The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1812.

HUNTER, MLYOIII.

A Common Council, holden in the Chamber of the Guildhall of
the City of London. on Saturday, the 9th day of May, 1812.
itesorrsinunkstwonscr,
TIiAT this Court views with the deepest concern
the intimation of his hiajetty's Ministers, that in submit-
ting so Porliatuent a proposition respecting the renewal of the
Rost India Company's Charter, it is their intention not to con-
fl c the liast India Trade to the Port of Loudon, from whence
it has been carried on fur two centuries.
That London has hitherto been not only the seat of (invert'-
, silent, but nisi) the pi incipal depository of merchmulire, and
consequently the general resort of foreigners. Is lin have fie-
-1 quented it for the purpose of supplying themselves with gouda
suitable to their particular markets and dermas's.
That the Metrnpolb has thus bre* ambled to give to nearly
one-tenth of the popnlntins of the kiogdurs occupation and sup-
port: afforded to the Government at once easy, secure, mad es..l
peditiuus means uf collecting the Import Revenues, which bear
a most important proportion to their annual bdrthens, and
held the credit, honour, and character of the mercantile pan of

- -
:twee realms. •
That in the attainment of these great usajorwa olissasi the.w.
Initation of the East India Trade to the Port of Loinloa has
been found essentially useful, by the establishment of spacious
docks, considerable manufactories, warehouses, storehouses,
and oilier necessary and commodious buildings, by the constant
employment. even duri ig a long continuance of war, of assay
thomands of workmen, artificers, artisans, and labourers in
these establishments, both in the City of London 51141 on the
Banks of the River Thames, upon whine occupation depends
the subsistence of a vast and increasing population, and by the
boildiag and equipment of ships and vessels, communicating full
and immediate relief to very numerous classes of persous engaged
in different capacities and pursuits.
That this Court, solemnly disclaiming all se!Sah considerations
and aarrow jealousies its consequence of the intimated extensiou
I,f the Trade to and from India to the Ont-ports, does not op-
pose bra extension on the ground of a ithlustcling what in other
respects would he truly desirable, the fair 111010; of honourable
enterprise and open competition, but from the certain con-
yietioa that were the Port of. London deprived of the privi-
leges which it nt present ea)bps with respect to the East
India Trade, the consequences would be both disadvanta-
geous in themselves cud injurious to the interests of the country
at large. .•.
That while the Port of London has erjoyed certain privi-
leges which have produced the most essential benefits to the
commoestrength nod revenue of the Empire, full and sufficient
liberty kas not beets withheld from other cities and towns in
Ibe kiminein to eurplity their capitals stud direct their trading
pursuits 10 points capable of affordieg atup:e returns and t emu-
iteration.
'that with regard to these cities and towns, until the late son-
Laminate state of affairs its the mercantile world, their exertions
have been crowned kith cosecs, with the exception of the
cormnbuicetion opened with the Spanish and Purnignese Settle-
ments in America, a circumstance which, whilst it involved
many of tee adventurers in severe distress or complete ruin' can-
not but hold out convincing reasons for great reserve and can-
non in embracing new sources for speculation.
That although the quantity of tutelage appropriated by the
East India Company to the private Traders of the United
Kingdom (independently of the usual allowance to their own
()thaw) has, during the last six years, amounted to 6i,000
is ascertained that tif that quantity 16,130 tom only
Mope beet employed, of which 70,YJ tutu have consisted of
'.wlue and beer, lenvingta surplus of little more than 9000 lass,
or 1500 tons annually for all kiodr of stores and British manu-
factures. •
That the expectation entertained by several branches of the
manufacturing interest throughout the country of the great be-
nefits likely to result no tees. from au increased expos tattoo to
India, appears erroneous rind delusive, inasmuch as it is in-
controvertibly established by the experience of the last six
years , that the market of India is altogether incapable of ex-
tending the consumption of British manufactures beyond the
present demand.
That it appearing impracticable, in any material degree, to
increase the import of prefiiable commoditien from, Or to aug-
ment the export of British manufactures to India, little more
than one-tenth of the allowed quantity of tow ige for the pri-
vate trader in thew manufacture, having been employed, it
necessarily follows, that is neither iistatsce tun any beneficial
extension of commerce be realized, and that all new adventu-
rers who may engage in then must, if even successful, merely
enjoy a share or portion of that which is alreutls carried oil
result which, without communicating soy additional ad-
eastages to the vanity, without invigorating national industry,
and rewarding the spirit of cotninercial enteritis Ise, must split
that into parts and fractions which is !sow condutned mud coa-
centrated as a whole ; and terminate in its transfer from one set
of It:11111Si° another, with Mcaleulatile disadvautagcs, and per-
haps with total ruin.
That the wisdom, if not the rsecessitv, of limiting to one point
far exportation, the 116110•13 articles drawn from very distinct
end distant parts of the interior, which compose the compara-
tetelysinall.quantity of British usanufataures sent to India, ap-
pearsoodentable.
That the removal from the Port of Laotian of the Trade to
and from India, would tend to the injury of that exceilent nur-
!trey of nurseantett, the (-misting trade, affect the inland naviga-
tion of the kingdom, and lead to the den.' ieration of the quality
of the different articles now imported from India and China, and
disposed of at open and regular sales.
That as a subject of Finance, to whieh the Port or London
has ail very largely contributed. the Revenue deriving in the
single article of Tea, the yearly averaged amount .f nearly four
atitlems in the live last years, this Court cannot view she pro-
posed extension to the Out-ports of the East todialrade, a nit-
out the must alarming appiehensions, as, from the very ex-
teosive f.c,le of Ports throughout the United Kingdom, smug-
gling would he wore easily carried on, and the Revenue de-
Lawled, to the injury of the public Interests, and the detriment
of the fair Trader.
That the blew used facility thus afforded to smuggline, would,
he the introduction of prohibited goods, depreciate our own
manufactures, and defeat the very rude which the recent Res°.
lutinns um el A i,nlieutions tai the atinufacturers for the ex tensiou
of the East India Trade to the Out-ports, under the fallacious
hope of augmented consumption, postesses to hove in view.
Resolved Unanimously—That hatable Petitions be pre-
sented to both !louses of Parliament, setting forth these rea-
sons, and praying that they may take into their serious consi-
deration the rennect ion actually existing between the East India
Trade and the Port of i.undoo, and adopt such measures ns to
their st isdom may recto elect, in order to prevent the extrusion
of the said trade to the Out-ports of the United ingdom.
WoODTlfOlti`E.

'IV Mr. 'fIIOMAS PHILLIPS. or his Daughters,
1 Jane and Mary, who several years ago resided in Newing.
101 l Butts, are still alive, they may hear .f something to their
advantage. by applying to Marntoduko Rehinstin, lisq. Leta-
street, Strand.

IRELAND.
ATRAVELLER, going to Dublin and the North
of Ireland, in whom confidence may he placed, would he
glad to transact business on Commission in that quarter; intend,
setting of Ina few days, and will be alssent about two mouths.
Respectable reference will be gives by addressing to A. B.
10, ilucklervitury, Mansion house.
May 12, ISM