laid down ort
the table of the House, in 1826, that the
had'gradually inereased.to 10,000,000 of yards 0e
average amount exported of these two articles alp-,
being 26,000,000 of yards instead of 800,000:Ysise
which was the amount in 1813 and 1814- st,
understood aISO that in the article of cotton. --ts° to
and cotton yarn, the export thii year was Otto,
be enormous. He knew not how the Right. of
Gentleman could satisfy himself, for the last le 01
ten years, during which he had been a Minister to
the Crown, in allowing India to be kept in a 6t:ss
of shameful tyranny. British subjects :were
treated there than in any other portion of the
.„,s1
tish dependences. Englishmen were not sin' -es
to assemble to petition on account of any grievan to
and, on a late occasion, when the Sheriff of Calcuty
notified to British- and native merchants' that is
Government would not allow a meeting,that ,Svasto.
eontemplation to take' place, a hint was givet,its
them, that if they did meet, the military wdain
called in to - disperse them. He knew. tisat
Court of Directors felt a great 'prejudice agaiilsteav
lowing Europeans to go to India. They
that Europeans could not be trusted there; bo,C et
perience proved the contrary, and the moSte.4
lightened men 'in this country said, that nnti.l.l,sl
was wanting but English men and Eng,-,.
capital to draw out the resources of that coast
and he thought it was shameful that the narrat,,,os
serable monopolizing feeling of the East India ''''-
pany should prevent the improvement of India! ilo
Mr. ASTELL briefly defended the conduct of
East India Company.
Mr. A. BARING "agreed with' the HO.
tleinen opposite, that .this was too wide a. CpSetet
to be discussed on a petition` relatives,to A153,71e
duties; It rested on much more important gee? teil
-As to the questiOn of East_ India,Sugar, 111.111,,5t
that it had been altogether overrated.- 'Sugar, of
would come from the East Indies but in. the
enter
ballast, or as a kind of dead weight,sand of
tained very great doubts Whether *visage ouantAtt,
Sugar Would ever'be raised in the Last
When he looked at the .debt.and popUlatiOn etfeee
country, it must be.anasent to every one that°P;od
colonies ought to be taken the greatest. cate,‘o6'-the
that it was extremely idle to attempt to settle the
future government of them by.a discussion like
present.
Mr.'WARBURTON said, thae'the Horicol,bl
Nd
Member for: Callington had contended that si!itii;
-cotton; ind'gO, and the like, were 'not worth to
consideration of this country in its relationS-
o
t
50 great a territory as India. But, n
was -ttl yet
right to obtain comforts, or luxuries, or wkist,e, it
v
they might please to call them, from India ? aes,•
not the duty of Government, by foreign depend
to increase the comforts of the people ofAnetT-of
Let- thern .--eontra-s-t the -ebSidliet-1 aiPe;,sts
with that of the bitterest enemies .of 'their tOti.nie
cral systeiii. He could only compare -it with; tat
Milan and Berlin decrees. Look what had 'be'
done to prevent the trade in opium and salt. The;
had entered into treaties with, the Indian poweit
with respect to.opium as the Dutch did wittive,sPei
to spices, to limit that. article to the lettit poSßih
quantity. When they found that the ttait6 0
Turkey in opium, throtigh" the medium 'of lirj,Vit,
ships, was likely to overcome that of firdia,;therito
v evade was de with .the 'British GOVeraiitent
lay a duty on opium, amounting to 24 times taol.
value of the. article, in ordersto destroy the tinde'o
Turkey. But, not: to confine themselves .ici
thivernment of India only, let them look $t tb

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