The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-02-11 00:00:00

empire, as a commercial depot during peace, stated
his intention to propose the means of rendering that
depot of more etlective utility. With that view he
proposed that a free intercourse should be allowed
between our West India colonies and Malta. This,
be was aware, would involve a departure from the
principles which had usually regulated our colonial
trade; but this was not, however, the only depar-
ture from that principle, for in the course of the late
war a law had been enacted, allowing the convey-
ance of West India produce to all parts west of
Cape Finisterre, with this condition, that corn should
be sent to the colonies in return. But that restric-
t' he proposed to do away in this instance, in or-
der that our colonial produce should be enabled to
compete with that of the French and Spaniards in
the Mediterranean, and that therefore the importer
of our colonial produce into Malta should be at li-
berty to take back, as a return cargo, any articles he
thought proper, or should not be obliged to take to
the colonies any return cargo whatever, but at li-
berty, on discharging its cargo, to pursue, like other
British ships, such course as it might deem expedient.
It was, however, proposed to provide, that such
ships as took a return cargo to the colonies, should
not convey to the colonies any articles likely to rival
our own mannfa,turec. But there were many articles
to be had in the Mediterranean which might be im-
ported into, and which would be valuable to the
colonies, without creating any such rivalship. That
class of articles it was obviously desirable to render
as extensive es possible ; and a specific schedule of
them it was intended to annex to the Bill hereafter
to, beintrodoced ; but at present he thought it ne-
cessary or.ly to state the general outline of his ob-
ject. Upon the introduction of that Bill, the mea-
sure would be open to any discussion which might be
deemed necessary. Ile had further to propose, (hat
all articles in the Levant Trade, which could net by
law be exported from any other than the country of
its growth, or from certain specified ports, should he
hereafter among those which might be exported from
Malta, together with thrown silk and mohair also,
which could not now be legally exported from any other
than the place of its growth ; subject, however, to the
payment of the usual duties to the Turkey Company.
This Company was, it would be recollected, entitled
by charter to these duties. It had no objection to
the proposed arrangement, and there could be no fair
objection of the payment of its dues. For this Com-
pany had nothing of the character of a monopoly, it
being open to any one to become a member, on the
payment, he understood, of a very few pounds. Be-
shies, the produce of the dues paid to this Company
were not granted for the bonelit of individuals, but
appropria,ed to the public service in defraying the
expence of our diplomatic Agents at Smyrna and
elsewhere. At one time indeed the expeuce of our
fbmbaasy to Constantinople was paid out of this
fund ; hut that practice had been discontinued.--
Still, however, our Consuls and Dragomans in the
other offices connected with the embassy, were paid
by the Turkey ;ompatiy, and it was deemed right
to continue she practice, because in the quarter al-
hided to, prejudice was so notoriously fixed in favour
of an ancient prat lice, that it was not c niceived ex-
=3.t
to introduce soy change,: lest such change
,prove (Asada antageous to our commercial io. ,
lleveiiiiree. - -

Several Resolutions were then proposed agreeable
jw-tho lion. Gentiernan's statement, as was a Reso-
legion to Impose upon any nines imported from the
Mediterranean into the West Indies, the same duties
as are ttow ,utvable upon :riadeirs.
Mr. FOR RES enquired whether it was intended to
',styled *be prittbiple of this arrangement to East In-
dia produce also ?
Mr. ROBINSON replied, that no such extension
°obi -at present be proposed, becesise it was thought
ilifficult to epen Malta to the East India trade, with-
out opening that trade to all other parts of Europe.
Upon that point, therefore, a difference of opinion
prevailed, which would probably give rise to cons'.
sleroble. discussion, and from that consideration he
avoided the point at present, confining himself to
that arrangement only upon which no objection was
Anticipated. The Honourable Gentleman concluded
with observing, that his Resolutions applied merely
to Welt articles es were at present prohibited to the
trade of ;Melte.
The Resolutions being agreed to, the House re-
murted,and the Report was ordered to be brought up
san•Monder.
• Mr: Serjeant ONSLOIV moved the committal of
the Rill for the better securing the liberty of the sub-
ject, observing, that he merely meant to have the
blanks filled up with regard to England, proposing
to postpone the farther consideration of the measure
until the arrival of the Gentleman who had ex-
pre:led a wish to have the provisions of the Bill ex-
tended to Ireland. • •

The committed and reported, and or-
deal/1010 thoonigatted on Monday, the 20th ins'.
• The Order fur the ateond reaiing of the Ilelstone
EL:cants flill.waupstpaned till Nednevistrott the
'of Mr. Sergeant OSSLOW. •

0:: tut‘tion of Mr. LUSHINGTON. the Com-
mittee the Bunk Loom was postponed, s:td the
Correspondence between the Hank and the Chancel-
Itir of the F.*hequer was ordered to he printed.
The Countititwe of Supply and Ways and Means
*'ere postponed till Nlfinday.
. Mr.*LUSIIINGTON obtained leave to bring in
the usual Ball for inthencifying dies. who have omit.
led to qualify according 'to law.
• Adjourned to. Monday.