Star.
London, England, 1829-05-15 00:00:00

in the other parts of India. The effect of the absence
or impediments in the Malachias was proved by the
fact, that within the last eight years two hundred *O.
gar mills were Sent from this country to the Mauritius,
and not one to India—(Hear, hear, hear). Nothing
was more rude than the machinery now used in the
iTeenufacture of eager in British India. The produce
of sugar was not deficient, but there was a great defi-
, Matey in the manufacture. In the article of silk the
produce of India was as much inferior as the produce
of other articles in that country. The import of this
article had not greatly increased. In 1814 the quantity
imported was 1,100,000 lbs. weight, and in 1828 the
quantity imported was 1,447,000 lbs. The fait Was,
that the raw silk produced in India was inferior to that
produced in any part of Europe. The price given for
the silk imported from India was 18s. ptr lb. *MIA the
silk of Italy sold in this country for 28s. per lb. He
had no doubt, however, that if a settlement was allowed
to British subject, in India, and that British capital and
skill were directed to the production of the article. silk
to the largest extent, and of the very best quality. might
be produced and drawn froth that country. If English
subjects were prevented from settling in India, his con-
viction was, that the import trade could not be extended
much further, but wield remain pretty much as it Was
at present. By adoptin.g the opposite and the more
generous policy, however,• and permitting the subjects
of this country to settle in ladle, he was convinced that
the trade with that country might be carried to any ex-
tent that might be desirable. There was an extent of
country of 128,000.000 Square miles, and 134,000,000
of inhabitants, including the subjects of those Pi inces
who Were tributary to the British Government; and
therefore he was Warranted in saying. that the produc-
tive powers of such a country might be increased to an
almost unlimited extent. Hitherto, however, it had
been the policy of the Government to prevent British
subjects from holding or possessing laud in India, and
a similar policy, he ventured to say, had never been
pursued by any country but this. There was no policy
more conducive to the absence of civilization and know-
ledge than such a prohibition, Which Was directly op
posed to the system adopted by all other countries,
ancient and modern, having large and distant colonial
possessions. He was satisfied that ancient Rome woeld
never bale extended her empire or held it so long had
we not encouraged civilization and settlement in her
conquered provinces. The Russian empire, that vast
colossus. could not have kept the members of that great
empire together H the Government did- not pursue a
different course from that which England pursued
with respect to its Indian possessions. Looking
to the origin of the restrictions to the settlement of Eng-
lishmen in the East Indies, it was found to have ori-
ginated in monopoly. It was now contended, however,
that the continuance of those regulations was necessary
to the happiness of the natives, than which no argument'
could be more stupid and unfounded. The only mode
of amelimatingthe condition of the native inhabitants
*Wits by reinoving the present restrictions and prohibi-
tions. The settlement of British Subject's Would it once
improve the condition of the present inhabitants, who
would acquire knowledge, good habits, and cultivation,
,sad ciirilizitiOn would speedily give place to the state
'of baibarliien ihich at present existed. The only oh.
ject hitherto appeared to be, to preserve the monopoly.
Nobody dreamt of anything else but to keep up that
anomalous system of rub. which made the Government
partly a trader and partly a Sovereign. The very name
given to those Persons who krenttolndia Without a license
born the Government was sufficiently expressive of the
light in which they were held—they were called inter-
lopers. With a view of preserving and extenditig cows,
.merce. and benefitting the peopled India, the Governs
meat of this country was bound to do away With thoM
most unjust restrictions. Unless this was done, it would,
be impossible to govern the vast Empire of India in a
cheap and effectual way. The total ignorance in Which
they now were as to the habits and feelings of the peo-
ple whom they were called upon to rule over,*would.
'prevent them from legislatiug advantageously whilst
the present system of prohibition was kept up. ('m",
Hon. Gentleman here tend an extract from the evidence,
of Sir Henry Strachey befOre a Committee of the
House In 1810, in labia he stated that the ignorance of
the Legislature as to the habits and castes of the people
of India must prevent them from knoiving upon what
principle they should legislate.) This 'was the opinion
of a most distinguished individual who had been a
Judge in India, and was well acquainted with thehabitn
and conditions of the people of that empire. This ex-
treme ignorance of the feelings, habits, and dispositions.
of the people mint necessarily be productiie of many
evils, and the only course which they could . pursue to'
obviate it was, in his opinion, to establish settlements of
Europeans in that country. He was aware that many
Hon. Gentlemen thought that this forming of a sat-
clement would 'tend to is cake!' the conmetion between
this country and India; but such would be the mutual
course which must ensue that it was his full conviction'
that it would greatly increase the strength of that cone
nectioo. At pr'e'sent they held India by a -inglb
thread—ihey Wold then hold it by a cable. He knew
that either of those ties might, by a sudden effort, fie
snapped asunder, or in the course of time might wear
away; but it the object of the 'British legislature was
ready to brake theconnection permanerrt,there was only
one cour's'e for them to adopt, and that *as 'at once 10
renase all the absurd restrictions which at Pieifent
isted. He was told that this system would be injutionsto
the people of India. In reply to that assertion he would
beg to reser t to me tact. The Hoene knew that at the
time of the emancipation Of Sonde Monica ths re was a
,very large 'shale of British capital embarked in trade in
that country, the greater part of which Was unfortu-
nately lost. It they had at that time been alloWed to
trade with India, as with South A mei ica—unrestricted—.
ittat cripitarwoold, instead of having been thrown away
in the latter country, been prodetetil4 of lintel ti Niels
bete to ifire Oiiiieis by commerce 'frith the fOinker.—
TWenty millions of capital wohld hive been Produetilre"
of incalculable good in India, and, instead of ravening
the improvement of the people. 'would necessarily pros
'eite it. Wdeld-any one say that the improvement of
Ireland by allowing En'glfsh capital
to 'Row into that country? The effects in India 'would:
bellie Caine. This doctrine was, be contended, a down.
sight absuf dity. and hird itsorigin in monopoly of trade
on the part at the East India Company. if the object
of the Legislature now was to cbncinue that monopoly,
no One would be more ready to admit than he that it
'would be wise it would be prudent—it would
be hecessat y, to 'pursue the sane course which bad been
adopted N bit n iiionophly was the principle on which
they acted ;liut they had decided in the year 1815. when
they granted the, last chimer., that monopoly was pot
the principle on *Meth 'they were to act, and he thought
-they adretound totting this real principle into effect.
'A removal of the restrictions which *ere complained
of•being the only Source Whence -the improvement of
theVetipe could 'spring, he thought it was the duty of
the House to take roper imp for that purpose. lie'
*bold hot dwell any lbhger 'upon 'that part of the
subject but metely to say that, if the Committee

which he should have the honour of rivelni for should
be adoptedi it would be their duty to make ail the
'lmi:ray inquiries into it, ai it
was a subject which
fibild occupy much tiSle ; and it there arse pans of
it Oh Which lull information build eat be aCquired with-
liet.itocuring it from ledia, he thought it Mostdeor-
able they should enter upon the inquiry immediately.
It was for this reason that lie was anxious the Committee
should be appointed now,for though they could not carry
on their inquiries to any great extent this Session, they
might make a commencement, and Isy the ground work.
for entering oa the matter *ith spirit next Session. These
weredie thought the House would admitmounds for urg-
ing that tt a Committee should be appointed at present.
He came now to the other part of the question—the trade
between this country and China. The House was aware
that that trade was at present a complete monopoly in
the hands Of the East India Company. No British yes-
ids were allowed to trade there. In the earlier periods
lathe connexion of this country with the East, such was
not the Case ; they had not then been excluded at they
Were at present. In the seienteenth century there were
four polls in China open to them, as well as the islands
of Japan, and it was only on the introduction of Com-
panies, particularly those of thiseountry, that jealousies
arose which first restricted and giadually excluded them
from commerce with these countries. At present there
was only one port open to them, that of Canton. From the
kingdom of Siam, Cochin China, and the entire empire
of Japan; they were totally excluded, the only port whiih
remained open to them being a miserable Ditch c 'mute,
froth which no benefit could be derived. *I he details of
those matters bad been developed in an admirable man-
ner by a Gentleman to whom both India and this coun-
try were much indebted—he meant Mr. Cra mord.—
There was, he contended, not the shadow or ground
for continuing the present system. He would state
the amount of the exports of this country to China
for the several years since the comitienceinent of
the present century, by *WO it would appear how
much trade had deteriorated in consequence of that
system. From the year 1891 to 1810 the atntint of ex-
ports annually Was 1.152,000/. Irom the yeir 1811 to
1823 it was 750,0001. froin 1823 to 1827 it was
68'2,0001. in the year 1827, 493,0001. and the year 1828
863,0001. It appeared, therefore, taking the aierage of
the last two jean, that there had been a falling off. iinte
the first period to which he had alluded, of ninety per
cent. He knew that, as the value of the goods exported
had fallen, there must, of course, be a reduction ; but,
even allowing for that reduction, they Would find their
had been a falling off of More than fo:ty per cent.
When they reflected that the whole trade to which be had
referred was in their bands, and *hen this great tailing
off, compared with the general trade to IndiS, was con-
sidered, he mist necessarily come to the conclusion' hat
there was not the facility of carrying on that trade which
ought to exist. He knew that, according to the charter
which had been granted in 1813, unless some arrange-
agent Were made with the Company, OA they could
not hope fur any alteration at present. But he thought
that in itself a strong reason for paying early atten-
tion to the subject, and for coOsideiing whether, when
the present charter slicteld have expired, there were eny
grounds for continuing so odious a systems. He was
aware that it was objected that the trade with China
mold not be carried on by private metchants in come-
quence of the prejudices of the people; buy he had the
authority of a Gentlemen of deep research and via
information on those matters (Mr. Milburn) for stating
that there was no country w ith which -trade could be
carried on so easily. The habits of the people were in
favour of it, for they were much addicted to trade,
their number amounting to one hundred and fifty Md•
lions, and the climate of their Country *ell afforded
facility for trade. They Would likeaise find it their
interest as well as inclination to take almost any pro-
duce of this country, and would *certainly be less un-
willing to carry on trade With private merchants,whose
interest it would be to secure their trade with a great
Company whom they looked upon as the conquerors of
a neighbouring country. But even supposing there
were difficUlties in the way of trading with China—
supposing they were obliged to enter the port of
Canton in armed vessels, and that they should find
the people anxious to carry on trade with the Com-
pany in preference to private 'individuals—stall those
objections did not Weigh one feather against his
arguments ; for they had the experience of all countries
to show that trade is generally carried on through the
medium of an emporium, and this emporium at present
'existed in the island of Sincapore. With respect to tea,.
in particular, it did not grow in the province of Cauts t.
but was brought from a considerable distance. The black
teas were obliged to be conveyed 360 miles across the,
country, and the green teas to be transported 700 on
800 =lei by sea to Canton; and those teas being pro.
duced in maritime provinces, might be brought as cheap'
from those provinces to the islaid of Sincapore as to the.
Dort of Canton. With regard ro Sincapore, he wished to
e'en the attention of the House to the rapid iinprovement
which had taken place in that island and the great in-
crease of population. Since the introduction of trade
in the year 1819 it had been almot a desert. In the
year 1824 the population amounted to 10.000. and in
1827 to 13,000, and, including the military, to 16 000.
The exports and imports of Sincapore at • peseta
amounted to two millions. He wished to :elm to a

%tate.** Which had been made with tepid to this I
island SY ihe same 'intelligent individual to whom he' I
bad before referred—(The Hon. Gent. here teed an ex-
tract front a pamphlet in corroboration of his mention of
the viialniproventent which had taken place in theishad
Siricapoi4).He repeated th at even if they were prevented
from carlyiug on trade with the ports of Chins, they
had only to direct the produce of the count y to another
charnel. The quantity of the produce of that country
Whicb was iiipoited intoE!igland tvas'very considerable.
The imports of tea alone during last year amounted to
81,000.000 lbs. and he bad no doubt that it would be
'dtrOble.Or perhaps treble that if -prfriteindividuals were
alicityed to trade. It wire‘ith no little itirprise he had
heard an Hon. Member state the other night that the
price of tea was Weer at present, and the quality supe-
rior Ram if private merchants were permitted to trade.
Such 'an .as;sertion he had better before heard made, and
he was satisfied that if an iniestigition took place, and
full information be acquired on the subject, the Rouse
Would hear no More suchlesertions. Oa the subject of
the price of tea
.he had:only to say, that in the year
1814 there were twenty six millions of pounds imported,
and in the year 1828 thirty millions. There were 'now
'stored by the Company thirty one millions' of poundse
the price of Which 'wa514.2.54,0001. according: to
the prices current of Hansburgh, would only amount to.
1,446,0001. These price, were, of course, exclusive of
duty, and there watibere a differeticirof 2„8013,0001. ' He
knetv it Weald betaid that the tea inipofted intoEnglstad
was of a better quality. This he did outthink waithe case,.
but even supposing it was a little better, was that a sit&
cient reason.for taking the sum ef2,808,0001. out Of the
"watts of the people of this couotrtito 'support 'he
4.1,9 P poly of a trade which was not anginientingV.7lfii,
state of things, he repeated, could not continue.. It bad
only, as his Hon. Friend, the Msmber for Liverpool,

had said, 'commenced to the present extent with the
charter which was granted in NISI before that the
Government had a check and controul over the
prices. The trade was given to the East ludic
Company, it was tree, but they were obliged to sop,
ply this .countty with a certain quantity of .tea lit a
certain pike. «r otherwise. there Was authority since
to private merchants to import it from the country.,
Unfortunately this comma had not been-canled into
effect since the renewal of the chatter, and the people
were subject to an actual tax of two Millions annually
merely to prevent the monopoly of the East India Coln;
parry. It this were all the disadvantage of the pre.
sent system. be thought it Would be deserving the
most serirus attention of the House; but the more ira.
portant evil was, that it cut them off from commerce
with the count.), which, of all others, was most cake.
hoed to catty on an extensive trade with England, dad
impost its produce, not to the amount of bit or seven
hundred thousand pounds, but of several millions our
'mane. lie was an: ous not to press too lonß opcs
the time of the House. What he es ishei to do we,
meetly to give an oulline of the business. He wow
leave the details to some of his Honourble Friends, who,
he hoped, would take a poet in the discussion. Theism
which he had stated he had collected with much labour..
and the Moist iiiieht depend upon thr it accuracy. But.
he implored the H u.e to consi.ter well the importance.
ot the Subject—to con.idel the good which wouldtesaltr
not only to this country. hot aiso to those countries it
the welfare ot which they were So much interested....to.
look to the great benefits which would arise from c.f.
lying on an unresti acted tea .e Mich countries svhiehr
alto4ether. contained nearly 500000 000 of inhabitants,
l le implored them to look to the adeantige of extending
improvement to s ich a v..st number of persons. and into-
doting amongst theni, it not English laws, at least Eng.
lish justice and Eliglisn feel og. lie implored them tote.
fleet upon the seisms duty which devolved quits those
who were to legislate for such numbers. It was their
duty to took to the interests ot both countries, and, if
they midi the investigation sel,i.h he required. he
had no doubt but they would come to the conclusion
that the greatest benefits would arise horn totally re.
moving all restrictions upon the commerce of the two
countrwi. The Hon. Member concluded by moving
that a Select Committee should be appointed for the
purpose of inquiring into the state of trade between
Great Britain and India, and between Great Britain and
China.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER did not
rise fur the purpote of following tlieHoisoisrable Gentle-
man through the eloquent speech or the able state.
menus he had made, but to express a hope, not only
from the npiuion he himself held upon the subject, but
likewise from the view which the Honourable Gentle.
man had taken of the question, that the Honourable
Gentleman Mould. not press at this time, died under
present circumstances, that the Committee should be
isppointel. The Hon. Geeitientac had truly stated that
this was a most important questi din. He (the Chandel.
for of the Exchequer) agreed petfectly with the Hon.
tifentleman on that subject. He did consider it a
most important question, and he looked upon it as a
branch of a very weighty question which they would
soon be called upon to discuss, involving cot nierelythe
trade between this country and the East Indies, but also
the most serious political concerns—not only involving
domestic prosperity, but also the happiness of millions',
in a foreign land—involving, in fact, tie continuance ofj
the connection between this country and India. He err-
tautly could not undervalue the importance of such a
question ; and yet he was extremely anxious *to induce
the Neuss to avoid agreeing to the. Hon. Members
motion. In proportion as they took the importance ofi
the question into consideration; in the same propor•
tion ought they to take time for important delibera-
tion ; and, if they were to agree to the Honourable
Member's motion at present, they would utterly di,.
able themselves from making the full inquiry which was
necessary. It was impossible that under such ciscurni
stances they could satisfy the count:* on this RrestiOno
or consider what was best to be done between India ands
this country. He would ask. the Honourable Geode-
man what chance there was, or• what hope he could]
have, if die Committee were to be appointed Ibis even-.
lag, of ewer making the first step towards* thE inquiry
Which he wished for ? Could he ever expect to havesut-
Seim time to bring forward all the arguments which were
in favour of his view of the subject, much less those which
were in support of a renewal of the Charter to the East
India Company ? What hopes could he have of making
the proper repteSentations with regard to the manes
factures of this country, and other matters of sq. less
importance? And, when no Wm/nation could be ac-
quired (mom the firmation of the Committee at present,
what would be the result on public opinion? How
*mild it be consistent with the character or dignity of the
'House to appoint a Committee whichithis Session, could
not possibly make a satisfactory ieport? Wheithe aid he
Should advise the House 'not to consent to the appoint.
'went of the Committee which the Hon. Gent. had moved
for, he wished it to be understood that he did set
give that advice from any feeling on his. part that
it eras not essentially necessary to make some inquiry
into the subject. On the contray, he felt fully per-
seeded that it was absolutely necessary that sot only
'the part.cular subjects to which the Honourable Gee-
tleman had *lidded, but also many others which be
bad omitted to notice, would require the deepest*
tention and consideration of a Committee of that Hods

—lf he advised the non-adoption, therefore, of tie
I present motion, it was only because he thought *
inquity could be made more, conveniently to the
House. and more satisfactorily to the public. it e
future tune. It appeared to him as a necessary
preliminary to the inquiry that the House should haw
before it, as it had had on former occasions wits
this subject was discussed, a certain quantity of doer
mentary evidence which would explain some of thi
principles upon which the charter had hitherto bee
gratved, and which would be the means of renduivi
the Members of that House much better masters of 0111
meat and important question than they could possibly be
without them. It was originally the intention of hislie
Hon.Frieud,whom be regretted to say was prevented br
indisposition from appearing in his place that evenings
and he believed it still was his intention, in :became di
the present Session, to move fur the production of the
documentary evidence to which he had alluded,
which it appeared to Government was an indisposi
preliminary to any discussion upon this subject.
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) thought, indeed
and he believed many others were of the same opisi.
. —that it would be imprudent and impolitic in Go'
meat to commence any discussion upon the subjedd
this period of the Session, when the House bad not
fore it the 'Means of prosecuting the inquiry with e,s"
So far, however, was the GovernMent from Insm
to resist any inquiry into the subject. that it ware'
asally prepared at the commencement of the' 7
Selaion to ihititute an inquiry itself—(Hears
*Not a there trivial inqdiry, but such an inquiry las a_.
peered to them would be most satisfactory to all parr,
one that would at least embrace &Wills topics to

the ifeetiaral
wale Oadeub
period of the
la possession
derived from
be laid before
tdatt
nohe
chsl eiPisrsioslu:elcsieh:oaptfoo: epe:epi
which this gr
tween the Hoi
fare, was not
be discussed a
sot be more
of a Commis
laid before th
• *very one tha
absolutely ne
• considered or
Honourable
motion bad p
acquiesce in tl
and importan
'flied; but, in p
in the same pi
wait until that
must in every
tistactnry to th
lair aad impale
looked back to
had' been disco
position that it
upon this subji
the Charter of
were in the ye:
. the policy or ii
place until the
A Right Honi
here observed. dm
Chanel- so early a
• The CHAI
reply, said he I
find that the su
the East India
did not comm
*which it' hid
those discossic
or in two or th
it would have
• for we were
tt would be
18S4. It was
notice upon th
• that' would no'
House' eomme
thought it wo
• mislay point
Should not be
the notice, had
would take pl
amply sufficier
• which• it thou
He, should, tie
Member, althi

. garding,the
brought for wa
meant nothing
tivntleman. E
. treat weight, a
the House, co
, rormation and
. of chi*, they h
degree of teen
model to be of
. mots as the
, its importanci
warmest feelini
. for himself he
not, at the pre
nion uptin the
Whatever opin
subject would
had betore bin
produce in fas
and interests u
advtatage of
liiinselt to any
ground that h
. the Honouras
oegbt not to t
be able to dea
satisfactory m
Mr. HUSK
• . Hop.. Friend
purtotee, but
most' let ious
• ticblarly to th
. . It was; more°
upon which t
• • might be; btu
cilmtion io at
ryinitlni; of vet
. wetly°. depen,
that the 'lotto
a &on Como(
was devolved
not be lees
many thouvatti
his Hight Hor
given' that ihi
the commence
ELI LO leash
*ere to be gni
tircumentary
bad alluded t
see that there
presented
.to the hula
tune for a di
earl; ; but if
this advantage
selectid to col
ation of the se
imposed imposed upon
Lion to tbsasey
evidence cool(
if the teeess I
duty which th
queltina was(
tue traraprillir
country, but a
poscesviont. It
all the attentii
was not only.
Einpire abroal
ness and well
therefOn, if th
this early pert
chine before
ANY affect

thatught that
toted, it wos
neat Session.
awl highly ne