Star.
London, England, 1813-01-09 00:00:00

EAST-INDIA TRADE. .

In consequence of= Advertisement, giving notice
eta Meeting of Merchants, Ship-owners, and others,
ipterested in confining the India Trade to the Pert of
London, being to be held at the, City of London Ta-
_Tern yesterday, a very numerous and respectable
Meeting took place, when the LORD MAYOR' in com-
pliance with the request made tb him by a Deputation
of the Merchants,. who waited on him for that pur
pose, took the Chair.
His Lordship said. it would be unnecessary for
hitn to state for what purpose the present Meeting
hack been convened, since notice had been given of
its object in a public advertisement. It was with
some difficulty he had prevailed on himself to take
the Chair, since he had not been able to read with
' sufficient care and attention, all the documents ne-
cessary to put him in possession of the subject.
Alderman ATKINS assured the meeting, that, in
whatever situation he might be placed, they should
ever find him a firm supporter of the interests of the
East India Company, with which he considered the
true interests of the Public to be closely connected. He
entreated them, however, not to relax their own indi-
vidual exertions. Much predice had been created
in the minds of his Majesty's Ministers, and also of the
' Public, by misrepresentation, to the disadvantage of
the Company's exclusive Trade. Prejudices, founded
on most complete misconception, namely, that throw-
ing open the trade to India would benefit the country
at large. Whereas the filet was, that the India Mar-
ket could ndt take from the hands of our merchants
even manufactures equal in amount to the tonnage
allowed atpresent td the general traders by the Com-
pany. The worthy Alderman then entered into a
detail, :hewing that even during the last 18 years, in
which the allowance to the general trader made by
the Company was 54,000 tons, no tbore than 21,000.
had been shipped by the merchants, This was a fact
which it was material should be made known to the
country, since it would expose the fallacy of the argu-
ment, that an open trade would benefit the whole
empire, when even half the tonnage allowed at pre-
sent was found more than sufficient to answer all the
wants of the general merchant. How thee, he would
ask, could the throwing open the trade benefit the
whole empire ? If, hciwever, it could be proved, that
taking the trade from the port of London would be-
nefit the empire, the citizens of London must submit
to the loss, and they would submit as became good
subjects ; but till that 'a as proved, he called on every
one to support those rights, which they had so long
enjoyed, and to which they were entitled.
The LORD MAYOR then stated, that a meeting of
the Corporation of London should be convened as
sopn as possible; that they were alive to the views of
the East India Company.
The first Resolution proposed by Mr. GORDON,
end seconded by Mr. NASH, was agreed to unani-
mously.
The second was proposed and seconded by the
same Gentlemen.
ROWCROFT proposed an amendment, gi That
the removal of the trade would be attended, at no
great distance, with the danger of the loss of the In-
dian Empire." Agreed to.
On the reading of the third, Mr. HUME rose to
make some observations on the circumstance Li the
small quantity of tonnage exported by private adven-
turers, He said, that the East India Company, aware
that politics and commerce should not be mingled
together, had stipulated that the vessel of private

THE ACASTA FmcarE.—Though we ate sorry , - sofa
that we cannot confirm the report of the capture of merchants should be free from all detention, except
an American frigate by the ACASTA, we entertain that of weather, and should sail in the fair weather
strong hopes of being enabled shortly to do so. It season : and yet scarcely a ship had sailed in that
is generally believed at Ply Month ; and there are season : delays had happened of three, six. twelve
circumstances which induce us to place great confi- months. (Cries of No !no !) He would wave the
dence in it. The gallant Captain Kaka, placing a time, but delays had taken place, and as a proof of
due confidence in the largest, the best officered, and it, an additional demurrage of many thousands had
best manned frigate in the service, has been roaming been paid. It was important that merchants should
about for his prey for several months, and we only have their goods in England to meet their bills, and
wish him fairly alongside the President, Constitution for particular markets ; but delays, frequently for
or the United States. On receiving the accounts of political causes, had prevented the seasonable ar.
the capture of the Guerriere, Captain KERR assem- rival of their ships. He did not think the quality of
bled his crew, and addressed them as follows : the tonnage a criterion of the quantity of manufac-
My lads, it is with a distress which I cannot stiffi- tures that would be sent out by enterprising men
dently depict .to you, that I inform you of the cap. under other circumstances. He himselt was not for
cure of the Guerriere by the Constitution American eonfining the trade to the port of London.
frigate. We are going to sea, and in the largest and Mr. MARTIN called to order, and desired the notice
best armed frigate in the service. Hear my deter- for calling the Meeting to be read. Atter which,
mination—l tkiermiadaratt to strike the colours of Mr. Martin observed, that the object of the Meeting
eke AcATA—My mind is made up—Mat say you, was for the parties interested to devise the best mea-
-Imy boys ?" The exclamation of—" To the bottom l" sures for furthering their interests ; and the Gentle-
and three truly British cheers, followed his words, man who spoke last was adducing arguments against
and the anchor was weighed. From. the excellent the object of their meeting.
equipment of the Acasva, her great use, weight of . Mr. SMITH wished to know, if the Gentleman was
metal, and number of men, ire are confident that interested in the trade
with her there will be no deaecration of the seaman's. Mr. Home stated, that he was interested in the
religion—the Flag 1 The ACASTA has lately taken trade, and was a proprietor of India Stock.
on board 24 pounders for her main deck—and we re- Atter a few words from Mr. ROWCIIOFT, Mr.
peat, that we may cheerfully trust the national ho- DIXON, and Mr. TAASEDALEI the several Resolutions
noun, and tonsil* the national tengeanee to the were agreed to, and Petitions were laid on the diffe
ACASTA• rent tables for signatures.