Star.
London, England, 1824-06-10 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.

Yesterday, a General Court of Proprietors was held
at the East India House, for the purpose of laying be-
fore them the draughts of two Bills at present before
Parliament—the one to authorise the Edst India Com-
pany to trade direct from China to the British Colonies
and Plantations in America : the other, to grant certain
Duties on Sugar imported from the East Indies.
The CHAIRMAN having stated the objects for which
the Court was called, said, that with respect to the Ame-
rican Trade Bill, he begged to call their attention to
the correspondence which bad taken place with Mr.
Huskisson on the subject.
The correspondence was accordingly read by the Se-
cretary. Mr. Huskisson stated, that not one tenth of
the teas introduced and consumed in Canada were ex-
ported frOm this country, but were smuggled in from
the United States. This fact having attracted the notice
of the local authorities, they had come to three Resolu-
tions on the subject, which they had transmitted to his
Majesty's Governn-ient :-Ist. That it would be desir-
able there should be a direct trade from China to Ca-
nada : 2d, That the trade should be opened to indi-
viduals : and lastly, that the trade should be open to
the United States on payment of certain duties. With
respect to the first Resolution, Mr. Huskisson observed,
that he saw no objection to its being carried into effect:
to the second, he was not aware of any objection on the
part of Government,though he thought there were a num-
ber of obstacles in the way : but to the last Resolution,
there were such objections, that his Majesty's Govern-
ment could not concur in any proposition for carrying
it into effect. The Directors having considered these
Resolutions, returned an answer to Mr. Huskisson, con-
taining their approval of the first Resolution. The Bill
now before the Court was consequently brought into the
House of Commons, and was now in progress.
In reply to questions from Mr. It. JACKSON and other
Proprietors,
The CHA RM A N stated, that it was the present inten-
tion of the Directors to send ships direct Lions Canton to
Canada. In answer to the question, whether it was in-
:ended that the Act should extend to the West India

Islauds ? he begged to refer the Honourable Proprietor
to the Act itself, which specifically confined it to the
Continent of North America. With respect to the other
Bill now for the consideration of the Courto it was
merely to continue the present duties on East India sugar
for one year longer, with one alteration, namely, that
sugar from the Mauritius, instead of the present heavy
duty of 40 per cent. should pay the lighter duty of 27
per cent.
The questions being severally put, both the Bills were
approved.—On the question for adjourning the Court,
Mr. GAHAGAN complained that the present mode of
laying Bills like these before the Court was merely a
formal compliance with the letter of the by-laws, to the
neglect of their spirit; and it was impossible, without a
longer time for consideration, that the Pr oprietors should
be able to judge correctly on important measures.
General THOR NTosr concurred in the opinion of the
Honourable Proprietor, and trusted that an alteration
would take place, and the Bills be laid before the Court
earlier in future. The present Bill had already passed
the House of Commons, and though they might, it they
saw tit, petition the House of Lords aga►nst it, yet no
ulceration could be made in the details, as that House
could not interfere with this, it being a money Bill.—
The Court then adjourned.