"That the Petitioners are sensibly im-them and for themselves every measure pressed with the conviction that extensive of assistance that the House can give; and that, as an efficient measure of this nature, the Petitioners are of opinion, that it is expedient to discontinue the commercial monopoly of the East India Company at the expiration of their present charter; and the Petitioners firmly believe that, by the abolition of the East India monopoly, and perpetual monopolies, such as have been for a long time enjoyed by the East India Company, are unjust in their principles, and mischievous in their effects; and that the Petitioners feel, at this time, when they are nearly precluded from any trade with the continent of Europe, that it be comes essentially necessary that the mer-new and extensive markets will necessa rily be opened for British manufactures, chants and manufacturers of this kingdom should look to new sources for a vent for which will render this country more in their respective commodities; and it appears to the Petitioners that no country holds out such an extensive market as India and the various other regions now shut to the nation at large by the East India Charter, although foreign nations, in amity with Great Britain, are permitted to trade with them; and that, by throwing open the trade of those countries, now monopolized by the East India Company, the Petitioners hope and expect they may be able essentially to increase the manufacture of copper, which, for a long time past, has been the great source of the prosperity of the town of Swansea and its neighbourhood; and that the Petitioners look up, with confidence, to the House, as their representatives and natural protectors; and they indulge a most sanguine hope that the House will not suffer their serious and weighty interests to be sacrificed to any partial considerations, but will adopt the necessary measures for the total abolition of the commercial monopoly of the East India Company at the expiration of their present Charter." An Address and Petition of the merchants, manufacturers, and other inhabitants of the town of Birmingham, was also presented and read; setting forth, dependent of all commercial relations with the continent of Europe than it has hitherto been, and cannot fail materially to increase the naval strength and financial resources of the empire; and that the Petitioners are of opinion that this abolition is not more called for by the distresses of the merchants and manufacturers of the United Kingdom than it is by justice and reason, and the general interest of the whole body of the British people; and that the Petitioners forbear to enlarge upon the decrease of the trade of the East India Company, notwithstanding the great increase of their territorial possessions; they forbear also to enlarge upon the increase which has taken place in the trade carried on by foreign individuals, who have engrossed into their hands so great a proportion of the whole commerce of the East, knowing, as the Petitioners do, that all these facts are before the House, and not doubting that they will give to them that deliberate consideration which their great importance demands; and that the Petitioners look up, with confidence, to the House, as their representatives and natural protectors; and they do indulge a most confident hope, that the House will not suffer their serious and weighty interests to be sacrificed to any partial considera "That the Petitioners contemplate, with ❘tions; and praying, that the House will adopt the necessary measures for the total abolition of the commercial monopoly of the East India Company at the expiration of their present Charter; but in the event of the House seeing reasons to continue, in some degree, a commercial monopoly to the East India Company, the Petitioners do then most earnestly implore that they will not suffer it to deprive British subjects of any privileges which are allowed to deep concern, the present state of the manufactures and commerce of the United Kingdom, which, whilst it grievously afflicts the merchants and manufacturers, threatens to spread general discontent throughout the country; and that, whilst the Petitioners are determined to bear every burthen, and to make every sacrifice, rather than compromise the security or honour of their country, yet they feel it is their duty to inform the House of the neutral nations, and that the Charter may distressed situation of the great body of the labouring mechanics, particularly in that important manufacturing district of which the town of Birmingham may be considered the centre, and to claim for be made subject to such modifications and conditions as may best promote the commerce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, leaving open to the capital the enterprize and the industry of British mer 4 chants, all the islands of the Indian ocean, Ordered to lie upon the table. CAPTURE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that since the Vote of Thanks had been passed in that House to the officers and men who assisted at the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, he had learned that the names of major-general Henry Frederick Campbell, major-general the hon. Charles William Stewart, majorgeneral Baron Low, major-general James Kemmis, major-general William Borthwick, and colonel William Maundy Harvey, brigadier-general in the Portuguese service, were omitted in the said motion; he therefore moved the like thanks to them; which was agreed to. Exportation of IRISH SPIRITS.) The House having gone into a committee of the whole House, to consider of the Exportation of Spirits from Ireland, Mr. Wellesley Pole said, that he rose for the purpose of moving a Resolution to prevent the exportation of spirits made from grain in Ireland, for a time to be limited. The object of the Resolution was to prevent the exportation of Irish made spirits to foreign markets, in consequence of the high price of provisions in Ireland at the present period. In considering the situation of that country, there were but four measures which suggested themselves for adoption. The first was, to prevent the intercourse between this country and Ireland; the second, to stop the distillation from grain in Ireland; the third, to stop the export of grain from Ireland for the supply of our armies; and the fourth was that, which he felt it his duty to recommend to the committee, as there were many objections to each of the others, which he was persuaded, many gentlemen would concur in thinking sufficient to prevent their being resorted to. The measure now submitted to the committee was unquestionably a smaller evil than any other, and was nothing more than stopping the exuberant grain of the country from being converted into spirits, in order to be sent abroad-he was aware, at the same time, that it would create a considerable disappointment to many meritorious persons in Ireland-he meant those distillers, who. by their exertions, had established a beneficial trade to Portugal and other places, but he trusted that their [240 good sense would show them that this measure was resorted to, to beat down the high price of provisions, and to prevent the distress which arose from that circumproposition would be found effectual when stance. He hoped, therefore, that this coupled with some others which he would. have to propose, but if he should be disappointed, it then would be time enough to adopt some other mode of proceeding. The time to which he proposed to limit the operation of the Bill which he proposed to bring in, was the 31st of December, and it would be modelled in the same tion from grain in England, but it would manner as the Bill for prohibiting distillavest in the Lord Lieutenant a power to permit the exportation of grain after the 1st of October, if he should deem it expedient, or to continue the provisions of the next session of parliament. It was the Bill for 40 days after the opening of also his purpose that the measure should commence from this day, as otherwise large the country before the Bill could take efquantities of corn might be sent out of fect, but care would be taken to prevent any injury being sustained by any individual, as he proposed to empower the commissioners of the revenue in Ireland to hear any case and grant such redress as moving, "That it is expedient to suspend, they might think just. He concluded by for a time to be limited, the exportation from and after the 8th day of April 1812, from Ireland to parts beyond the seas, spirits made or distilled in that part of the United Kingdom from corn or grain." would, in his opinion, be better promoted, Mr. Stewart said, that the object in view by the stoppage of distillation from grain altogether, and it would, besides, mark the attention of the Irish government to the wants of the people. Mr. Curwen thought it surprising that sideration of the resources of the country government did not go into a general conwith respect to its supplies of corn, after He thought that a rise on the price of the quantity that was annually imported, grain would insure a constant supply, and country would give an abundance. Mitwo bushels more on the acre through the nisters should have a more accurate view and would by that means have it in their of the whole agriculture of the country, power to adopt some general measure instead of those temporary expedients now resorted to. He wished to God, for the sake of the health and morals of the peo- | by law to work off nearly as much spirits ple, that an additional duty was laid on spirits, which would oblige them to make use of the wholesome and nutritious beverage of porter. as it was in their power to make, the same quantity would continue to be made-and that the only result of the Bill would be, to lower the price of spirits in the home market, by shutting up the foreign one. The right hon. gentleman had stat Mr. Shaw of Dublin said, that it was impossible for him to allow this measure to go forward, without entering his pro-ed very candidly, that his principal object test against what was likely to prove so injurious to the whole body of the distillers of Ireland. It would, in the first place, throw a great superabundance of spirits into the country; and in the next place, he thought they should be very cautious how they interrupted a trade which was likely to be so beneficial. Another measure offered itself, which, he thought, would have a better effect; namely, the stopping of distillation after a certain time. It was to be considered too, that large contracts had been entered into, and this measure would throw a damp on all enterprise or speculation, for which reasons he felt it his duty to dissent from the Resolution. Sir John Newport said, that no man could more heartily concur in any measure, which appeared likely to obviate the difficulties or distresses of the people than himself, but he could not help considering the present as inefficacious. Some documents should be before the House to enable them to form a correct judgment, and to make it manifest that there was no danger from illicit distillation. The right hon. mover had last night stated from the commissariat returns, the prices infinitely lower than the market prices in the adjoining district, which was certainly no great proof of their accuracy. He was far from wishing to oppose the present measure, except on the ground that it led the House to suppose that they had applied a remedy, where, in truth, they had not. If the prohibition of distillation from corn took place, there would be no suffering, because the distillation in a great measure took place from raw corn, which could be brought to market, and was still applicable to other purposes. Mr. Parnell said, he concurred in opinion with the hon. member for Dublin, that this measure would not diminish the consumption of grain in the distilleries, but alone injure the distiller. The right hon. gentleman had wholly omitted, in his opening statement, to shew in what manner it would realize the declared object of it. For his part, it seemed to be quite plain, that the distilleries being compelled (VOL. XXII.) was to allay the apprehensions which prevailed; but if he really believed that those apprehensions were groundless, he should abstain from a measure which must injure the distillers. He ought to remember that they have necessarily purchased grain at the late very high prices, calculating on being able to obtain a sufficient recompence, by fulfilling the orders they had received for sending spirits abroad-and that, if this vent is taken from them, they will probably sustain a very heavy loss. He ought also to recollect, that if such loss can alone be attributable to the interference of parliament, they will have a just claim upon parliament for an adequate compensation. The right hon. gentleman should also consider, that his measure will deprive Ireland of the benefit of a newly established trade, which promised to be of the greatest advantage to her for it could not be expected, that the distillers would again undertake all the risk and expence of retaining their trade, if the just reward of their skill and industry was thus suddenly and capriciously taken from them. At the same time, the hon. member begged the committee would not suppose, from these observations, that he, as others did, wished the government to stop the distilleries altogether-on the contrary, he gave credit to them for the accuracy of the statement of the quantity of provisions in the country, and believed that it was altogether unnecessary for them to interfere. Mr. W. Pole replied to the different objections urged against the proposed measure, many of which he was quite surprised to hear. It was said that no relief would follow, as the quantity exported was not so great as to cause any difierence in the price of corn; but he could state, that the quantity exported had been from 1-4th to 1-5th of the whole quantity of spirits distilled in Ireland; and it had been increasing during the last six months. He was not so sanguine as to expect all the relief he wished from this measure; but it was a little unfair to say that it was absurd on the face of it. One hon. gentleman had spoken of it as unjust to the (R) He knew that the objection hitherto was the danger of illicit distillation; but he trust distillers, but parliament was not bound | lected on spirits distilled from corn. to consider the interest of a certain number of individuals at the expence of the community. He spoke also of not open-ed that would be found to be considerably ing the distilleries so soon; but government could not be expected to adopt what would prove injurious to the revenue. As to the contracts entered into by the distillers, the very moment the law passed, it would operate in bar of any demands against the distillers; and if that was not the case, he was prepared to bring in a clause to secure them in this respect, as it was not his wish to take any unfair advantage of the distillers. Mr. Grattan said, that when the question was, whether distillation or exportation should be prohibited, he thought the milder method should be first tried. It was bad policy to make the agricultural system depend on caprice or change of circumstances, unless there was a pressing necessity for it. He agreed, that in the present case, something must be done, and he therefore gave his assent to the milder measure as an experiment. The Resolution was then agreed to. DUTY ON IRISH SPIRITS.) The House having resolved itself into a Committee of Ways and Means, diminished, in consequence of the measures which had been adopted last year: for by a comparison of the returns made up to the last assizes with those of the last three years, up to the 29th of September, of the number of stills seized, and of prosecutions for illicit distillation, it appeared that they amounted to two-thirds more in the last year than in any former one. In addition to the measures adopted, the permission to small stills to distil would be very efficacious, and would make it unnecessary to resort to those severe and harassing laws which had been suspended for two years, and which he intended to move for the repeal of in the course of this session. He had to observe that the duty in the present case was to be laid only on the stock in hand. He then concluded by moving-" That it is the opinion of this committee, that from and after the 8th day of April, there be laid on every gallon of strong water or spirits made in Ireland a duty of 2s. 6d. per gallon in addition to the duty now paid." Sir John Newport was extremely happy to see the present motion brought forward, and thought there was no sacrifice which ought not to be made to the great object of preventing the excessive use of spirits among the lower orders in Ireland. He hoped a full and fair trial would be given to the augmented duty. Mr. Wellesley Pole said, that the first Resolution he should have to propose to the Committee, was for laying an additional duty of 2s. 6d. a gailon on Irish made spirits, thereby doubling the duty now paid. Two objects would be promoted by this the relief of the brewing trade in Ireland, which, according to the Report of the Committee that sat last year, was necessary, as the extensive use of spirits, in consequence of illicit distilla-of the revenue. He hoped this measure tion, had very much increased, and thereby the health, morals, and industry of the people were materially affected; and they gave it as their opinion, that the first opportunity should be made use of to lay an additional duty on spirits, in order to render their consumption less general. Another object, which would be promoted by this additional duty, was, the assistance it would give towards effecting the measure he had proposed. The duty now proposed, was higher than had ever been paid; for though a higher duty had been Jaid on before, it had never taken effect, in consequence of the stoppage of distillation. That duty was 6s. 3d. the present would be 5s. 10d. including the malt duty, which was larger than had ever been col Mr. Grattan said, that he perfectly concurred in the present measure, which went to prevent the sacrifice of the health and morals of human creatures to the benefit would increase the consumption of malt liquor, which was so much more wholesome. He considered the low price of spirits in Ireland, the cause of their excessive use, rather than any disposition in the people to intemperance. This duty would go to correct that evil, and he had not any doubt that it would be followed up. Mr. Parnell said he concurred in the ge neral principle on which this duty was proposed; but he was apprehensive, that illicit distillation was not yet sufficiently put down to warrant so large an addition. He had had the means of ascertaining, beyond all doubt, that the illicit trade was still going on without interruption over immense districts of that country; and that being the case, the additional duty would neither diminish the consumption of grain, or augment the revenues; because it could only operate as a bounty on illicit trade, and the production of spirits run at a cheaper rate than they can be made under the existing duty. He had hoped the right hon. gentleman in proposing a new duty on this most important branch of the Irish Revenue, would have taken a more comprehensive view of the subject than he had done. That he would have stated to the House, that the abuses which had been proved to exist by the commissioners of enquiry in the collection of this duty, had been put an end to. That he would have explained in what manner so great a defalcation as two millions a year, which they had established to have taken place, was in future to be prevented. For unless some better system of collection was resorted to, it was in vain to expect any produce from any additional duty. For, his part, he never could think that any branch of the Irish revenue would be productive, so long as the whole of the revenue patronage was in the hands of the executive government. It was impossible the several boards of revenue could enforce a due discharge of duty on the part of the of ficers under them, so long as every situation was filled up by the lord lieutenant without communication with them, or any consideration of the fitness of the individuals appointed to them. This was not the practice in England; here every board appointed its own officers, and accordingly they felt themselves responsible for the efficient collection of the revenue, and did collect it. Till the same practice was established in Ireland, the taxes would never produce what they ought to yield, nor can there be the smallest prospect of getting over the embarrassments to which the Irish finances at present are subject. Mr. W. Pole shortly replied, and stated the average quantity of spirits exported from Ireland was between one fourth and fifth of the whole. The Resolution was then put and carried. HOUSE OF LORDS. Thursday, April 9. ORDERS IN COUNCIL.) Earl Fitzwilliam presented a Petition from certain merchants and manufacturers engaged in the woollen trade in the West Riding of Yorkshire, against the Orders in Council; which having been read at the table, his lordship observed, that the statement of so respectable a body of men was highly deserving of attention. The Petition, he understood, was signed by 15,000 persons, whose complaints of the grievances under which they laboured, in consequence of the operation of the Orders in Council, he should feel it his duty to call the attention of the House to on Tuesday the 28th instant, for which day he moved that the Lords be summoned. -Ordered. EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.] Lord Holland presented a Petition from the mayor and burgesses of Nottingham, for opening the East India Trade, which was ordered to lie on the table. His lord. ship also stated that there was a Petition from the same place to the executive government, against the Orders in Council, which he had had the honour of presenting that morning. The Earl of Lauderdale, pursuant to notice, moved for the correspondence between the government and the East India Directors on the subject of the renewal of the Charter. As the papers had already been printed for the use of the East India Committee, and had been before the public through another channel, he presumed there would be no objection to this motion. 2d. He moved for a copy of the military plan of marquis Cornwallis, referred to in the correspondence, for consolidating the forces of the Company with the king's troops. This might be a most important document, and it was proper it should be on the table before the subject came to be discussed. 3d. His lordship next adverted to a statement made by the deputy chairman of the court of directors, in a letter (forming part of the correspondence) to the person who was lately President of the Board of Control, (lord Melville,) that there were papers in the archives of the company, which would be of great use in enabling the government to appreciate the effects of the monopoly with respect to the navigation laws. Whether these papers would make for or against the arguments of the directors, it was fitting that they should be produced; and he, therefore, proposed to move accordingly. 4th. Though it appeared from the negociation that it was intended in a great measure to open the trade with India, there might be such rules and regulations established in India with regard to private traders, as to render the privi |