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ceive the payment in 100l. Bank-notes;
and must continue to remain B's debtor,
and pay him interest. This seemed to
him to be a great absurdity. It was said,
the measure was necessary;-he knew
not the circumstances that made it so it
had not been called for by Ireland, save in
one Petition from Belfast, presented by the
noble lord, and he was convinced if that
was looked into, that the signatures would
be found to be more connected with the
commercial than the landed interests.
had also been said, that there were op-
pressive landlords-he did not doubt but
there might be persons of this description,
but he could not think this a sufficient
reason for forcing the currency of a coun-
try out of its natural state. There would
be many inconveniencies in applying the
measure to Ireland, as the circumstances
of that country were very different from
this. English gentlemen were not aware
of the great difference that existed. In
England, for instance, there were few
perpetual leases, but in Ireland there were
a great many. Numbers of gentlemen
found their lands let for 900 or 999 years,
and to compel them who had so little re-
venue out of their property, to receive it in
depreciated paper, would be to subject them
to great loss, and indeed to leave them
scarcely any thing. Upon this class of pri-
vate gentlemen, therefore, the hardship
would be very great; for their situation did
not at all resemble that of landlords in this
country, whose leases were only for a few
years, and who at every new bargain had
a remedy in their own hands. The mat-
ter, as it affected Ireland, would be found,
when they came to the committee, to be
most complex and difficult, and the injus-
tice to certain individuals greater than per-
sons in this country could have any notion.
He would give his negative to the second
reading of this Bill, because he opposed it
in principle, and this was the proper stage
for that opposition. It was said to be po-
pular, whether truly or not, he could not
say. If popular here, however, he might
assert, it would not be popular in Ireland;
and he was convinced its popularity in
this country arose from its nature and ten-
dency not being understood. In his opi-
nion, it was a most pernicious measure,
and he would reserve to himself the right
of contending against it hereafter, when it
was subjected to more mature discussion,

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"That the Petitioners beg leave to address the House in consequence of a Petition having been transmitted to the House from several inhabitants of the said town and neighbourhood, particularizing many grievances which those Petitioners are stated to labour under, and praying for at revocation of the Orders of Council, that the advantages of the East India trade shall be enjoyed without exclusion or limitation, and especially that measures towards the pacification of Europe may become the subject of the immediate deliberation of the House; and that, feeling for the credit of the town of Blackburn, and disapproving of many of the sentiments conveyed by the said Petition, they should consider themselves wanting in duty to the House, and also personally to themselves, were they not to state to the House, that the Petition to which they allude is not sanctioned by the inhabitants of the town at large, that it originated with individuals, by whom it was privately prepared, that the signatures to it have been Mr. Marryatt thought that the measure industriously obtained by lodging the Pewould be a great oppression to the land-tition in different parts of the town, where lords of Ireland. He had heard from hon. persons have been employed to procure

them; and that many of the persons subscribing the Petition have been induced by a representation that it would lead to a termination of the war, and without any consideration whether peace was attain able, except on terms which would probably produce our own subjugation; and that, though the Petitioners are anxious for, and deeply interested in, the revival of commerce, which by many is thought to have been greatly checked by the Orders in Council, yet, as they cannot fully see how far these Orders may bear upon and thwart the political views of our implacable and insidious enemy, they presume not to express a wish that the Orders should be rescinded, but trust that the united wisdom of the House will adopt such measures as may ultimately tend to the national prosperity; and that, though the Petitioners conceive that an open and unrestricted trade gives rise to a liberal competition, a generous emulation, and an increasing activity and exertion, yet they think it indecorous to dictate what ought to be done, in full confidence that the House will comply with the general wish respecting the East India Company's charter, and consult the general welfare; and that they lament, in common with the Petitioners before-mentioned, the horrors and calamities occasioned by war, and would be grateful for a re-establishment of public tranquillity; but, at the same time, they have the firmest reliance that no opportunity will be lost, or endeavours wanting, to cultivate a friendly intercourse with the united states of America, and to pro cure a general peace, upon terms of honour to the crown, being fully convinced that it is the earnest desire of the Prince Regent to relieve his Majesty's subjects from the burthens of an expensive war, to extend commerce, and to augment the prosperity and happiness of the kingdom." Ordered to lie upon the table.

PETITION FROM THE SHIP BUILDERS OF LONDON RESPECTING THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.] Mr. Marryatt presented a Petition from several ship-builders in the port of London, setting forth,

"That an attempt having been made, in the year 1795, to legalize Indian built ships, the jealousy and fears of the various classes dependant on ship-building in that port were so much excited and alarmed, that they petitioned the legislature against the Bill which had been brought into parliament for that purpose; and that the

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Petitioners were at that time informed the measure was to be limited and temporary, and accordingly an Act, the 35 Geo. 3, c. 115, was passed, authorizing, during the last war, and for eighteen months after its conclusion, ships not British built, arriving from the East Indies on account of the East India Company, to enter inwards and outwards if such ships were actually built within the Company's territories; and that similar attempts having been subsequently made, some of the Petitioners applied, in 1797, to his Majesty's then government on the subject, when they received the most positive assurances that the regular and China trade of the East India Company should be confined to British built ships; and that under this persuasion, and convinced of the sincerity of the assurances so given to them, the Petitioners were enabled to quiet the alarms of the industrious persons before-mentioned, who had at that time formed meetings, and had entered into resolutions expressive of their fears and dissatisfaction of the measure; indeed, the impression which it appeared to have made on their minds was such as if their existence depended on its total relinquishment and suppression; but on a pledge being given to them by the Petitioners, in conformity with the explanation they had received from his Majesty's then government, that the measure was partial and temporary, and that the Company's regular trade would be continued in British built ships, these artificers and others were pacified and prevailed on to return to their respective employments; and that, in perfect confidence and reliance on the solemn assurances so given to the Pe titioners, they did not entertain any apprehension that further encouragement or extension would be given to the employment of Indian built ships by the East India Company beyond the partial and limited admission of them under the statute before-mentioned in their irregular trade, which is the first instance of the legisla ture recognizing, as the Petitioners be lieve, of Indian built ships; they therefore observed, with astonishment and dismay, the recent extension of India built ships in the Company's general service; and that the Petitioners beg leave to state,that they understand the East India Company have formed a systematic plan of building and equipping ships in the East Indies for their regular trade, and that, under some specious pretext or other, they have already taken up several Indian

built ships for that service, besides giving encouragement for the building there of ships of lesser tonnage for sale in Great Britain; and the Petitioners have reason to believe, that in furtherance of this system, many sets of workmen, particularly rope-makers, taking with them the machinery now used in that manufacture, have quitted this country for India, where, in a few years, they will disseminate the knowledge they possess, to the manifest injury of the trade of this country; and that the fears of the Petitioners were increased from having found, in the course of 1809, that, by a clause introduced into an act of parliament, embracing other objects, which was passed in 1802, namely, 42 Geo. 3, c. 20, sec. 6, the admission of Indian built ships to entry in Great Britain, as before stated, has been extended, to continue in force during the Company's monopoly; and that it is under this Act the directors have taken up the Indian built ships before-mentioned for their regular trade, notwithstanding the reasons alleged by them in their third report of the 25th of March 1802 on the private trade, of the impolicy of employing ships of that description, and the Petitioners beg leave most respectfully to refer to the serious facts therein stated in favour of the employment of British built ships in the Company's service; and that the Petitioners were not aware of any intention to extend the provisions of the Act, first before-mentioned, otherwise they would have appealed to the legislature, on the latter occasion, for that protection which they now most humbly solicit of the House; and that, under these circumstances, the Petitioners, with the greatest deference and respect, venture to appeal to the House, as the crisis appears to them to have arrived when it is to be considered, whether the extensive establishments which have been formed within the port of London for ship-building, mast-making, rope-making, sail-making, and the various and numerous branches of trade and manufacture connected with them, in which are employed so many thousand individuals of the most estimable classes in a maritime country, are to be sacrificed to the interests of the settlers in India, and to a mistaken notion of economy which will ultimately prove as prejudicial to the Company as ruinous to the state; and that the Petitioners humbly presume it will be admitted that these establishments are not the production of a few years, but that they have gradually risen

with the trade and naval power of the country; and that on them, in a great measure, must depend their continuance, as the private yards, especially those in the port of London, are the great nurseries for the King's yards, yielding on the commencement, and affording in the progress of a war, a continual supply of ablebodied men for the public service, and, on the return of peace, an asylum for them when discharged from it; and that the Petitioners refrain from further observation on the impolicy of the introduction of Indian built ships into the Company's regular service, and into the general trade of the country, and of having extensive marine establishments in the East, which must inevitably conduce to that species of colonization which has already proved so disastrous to Great Britain, it being evident, that the building equipment and employment of such ships will reverse the natural order of the Indian trade, estrange the affections of the persons engaged in it from the mother country, make India the commencement and termination of their voyages, and lay the foundation of a system which will render more equivocal and precarious the continuance of British influence and British power in that quarter of the globe; and that the Petitioners humbly hope that the legislature will, in future, confine, by statute, the regular and China trade of the East India Company to British built shipping, and that the permission granted to the East India Company by 42 Geo. 3, c. 20, sec. 6, may not be renewed or continued after the expiration of the period limited by that Act." Ordered to lie on the table.

PETITIONS FROM PAISLEY, GLASGOW, KIRKALDY, AND Kilmarnock, AGAINST THE RENEWAL OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.] A Petition of the magistrates and common council of the town of Paisley, in council assembled, was presented and read; setting forth,

"That the charter of the united company of merchants of England trading to the East Indies being soon to expire, the Petitioners presume to express their sentiments on a subject peculiarly interesting to that populous and manufacturing district of the country, as well as to the nation in general: and that they, in common with the rest of their fellow subjects, conceive that they have a right to a free trade with all parts of the British empire, and other countries in amity with the

Cape Horn, offers a very considerable substitute for what the enemy has shut up from this kingdom in Europe; and that the United States of America, and other countries in amity with his Majesty, have long enjoyed the privilege of trading to our India possessions, from which our fellow subjects have been excluded; and that whatever political or other reasons may have heretofore existed for such an exclusion, the Petitioners presume that the present period of distress calls loudly for an effectual removal of that exclusion upon the termination of the present charter of the East India Company; and praying the House to adopt such measures as may give relief in this respect to the subjects of this realm."

A Petition of the trades house of the city of Glasgow, was also presented and read; setting forth,

united kingdom; and they are humbly of opinion that the great object of all legislative regulation in the commercial concerns of the country is the protection of this equal right in the subject, and the further extension of a just and legitimate commerce, and that therefore all monopolies, which exclude the general body of the people from this commerce, are a violation of their natural rights and privileges; and, that, of the injurious consequences attending all attempts at an exclusive traffic, the Petitioners have good reason for concluding the present monopoly of the East India Company affords renewed evidence, it being not only prejudicial to the general interest of the country, but also, if they are rightly informed, unprofitable to the Company itself, whose capital, there is strong reason for believing, is by no means adequate to so extended a trade; and that, in the present depressed state of the manufactures and commerce of that part of the united kingdom, every measure of assistance that the House can afford, ought to be exerted, and the Petitioners look up with confidence, and indulge the most anxious hope, that partial considerations will not be permitted to sacrifice and set aside their most serious and important interests; and that, from these and various other considerations, the Petitioners do humbly and earnestly pray, that the House will adopt measures for the total abolition of the commercial monopoly of the East India Company at the expiration of their present Charter, or at least that such monopoly may not be permitted to deprive British subjects of those privileges allowed to neutral nations; and that the charter, if renewed, may be made subject to such modifications and conditions as may be best calculated for promoting the commerce and manufactures of the united kingdom."

A Petition of the bailies and trustees of the united towns of Port Glasgow and Newark, was also presented and read; setting forth,

"That under the present pressure upon the trade of this kingdom by its inveterate enemy, the Petitioners do conceive that every possible relief should be given to the mercantile and manufacturing concerns upon which depend, in a great measure, the finances of the country; and that a free trade with the British possessions in India, and with the other territories east of the Cape of Good Hope and west of

"That from the present depressed state of the commerce and manufactures of this country, arising from the very limited channels for exportation, owing to the continental restrictions lately laid thereon, the Petitioners have observed with deep regret the shock which the trading and manufacturing interests of the united empire has thus sustained, and the consequent state of distress and poverty which many thousands of their constituents employed in the manufactures of that city and neighbourhood, as well as the manufacturers and artizans throughout the kingdom, have been reduced to without any immediate prospect of being soon restored to their former situation; and that, impressed with these feelings, and being convinced of the baneful effects resulting from whatever tends to cramp the mercantile and trading interests of this king dom, the Petitioners take the liberty of suggesting, and earnestly recommending to the serious consideration of the House, the policy of discontinuing the privilege or monopoly hitherto enjoyed by the East India Company, of trading to all those countries comprehended between the Cape of Good Hope and the straits of Magellan exclusively, to the prejudice of all the other subjects of the empire; and that, as the inhabitants of the United States of America, and indeed the subjects of every other government in amity with this country, enjoy free commercial intercourse with the British possessions in India, the Petitioners consider it a hardship, bordering on injustice, that the subjects of

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jects of this empire; and they beg leave shortly to express it as their opinion, formed on deliberate consideration, that no monopoly whatever should be grant

this kingdom should be burdened, to a certain degree, with the expence of the naval and military establishments for defending those possessions, while they are deprived of that free commercial inter-ed or continued which may have the effect course which is enjoyed by foreigners; and that if, therefore, a free trade with the large proportion of the population of the globe, comprehended under the exclusive grant to the East India Company, were to be afforded to the mercantile talent and capital of this empire, the Petitioners are hopeful that a channel would thereby be opened up, which would not only baffle the attempts of our insidious and inveterate enemy, but give useful and profitable employment to mercantile capital in general, and thereby in a great degree give relief to the labouring and at present dis tressed state of the manufacturers and artizans of this kingdom; and praying the House to adopt such measures as may render it lawful for any of his majesty's subjects, from and after the expiry of the East India Company's present Charter, to carry on, from any of the ports of the United Kingdom, a free and equal trade with the countries between the Cape of Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan."

A Petition of the provost magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Kirkaldy, in council assembled, was also presented and read; setting forth,

"That as the Charter under which the East India Company enjoy an exclusive trade to the countries lying to the East of the Cape of Good Hope, and to the West of the Straits of Magellan, will expire at no distant period, the Petitioners are desiFous to draw the attention of the legislature to that subject; they feel themselves particularly called on to do this at the present time, when their manufacturing and shipping interests, as well as those of their fellow subjects, are suffering the severest pressure from the Continental restrictions imposed by the enemy, and other causes necessarily connected therewith: and that at this enlightened period the petitioners conceive, that it is unnecessary for them to state at any length the injurious effects and general inexpediency of commercial monopolies, or the advantages that would result to the trading and manufacturing interests of this kingdom, were the extensive and populous countries above-mentioned laid open to the industry and mercantile enterprise of all the sub.

of precluding the merchants and ship. owners of this kingdom, in every port thereof, from enjoying all the benefits of a free trade with every country to which the British Flag is admitted, subject always to such regulations as the government and legislature may deem just and expedient for national purposes; and that the Petitioners hope for further indulgence while they suggest two considerations in relation to this subject, which appear to them to have strong claims to attention: first, that to many of the countries comprehended under their exclusive charter, the East India Company have never traded, and to which their limited capital will never permit them to extend their connections in trade; it seems therefore difficult, if not altogether impossible, to assign any good reason why other persons and other capital belonging to the same country should not be allowed at any rate to do that for which the present monopolists are inade quate; second, the subjects of States in amity with his Majesty, and particularly. those of the United States of America, have for a number of years past enjoyed the freedom of trade with the countries alluded to, while the subjects of Great Britain and Ireland have been excluded from that privilege, or at least the privilege to which the private trade is admitted, is fettered with such restrictions as to render it in a great measure nugatory; and that the Petitioners are totally unable to reconcile this arrangement with any principle of justice or good policy, and they cannot for a moment doubt the readiness of the legislature to remove so just a ground of complaint, while the removal of it would tend to greatly promote the commercial and political interests of the kingdom; and praying the House to take this subject into serious consideration, and to adopt such measures in respect thereof as shall most effectually serve to open new markets for the decaying manufactures and commerce of the nation."

A Petition of the magistrates and council of the town of Kilmarnock, in the county of Ayr, was also presented and read, setting forth,

"That the inhabitants of Kilmarnock, in common with those of other manufac

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