1801.] On Eaft- India Trade. 401

not reſt on principles of colonial excluſion: for the Trade, to and from India, is open to the ſubje&s of other countries in amity with Great Britain. We muſt therefore accurately attend to the conſiderations which naturally reſult from thoſe laſt- mentioned circumſtances.

Yet theſe regulations ought to be confined ſo that Engliſh capital ſhall not be employed to condud foreign trade, but that the property of Britiſh ſubjedts reſident in India, ſhould be brought home in the manner moſt beneficial to the mather country.

The concluſion I draw is, that the ſurplus produce of India, beyond what the appropriaied capital of the Eaſt India Com- pany can bring home, ſhould be conſidered as the means of tran-ferring(he fortunes of the ſervants in India to Great Bri- tain; and that tne commerce ſhcu!d be managed there, either by“ the parties- themſelves intzrefted in it, or by their agents acting under the licenſe, and ſubje& io che coni: oul and regula- tions ofthe Eaſt-¿india Company.

By what mod- of conveyance then(ſays he) is that trade to be brought home? Mr. D. anſwers, by India-buili Mupping. Mr. D, then goes on to ſhew the impolicy of the Company's ſending out more ſhipping than their own inveſtments require. This has been, as he ſays, the unanimous opinion of the Company’s moſt intelligent ſervants, and the allowance of 3000 tons annually given by the A& of 1793, to‘the private trade to and from India, was made conſiſtent with theſe principles. This allowance not having anſwered the intended purpoſe, he propoſes that this clauſe ſhould be repealed, and permiſlion given the Com- pany for their ſervants abroad to allow Britiſh ſubjeds, reſident in India, to bring home their property to Britain in the ſhipping of the Company. Mr. D. then enters into a long chain of reaſoning in ſupport of his propoſitions.

This letter was referred to a ſpecial Committee, who, in Ja- nuary laſt, made a long report to the Dire@orson this very intereft- ing queſtion; a report, as well drawn, and filled with as much important commercial information, as any that has appeared for many years. They begin by detailing(1} the vaſt maſs of papers they have been obliged to peruſe(2) to take a view of the privileges, Which have been conceded to individuals in the trade to India,(3) to ſhew how the immenſe wealth ac- quired by Britiſh ſubje&ts has been brought home,(4) that the concefſlions of 1793 have not been fſatisfa@tory.(5) They give the fur merchants claim to further indulgence; and(6) their reaſons for being diſlatisfied, ſhewing(7) the inferiority of the advantages of the Britiſh merchants in commercia! affairs, ariſing from the ancient privileges granted to foreign nations