Star.
London, England, 1820-06-20 00:00:00

EAST•INDIA TRADE:

The following its Copy of the able lietition frmn the Chant-
ber of Commerce and Manufactures of Edinburgh to the Lords
for the Affairs of Trade, to which we yesterday

alluded :

• Right Hon. the Lords of his brajesty's Most Hon.
• Privy Conseil for the Affairs of Trade,
° The humble Maaseatat of the Chamber of Commerce and
anufactures et the City el Edinburgh;
" Sneivern—That, In the presets:: depressed state of com-
merce, every channel through which the manufsertires of this
country could had their way to a profitable market, - ought to he
opened: That it has been proved, by the short experience which.
our merchants have had of the trade to the East (tidies, that
British goods are well adapted to that market; and that, with
due encouragement, their consumption would have become very
extensive in these populous countries.
" That, by the 53d of Lis late Majesty, chap. 104. the trade to
die EAU Indies, and to other countries beyond the Cape of frond
Hope, was opened to the merchants of this country, wads the
reservation to the Salt India Company of the monopoly of tea,
.and also of the exclusive trade to China : That other restrictions
were also added as to the size of the vtseels, which are not al-
lowed to be under the size of 550 tons, nor to touch et any pen
on the continent of Asia, between the Indus and Malac:a, ex-
cept the settlements of the Company, without the special and
discretionary licence of the Directors, regulated by the Board of
Controul, and not to any places ether than en the said continent,
between the said limits, without the tame discretionary licence.
" That thesereerictiOns necessarily obstruct the extension of
this advantageous trade in this country; the limitation of the
size of the vessels, and the necessity of a licence, giving great ad-
vantages to foreigners who embark in this commerce, and who
now, in point of fact, trade to a great extent to the eastern coast
of Africa, the lied Rea, and the Persian Oulph, the Eastern'
Archipelago, and to other countries eastward of Mascot; and
are at present actively engaged in extending it.
" That your Memorialists do Dot mean in the least degree to
infringe the chartered rights of the East India Company; but
the trade in question is not carried on by the vessels of the Com-
pany—they have sot the least participation in it—it is wholly in
the heeds of foreigners • and the sole object of your Petitioners
to be placed on an equal footing with theta, and to enjoy their
Mr participation in an important branch of trade from which
they are at present excluded, without the gast advantage to the
East India Company.
" That your Memorialists beg leave also to bring rider your
consideration the trade in tea, from which they are wbdp ex-
cluded, and which is, in consequence, meowed by feedsing:
That they do not contemplate the least infrimmenst et
Charter of the Company; but *lily erase to be allowed a free
competition in this trade with foreigners, who impost tea as
part of their return cargo to Europe ; That: this zelaxatien 'of
the Company's privileges cannot be In the slightest degree fajta-
nous to useir trade or revenue, seeing that year Memorialists
are only praying fOr a participation in a trade in which the
Company has no share, and which is at present wholly engtbssed
by foreigners; the erect of the Company's Charter being, in
fact, to grant to the foreign a monopoly, to the exclusion of the
British merchant.
" That these restrictions, while they are of no benefit to the
Company, are the more injurious to your Memorialists, as they
have reason to know that a great and an increasing demand has
arisen in the markets of China for British manufactures : That
this demand is partly supplied by direct exportations from this
country in American vessels; partly by exportations through the
United States, and partly by the tedious and expensive route to
India through the ',Lesbian territories : That if a more direct
communication could be established with these rich and peps.:
lees countries, it seems certain that a most valuable and incest&
ing market would be opened for the sale of British goods.
" May it, therefore, please your Lordships to take this Me.
mortal into your serious consideration, and to adopt such step
as, in the wisdom of your Lordships, may scent necessary, '
procure a relaxations of the restrictions pit the trade to China and
the East Indies; and your Memorialists syill ever pray.
Signed in the name and on behalf of the Chamber of Com.;
, mercy and Manufactures of the City of Edinburgh, and Ike
Sid of the Corpeentlan affixed thereto, this Illth der el
June, taco. Al4ll, HINDEMPONO gIiEMON"