Star.
London, England, 1821-07-05 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE

A General Court of East India Proprietors was
yesterday held at the Company's House, in Leaden-
hall-street. After some previous discussion,
Mr. JACKSON rose, and said, that notwithstanding
the great authority of the Act of Parliament which
he held in his hand, derived from the name of a
highly-gifted Nableman, the Marquis of Lansdown,
he could not but complain of the great license it
afforded in respect to trading in India. Some of the
greatest politicians had been most mistaken in their
views of India affairs. He wished to a..k whether by
that Act, all the King's subjects might not only go
from port to port in India, and carry away the pro-
duce to any part of Europe, but also, whether they
might not carry back the produce of foreign:coun-
tries to any place in India, and there dispose of it,'
without coming to the parent state ?
Mr. Serjeant BOSANQUET was referred to by the
Chairman, who gave an answer in the affirmative.
Mr. JACKSON thought this was a most dangerous
proposition, that vessels loading with the shewy fa-
, brics of France, or the cheap fabrics of Germany,
should be allowed to give the go-by to the parent
country. How dangerous would it be to allow such
a doctrine to be applied to the West Indies ! he knew
he was speaking a day too late; but as the Bill was
laid before the Court for their-approbation, he could
not help observing upon the great danger arising
from assenting to this principle.
The CHAIRMAN said, that the Directors had in-
terfered to prevent the measure; but it having been
represented to Ministers, on the part of the Shipping
Interest, that it was an extremely hard case that
English shipping should be denied that privilege
which was afforded to American and other foreign
vessels, their interference was not successful. _

Mr.GEOGHEGAN thought the Directors might have
acquainted the Proprietors with the intentions of Mi-
nisters upon this subject.
The CHAIRMAN said, that if the Hon. Proprietor
had attended the last Court, he would have found
that the notice, of the want of which he complained,
had been given.
Mr. D. KINNAIRD said, that as an Englishman, he
was happy that Bill had passed. As an India Pro-
prietor, he was indebted to the good sense of the Le-
gislature that had exploded the antiquated notion of
a monopoly to London bettering the Company's sub-
jects in India. He was satisfied that all commercial
facilities were beneficial to the Indians; because,
from the very nature of commerce, no vessel could
carry any commodities there, without carrying thence
Indian produce in return. As an India Proprietor,
it was the same thing to him whether an English-
man traded there from Liverpool, or a Frenchman
from Bourdeaux. As an English subject, perhaps
he might wish it to be confined to Englishmen. But
as an Indian, it was all alike to him. He thought,
upon the whole, that the passing of this Act was a
subject of congratulation to the Court.
Mr. LOWNDES was proceeding to argue against
the Bill, when

The CHAIRMAN rose to communicate some infor-
mation which much interested the Court. He had
just received an account of the Death of Bonaparte.
This communication produced a great sensation
in the Court, which interrupted the proceedings for
some minutes.

Mr. LowsinEs said he was glad to hear of this,
when speaking of our commercial relations—(Cries
of Order).—He then proceeded to contend, that the
principle of the Bill ought to be done away.
The CHAIRMAN again rose and said, when he just
now communicated the intelligence of the death al
Bonaparte, he had the information from a private
source, but he had since receiVd an official note
from Sir Hudson Lowe, which he would read forth-
with—(Hear, hear).
The letter was then read as follows :

" Se. Helena, May 6, 1821.

" Ste—l beg leave to inform you, that General Bonaparte
expired at ten minutes before six o'clock on the evening of the
sth of May, after an illness which had confined him to his bed
since the 17th of March. Captain Crockatt, the orderly Officer
who attended upon General Bonaparte, will have the honour of
delivering this dispatch."
" To the Chairman of the Hon. Court of Directors, &c."

Mr. Lowuroes.—Then, Mr. Chairman, I congra-
tulate you upon the intelligence!—(Loud and univer-
sal expressions of disapprobation).
• Mr. DOUGLAS KINNAIRD said, that it was inde-
cent, and unworthy of Englishmen, to make the na-
tural extinction of a man, who had been long politi-
cally dead, matter of congratulation—(Near, hear).
Mr. PATTISON said, that the circumstance had
been communicated to the Court as a matter of fact,
and not of discussion.

Mr. LOWNDES merely congratulated the country
upon being relieved from the expense of the St. He-
lena establishment. He then resumed his speech upon
the India Trade Bill, the remainder of which was
not heard, in consequence of the murmuring con-
versation excited_ by the news of Bonaparte's death.
The CHAIRMAN again said, that the Directors hid
done what they could, but found it impossible to pre-
vent the measure from being carried.
Mr. JACKSON replied to the observations of Mr.
D. Kinnaird. The Hon. Proprietor had stated he
1 was sorry, as an Englishman, that it was not con-
fined to an English channel. That was, in effect, all
he (Mr. Jackson) had said. This Bill had the effect
of abridging Bi itish commerce at a moment, when,
of all others, it ought to be extended.
A PROPRIETOR hoped, that against the next Session
of Parliament the Board of Directors would tat:
measures to have it repealed.