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

FOREIGN COMMERCE.

The Report of the Lords' Committee, appointed to
inquire into the means of extending and securing the
foreign trade of the country, presented to the House
on the 11th ult. is just printed. It is a document of
considerable interest, and contains the evidence of 27
witnesses, which occupies upwards of 300 folio pages.
The inquiry pursued in this Report is "into the State
of British Commerce with Asia, including as well
that which is can ied on with the territorial posses-
sions of the Honourable East India Company, as that
with the Independent States in the same part of the
globe."—The Report states, that " the Committee
have not thought it necessary to direct their attention
to the commercial concerns of the East Indio Com-
pany, as administered by the Court of Directors, with
a ♦iew to the interests both political and financial of
,that corporate body, further than was necessary to
elucidate the present state and future prospects of
free trade, as affected by existing regulations." It
adds, that " this subject, therefore, naturally divides
itself according to the various restrictions to which
different descriptions of commerce in these regions
are now subjected by law; that to the territorial pos-
sessions of the Company being carried on by license
only from the Company ; that to the other parts of
Southern Asia (China excepted), and to the Wands
of the Indian Ocean, by license of the Board of Con-
troul ; that to China being entirely prohibited to all
British vessels but those in the actual employment of
the East India Company, and the whole trade con-
fined to ships of a ceitain fixed amount of tonnage."
The Report then mole particularly describes each
of those points. The Committee state, that " the sys-
tem of requiring licenses does not appear to be at-
tended with any public benefit ; and a fee is charged
for each license." But, they continue, " a more ma•
aerial advantage might probably accrue to the free
trader from being per mined to trade wiei the smaller
ports on the coasts of Coromandel and Malabar,
where the Company have already Collectors of the
Customs established, who might effectually counter-
act an illicit trade; whereby a wider field may be
opened, and an additional stimulus to commercial
intercourse afforded to the native inhabitants." The
Committee say, " they cannot dismiss this branch of
the, subject without observing, that al:hough it is
difficult, from the great fluctuation which the free
trade to the peninsula of India hai experienced since
it has been admitted upon the terms of the renewed
charter granted to the Company in 1813, to estimate,
fail ly the precise amount of its increase, it must he
admitted that its progress has been such as to indi-
cate that neither a power to purchase, nor a disposi-
tion to use, commodities of 'European manufacture
are wanting in the natives of British India, whilst the,
minute knowledge of the wants and wishes of the in-
habitants, acquired by a direct intercourse with this
country, would naturally lead to a still further aug-
mentation cf our exports. The valve of the merchan-
disc from Great Britain to India, which amounted in
the year 181.5 to £870,177, had, in the year 1819,
increased to £3,052,741."

•Speaking of the advantage of the maintenance of
a free port, eligibly situated amongst the Indian.
Islands, the Committee adduce the following inte-
resting and remarkable proof of the quickness with
which traders might be expected to pei ceive its va-
lue The port of Sincapore, during the year that
it has been.in the possession of the British Govern.
ment, and opened for the purposes of general trade,
has rapidly risen. The population, which had before
scarcely amounted to 200 persons, in three months in-
creased to not less than 3000, and now exceeds 10,000
in the whole; while 173 sail of vessels of different
descriptions arrived and sailed in -the course of the
first two months."

That extensive and important branch of inquiry,
the China trade, receives particular attention. After
adverting to the several opinions entertained regard-
ing. the opening of that trade, the Committee say—
•, They are inclined to the opinion, that regula-
tions might be established at Canton, either by placing
the free trade of Canton under the superintendence
of a Consul, or investing the principal servants of the
Company with some authority over the seamen en-
gaged in the free trade, by which any apprehension
or inconvenience might be removed ; and without in-
tending with the monopoly of the British market,
enjoyed by the India Company, the British Merchant
mrht be safely admitted to a participation in a trade
which has proved safe, lucrative, and capable of great
improvement, in the hands of the foreign trader. The
existing charter of the Company expires in 1834;"
but, adds the Report, 4, there are some views of this
subject to which the attention of Parliament may be
immediately directed." _ _

The Report, in conclusion, gives the following im-
portant in,Qrmation The Committee have been
informed by the Members of his Majesty's Govern-
ment, who are Members of the Committee, that a
Bill was prepared to be submitted to Parliament in
the course of the last Session for extending the private
trade between India and foreign Europe ; and that
the introduction of such a Bill has only been post-
poned in consequence of the inquiries depending in
'Parliament connected with Asiatic commerce."

The jail at Worcester was lately broken into by
some person whose object is rather difficult to guess.
This is reversing the order of things entirely.