Star.
London, England, 1813-04-10 00:00:00

chants. The Noble Earl then adverted to the sub•

ject of India-built sbipping, which; he said, required
regulations with a due regard to the interests of the
different parties. On the whole, he heard no one ar-
gument advanced, or fact stated by the Noble Mar-
quis, which could induce him to depart from the
views he entertained upon this subject.
Lord GRENVILLE entered into a consideration
of the general points. It appeared to him that the
Resolutions as well as the Speech of his Noble Friend,
appeared to consider as primary that which was se-
condary, for they made the concerns of the Company
paramount to every thing else, and they desired them
to consider whether they were to be continued in a
commercial capacity for a political purpose. The true
way of procteding was, first, to state their real situ.:-
tion—secondly, the duties imposed by that situation ;
and, lastly, to determine what they wished to do, and
to consider the instruments by which their will should;
be carried into effeat. The Resolutions were grossly
defective in not beginning with a distinct assertion of
the sovereignty of the Throne of Great Britain over
the Empire of India. Until they had done that they
ad done nothing—it was by that alone they could
surmount the difficulties attendant on the ad-
mission of foreigners into India. If they proceeded
talegislate for India on this basis, the first duty im-
posed on them was to consider the happiness, good
government, and security of the people of India.—
The situation and interests of the East-India Com-
pany were inferior and secondary to this. In consi.
dering those interests, the evils which must arise to
the commerce of a country from the union of a sove-
reign character, were numerous; and he might state,
from the best authority, it was impossible for a sove-
, reign to trade to profit. The Government of the
country could no longer continue in the hands of the
Company ; for from 17651''t0 1784, scarcely five years
elapsed without some strong case of maladministra-
tion being made out. The defects of its Government
had been radically vicious. His Lordship said he was
an advocate for free trade. He did not conceive that
the East India Company ought to be the organ of
Government in India. The patronage attached to
India, he contended, ought not to rest with the Com-
pany or the Government, but in both to be extended
to meritorious young men, who might prove, on exa-
mination, fitted by talents and education for service
in India. By such regulation, our Indian empire
would be supplied with able and skilful Officers, and
merit at home rewarded.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL said, the question
was, whether the Government of India, in its pre-
sent state, was applicable to the welfare and interest
of sixty millions? His Majesty's Ministers' could
have brought this discussion to an end much ear.
tier, if they had not entertained a belief that India
might be governed different from its present form
of government. From 1781 the greatest advantages
had arisen to that empire. The permanent settle-
ment, if followed up, would do away the mischief
and discordance arising from the Asiatic mode of
taxation. His Lordship proceeded to the question
, of commerce, and stated, that he was prepared to
shew, that nearly all the commerce of the world had
been established on monopoly. Circumstances, how.
ever, had proved of late, that a new zra bad ensued,
and that it was necessary to prevent monopoly. They
could not prevent foreigners from trading to India,
and the question was, Whether they should open the
trade to the Merchants of England in preference to
foreigners ? He did not look at the trade in a nar-
row view, but was disposed to throw it open to all
Iltitish subjects. Another great consideration was
the peculiar situaticn of South America, and the fa-
cility which appeared of carrying on trade between
the East Coast and India. By an open trade, the
British might secure that branch of valuable com-
merce, and by restriction they might lose it for ever.
On the question of Civil and Mercantile Govern-
ment, his Lordship conceived they ought to go toge-
ther ; but, in the opinions which himself and Noble
Colleagues had formed, they were (Teo to and ready
to adopt any propositions, having for obj.2ct the wel-
fare and security of India.
After Lord LIVERPOOL had concluded, the (,fines-.
tion was immediately put and negatived, without a
division.—The House adjourned.