the cargo, such as described, the continental supply of the more bulky articles has been hitherto, in a considerable degree, received through the United Kingdom. These articles which are most affected by the rate of freight, may, it is feared, be conveyed directly to the Continent by means of foreign navigation, if a market were opened to the lighter articles with which the cargo must be completed, by admitting their ulterior importation into this country."

That this may happen occasionally, your Committee think far from improbable; but it is the permanent and habitual course of trade, and not the occasional or accidental deviations from it, that is the object to which the attention of the legislature should be directed. So far from feeling these occasional exceptions to be a matter of jealousy, your Committee are disposed to consider the denial of facilities of this kind to foreigners, as a policy of useJess severity, which has already produced effects highly unfavourable to the general commercial interests of the country.

of India is through the East India Company; that the individuals through which the greatest proportion of the remainder is conducted are sprung from the United Kingdom, whose commercial connexions are with British houses and British merchants, and whose feelings and interests are exclusively British, When all these circumstances are considered, without giving to them more weight than is justly due, your Committee cannot find reason for presuming that the great tide of the trade from India will be divert ed from its accustomed course; and that, notwithstanding the proposed change in the law, the continent will not continue still to receive the proportion of its supply, hitherto furnished by British trade, through the ports of the united Kingdom. No real danger therefore to British navigation is contemplated by your Committee, as likely to result from the suggestion they are about to offer; nor do they doubt that the preference our shipping possesses will be as extensively and securely, as well as much less invidiously The probability of the circuitous course of enjoyed, when arising from the advantages trade becoming habitual, must arise from the that fairly belong to it, than when apparently comparative advantages it promises to those the effect of legislative protections and prowho may engage in it. These must be suffi-hibitions. When they consider, too, that cient to compensate for the inconvenience and additional expense of the circuitous conveyance of the most valuable part of the cargo, and also its liability in the markets of the United Kingdom, to certain competition with a supply brought directly in our own ships: this is a considerable risk. It may be at the same time matter of some doubt, whether the conveyance of the bulky articles to the continent in a foreign ship, would be upon the whole much more economical than in a British one; and if to this, the inevitable risk described, bearing upon the most valuable part of the cargo, is added, there seems little reason to fear that such conveyance would be habitually preferred, even if no peculiar advantages existed in favour of British shipping in carrying on the commercial intercourse with India.

under the more general freedom it would establish, British merchants in every foreign port might make their purchases, assort their cargoes, and pursue their speculations, without any of the doubts and apprehensions by which they are now checked and emibarrassed; and the still greater advantage of the recognition of a principle that would tend so much to introduce clearness and simplicity into the regulations of our commercial system, your Committee feel it their duty to recommend to the consideration of the House, the relaxation of the principle of the acts of the 12th, 13th and 14th of Charles the second, to the extent of admitting the im Fortation into the United Kingdom, of the produce of every part of the world, from every part of the world, without reference to the place of their growth or produce, provided such importation be made in British ships,

In all the ports of the British possessions in, India (which include most of the prin- Notwithstanding your Committee are able cipal ports of export), it must be remembered to perceive no serious objection to the adop that a difference in the dutics imposed on the tion of this measure, yet feeling it impossible exportation of goods, to the amount of five to calculate with certainty all the bearings and per cent, exists in favour of the British ship. consequences of an alteration so extensive in The ships from the continent are understood to its operation, they should offer it with more be in general chiefly dependent on their return diffidence, if they were not convinced that it cargo, to answer the whole charge of freight: is easily susceptible of modification, should whereas a British ship going out loaded with circumstances hereafter arise to render such merchandize, is enabled to divide the charge a modification essential to the protection of of freight between the outward and homeward any of the great objects which every convoyage; a circumstance which gives an obsideration of the national safety and power imvious advantage in the expense of homeward freight to a British ship, Nor must we forget that a considerable portion of the funds of the Indian trade are supplied by the remittance of the acquisitions of British subjects, to be realized or expended in their native country; that a great part of the export trade

poses the duty of inflexibly maintaining. Flowing as this concession will do, from the spontaneous and liberal feelings of the British legislature neither granted as the condition of advantages obtained from other states, nor guarded by any pledge of the public faith;should it be attended with consequences in

The warehousing or bonding system, appeared to your Committee so much connected with the subject of their preceding recommendation, that they have thought it right to include it in this part of their inquiry as well as in their present report.-If, contrary to their expectation, any of the apprehensions created by the proposed relaxation of the navigation laws should be realized, it is in the improvement and perfection of the warehousing system, they confidently anticipate an ample compensation to every interest connected with the shipping of the United King-dwelling upon them in any detail. In the exdom.

The result of the evidence received by your Committee on this subject, has been a strong impression of the advantages that would arise from giving the most unlimited extension to the warehousing system. They do not conceive the ports of the United Kingdom can be too widely opened to the importation of every descriprion of foreign mer- A doubt has been expressed of the expcchandize for re-exportation to any part of diency of allowing articles actually prohi the world, exclusive of the British colonies; bited from importation to be admitted and exempt (with few if any exceptions) from all warehoused for exportation; and among Lie duties in passing through them, as well as re-manufactures likely to be exposed to risk La

exli]

REPORT ON FOREIGN TRADE.

it, that of silk goods has been mentioned to your Committee; but they do not find in the statements made in the evidence, to which they desire to refer, sufficient reasons to induce them to recommend any exception to the general freedom of import and export, in respect to the silk manufactures of foreign states; or that the admission of the prohi bited articles for exportation only, will, if properly guarded, be productive of any dangerous consequence,

dom; the effect of which is shown in the evidence of Mr. Thornton, who states, that on account of the duties and charges here exacted, a trade in which he is engaged as well as others, is now prosecuted, through foreign ports, by British subjects, and sup ported by the employment of British capital.

The investigation of your Committee will be hereafter necessarily applied to the burthens to which foreign merchandize is liable, and the inconveniences which, under the existing practice, attach to it, in its importation into or exportation from the United Kingdom. The port charges, the demands for pilotage, the dues for lights, the claims in consequence of different acts, for the maintenance of particular harbours, the manner in which payments are exacted and enforced ;-are all subjects of discontent, and unquestionably may, under certain circumstances, have the effect of deterring foreign trade from our coasts, and be highly injurious to the character and commercial interests of the country. The advantage of removing any obstacles arising from these causes, if found to exist, is manifest; and the mode of effecting that object will constitute a fit subject for the future consideration of the Committee. In reference to the part of this question, however, which is connected with the regulation of the Customs, your Committee have the satisfaction of stat

The policy of remitting the existing duty on the entry and re-export of foreign linens, imposed or the protection of the British and Irish linen trade, has, in reference also to this part of their inquiry, naturally occupied the attention of your Committee; it will be observed, that the testimony of several wit, Hesses examined by your Committee principally applies to this particular question. Your Committee are fully sensible of the importance of every thing that may appear to effect the interests of so important a branch of the industry of both parts of the United Kingdom; and thinking that some further investigation may be desirable (which could not be completed previous to the recess of parliament), before they state to the House any opinion upon the effects of this duty, and the alleged necessity of its continuance; anxious at the same time to avoid the possibility of affording the least ground for alarming, that a commission has been instituted or misapprehension in the present state of the manufacture in Ireland, with which more than mere commercial considerations are connected, your Committee beg to reserve this subject for a future stage of their proceedings, when they hope to be able to resume the consideration of it, and submit the result to the judgment of the House.

In the course of the evidence received by your Committee, several matters of importance have been incidentally brought under its observation; the most prominent are, the various charges and inconveniences incident to our present system, which may prove impediments to the success of the proposed ge neral admission of foreign produce and merchandize to warehouse. The object of creating an emporium of trade is naturally cherished by every nation which entertains commercial views; and it will appear from parts of the evidence, that France and Holland are not insensible to it. The ports of these na tion's are accessible as dépôts for foreign merchandize, on much more favourable conditions than those of the United Kingdom, The charges to which foreign merchandize is liable, and the facilities attending the deposit of it under the regulations in the ports of each country respectively, will be found detailed in the examination of Mr. Hall; from whose statement it will appear how great the advantages are of importation, for the purposes of deposit and re exportation, in the ports of the continent, in comparison with those afforded by ports of the United King

under the order of the Treasury, which has pursued its inquiries to a considerable extent, and suggested several important improvements. In consequence of which, some wellfounded grounds of complaint to the merchant in respect to the delivery and re-weighing of goods, and charges for waste, from natural causes, &c. have been already removed in the port of London; and it is hoped it may be found consistent with the secure collection of the revenue, that similar relief should be extended to the out Ports of the Kingdom.

It has been suggested to your Committee,' that an alteration in the law, favourable to the British ship-builder and ship-owners, might be usefully introduced. A British ship becoming the property of a foreigner, under the present provisions of the law, forfeits the British character it possesses, without becoming capable of acquiring in respect to the trade with this country, that of a ship of the foreign state to which it is sold. This appears to be a restriction on the sale and building of ships in the United Kingdom, wholly unsupported by any object of public utility: and your Committee are aware of no reason to prevent their recommending to the adoption of the House the suggestion received by them, that British-built ships or ships condemned as prize to Great Britain, should, if deprived of their British character and registry, by sale to a foreigner, be permitted to acquire the cha racter of ships of any country, of the subjects of which they may afterwards become the property: But as it appears to your Com

mittee, that a resumption of the character of a British ship, after having been in the possession of foreigners, and undergone repairs in foreign ports, may open a door to fraud, and be injurious to the British ship-builder; they are of opinion, that the permission above stated should be guarded by a prohibition against & ship once sold to a foreign state, recovering a British registry under any other circumstances but those of capture and regular condemination as a prize to Great Britain.

of reciprocal amity between nations, and an interchange of productions, to promote the industry, the wealth, and the happiness of mankind. If it be true, that different degrees of advantage will be reaped from it, according to the natural and political circumstances, the skill and the industry of different countries; it is true also, that whatever be the advantages so acquired, though they may excite emulation and enterprize, can rouse none of those sentiments of animosity, or that spirit of angry retaliation, naturally excited by them, when attributed to prohibitions and restrictions, jealously enacted and severely maintained.

Your Committee having stated the course of their proceeding, and the progress they have made in the inquiry committed to them, cannot help expressing their regret, that the latter has not been more extensive: and that the Your Committee are, however, sensible, approaching recess precludes them from at that at once to abandon the prohibitory syspresent pursuing their investigation into the tem, would be of all things the most visionary other important branches of the subject, to and dangerous: it has long subsisted; it is which their attention must hereafter be direct- the law not only of this kingdom, but of the ed. At an early period of the ensuing session rest of the European world; and any sudden of parliament they hope to be able to propose departure from it is forbidden by every conto the House, the measures in their opinion sideration of prudence, safety, and justice. best calculated to carry into execution the No such sudden change is in the contemplarecommendation of this report; and to resunie tion of your Committee, nor indeed the adopand pursue their inquiries into those branches tion of any change, without the utmost circum of their investigation which they have now spection and caution. But they still feel, that left unexamined, on the same principles a principle of gradual and prospective approxi which have thus far governed them in the per-mation to a sounder system, as the standard formance of the duty assigned to them. To the judicious and prudent application of these principles, your Committee look (under the pleasure of the House) for the safe removal of all such restrictions on the freedom of our commerce and our intercourse with foreign nations, as the peculiar circumstances of our situation, the protection due to great interests embarked under the public faith, and the compacts into which the country may have enter. ed, either with its own subjects, or with other states, do not render it indispensable to preserve. If in their recommendations any thing should be found more favourable to foreign interests than may seem consistent with the severe principles of our existing commercial system (which may to some be an objection to the suggestions humbly offered in the present report), your Committee beg to observe, that without now questioning the wisdom of a restrictive or protective policy, as necessary to the state of our trade at an earlier period of our history, as applicable to the circumstances of the present day, it appears very doubtful. The time when monopolies could be successfully supported, or would be patiently endured, either in respect to subjects, against subjects, or particular countries against the rest of the world, seems to have passed away. Commerce, to continue undisturbed and secure, must be, as it was intended to be, a source

of all future commercial regulations, may be wisely and beneficially recommended, no less with a view to the interests of this country, than to the situation of surrounding nations. Upon them the policy of Great Britain has rarely been without its influence. The principles recognized and acted upon by her, may powerfully operate in aiding the general progress towards the establishment of a liberal and enlightened system of national intercourse throughout the world, as they have too long done in supporting one of a contrary character, by furnishing the example and justification of various measures of commercial exclusion and restriction. To measures of this nature her pre-eminence and prosperity have been unjustly ascribed. It is not to prohibitions and protections we are indebted for our commercial greatness and maritime power;these, like every public blessing we enjoy, are the effects of the free principles of the happy constitution under which we live, which, by protecting individual liberty, and the security of property, by holding out the most splendid rewards to successful industry and merit, has, in every path of human exertion, excited the efforts, encouraged the genius, and called into action all the powers of an aspiring, cnlightened, and enterprizing people.

18 July 1820.

Army Estimates, 85, 163, 208, 273, 464, 481, 487, Hindoo Widows, Burning of, 1217.

Constitutional Association, 890, 1046, 1114, 1181, Manchester Meeting, 713, 719, 775.