Upon lord Castlereagh'smoving the committal of the East India Circuitous Trade Bill;
Mr. C. Grant, after expressing his regret that he was not in the House yesterday, when some observations were made upon the subject of this Bill, which he deemed of considerable importance, requested that any further progress upon it might be postponed. As it materially concerned the interests of the India Company, they naturally required more time for the consideration of a measure, with the merits of which they had but very recently become acquainted; for it was only that day that a copy of this Bill came into the hands of the directors.
Lord Castlereaghfelt great pleasure in complying with the request of the hon. member, and should therefore postpone his motion until, Monday next. He, however, thought it proper to observe, that he was not aware of the existence of any difference of opinion upon the merits of this Bill; and in agreeing to the postponement required, he did so in the understanding that the measure would be carried before the holidays.
§ Mr. Fawcettobserved, that the India Company were not alone interested in this measure, as our manufacturers were also materially concerned. For if British merchants were allowed to carry India produce to the Havannah, the Brazils, and other contiguous places, that produce would be very likely to find its way into our colonies, and interfere with the British manufacturers, whom the trader in East India commodities could easily undersell, from the comparative cheapness of labour and materials in the East. In this view, he thought that the measure before the House required time for very ample consideration.
§ Mr. Finlayrose to correct a misconception of his hon. friend who spoke last, and, who appeared to conceive that the Bill before the House proposed to grant some extraordinary advantages to British merchants; whereas it only went to allow them the same advantages as were already enjoyed by foreigners. For, as the case stood at present, if any Swedish or Russian subject should think proper to trade to India, they might carry India produce to the places mentioned by his hon. friend, and so engage in the competition, he deprecated. But, as far as he was acquainted with the sentiments and interests of British manufacturers, they had no apprehension of any competition likely to be created by this or by any Bill of a similar nature.
§ The committal of the Bill was postponed till Monday.