The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-02 00:00:00

IMPORTANCE OF THE TRADE TO THE

EAST INDIES.

It appears to be of the greatest importance that the people of
England generally, should be more fully acquainted than they are,
with the restrictions which so greatly cramp our trade with the
East Indies. _ _ _

" There is nothing connected with the policy of England (says
a late writer), more remarkable, than the degree of apathy which
her people generally appear to experience, with reference to the
affairs of the moat important of all our dependencies, the Eastern
Empire. At a moment when the influence of Great Britain is felt
and acknowledged over the whole continent of India ; where an
hundred millions of people are directly under our own sway; where
not an hundred millions only, but millions upon millions besides,
who dwell under the nominal rule of their native Princes, look to
❑s as the arbiters of their destiny, and the guardians of their hap-
piness ; and above all, when it is avowed, the loss of this in-
fluence would affect us more materially than almost any other
calamity which could oceur, it is not more melancholy than
surprising, to behold the utter neglect, with which every question
relative to the proper management of British India is treated."
At a time when the manufacturing Districts in this Country
are suffering most heavily for want of a market for their goods, is
it not of importance that we should be fully aware of the vast field
which India opens for our relief, and of which we are only pre-
vented from availing our.elves to an extent almost unlimited, by
the heavy duties upon Imports from the East Indies, beyond what
are laid on similar articles brought from the West Indies ?
A duty of 10s. per cwt more (being at least 50 per cent. on
the prime cost) it laid on East India Sugar, than on West India.
—The Duty on West India Sugar being 275. per cwt., and on
East India 375. per cwt.
A Duty of 28s. per cwt. more is laid upon East India Coffee
than on West India ;—the Duty on West India being 565. per
cwt., and on East India 84s. per cwt.
A Duty of 28s. per cwt. more is laid on East India Cocoa than
on West India ;—the Duty on West India being 565. per cwt.,
and on East India 81s. per cwt.
A Duty of 7e. per cwt. more is laid on East India Turmeric than
on West India ;—the Duty on West India being 3s. per cwt , and
on East India 10s. per cwt.
A Duty of I Is. 6d. per gallon more is laid on East India Rum
than on West India ;—the Duty on West India being Bs. 6d.
per gallon, and on East India 20s. per gallon ; which amount,, to
a prohibition.
A Duty of 6 per cent. ad va/orum more is laid on East India
Cotton Wool than on West India, which is admitted free of duty.
There are also higher Duties on a variety of other articles, such
as Dye-woods, Mahogany, Hides, &e. &c., than what are laid on
similar articles from the West Indies.

The Mauritius, a small Island, (ceded to us by France, which
lies about IC degrees to the east of Madagascar') is cultivated by
Slaves, and it has very lately been selected as the object of favor,—
being the only spot in our eastern empire, which is put upon the
same footing as the West Indies with regard to the duties on Sugar.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages under which our Trade
with the East Indies is placed,—it is a remarkable fact, and well
worthy of notice, that our exports to that country have increased
in an astonishing degree.
In 1815, the Exports of
Cotton Cloth were equal to

59,221 pieces, 2E3 yards eat+.