"Dissentient; 1. Because, as this bill prohibits the exportation of all cotton wool, and the Orders of Council of the 11th and 25th of Nov. 1807, force into British ports the whole of that commodity sent by America for the supply of foreign states, the quantity brought by these and other means into the British market must be so great, in proportion to the demand, as to reduce the value of that commodity to a trifle. When we consider, therefore, that the usual exportation of cotton wool from America, is 250,000 bags, amounting, at 12l. per bag, to the value of 3 millions sterling, we conceive that this is not only a gross violation of the law of nations, but the most substantial injury ever inflicted on a friendly and independent state. 2. Because this reduction of the value of cotton wool, will discourage the growth of it to a degree that, on the return of peace, when the demand for our cotton goods revives, must deeply injure this extensive branch of our manufactures, by producing a deficiency in the supply, and consequent dearness, of the raw material. 3. Because, much as we regret the unwarrantable provocation given to the U. States of America, and the injury thus inflicted on our manufactures, we feel with still deeper affliction the evil with which this bill threatens the constitution of our country.—Whilst it prohibits the exportation of cotton-wool, it permits his majesty, by licence under his sign manual, to authorize any person to export from Great Britain any quantity of cotton-wool, under such regulations, restrictions, and securities, as may be specified in the licence; and thus confers on the crown a legal right to arrange and share out the trade in a most valuable commodity; a principle which, if extended to other articles, must create a new and alarming source of influence, almost boundless in the extent to which it may be carried.—Even when confined to the present instance of cotton-wool, it appears to us a most dangerous extension of the patronage of the crown. We believe there is no intelligent merchant who must not think, 1352 that by the prohibition to export cotton-wool, the value of that article will suffer a diminution to the amount at least of one million sterling. It is plan, therefore, that if his majesty can, by granting licences, supply the markets to which cotton-wool went before this unwarrantable interruption of the trade,—as the commodity, with the restoration of demand, must resume its value, this immense sum may be corruptly distributed by the executive government, by giving licences to persons whose political conduct it may wish to influence.— 4. Because we think there is just reason to believe, that this measure is adopted with a view to create the undue influence with which it arms the executive government; for the following clause, which tends to do away the influence the bill confers, without deranging the system it means to establish, was rejected by the house: 'Provided always, that when his majesty shall determine, by licence, to authorize the exportation of any given quantity of cotton-wool, the board of trade shall announce such determination in the Gazette, together with the regulations, restrictions, and securities, intended to be specified in the licence; and the name of every person who, within a week, shall state in writing to the secretary of the said board, his desire to export the quantity of cotton meant to be exported under the conditions stipulated, shall be put into a glass jar; and at 12 o'clock on the ninth day after the advertisement shall have been inserted in the Gazette, the secretary of the board of trade shall, in the presence of such of the persons desirous of exporting cotton-wool as may choose to attend, after mixing the names in a manner to preclude all suspicion of preference, draw out of the said jar one of the names therein contained, and his majesty's licence shall forthwith be granted to the person whose name is so drawn.'—5. Because, recollecting that within these few days the two houses of parliament have received an unanimous petition of the common council of the city of London, declaring 'that the burdens borne by the people of this country hare been considerably augmented by gross abuses in the management and expenditure of the public money, and by a profusion of sinecure places and pensions, which have not only greatly added to their sufferings, but created a pernicious and dangerous influence, corrupting and undermining the pure and free principles of the British constitution, we dread that 1353 the passing of this bill must give rise to serious and alarming discontent, when it is known that it nay eventually arm the crown, with the power of distributing a sum equal in amount to the sum allowed for defraying the expenditure of his majesty's civil list, unaccompanied by any check to prevent its being used for the purposes of augmenting to an unparalleled degree that "pernicious and dangerous influence" which has so solemnly been stated to parliament by his majesty's faithful and loyal subjects, the corporation of London, as 'corrupting and undermining the pure and free principles of the British constitution.' (Signed,) Lauderdale, King, Albemarle."