Star.
London, England, 1813-01-26 00:00:00

TRADE TO INDIA.

SCHOLEY, MAYOR,
ACOMMON COUNCIL, holden in the Cham-
ber of the GUILDHALL of the City of LONDON,
on Monday, the 85th of January, 1813.
Resolved, That this Court, fully sensible cf the important
duties it has to fulfil, and deeply impressed with the necessity of
supporting the interests and prosperity of the City and Port of
London, views with the most serious concern the communica-
tion made on the 4th inst. by the President of the Board of Com.
snissioners for the Affairs of India, to the Chainekan and Deputy
Clazirman of the East India. Company, which, in consequence of
the late correspondence and negociatipn for the renewal of the
Company's Charter, states, that "the Ministers of. his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, consistently with their semis of
public duty, can submit no arrangement to Parliament that does
not include an extension of the Import Trade."
l'hat this proposed extension of the Import Trade to the Out-
ports, is not only contrary to the wise system end long recognii-
ed principles of policy, with respect to our Asiatic possessions,
which have uniformly been pursued by former Administrations,
and more especially by his Majesty's Ministers in 1793, when
the East India Company's Charter was renewed; but, that it is,
tinder every circumstance of political, commercial, and financial
considemtico, likely to be attended with results the most fatal to
the true interests of the country at large.
That it appears to this Coat, that from the origin of the East
india Company, and throughout the whole of its progress to its
present state, it has been supported, strengthened, and invigor-
ated, by a grand vital principle of indissoluble connection be-
tween its Government and Trade ; and that to break asunder
this connection, would imminently endanger, if not totally de-
stroy, the Government, the territorial Wealth, and the Trade
of India.

That this Court feels itself called upon to express its .perfect
conviction that, were the Indian Trade extended to the Out-
ports, it would only contribute to excite a wild and fretless
epirit of speculation, affording neither proper channels and mar-
kets for the diffusion and sale of Brkish manufactures, Our en
increase of commodities in return, profitable to the merchaat,
and beneficial to the community; whilst the many and obvious
facilities held out to smuggling, would, by the introduction of
prohibited goods, depredate our native productions, and impair
the best sources of our national industry and opulence.
That the proposed extension would, if carried into effect, in-
evitably produce the most ruinous consequences to the commer-
cial and local interests of the City and Port of London, by dimi-
nishing the means and drying up the springs of industry, which
have hitherto afforded an occupation aid support to a vast pro-
portion of the national population.
That it would most materially injure, if not altogether ruin,
the various and very considerable establishments so lung formed,
and so decidedly sanctioned by the uniform decisions of the Le-
gislature, consisting of Docks, Manufactories, Warehouses,
Storehouses, and other useful Buildings, constructed at an im-
manse expence, both in the City of London and on the Banks
Of the Thames, which, during the continued pressure of war
and the most tryids periods of public distress and embarrassment,
have supplied with employment many thousands of workmen,
artificers, artisans, and labourers, and afforded to their numer-
ous families the certain means of subsistence.

That, considering the measure as connected with the public
Revenue, to which the City of London so very largely con-
tributes, and thereby upholds the honour and credit of the Coun-
try, this Court cannot view the proposed extension without
alarming apprehensions of encreued expence and difficulties in
the collection of the Import Duties, which being at present
limited to one point, and collected in an easy, expeditions, and
certain way, almost without expence, would bithen split, di-
vided, and sub-divided, se as to become embarrassed, slow, and
precarious in the receipts, and attended with an enormous dis-
bursement in the mode of collecting.
That it appears from the most perfect knowledge of the
• internal state of India, as well as from the experience of the
+private Trade, which has been and continues to be_ allowed,
, that it is impracticable, in any material degree, to augment
~. the import of profitable commodities from, or the export of
British manufactures to, India.
That this Court feels it an indispensible duty to oppose the ex-
;vision of the import Trade, from the firm conviction, that,
however dettimental such extension would prove to the City and
Port of London, It could not but prove still mare so to the mer-
cantile and manufacturing branches connected with tt.e Out-
ports, and terminate in the certain disappointment of their pre-
pent hopes and expectations.
That it is therefore the opinion of this Court, that humble
Petitions be presented to both Houses of Parliament, praying
, that they may be pleased to take into their most serious consi-
Nleration the connection, is all its branches, actually existing
' between the East India Company's Trade and thi• City and Port
of London, and adopt such measures as to their wisdom shall
Teem meet, to prevent, on the renewal of the Comp..ny's Char-
ter, the extension of the said Trade to the Out ports of the
'United Kingdom.
Retolved—That a Committee, consisting of all the Alder-
, men present, together with one Commoner out of each Ward,
be appointed to prepare the Draft of a Petition, to be presented
to both Houses of Parliament, agreeably to the foregoing Reso-
lutions. WOODTHURPE.