Mr. Houston671 presented a Petition from the Merchants, Traders, and Manufacturers of the town of Greenock, setting forth,
"That, while the petitioners have no desire to trench on the substantial rights of the East India Company, they beg to submit to the House, that there appears a field, worthy of the national exertion and industry, to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, and westward of Cape Horn, in the exclusive privilege of that company, which might be rendered productive of advantages that have not hitherto arisen out of it; and that, to enable the British merchant to meet in fair competition neutrals and foreigners in their own and other markets, to which they carry the products of the countries to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, and the westward of Cape Horn, and to allow these products, without being first landed in the United Kingdom, to be transported to the British West Indies, the colonies of America, and all other countries whatever in America, Africa, and Asia, and in Europe, south of Cape Finisterre, and within the Mediterranean, the House must perceive that the navigation laws will require to be revised and amended; and that the exclusive commercial privileges granted to the South Sea company, which may operate to the interruption of the trade proposed, should be distinctly removed; and praying the House to take the same into their consideration, and to grant such relief therein as to them may seem meet."—Ordered to lie on the table.