HC Deb 02 February 1813 vol 24 cc346-50

A Petition of the lord provost, magistrates, and council, of the city of Edinburgh, was presented and read; setting forth,

"That, looking forward to the period at which the charter of the company of merchants trading to the East Indies and to China is to terminate, the petitioners beg leave most respectfully to lay before the House their sentiments on the continuance of this monopoly, fully satisfied that the subject will meet with that attention from the enlightened senate of the British empire which its importance requires; and that the petitioners deem it superfluous to argue upon the general in- expediency of commercial monopolies, or to state to the House their tendency to cripple the exertions and fetter the enter-prize of individuals; and that, whatever reasons may have originally induced he legislature to grant exclusive privileges to a joint stock company engaged in trading to the East Indies, it is obvious that, by the intelligence, enterprise and capital of individual British merchants, the commerce of the country has been extended to every quarter of the globe not comprehended within the limits of this monopoly; apprehending, therefore, that those reasons do not now exist, and that a sufficient degree of enterprise and capital is to be found throughout the empire for carrying on a free and unfettered trade to the East Indies, and to China, the petitioners humbly hope that the House will not consent to the renewal of a charter, which, by conferring on the subjects of neutral states privileges not enjoyed by British subjects appears to the petitioners to be contrary to sound policy, and equally injurious to the mercantile interest as inimical to the free spirit of our happy constitution; and praying the House Dot to continue the exclusive privileges heretofore enjoyed by the East India Company, but to render it lawful for any of his Majesty's subjects, after the 1st of March 1814, to carry on, from any of the ports of the United Kingdom, a free trade with the whole countries situate to the East of the Cape of Good Hope."

A Petition of the royal boroughs of Scotland, assembled at their annual convention, was also presented and read; setting forth,

"That the said convention, representing by delegation under existing statutes, the whole trading interest of Scotland, hold it as their incumbent duty at the present critical juncture, to approach the House at a period when the charter of the East India Company has nearly expired, and when interested and powerful individuals have combined to maintain a monopoly so truly inconsistent with commercial liberty; and that as no state necessity appears to exist for the continuance of these exclusive rights so justly complained of, as assertion without argument has alone been adduced in its defence, and as our national policy must be at all times favourable to a free and unfettered trade through the whole empire and its dependencies, the petitioners rely, with humble confidence, that the wisdom of this House will at at length admit to the merchants of this kingdom an unrestricted and unlimited intercourse with the countries to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope; and praying the House to refuse their assent to any further extension of the present exclusive privileges of the East India Company, and to restore to the subjects of this realm their legitimate right to trade directly from any port within the United Kingdom, free and uncontrouled, with the British possessions in Asia, and with the other countries situated to the east of the Cape of Good Hope, particularly with the empire of China."

A Petition of the deacon, treasurer, and remanent members of the incorporation of Hammermen of the city of Edinburgh, was also presented; setting forth,

"That as the charter of the East India Company will expire on the 1st of March 1814, the petitioners beg leave most respectfully to solicit, that no renewal of the exclusive privileges at present enjoyed by that company be granted to them, and that all monopolies appear to the petitioners to be inexpedient; and in a mercantile country, where the spirit and enterprise of individuals has carried their commercial transactions to every quarter of the globe to which the law permits them to trade, there appears a hardship in denying to the subjects of these kingdoms the free exercise of trade to the countries situate to the East of the Cape of Good Hope, more particularly when the subjects of foreign states, in amity with his Majesty, are allowed this privilege; and that at a time when so many petitions have been presented to the House, and when the almost unanimous voice of the country seems directed to the same object, the petitioners deem it superfluous to occupy the time of the House by entering into any detail, or to add more than their earnest prayer, that no renewal of this charter may be granted to the East India Company, but that from and after the 1st of March 1814, it may be declared lawful to all the subjects of his Majesty, to exercise a free trade from any of the ports in the United Kingdom to the whole countries situate to the East of the Cape of Good Hope, or if in the wisdom of the House it shall be deemed expedient to throw open this trade to a limited number of ports only, that Leith, the port of Edinburgh, may be one of that number."

A Petition of the mayor, burgesses, and commonalty of the city of Bristol, in common council assembled, was also presented and read; setting forth,

"That the petitioners, impressed with a deep sense of the great importance of, and the national and individual benefit which may be expected to arise from laying open the capital skill and industry, and restoring the inherent right of his Majesty's subjects throughout the ports of the United Kingdom to the fall and free enjoyment of trade and commerce to all ports and places either in possession of or in amity with his Majesty, observe, with the strongest feelings of regret, that it is in the contemplation of the East India Company to apply to the House for a renewal of the Charter granted in 1793; and that the petitioners observe, by the correspondence which has been carried on between the chairman of the E. I. Company and the commissioners for the affairs of India, that the E. I. Company have conceded the general principle of a free trade from the out ports of the kingdom to the E. I. settlements, still that their concession is coupled with propositions, which, if adopted by parliament, must effectually exclude the merchants of this city, as well as those of every other part of the United Kingdom (except London), from any prospect of advantageous participation in the trade when so opened; and that it is a declared object of the E. I. Company to prevail upon parliament to continue in themselves the exclusive possession of the British trade with China, under an apprehension that the greatest danger of quarrels and the ultimate loss of the China trade would be likely to ensue from a free commercial intercourse with that nation, whereas the experience of a long course of years, during which the subjects of the United States of America have traded extensively with China, must completely set aside all ground for such alarm; and that the petitioners humbly presume, that nothing can possibly tend in a greater degree to the increase of the revenue, and the prosperity of a nation, than the freedom of its commerce, and the general diffusion of the means of carrying it on; and that, from the recent and very extensive improvements which have been made in the harbour of Bristol, ships of very considerable burthen can receive and discharge their cargoes afloat, and the port is in every respect suitable for carrying on an extensive commerce with the coun- tries comprised within the limits of the E I. Company's present exclusive privilege, and the petitioners may add with as much security to the due collection of the duties of customs and excise as in the port of London; and praying, that the House will not consent to a renewal of any of those exclusive commercial privileges which are contained in an act passed in the 33d of his present Majesty; but, on the contrary, that at the expiration of that act, the trade to the east of the Cape of Good Hope may be as fully and freely enjoyed by all his Majesty's subjects to and from every port of his Majesty's United Kingdom as it is at present by the East India Company and the port of London exclusively."

Ordered to lie upon the table.