the subjects of the United States of America have traded extensively with China, most completely sets aside all ground for such alarm; and that the petitioners humbly presume, that nothing can possibly tend, in a greater degree, to the increase of the revenue, and the prosperity of a nation, than the freedom of its commerce, and the general diffusion of the means of carrying it on; and that, from the recent and very extensive improvements which have been made in the harbour of Bristol, ships of very considerable burthen can receive and discharge their cargoes afloat, and the port is in every respect suitable for carrying on an extensive commerce with the countries comprized within the limits of the East India Company's present exclusive privilege, and the petitioners may add, with as much security to the due collection of the duties of customs and excise as in the port of London; and praying, that the House will not consent to a renewal of any of those exclusive commercial privileges which are contained in an act passed in the 33d year of his present Majesty, intituled, " An Act for continuing in the East India Company, for a further term, the possession of the British territories in India, together with their exclusive trade, under certain limitations; for establishing further regulations for the government of the said territories, and the better administration of justice within the same; for appropriating to certain uses the revenues and profits of the said Company, and for making provision for the good order and government of the towns of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay;" but on the contrary, that at the expiration of that act, the trade to the east of the Cape of Good Hope, may be as fully and freely enjoyed by all his Majesty's subjects to and from every port of his Majesty's United Kingdom, as it is at present by the East India Company and the port of London exclusively." A Petition of the merchants and traders composing the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Waterford, was also presented and read; setting forth, to the public; and that, if it has been found, on long trial, that the East India Company have not been successful as merchants, and that the North Americans, acting as individual traders, have, of late years, been supplying the islands and various distant dependencies of this empire with East India commodities, the petitioners humbly hope it will appear evident to the House, that a large Company is not useful or necessary to the carrying on of the said trade; and that the operation and consequence of the monopoly granted to the said Company has been to favour fo. reigners in the exercise and pursuit of this extensive and lucrative business, totally excluding, and thereby greatly injuring the people of the United Kingdom; and the petitioners humbly beg leave further to state, that a free commerce with the immense population of the East, carried on under the prudent economical management of individuals acting for themselves, would be most likely to find a profitable vent for very increased quantities of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom, and would bring the articles from thence into the home market with such fair competition, that the public would greatly benefit thereby; and that the present unfortunate state of the continent of Europe renders it, at this period of time, peculiarly necessary to open all possible new sources of industry to the people; and praying, that the House will take the premises under their serious consideration, and grant such relief as to them shall seem meet. A Petition of the sovereign burgesses merchants manufacturers and other inhabitants of the town of Belfast, was also presented and read; setting forth, "That the critical state of the manufactures and commerce of the United Kingdom demands the attention of the legislature to adopt the most effectual measures, consistent with national honour, for their relief; and that, by the 33d of his present Majesty, the intire right of commerce and navigation in the seas and to the territories between the Cape of Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan is vested in the East India Company until the 1st of March 1814, when, if not renewed, it will become open to all the subjects of the British em "That the petitioners would appear inattentive to their own and the interests of their fellow subjects, if, at this time of the East India Company's Charter being nearly expired, they did not submit to the consi-pire; and that, by the 37th of the same deration of the House, whether the interests of the empire would not be greatly promoted by opening that important trade reign, the privilege of trading to those countries, although denied to British subjects, is permitted to foreign nations in amity with his Majesty, which permission | Petition to present from the city and lithe United States of America have availed berties of Londonderry, and that Petition themselves of, to their very great profit I now hold in my hand. It is true, Mr. and advantage; and that, whatever good Speaker, that I have the honour to reprereasons might have existed at a for- sent a constituent body there, of nearly mer period for granting this monopoly 1,000 voters, exclusively Protestants; and to the East India Company, no such rea- it is also true that I have not any Petition sons now exist, as the enterprize and ca. to present from them against the Roman pital of individuals, as well as of private Catholic claims, nor do I wish to receive companies of merchants, are at this time from the Protestants of Londonderry any fully sufficient for carrying on trade and such Petition. I may be permitted, howcommerce to those distant regions; and ever, to know well what are the sentiments that, at all events, no satisfactory reasons of my constituents; and, therefore, alcan be assigned against opening the trade though I have every feeling of respect and to China, because the supposed delicacy kindness towards the subscribers to the of allowing an intercourse with that people Petition I hold in my hand, I cannot supis completely removed by the success port its prayer. Our system in my part which has attended the American traffic; of the world has been, and I had hoped, and that the system of confining the East would have continued to be, to let our RoIndia trade to the port of London is unjust man Catholic fellow-subjects urge their and impolitic; unjust, as it abridges the own claims, in their own way, without natural rights of other sea-ports, and im- any active interference against them on politic, as the duties might be collected our part out of parliament, and wishing with equal ease, and with superior that these claims should be submitted to a economy and dispatch, in such of the out- full and impartial discussion in parliaports as paid a large sum of customs, and ment, and be decided there upon their had a sufficient number of active and in- own intrinsic merits. I did, therefore, on telligent officers; and praying, that, when a former night, deprecate any assumption the charter of the East India Company of fact which, I am convinced, is unshall expire, it may not be renewed, to the founded; such as, that a majority of the exclusion of the other subjects of the Bri- Protestants of the north of Ireland were tish empire." favourable to the Roman Catholic claims; and which statement, I feared, would have the effect of promoting Protestant meetings, to declare their sentiments, and Catholic claims, and thereby interrupt petition on the subject, against the Roman conciliation and harmony between them and their Protestant neighbours, which ought to be objects with every good man principle in my own person with some efto encourage. That I have adopted this Petition having been entrusted to my care, fect, I trust, will appear evident from this although I promised to the petitioners that however, with confidence assure the I could not support their claims. I do, House of Commons, that it is subscribed by a peaceable, industrious, and loyal body of Roman Catholics, and is well entitled to a respectful reception from this House." The said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the table. PETITIONS OF ROMAN CATHOLICS OF IRELAND.] Six Petitions of Roman Catholics-of the county and city of Kilkenny; the county of Roscommon; the county of Kerry; the city and liberties of Londonderry; the county of Clare; and the town and county of Carlow, were presented and read; containing the same allegations and prayer as the Petition of several of the Roman Catholics of the Queen's County, in Ireland, which was presented upon Thursday last.-Ordered to lie upon the table. Sir George Hill, on presenting the Petition from the Catholics of Londonderry, said; "It is my duty to present to this House a Petition from the Roman Catholics of the city and liberties of Londonderry, and I beg leave to take this opportunity of correcting a mis-statement which has appeared in the public prints of yesterday, namely, that I had declared it to be my intention to present a Petition against the Roman Catholic claims. On the contrary, I said I had received a Roman Catholic (VOL. XXII.) the national improvement; and that, as the right of all British subjects to a free trade, on an equal footing, is undoubted, that the abandonment of that right in any degree, however small, or for any period, however short, can never be done without producing consequences highly prejudicial to the nation; and that the regula tions which have hitherto given to the port of London the whole trade of the East, appear to the petitioners to be contrary to the rights of British subjects, and to those principles of liberal policy by which this nation is governed; and pray "That the petitioners, understanding that a Bill is intended to be soon of fered to the House for the removal of the restrictions which are imposed by law on those who profess the Roman Catholic religion in the realm; and that they are fully convinced that the controul of any foreign power over the government of this country, either in Church or State, is inconsistent with the first principles of all civil government, and incompatible both with the most ancient form of our constitution and with that which was established at the Revolution; and that the power of the Pope, though for various reasons les-ing, that no exclusive grant may be given sened in the public opinion, is notwithstanding more dangerous to us now than ever, being itself brought under the controul of a foreign and our most inveterate enemy; and that the petitioners, as members of a Protestant University, are more confirmed in their apprehensions of foreign influence, from the tendency which it is reported appears among some of the Catholic petitioners for the Bill, towards affecting the King's supremacy in the Church; and that the petitioners, as is well known, have never been adverse to liberty of conscience in religious or ecclesiastical matters, and they feel no uneasi ness at the concession of any comforts to their Roman Catholic brethren, but they humbly implore the House to guard against the consequences of making any concessions which may endanger our present security in Church or State; and praying, that the said Bill may not pass into a law." Ordered to lie upon the table. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Thursday, April 23. PETITIONS FROM GLASGOW, RENFREW, DUMBARTON, LANARK, AND WEDNESBURY RESPECTING THE RENEWAL OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S CHARTER.] A Petition of several merchants and manufacturers in the city of Glasgow, was presented and read; setting forth, "That the petitioners Havet he strongest reasons to complain of that line of policy which has so long confined the commerce of India, China, and the other countries to the Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, by charters of monopoly granted to the honourable the united company of merchants of England trading to the EastIndies; and they are fully persuaded that every grant of this nature has retarded of 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 Kingdom, but that the House will adopt such measures as will restore and secure to the petitioners that commercial freedom and those equal privileges to which, as British subjects, they have an undoubted right." A Petition of the provost magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Renfrew, was also presented and read; setting forth, "That in the present situation of the commercial and manufacturing interests of these kingdoms, the industrious mecha nics and labourers are under great distress, which the petitioners humbly conceive would be greatly ameliorated by granting a free trade to India from all parts and ports of the nation; and that the abolition of the monopoly of the EastIndia Company would be an act of justice putting the trading part of the empire on an equal footing, and opening additional sources of wealth and prosperity to the empire at large; and praying the House to adopt such measures for abolishing the monopoly and opening a free trade, as to them shall seem expedient," A Petition of the provost magistrates and town council of the royal burgh of Dumbarton, was also presented and read; setting forth, "That the petitioners beg leave respectfully to convey their wishes, in common with those of every part of the empire on the subject of the approaching expiration of the East India Company's Charter; and that the experience of ages evinces, that monopolies are hurtful to the general interests of commerce, and the circumstances of the times also call for the exercise almost, if not entirely, without their reward; and that, in these circumstances, the petitioners cannot contemplate the abolition of the exclusive privilege, and the permission of a free trade to India, otherwise than as a measure of the utmost importance and propriety, as admirably calculated at once to impart new life and animation to our trade and manufactories, to give employment to thousands of industrious and useful workmen, at present reduced to idleness and consequent poverty, to serve as an excellent nursery of seamen for our navy, and at the same time to augment the resources, and to increase and insure stability to the prosperity of the British empire; and praying the House to adopt such measures as to them may seem necessary for accomplishing the abolition." of a free trade to the East Indies as a mea- | sure which, in a peculiar degree, will counteract that war on our commerce, the effects whereof the British merchants have borne the more cheerfully, in the expect ation of being allowed a participation in a traffic to a quarter out of the reach of the enemy; and that this new branch of trade the petitioners have no doubt would afford ample scope for the exertion of the skill and enterprize of merchants, and render the present restraints on commerce in a great degree unfelt; and praying the House to adopt such measures as may render it lawful for any of his Majesty's subjects, after the expiration of the East India Company's present charter, to carry on a free and unlimited trade from any of the ports of the United Kingdom to the British possessions in India, and from thence to such particular ports in the United Kingdom, as the wisdom of parliament may see proper." A Petition of the provost magistrates town council and deacons of the incorporations of Lanark, was also presented and read; setting forth, "That, in consequence of the unfortunate state of the commercial and manufacturing interests of the country, thousands of industrious workmen have recently been thrown out of employment, and reduced from a life of labour and happiness to one of idleness and misery; and that, in the opinion of the petitioners, the granting a free trade to India, or the abolition of the exclusive privilege vested in the East-India Company, would be a measure not admirably adapted for removing those evils under which the empire at present labours, but also an act of justice, in so far as it would communicate to the British subject that permission to trade which, by 37 Geo. 3 c. 57, has alone been extended to the subjects of foreign nations in amity with his Majesty; and that, in the firm persuasion that the right to trade ought to be declared to belong alike to every subject of the British empire, and for that reason hostile to every species of monopoly, the petitioners are, if possible, still more decidedly inimical to that system of policy which, while it establishes an exclusive privilege in one body of merchants, gives room for the enterprize of the foreigner, but shuts the door against the exertions of the British trader, or at least, by means of numerous and complicated restrictions, leaves those exertions A Petition of several inhabitants of the town of Wednesbury, in the county of Staf ford, and its neighbourhood, was also presented and read; setting forth, "That the petitioners contemplate, with deep concern, the present state of the manufactures of the United Kingdom, which requires the most proper and ef fectual measures for relief; and that, without shrinking from the burthens and privations necessary to support the state, and the arduous conflict in which this country is engaged, they hold it to be equally as just as it is expedient, that all honourable means, and principally the means which are within the power of this country, should be used to lessen those burthens and privations as much as may be, and at the same time to counteract that odious but darling policy of an inve terate enemy, which he has so long and steadily pursued, with the view of accomplishing the ruin of this kingdom, by distressing its manufactures and commerce; and they humbly represent, that British subjects have an undeniable right to trade to every part of the British do. minions, and that this right, however obstructed, can never be destroyed; and that the charter granted to the East India Company has led to and established a fact as much at variance with reason as with justice; viz. that, whilst the subjects of a foreign power have been permitted to carry on trade with part of our possessions, subjects of this kingdom have been excluded; and they are of opinion, that it is impossible for any joint stock company to carry on trade to any thing like the ex tent and advantage that private merchants might do; and that the example of individuals, subjects of the United States of America, has proved the practicability of carrying on a most extensive and lucrative trade to the East without the assistance of any joint stock company; and the petitioners humbly represent, that all monopolies are unjust in principle, and injurious in practice, operating as restraints upon individual industry and enterprize; and that, in the present state of the world, it is necessary to abolish the commercial monopoly of the East India Company, in order to open to the manufactures of this kingdom those immense markets which it possesses beyond the power and influence of the enemy; and praying the House to take such measures for the total abolition of the injurious monopoly of the East-India Company, at the end of the present charter, as to them shall seem proper." The said Petitions were ordered to lie upon the table. PETITION OF DISSENTING MINISTERS FOR LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.] Mr. William Smith presented a Petition from several Protestant Dissenting ministers in and about the cities of London and Westminster, setting forth, "That the petitioners, conceiving the right of worshipping God according to the dictates of their own consciences to be derived from the Author of their being, and confirmed by the Founder of their Christian faith, and, therefore, not to be subject to the controul of human authority, cannot but regard with deep concern those statutes which restrain and limit the exercise of this right, and impose conditions and penalties, that seem to them as unjust in their principle as they are injurious to the vital interests of true religion; and that they consider those statutes as originally designed to guard against evils which no longer exist, and as expressive of sentiments, with regard to the nature and extent of religious liberty, which no longer prevail, at a period when the subjects of the British empire, however they may differ with regard to the principles of their religion, and their mode of professing it, concur in a cordial attachment to the family on the throne; and, when enlightened views of religious liberty, and a corresponding liberality of spirit, have been diffused among religious professors of all denominations; and that the petitioners, expressing their lively gratitude for the concessions made to their religious rights in the course of the present reign, earnestly but respectfully pray, that every remaining penal statute which extends its operations to the province of religion, may be repealed; and that, whilst they conduct themselves as loyal, obedient, and peaceable subjects to the state, they, in common with all their fellow citizens, may be put in possession of complete religious freedom, and allowed to worship their Maker, and maintain their Christian profession, according to their own views, and their incumbent duty, without being subjected to any penalties or disabilities in consequence of their dissent from the Established Church; and that the petitioners, confiding in the wisdom and justice of the House, pray that their case may be taken into consideration, and the relief granted to them which they supplicate." Ordered to lie upon the table. MR. GRATTAN'S MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE ON THE CIVIL DISABILITIES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.] The order of the day being read for taking into consideration the State of the Laws, imposing Civil Disabilities on his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects, Mr. Grattan rose and said: Sir; I have changed the question, and instead of a committee to consider the Petitions I propose to move for a committee to revise the laws. Thus every person who thinks that redress should be administered, whether in a greater or less degree, whether by applying to the executive power to take a leading part in the business, (as was the opinion of a right hon. gentleman, whose opinion deserves every consideration,) or by proceeding ourselves to administer relief, must, I say, concur in this motion. The present powers of England chiefly regard Ireland and America; your efforts in other places must be chiefly influenced by fortune, but here you can arbitrate your own destinies; here wisdom may save, or folly may undo and if you err here, you lose deliberately, and by your own fault, your strength in the new world, and your anchor in the old. The question I shall propose is a new one; it was hitherto debated upon the circumstance, it is on the principle you are now to decide. The doom of Ireland lies before you; and if you finally decide against her Petitions you declare that |