431] HOUSE OF COMMONS, Breach of the Act of Union with Ireland. [432 would be to mete out equal justice between them. Because it was found convenient to prohibit the manufacture of an article the principles of the Bill he alluded to, in England, it would follow, according to that the exportation of it should be prodistillery prohibitions, there was a plea hibited in Ireland. In the case of the different parts of the Act of Union on the set up that there was a dissonance in the subject: in this case, however, no such conceive that the hon. Secretary had any reason could be adduced. He did not deliberate intention of violating the Act of Union, but that the measure proposed evident. was a violation of a main article of it, was to which the agents of the E. I. Company have so frequently exposed themselves; and that, if any difficulty should be found to arise in the collection of the revenue upon teas, or other ad valorem articles at the out-ports, the petitioners place reliance on the wisdom of his Majesty's government, and on the efficiency of the custom-house establishment, effectually to remedy any difficulties of this nature, and thus will the revenues of the United Kingdom be increased in proportion to the increase of its trade; and that the petitioners do therefore humbly and earnestly pray, that the House will not suffer any renewal of a commercial monopoly to be granted to the E. I. Company, but that they will be pleased to provide that all British subjects shall have the liberty of trading to India, China, and all the countries of the east, from any bonded port of the United Kingdom, or from any other ports in the world, that it may suit their purposes to touch at, free from any obstructions, controul, or influence whatsoever, on the part of the East India Company." Ordered to lie upon the table. Mr. Peel having answered in the affirmative, Sir J. Newport said, that by an article in the act alluded to, it was enacted, that after the first day of January, 1801, all bounties on, and prohibitions of, any exports from one of the United Kingdoms to the other, should cease and determine. This solemn agreement between the two countries, he contended, should not be departed from on account of any temporary expedients. If it were once departed from, how could the people of Ireland, who only returned one-sixth of the members of that House, be secure against any encroachments? In proposing what he had to propose, he was actuated by no other wish than that of preserving harmony between the two kingdoms; but he felt that the only means of preserving harmony which Ireland possessed, she was entitled The commercial advantages her independent legislature. If the Act to as a right, as she had in return given up of Union was constantly to be violated, it would be better to secure the harmony between the two countries, by restoring -To prevent the unhappy consequences tó Ireland an independent legislature. which would result from the infractions of the Act in question, he should propose two Resolutions: 1. "That, by the 6th Britain and Ireland, it is enacted, that, article of the Act of Union of Great from the 1st of January, 1801, all prohibi tions and bounties on the export of articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of either country to the other, shall cease and determine; and that the said articles shall thenceforth be exported from one country to the other without any duty on such export:-2. That the above exemp tion from prohibition cannot be altered or tion of the compact then entered into beinfringed upon without a manifest violaparts of the now United Kingdom." tween the several parliaments of the two giving the notice of the measure in quesMr. Peel rose to explain his reasons for when notice had been given of the contition. In the beginning of the session, nuance of the prohibition of the manufacgiven notice to the manufacturers of starch ture of starch from articles of food, he had in Ireland, that a similar measure would be extended to that country. Representations, however, were considerable extent in the manufacture of that as that article was employed to a made by them, linen, the prohibition of the starch manufacture would seriously affect that of the staple commodity of Ireland. This, on reference to turned out to be founded in fact, in coll the linen manufactures, fered on the Act of Union, pleas would never be wanting for any infraction of it. The bond lay before them; it was to the litera scripta of the bond, and to the meaning which had been attributed to it by its proposers, and not the glosses now put on it, that he should appeal. He had no objection to the discussion coming on at a future time, but he had thought it better to oppose the measure in limine, which opposition being recorded, he should not divide the House.-The previous question was then put and carried. sequence of which, and of a memorial with numerous signatures from the north of Ireland, the government was induced to abandon it. It was true, as had been stated by the right hon. baronet, that he had no intention to violate the Act of Union, as the measure which he had to propose was solely for the benefit of the country which possessed the least number of representatives. But would it be quite fair to allow the Irish manufacturer to supply that article to this country, which British manufacturers were prohibited from supplying?-The hon. gentleman then referred to an article of the Act of Union, which he conceived justified the prohi bition, by which it was provided, that the enactment above mentioned, should not affect the regulation of the exportation of corn flour, of which latter article starch was exclusively manufactured. He concluded by moving the previous question. Mr. Ponsonby said, that he should have no objection to the previous question being moved, as he thought the subject might be better discussed when the Bill was brought forward. As to the construction which had been put on the article respecting the export of flour, &c. it would not bear examination, for it would be easily perceived to what extent such an explanation might be carried. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that the measure of which his right hon. friend had given notice, was wholly in favour of Ireland. Great Britain laboured under two prohibitions; for while no starch was permitted to be manufactured, it was impossible to export any; while Ireland was not prohibited from manufacturing, but only from exporting. If this measure were not adopted, the prohibition of the manufacture in Great Britain would be nugatory, as the British merchants might carry on the manufacture in Ireland with British grain, and import the produce into this country. He contended that the clause as to the export of grain, &c. applied to starch, as the House had sanctioned the application of it to spirits. Sir John Newport replied. By the explanation which had been given of the article concerning grain, the Act of Union might be rendered entirely null. He appealed to the House, whether this clause had been applied to spirits, as in that discussion an entirely different plea had been set up. Alive as he was to the interests of the linen manufacture, he was persuaded that if one infringement was suf(VOL. XXIV.) HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, February 11. PETITIONS RESPECTING THE RENEWAL OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER -FROM THE CITY OF LONDON-RUTHERGLEN SHROPSHIRE AND LANCASTER.] A Petition of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of London, in common council assembled, was read; setting forth, "That the petitioners, deeply impressed with the necessity of supporting the interests and prosperity of the city and port of London, view with the most serious concern the communication made on the 4th day of January last, by the president of the board of commmissioners for the affairs of India, to the chairman and deputy chairman of the E. I. Company, which, in consequence of the late correspondence and negociation for the renewal of the Company's charter, states that the ministers of the Prince Regent, consistently with their sense of public duty, can submit no arrangement to parliament that does not include an extension of the import trade; and that this proposed extension of the import trade to the outports appears to the petitioners not only contrary to the wise system and long recognized principles of policy with respect to our Asiatic possessions which have been uniformly pursued by former administrations, and more especially by his Majesty's ministers in 1793, when the E. I. Company's charter was renewed, but seems, under every circumstance of political commercial and financial consideration, likely to be attended with results highly injurious to the true interests of the country at large; and that it appears to the petitioners that the East India Company, throughout the whole of its progress to its present state, has been supported strengthened and invigorated by a grand (2 F) vital principle of indissoluble connection | between its government and trade; and that to break asunder this connection would imminently endanger, if not totally destroy, the government, the territorial wealth, and the trade of India; and that the petitioners feel themselves called upon to express their conviction that, were the Indian trade extended to the outports, it would only contribute to excite a wild and fruitless spirit of speculation, affording neither proper channels and markets for the diffusion and sale of British manufactures, nor an increase of commodities in return profitable to the merchant, and beneficial to the community; whilst the many and obvious facilities held out to smuggling would, by the introduction of prohibited goods, depreciate our native productions, and impair the best sources of our national industry and opulence; and that the proposed extension would, if carried into effect, inevitably produce the most ruinous consequences to the commercial and local interests of the city and port of London, by diminishing the means, and drying up the springs of industry, which have hitherto afforded occupation and support to a vast proportion of the national population; and that it would most materially injure, if not altogether ruin, the various and very considerable establishments now formed, consisting of docks, manufactories, warehouses, storehouses, and other useful buildings, constructed at an immense expence both in the city of London and on the banks of the Thames, which, during the continued pressure of war, and the most trying periods of public distress and embarrassment, have supplied with employment many thousands of workmen, artificers, artisans, and labourers, and afforded to their numerous families the certain means of subsistence; and that, considering the measure as connected with the public revenue, to which the city of London so very largely contributes, and thereby in a great degree upholds the honour and credit of the country, the petitioners cannot view the proposed extension without alarming apprehensions of encreased expence and difficulties in the collection of the import duties, which being at present limited to one point, and collected in an easy expeditious and certain way, almost without expence, would be then split divided and subdivided, so as to become embarrassed slow and precarious in the receipts, and attended with an enormous disbursement in the mode of collecting; and that it appears to the petitioners, from a consideration of the internal state of India, as well as from the experience of the private trade which has been, and continues to be allowed, that it is impracticable in any material degree to augment the import of profitable commodities from, or the export of British manufactures to India: and that the petitioners feel it their indispensible duty to express their firm conviction, that however detri mental such extension would prove to the city and port of London, it could not but prove still more so to the mercantile and manufacturing branches connected with the outports, and terminate in the certain disappointment of their present hopes and expectations; and that, with respect to the export trade, as many thousands of artificers, with their families, would be in danger of extreme distress and misery, in proportion as they would be deprived of employment by its removal from the port of London, the petitioners humbly beg leave to state that it is of the highest importance to the city and port of London that the export trade to India and China should continue to be carried on as heretofore; and that the interests of the E. I. Company appear to the petitioners to be so interwoven with the political and commercial system of the British empire as to excite in their minds the most serious apprehensions that extreme danger will arise to the constitution, in case of the dissolution of that body, from the transfer of the Indian patronage to the crown, which is to be dreaded in the event of the threatened separation of the government and commerce of India taking place; and praying, that on any renewal of the E. I. Company's Charter, the trade to and from India and China may be continued exclusively to the port of London, and that the petitioners may be heard, by their coun sel and agents, in support of the prayer of their Petition." A Petition of the magistrates and common council of the burgh of Rutherglen, in council assembled, was also presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners, with great deference to the House, conceive it to be the right of all British subjects to have a free trade to India, China, and the other countries to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, and they are bold enough to say, that the exclusive privilege to this trade in favour of a particular class of in many important facts which have been disclosed, in the discussions which have since taken place on the subject of the said charter, the petitioners are more than ever convinced that a renewal thereof would not only be impolitic in a national point of view, but deeply injurious to the mercantile interest of these kingdoms; and praying, that, if possible, the exclusive charter of the E. I. Company may not be renewed, or that if from circumstances, not within the knowledge of the petitioners, it should appear to the House necessary to concede to the Company the exclusive privilege of trading to some particular nation situated beyond the Cape of Good Hope, such concession may be as limited as the nature of the case will admit: and the petitioners earnestly intreat of the House, so in its wisdom to protect the rights of his Ma dividuals has been, and must be, attended with prejudicial consequences to the commerce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, the more especially as it has been allowed to foreign states at amity with his Majesty, and denied to British subjects; and that, among many other powerful reasons why this trade ought to be allowed to all British subjects, the petitioners are humbly of opinion, by it the peace of the community might be thereby secured by affording full work and fair wages to the operative classes, to secure whose comfort, and to render whom contented with their situation, is of the very highest importance to the state; and praying, that no exclusive grant may be given to the trade, to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope; and that the commerce with those countries may not be confined to any particular port in the United King-jesty's subjects, as that they may not be dom, but that the House will restore to British subjects those commercial privileges to which they have an undoubted right." A Petition of the iron-masters, proprietors of the principal iron-works in Shropshire, was also presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners beg leave to represent to the House, that though they are fully sensible that it is a duty incumbent upon every subject of these realms to submit, and the petitioners are willing cheerfully to submit to every commercial regulation and restriction by which the welfare of the state is essentially promoted, yet they apprehend, and beg leave to state, that the principle of restraining the subjects of these realms from trading with foreign nations and our distant possessions, by granting an exclusive exercise of that right to a chartered company, is so far from being essential to the welfare of the state, that it in itself is an obstacle to the increase of our commercial intercourse with those foreign nations and distant possessions; and that the principle of conducting trade with foreign nations and distant possessions by means of a chartered company, tends to increase the price paid by them for the transport of our manufactures, and to enhance that which we pay for their produce, and thereby, instead of being a benefit to this country, is an injury, and consequently an injustice to both; and that the petitioners presented a petition to the House in the last session of parliament, praying that the charter of the E. I. Company may be abolished, and that from the restricted from a free intercourse with our Indian possessions, nor without absolute necessity from trading with any of those nations which are situated beyond the Cape of Good Hope." A Petition of the merchants, shipowners, and others interested in the trade of the town of Lancaster, was also presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners, impressed with the belief that the policy which has so long confined the commerce of India, China, and other countries eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, by charter of monopoly granted to the E. I. Company, is not calculated to give to the nation at large those advantages which would result from a free intercourse with them; and that, in addressing themselves to the House, they venture, with the most respectful confidence, to maintain that the interests of this great empire will be importantly benefited by a free trade with the countries in question; and that a continued exclusion from them will be attended with prejudicial consequences; and that, in opposition to the principles of justice and sound policy, this intercourse has been allowed to foreign states at amity with his Majesty, while it has been denied to his own subjects, and, as in the case of the United States of America, has greatly contributed to weaken the resources of this country, and to strengthen those of the enemy; and that, at a time when it is of the utmost importance to give the people of the United Kingdom all the advantages of their skill, industry, granting to them privileges from which they have hitherto been legally debarred; and that they humbly beg leave to state, that they do not entertain personal prejudices against any individuals, or against any community, on account of dissent from the established religion, nor are they desirous of abridging the liberty of conscience en and capital, when the prosecution of an expensive war renders it necessary to adopt every means for augmenting the revenue, and when the prosperity of the nation requires so much the maintenance of its naval superiority by encouraging a nursery for seamen, it becomes indispensably requisite to open every legitimate channel of commerce; and that the sys-joyed by all persons dissenting from the tem which has hitherto confined the E. I. trade to the port of London, is contrary to the equal rights of British subjects, and to those principles of justice and liberal policy by which the legislature is directed; and that it cannot be necessary, because it has been completely proved that the revenue is as well secured, and collected with as much ease and safety, at the out-ports, as at the port of London; and that the extent of coast in the King's channel admits of facilities for smuggling which do not exist at the out-ports; and praying, that no exclusive grant be given to trade with the countries to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, or to any part thereof, and that this commerce may be extended to every port in which the Warehousing Act of the 43d of the King has been acted upon, and that the House will, in its wisdom, adopt such measures as will secure the rights and privileges to which the petitioners, as British subjects, possess an unquestionable claim, and which are eminently calculated to promote the welfare and interests of the country at large." Ordered to lie upon the table. doctrines and discipline of the established Church, but they cannot contemplate without additional alarm the preparations openly made to promote the revival of Popery, and the arguments advanced in support of what are called the Catholic Claims, claims openly avowed, by the Popish prelates and their clergy, to consist in a perfect equality with Protestants in every political privilege; and they humbly beg leave farther to state, that, if the indulgencies sought by persons of the Romish communion were questions of mere political expediency, they should rejoice in any boon safely conferred on them by the State; but, as faithful ministers of the Church of England, they cannot consider the predominance of Popery over Protestantism, in an integral part of his Majesty's dominions, as a mere question of political expediency; and they should deem such an event nothing less than the harbinger of the downfall of the Church of England; and that they presume not to insinuate that the wisdom of parliament cannot grant such indulgences as may gratify the reasonable Petitions of our Roman Catholic brethren, but they confidently hope that those PETITIONS AGAINST THE CLAIMS OF THE indulgences will be thoroughly conROMAN CATHOLICS FROM THE ARCH-sistent with the constitution, as settled in DEACON AND CLERGY OF BATH AND WELLS 1688, with the Protestant succession, and -MAYOR, &c. OF ST. ALBANS-ARCH- with the Act of Settlement on which the DEACON, &C. OF ST. ALBANS-ARCHDEACON right of the august House of Brunswick AND CLERGY OF SUFFOLK-ARCHDEACON to the crown is founded, and also with AND CLERGY OF SUDBURY-CLERGY OF the perfect security and integrity of that CARMARTHEN, CARDIGAN, AND BRECON pure and apostolical Church by Divine ARCHDEACON AND CLERGY OF WINCHES- Providence established in these realms." TER-BAILIFFS, &c. OF IPSWICH-INHABI TANTS OF ANGLESEY-ARCHDEACON, &c. OF COLCHESTER-ARCHDEACON AND CLERGY OF LINCOLN-DEAN AND CHAPTER OF WOR-GENTRY, CLERGY, &c. OF HANGWEST-AND THE MAYOR, &c. OF HARWICH.] A Petition of the archdeacons and clergy of the diocese of Bath and Wells, was presented; setting forth, CESTER "That the petitioners have witnessed with considerable apprehension the recent attempts made to extend the concessions already yielded to Papists, by A Petition of the mayor, aldermen, reCorder, burgesses, clergy, and principal inhabitants, of the borough of St. Alban, was also presented; setting forth, "That the petitioners observe with the utmost solicitude and alarm the assiduous efforts of the Roman Catholics to obtain admission to all places of political power and trust, both civil and military, and to the unlimited exercise of legislative functions; and that it is with feelings of unfeigned satisfaction they contemplate the |