Star.
London, England, 1813-01-06 00:00:00

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murmurs and disaptirobation), The CHAIRMAN said
that as they had heard a great deal said in their praise,
it was but fair to hear what could be said on the
othtr side.
Mr. Hem& in continuation, said, that he did not
renceive that he had been sneaking either against the
Interests of the Company, or against the Directors.—
had not said, or implied, that the conduct of the
Directors was not entitled to praise; but he had said,
that it was better to take time to know what ii was,
and to consider those papers, before they thought of
either expressing praise or censure.
Mr. CHANT (the Director) said, that the Gentle-
man who had just spoken had mistaken the object
of the Meeting, which was not for agreeing or diia-
greeing to the question about the imports, but for
the general purpose of receiving information respec-
ting tpe negociation with Government about the re-
newal of the Charter.' I'he Chairman had expressly
stated, in the opening of the business, that it would
be adviiable that no Resolutions should be entered
into at present. That Gentleman (Mr. Hume) seems
to think, that this question about not confining the
imports to London, was a question which might
be treated of separately. Now, he must have
read all the papers relative to the.negociation with
very little attention indeed, if he did not see that
the Court of Directors throughout, had argued that
this question could never be considered separately, as
in their opinion it involved the whole of our interests
in India, and their entire means of paying their clivi-
deeds, and carrying on the Government of India.
Theybad always stated to Government, that giving up
this, appeared to them to be giving up every thing;
that the China trade would follow, and with it, their
whole means of supporting their establishments. The
Directors had not categorically called upon Ministers
for their decision: they had only wished to know the
regulations which they intended to propose, and the
.reasonings which had induced them to change their
opinion with respect to the great point of confining
the into sto the Fort of London. He could not
avoid think that that great body had the same
right as every individual in the nation to offer sug-
gestions upon what they thought of danger to the
Constitu to-. He thought that when Ministers had
professed their wish to come to a full, frank, and
candid discussion with the Court of Directors, it was
not unreasonable for them to ask to be informed what
those argnments were, which had produced a change
in the minds of Administration to the prejudice of the
most important interests of the country. He did not
see that the Directors had done any thing which me-
sited a reproof ; but Ministers, instead of arguments,
chose to send them their decisions.
The CKAIRIAAN stated the recorded opinion of that
great statesman (the late Lord Melville), that it was
of-essential importance, " that the whole produce of
the Indian Trade should be brought into the port of
London, and sold in that room." The great Mr. Pitt
was also of the same opinion ; and he thought that
they should all feel that this was such an important
point of their political and commercial cited, that
they could not abandon it.
Alderman ATKINS spoke for some time in favour
of the part which the Directors had taken during
the negociation, and of the principles which they
had supported. Among the benefits which the
country had received from the Company, he stated,
that during the Dutch war, the Glatton, and other
vessels of the Company, had been lent to Lord Dun-
can, and had assisted at the battle of Camperdown.—
It was a pride to the country, that if ever there should
be a real occasion for it, they had always a number
of East India ships, which were of force enough to be
put into their line.
A long conversation ensued, about the day that it
was most convenient to adjourn to. Some were for a
shorter adjournment ; but, in consequence of its being
stated that a meeting of the shipping interest was to
be held on this subject next week, the motion for
the adjournment to Tuesday, the 19th, was finally
agreed to.

$ THE EVENING STAR.