The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-03-16

Cd Considerable sensation when communicated to
tie Court OF Propri, tors oil East India Stock, con-
vel ed tor the purpose OF considering IL.
MdiG Board, JANUARY 4, 1913.
GsNTLEMKN-l had the honor TO receive your
letter ii the 30th ut and proceed to convey to on
the sentiments Cf his msiesY's government, Us Tar
AS IL would seem advisable, under present circuIn-
stances, TO continue the discussion.
With respect to your observation, that the repre-
sensations. which induced his maesty's government
10 form their opinions upon the subject OF the ex
tension Of the import trade, have been withheld from
the court OF directors aud that Your objections to
that extension haye not hSsn adequately answer
ed !; you must allow me Co avail my se,f of this &C.
CASTOR to apprize You, that although mis- ma, sly
government has shesn stong disposition enter in
to the most franz and unreserved explanations with
the court vi dSecors, they have not felt That it was
within the range Of their duty engage in con,ro-
verse upon the points Mt issue That duty has been
sutcieutly discharged in stating. for the informao
oil The court OF propristors the condition upon which
they were prepared to submit proposition to Par
lament Tor the rene wal of the charter, accompanied
ty such reasons as are conveyed in the somnuaics-
tons they have authorised make.
can, however, have no difficulty in sa9aanting
you, that the claims OF the merchants connected
with the outpors have bern brought before govern.
ment by written docu,nsIts. that they have been
urged And discussed st personal with in
ividuas interested in their success, and tha, you
have Ssready been informed Of the grounds upon
which they were supported but that it does not ap-
pear to his msjesty's government, that you can be
warranted IN expecting that they should give more
particular account Ct the arguments addused at
these conferences. -; -. ..
may add, however, that as the merchants and
connected With the. outports, cons.
dering themselves entitled at the expiration Of the
charter OF the East India Company, 10 carry nn that
trade, from which they had been excluded FOR Il.
United time, had entered into statement Of their
case by petitions presented to Parliament in the
course OF the last session, you may obtain from
those records that further ntorinatii ah YOU sp.
pear DESTROYS to possess.
With regard to those points to which YOU have
alluded as requiring particular regulation, the MIN
listers of His Royal hness the Prince Regent hay
ing sgnhed to you that sistenty with their sense
OF Public duty they can submit arrangement TO
Parliament that does not include extenaon Of the
import trade, and the court of directors having,
with the knowledge either opinions upon that nUint
by their rsso,otion Of the 18Th ut declined to re-
commend to the court Of propretors to agree go
such an extension, it would seem premature to en-
ter INTO details until that question shall have been
finally determined.
You srs apprised Of the disposition of his males.
tvs government to adhere to the present system of
administration in India, and ] am not aware that
II circumstances should admit of its continuance ia
wou'u be necessary to propose any material aitera-
uon IN the existing provisions for carrying il into ex-
eSuton, except such as may arise from the opening
of the trade.
The confidence you express in the wisdom and
justice OF Parliament, will, l am persuaded, not be
'''pIo'h,eu' HOE 1t 10 be supposed, that Ia the
consideration of this great question ITO use vour
own words the safety of the British empire in
India, and the British constitution at home" will
De overlooked, either by the Legislature or the
Minister'S Of the crown
If the government of India cannot he ,ar,;a5 ~,
with safety to the constitutions except through the
intervention of the company, the propositions Of the
court OF directors whatever they may be, must un-
c onditionay be admitted.
Il will he for parliament to determine whether the
will
whether, if = change Of system should be rendered
necessary by the decisions of the East India Compa
ny measures might be taken for opening the trade.
ana at the same time providing such an administra,
ION OF the government OF India, as might be found
compatible with the interests and security of the
British Constitution.
have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient
md faithful humble Servant
:, BUCKINGHAMSHIRB
{ he Chairman and Deputy Chairman
OF the East India Qoraran