STEAM NAVIGATION-MEETING OF THE INHABITANTS OF CALCUTTA. A public meeting took place on Saturday morning | confidence, unless I have greatly erred in my estimate of the 5th March, called by the Sheriff, in compliance his opinion and the bias of his mind, that we shall have with a requisition signed by 500 inhabitants of Calcutta the concurrence of the noble lord on whose recent arrival and its neighbourhood, to take into consideration the in this country I now congratulate you. Turning our present state of the important question of a Steam Com- attention to the means of transport we have in view; it is munication with England by way of the Red Sea, and not of vast importance whether bulky commodities arrive for the purpose of adopting such measures as may seem in England too months sooner or later, and though the desirable under the existing circumstances of the case. quick transport of man who, as some philosophers say, At 11 o'clock, there were upwards of 250 persons assem- is the most difficult thing to move, is of much imporbled, and the Sheriff opened the proceedings by reading tance, yet the quick transmission of letters, of orders, is the requisition, after which, Sir Edward Ryan took the infinitely greater. A speedy answer to a letter is the too, in a legal point of view; and of how great an imchair on the motion of Mr. Pattle, seconded by Mr. first consideration in a political, mercantile, I may add portance is it in those family relations on which so much Willis. of our happiness depends! Therefore, gentlemen, 1 entreat you to lay aside all other considerations, and combine In rising to propose the first resolution which it is your efforts, directing them to this object, and no governInstead of supporting various plans, promeant to submit as the foundation of others, it is a great ment can be blind to its advantages or can resist your consolation to me that it is not necessary to enter into exertions. details of measures requisite to carry the object referred mulgated at Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta, give your to into effect, because if it were, ignorant as I am of whole confidence to Government, leaving to them the those details, I should have been under the necessity of choice of means, and as far as anything can admit of cerIt reSir JOHN GRANT then read the following resolution :declining the part in these proceedings with which the tainty, you are as likely to succeed as I can desire. gentlemen of the committee have honored me. "That a Select Committee of the House of Commons quires, however, no knowledge of those details to be fully aware of the importance of accelerating the communica- did, under date 14th July, 1834, among others, report tion between England and this country. After a few remarks from the chairman, Sir J. P. Grant rose and spoke nearly as follows. I believe "That it is the opinion of this committee, that the experiments which have been made, have been attended with very great expense, but that from the evidence before the committee, it appears that by proper arrangements the expense may be materially reduced, and under that impression it is expedient that measures should be immediately taken for the regular establishment of Steam Communication from India by the Red Sea. "That it is the opinion of this committee, that a reguthere is not any subject which has excited so much to the house the following Resolutions:attention, which has drawn forth so great, so united an expression of public feeling as the one now under lar and expeditious communication with India by means consideration; and I congratulate you on the numer- of Steam Vessels is an object of great importance both to ous assemblage this-day, on the respectability of the re- Great Britain and India. quisition, and on the high character of the gentleman who presides, and who I have now the honor to address. I am fully persuaded, and it is not a persuasion adopted yesterday, but one that I have felt since I first came to this country,-that there is no object of so much importance to India, of so much importance to England as dependant on her connection with India, as facilitating the communication between this and the parent country. Whatever we may have heard in our childhood with regard to the wealth of India, there is nothing that can have struck any man who has resided here so strongly as the great natural productiveness of the soil and the real poverty of the inhabitants. requires no very great or deep knowledge of what is "That it is the opinion of this committee, that by called political economy, or of the employment of capital, or of the cause that has produced that great change in England, which placed her first in the rank of nations, whatever line the communication be established, the net It requires no great experience or knowledge for any man charge of the establishment should be divided equally who has a correspondence with England, or who resides between His Majesty's Government and the East India there on an allowance or income, to know that all that Company, including in that charge the expense of the is wanting there is an outlet for capital; and it requires land conveyance from the Euphrates on the one hand, no greater knowledge to know that what is wanted here and the Red Sea on the other, to the Mediterranean." is the importation of capital, skill, and enterprize. (Cheers.) And what is there to prevent the importation "That it is the opinion of this committee that it be left to His Majesty's Government in conjunction with It munication should be in the first instance from Bombay the East India Company to consider whether the comor from Calcutta, or according to the combined plan suggested by the Bengal Steam Committee. Here, gentlemen, continued Sir John Grant, is the of them all?-Distance. It is not climate, for who has opinion of the House of Commons in 1834; it remains heard of there being a want of British capital in the for you to follow it up, and remove the impediments It West Indies? It may be said that the peculiar nature which from that time may have prevented any steps of the government of this country has occasioned having been taken to prevent what you desire being carMr. HENRY TORRENS Seconded the resolution. the poverty of the people, but would that circum- ried into effect. stance have remained but for distance? and now when really an eloquent that circumstance is removed, what is there that re- would be a waste of words in me to detain you by speakbe does not admit of it, because, were mains but distance? And when we were told that this ing at any length on this subject; not that the subject distance of half the globe from England can put as near to her as the Cape of Good Hope, can there man I might expatiate on the influx of civilization folremain a doubt on the mind of any man of the utility,-lowing that of capital, of family ties in England, and of of the importance of such an approximation? I have the anxiety you feel to hear from them, but I will not said more than is necessary on a subject in which I detain you, for you feel yourselves what I would say. am sure, you all feel a deep interest; indeed, I might have spared the time I have occupied, and instead of dwelling on the end in view, have directed your attention, as I am now about to do, to the means of attaining it. These, it is apparent, are not within ourselves, and we must seek higher and more powerful assistance. One friend we have, am sure, in the late President of the Board of Controul, and I think I may say as much for the present one; we are sure of the hearty zeal of Lord W. Bentinck, and I think I may venture to say, and with The resolution was then put from the chair and carried unanimously. Mr. CAMERON.-I rise to propose for your adoption a resolution which can but be looked on as the natural consequence of the preceding one; it however affords me an opportunity of reminding those who have paid any attention to affairs in England, that when a new measure is there agitated, if those do not make themselves heard who are to derive the principa. benefits Q 2 from its being carried into effect, advantage is immediately taken of their silence by those who are opposed to the measure, and apathy and indifference are urged as proofs of its inexpediency. It is not possible for me to add any thing to what has already fallen from Sir John Grant on the general merits of the question, but I will avail myself of this opportunity to remark, that if the British Government has conferred any benefit on India it has been mainly attributed to public opinion in England having been directed to this country. To increase, to continue this attention, I know of no better means than by diminishing the distance, and to effect this I now propose the following resolution. Mr. ANDERSON Seconded the Resolution, which was then read and carried unanimously, namely: effect to the Resolutions." with whom I coincided, but I will briefly recapitulate what I then stated, for it will at once point out why 1 concur in the resolution, yet dissent from the sentiments of Mr. Smith. The view which I had taken of the question was, that a subscription would not only be useless but vastly mischievous; nothing good could be effected but erroneous impressions might be produced at home. No attempt could be more futile than the establishment of steam communication between England and India by the capital and funds of this community. The want of capital is notorious to all, and has been eloquently dwelt on by Sir J. Grant. The enormous capital necessary is equally notorious, and it is therefore self-evident that the making of the attempt must be attended with inevitable failure. No good could "That effectual measures not appearing to have been mischief did not end here; it was calculated to produce result from a measure so particularly absurd. But the taken consequent on the above Resolutions, it is expedient that a petition be presented to the House of Com-without which the scheme could not prosper. What 1 a false impression at home and to deprive us of that aid mons, praying that such measures may be adopted as are recommended was, to tell our fellow-countrymen in Brirequisite for the immediate carrying the Resolutions into tain that India was "the brightest gem in the crown, effect; and that Memorials be addressed to the Right the most important branch in the empire. Your interHonorable the Board of Commissioners for the affairs ests are inseparable from ours; as the one is enhanced India, and to the Honorable the Court of Directors the other is encreased. Give us the advantages of steam praying that they will unite in giving the fullest possible navigation and the prosperity of both will be immeasur ably augmented. But we are without capital. We cannot procure it for ourselves. It is on your wealth we must look; on your support we must rely." Had such been the language of the petitioners in 1833,-had those petitions been strengthened by lakhs of signatures and House of Commons were passing the resolutions which we have this day heard, how powerful would have been the effect, and what energy and spirit would have been excited, and at such a moment! (Hear, hear.) This was the view of the case taken by my friends and myself at that meeting, and the effect of the argument was to produce an immense majority against those who supported the subscription. But though defeated in argument they were obstinately wedded to their plan; the very next day a letter appeared in the newspapers under the notorious signature of Indophilus (laughter). But I will make you laugh more, for I will read what that writer then put forth and show what he "Let us have no more Calcutta meethas since done. ings. They are a mock representation,-a rotten borough parliament of India;" (laughter.) "They can only lead to a partial consideration, and therefore to a false idea of her interest." "The majority of such meetings only represent a partial local interest, as for instance the late majority gave us the sense of the lawyers and horseleeches of Calcutta," (much laughter.) But the most comical part is what follows. "I shall therefore attend no meeting, and I strongly recommend that none should be held." And yet among the names attached to this requisition to call this very meeting is one, to whom public report ascribed the authorship of these letters, and thus after there years experience we have IndoMr. LONGUEVILLE CLARKE. Before the resolution is philus pursuing measures which he formerly condemned put, I beg leave to offer a few remarks on the observa- and convening meetings which he has denounced, and tions of the last speaker. In these I cannot concur, which he declared he would not attend (laughter.) The although in the resolutions 1 do; and for the sake result was, a subscription was commenced, and the reof consistency, and that I may not have senti-sult of that subscription I accurately foresaw and forements attributed to me to which I have been, and told. The first experiment has only established that by still am opposed, I will now state my reason for the application of heat to sea water, the salt became sethe vote which I shall give. On the 14th of June, 1833, a public meeting was held for the same object which has now brought us together. It was then proposed to raise a subscription to forward the object of steam communication, but the present chairman, Sir Edward Ryan, met this by a direct negative, which, that there may be no mistake, 1 will now read to you Mr. C. W. SMITH proposed the third resolution, and in the course of his address, took occasion to compliment the committee of the New Bengal Steam Fund, who, he said, had ever shown the utmost zeal and activity, and although their efforts had not been success-arrived in England just at the very moment when the ful, yet had they been eminently useful in keeping alive a feeling in India, and in demonstrating to the parent country that the means in India were not sufficient to continue the communication. To judge from their past exertions, said Mr. Smith, I believe we could not place our interests in better hands, and their nomination to the charge will be a pledge that no exertion will be wanting to ensure success. The petition will be transmitted to the House of Commons, and perhaps I may be permitted to say, that should Lord William Bentinck be in parliament, his long continued advocacy, and his lately recorded pledge, seem peculiarly to point him out as the individual to whom it ought to be intrusted. The resolution, seconded by Mr. A. Rogers, was then read: "That the petition now read be adopted, and that the Committee of the New Bengal Steam Fund, as a body already constituted for the purpose of furthering the cause of Steam Communication with England by way of the Red Sea, be requested after the same shall have been signed, to cause it to be transmitted to an influential member of the House of Commons conversant with the affairs of India, with the request of this Meeting that he will present the same to the House of Commons and support the prayer thereof." 46 Resolved, that it appears to this meeting most desirable, that we should express the deepest sympathy in the public spirit manifested by the community at Bombay in their efforts to establish a communication between that presidency and Suez, by steam, but in the opinion of this meeting it is not desirable that we should support their scheme by subscriptions, it being our conviction that steam communication between India and England can only be effectually promoted by the government here and at home." This resolution was supported by Mr. Parker, who I now see behind the chairman, by Mr. Dickens whose absence 1 regret, and lastly by myself, will not attempt to repeat what was urged by those parated from the water, and that when the salt separated petition complains that the resolution of the House of Com- much for his prophetic talent! Mr. GREENLAW.-I know not whether I have heard the whole of Mr. Clarke's remarks, but if I have, it ap pears to me, the substance is, that, at the meeting of the 14th of June, 1833, Mr. Clarke now professes to have foretold what would be the result of the exertions, then about to be made by the gentlemen who subsequently formed the Steam Committee. In fact that he then prophecied every thing that has since occurred. I have some recollection of what fell from Mr. Clarke on Touching the views entertained by those who were for that occasion, but, perhaps he would prefer, that I should consult a better record of his observations. In the Harkaru, published on the day following that on which getting up subscriptions, I may be allowed here to corthe meeting was held, I find but one prophecy. I find rect a delusion into which, I am sorry to say, not only it stated that Mr. Clarke, amongst other arguments Mr. Clarke but several others have fallen. It would apagainst any attempt to re-open Steam Communication pear to have been considered that the originators of the by a public subscription, contended that if the attempt subscription comtemplated raising funds sufficient to es"an amount of not more than Rs 5,000 tablish and maintain a regular communication by Steam were made, could, under present circumstances, be reasonably ex- throughout,-hence to England. Such indeed would have pected." (Much laughter.) Now, gentlemen, let us see been a wild speculation. But surely I need not again how far Mr. Clarke's prophecy in this case was cor- repeat that our main object was to re-open the commurect. At the expiration of seven days after the sub-nication and to show a strong demonstration of feelscription was commenced, or eight days after the date of ing,-to excite attention at home-and sure I am that had that prophecy, I attended in this hall, and at this table we not shewn the deep interest which we did, and in the produced a list with Rs 38,000 subscribed (hear, hear) manner that we did with regard to this subject, we should and as Mr. Clarke has just said, " I am sorry not to see have had no aid from home, we should have had no de Such was our object; and I ask Mr. that occasion. (Hear, hear.) my friend Mr. Dickens here"-so I was sorry that claration from the House of Commons in our favor. did not see Mr. Clarke present on I admit that Mr. Clarke or any one whether that object has or has not (Laughter.) But this is not all. Clarke did on the 14th June, 1833, rigidly and success- been effected? I consider that we owe our present posifully oppose any subscription being raised; but then tion to our past exertions, which, aided by Lord William again, a very short time after, he, as a member of the old Bentinck, and by him urged on the late President of the Steam Committee, contemplated making over the rem- Board of Control, in my opinion, led to that examination nant of the old fund in aid of the subscription then rais- by the Committee of the House of Commons which reWill he allow sulted in the present resolutions, on which we now take ing. Mr Clake appears to dissent. me to refer to the proceedings of the old Committee? our stand; and instead, as Mr. Clarke thinks, of the (Mr. Clarke assented.) Mr. Greenlaw then said,-1 hold apathy shewn in following up those resolutions, aris in my hand a paper circulated on the 19th of June ing from the failure of our attempt to re-open the com1833, five days after Mr. Clarke's denunciation of a sub-munication by means of the Forbes, I attribute that noscription being raised, when I submitted the draft of a thing further has been done to the arrangements am clearly of opinion that had he remained there, letter to the Secretary to the Bombay Committee. On which removed Lord Glenelg from the Board of Conthat paper is a minute by Mr. Clarke. Mr. Greenlaw trol. then read the minute; the following is the part which we might have met here this-day, not to congratulate the "Indeed it would ap- people of this country on a declaration from the House refers to the present subject. pear that the whole question is open to us, as the funds of Commons that steam communication between England have not been invested, and we do not know that and India was practicable and an object of importance any advertizements have been issued. If they have I as well to England as India, and to urge the house am for countermanding them, and either giving the and the authorities to follow up their resolution by remoney in aid of the fund now raising in Calcutta," ducing it to practice-but we might have met to celeMark that, gentlemen," giving the money in aid of brate the actual establishment of a regular steam comthe fund now raising in Calcutta! (cheers)-" or"; but munication between the two countries by way of the that is enough for my purpose and I will not go on unless Red Sea. (Cheers.) Mr. CLARKE rose to explain.- Mr. Greenlaw has told I have Mr. Clarke's permission. [Mr. Clarke " go on." Very good," or building a half way house in the desert, (laughter) or placing it at Mr. Crawford's you that he can only find one prophecy of mine in the redisposal to procure a bill in aid of a Joint Stock ported speech. How far that report is either full or Company, who should have a monopoly of letters. fair the meeting will be able to judge when I state that Any of these three definite plans are preferable it is contained in ten lines, yet many will recollect that There Mr. Greenlaw informs you that I had prophesied that a wild advertizement for the encouragement of I spoke full three quarters of an hour. From this report (Much cheering.) wilder speculator." then, gentlemen, is Mr. Clarke's wizzardly foretel- only Rs 5,000 could be collected. This is a misling that more than Rs. 5,000 might not be expec- print. I did no such thing. What I did state was ted, and boasting of his prophetic powers, and eight that a larger sum than Rs 50,00) could not be days after there is a subscription of Rs. 38,000! So reasonably expected. But it appeared that a much to a go on, larger sum had been collected,-not subscribed. Now | DWARKANAUTH TAGORE seconded the resolution, how collected? Certainly by means which I had never which was put and carried as follows:anticipated. By gentlemen, high in government offices, the Court of Directors now read be adopted, and when signed by the Honorable the Chairman on behalf of the meeting, forwarded by him to the Right Honorable the Governor-General of India in Council, with the respectful request of this Meeting that His Lordship in Council will forward the same with such support as the important object may seem to merit. writing to every court and cutcherry recommending That the Memorial to the Right Honorable the Board subscriptions. Such recommendation coming from of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, and that to such quarters are mandates to every sherestadah, moonsiff, amlah, and mohurrer in government employment. It was not subscription, it was extortion. But it was of subscription that I spoke when I named Rs 50,000 as the limit likely to be obtained. The fact was notorious, and my error was in not anticipating so gross and improper a breach of their duties on the part of the government servants who so acted, and of Mr. ARBUTHNOT, after a few prefatory remarks, prothe government who did not interfere. Mr. Greenlaw has also accused me of inconsistency. The facts are:-posed the following resolution, which was seconded by the remnant of the old Steam Fund was in the hands of Mr. G. Bushby and carried:Rickards, Mackintosh and Co. and in reply to a note as to how it should be disposed of, 1 stated that it ought to be immediately taken out of their hands and invested, and when secured, they might then determine as to its appropriation, but that I would not consent to continue a wild advertizement to encourage wilder projectors. I would rather give the money to the New Steam Fund, or to Mr. Waghorn to build a house in the desert or to Mr. Crawford to forward our views before parliament. This is what I stated, and on which Mr. Greenlaw has got up a charge of inconsistency. Because I had stated, amongst other suggestions, that the giving of this sum to the Fund would be preferable to advertizing for projectors, at the same time promising that it would be time enough to decide when the funds were safe, I am to be charged before this meeting with gross inconsistency of conduct. I cannot but congratulate myself on the weakness of the charge, and the want of candour in the speech in which it was made. Mr. GREENLAW.—I beg to explain that I did not use the word "propose" but "contemplate", and I used the word advisedly, having come prepared to make the state ment I have made. As for the error of the press, I can only say that Mr. Clarke is reported in two papers to have said that he did not expect more than Rs. 5,000 would be subscribed. Mr. PATTLE. I will not detain the meeting long, but as I was one of those who advised the subscription, I cannot sit down without attempting to explain what was done, and what Mr. Clarke has found it his interest not to state. At the meeting in 1833 it was represented that the people at home would not believe we were in earnest, unless we put forth our strongest exertions. It was stated that we were bound to do all in our power, or that they might turn round to us, as Jupiter did to the Waggoner; and I believe that it was Lord W. Bentinck's opinion that if we made a strong demonstration here we should not be deserted by the authorities at home. We did make that demonstration, and government here liberally assisted us, and we have not been deserted by the people at home. Then I say, gentlemen, Mr. Clarke has no ground for saying that our efforts have been futile, for unless they had been made, the public at home might, and would have taunted us with expecting aid from them while we would do nothing for ourselves (cheers.) be requested to adopt such other measures as may be "That the Committee of the New Bengal Steam Fund considered necessary to give the fullest possible effect to the above Resolution, and generally to exert themselves to secure the great object of their original appointment." After this resolution had been disposed of, Sir Edward Ryan rose and said,-I understand these are all the resolutions to be proposed at the present meeting, but I think it would be improper to conclude without expressing the deep debt of gratitude we all owe to Mr. Greenlaw, and I shall now move a resolution to that effect. (Cheers.) Allusions have been made to what took place at the former meeting, and certainly I successfully proposed a resolution then to which a large portion of this community dissented. To the past I have nothing to the subscription was injudicious I know not, but of this say, for the future I have every thing to hope. Whether I am certain, it has kept alive the energies at home from said by my learned brother, Sir John Grant, regarding which much may be expected. A great deal has been communication by letter, and with that I entirely agree but there is one object which has escaped his notice, and to which your attention cannot be too strongly drawn, This will be the great result, and it will not depend on I mean the improvement of the condition of the natives. intercourse with England by private communications, but to an intercourse with the people themselves. To bring the governed nearer to the government will be a great advantage, but infinitely greater in my mind will be the advantages that must attend the introduction of your manners, your opinions, and your customs amongst the natives of this country (Cheers.) The resolution was put and carried by acclamation. Mr. PATTLE proposed a resolution, conveying a vote of thanks to the Steam Committee, which met with the entire approbation of the meeting, and in conclusion Mr. C. W. Smith proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman which was carried by acclamation.-Englishman. THE PETITION AND MEMORIAL. THE HUMBLE PETITION, &c. That the establishment of a Steam Communication between India and England has been for several years past the ardent desire of the whole of the British Inhabitants of this country, and that this desire has of late years extended to the natives; and that the public wish of all India has been lately expressed in the strongest manner, by the voluntary subscriptions of a sum exceeding three lacs of rupees, of which above one lac and a half were subscribed in Bengal alone, a great part thereof by natives, for the furtherance of this eagerly sought measure. The resolution was now put and carried nem. con. Mr. H. M. PARKER, in proposing the next resolution said, he was happy to lend his aid towards effecting this most desirable object, as he was in 1833, when he said what he now repeated, that he would never ask as a boon for that which was their right. The people of this country were sufficiently taxed to claim steam communication as a right, though he admitted the prayer of the petition ought to be couched in certain language. Believing this, he never would subscrive his money to an object which it was the duty of government to esta- That however the subscription of such a sum, without blish, and which as far as Alexandria they had already any view to pecuniary return, may evince the anxiety of established. He trusted they would extend it to this all India for the establishment of such a communication, country, for he thought that steam communication yet your petitioners feel that it is impossible to establish would confer greater benefits on India than the aboli-it, much less to carry it on, except by means of the united tion of transit duties, the assimilation of the currency, or even the freedom of the press, and the meeting were quite aware how warmly he had felt on the last mentioned question. powers of His Majesty's Government and the East India Company; and your petitioners learned therefore with the utmost satisfaction that a Select Committee of your Hon'ble House had resolved under date 14th July, 1834 That a regular and expeditious communication with India by means of steam vessels is an object of great importance both to Great Britain and to India. "That it is expedient that measures should be immediately taken for the regular establishment of steam communication from India by the Red Sea. That it be left to His Majesty's Government, in conjunction with the East India Company, to consider whether the communication should be in the first instance from Bombay, or from Calcutta, or according to the combined plan suggested by the Bengal Steam Committee, and that by whatever line the communication be established, the net charge should be divided equally between His Majesty's Government and the East India Company." nouncement of the following Resolutions of the Select "That it is the opinion of this Committee that a regular and expeditious communication with India, by means of steam vessels, is an object of great importance both to Great Britain and to India. periments which have been made have been attended : That your petitioners considered these Resolutions as a pledge that immediate measures would be taken for establishing such communication in the manner best adapted for meeting the wants and wishes of all the prin-left to his Majesty's Government, in conjunction with "That it is the opinion of this Committee that it be cipal ports of India. munication should be in the first instance from Bombay, the East India Company, to consider whether the comor from Calcutta, or according to the combined plan suggested by the Bengal Steam Committee. whatever time the communication be established, the "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that by net charge of the establishment should be divided equally between His Majesty's Government and the East India Company, including in that charge the expense of the land conveyance from the Euphrates on the one hand, and the Red Sea on the other to the Mediterranean. That it is therefore with pain, proportionate to the satisfaction which they felt in hearing of the pledge of your Hon'ble House to perfect this their anxious desire, that your petitioners find that up to the date of the last advices from England nothing had been done in redemption of that pledge; that no steps appear to have been taken for the regular Establishment of Steam Communication from India by the Red Sea; and that no effectual consideration had been given by His Majesty's Government in conjunction with the East India Company, to the only question which your petitioners understand to bave been left to their decision before giving effect to the Resolutions of the Committee of your Hon'ble House-the result of the consideration thus pressed upon the namely-whether the communication should be in the first instance from Bombay, or from Calcutta, or accor. ding to the combined plan suggested by the Bengal Steam Committee. That Your Memorialists have anxiously looked for notice of His Majesty's Government in conjunction expected would lead to the immediate establishment of with the East India Company, which they confidently Steam Communication with England by way of the Red That your petitioners beg leave to submit to the con-Sea in the manner best adapted to meet the wants and sideration of your Hon'ble House the following opinion wishes of all the principal ports in India; and that your lately expressed by a late Right Hon'ble ruler of this Memorialists were the more confirmed in their hope and country, regarding the importance of Steam Communi- expectation that no delay would be allowed to take place cation between this country and Europe, viz., "I have in giving the subject that consideration which its imporbeen a zealous supporter of the cause of Steam Commu-tance demands by the publication in the papers of this nication from the strongest conviction, confirmed by Presidency of a letter addressed to the Secretary to the every day's further reflection of its vast importance to Committee of the New Bengal Steam Fund by the Secre innumerable interests, both national and commercial. Itary of your Right Honorable Board, under date the 8th cannot command the opportunity of forwarding its future success, but if within my reach you may depend upon my most earnest efforts to promote its progress, and to obtain for India an advantage so great in all its direct and indirect consequences, that in my opinion it would be cheaply bought at any price." November, 1834, wherein they were informed that the subject was then under the consideration of His Majesty's Government and the East India Company; and that the result would be communicated to the Government of India. That Your Memorialists regret to find that no effectual Your petitioners, fully concurring in the sentiments Majesty's Government and the East India Company to consideration appears to have been yet given by His above expressed, humbly but earnestly pray that your the matters pressed upon their considerate attention by Hon'ble House will graciously adopt such measures as the above resolutions of the House of Commons; and to your wisdom may seem requisite for the immediate carrying into effect the Resolutions of the Committee of that the President of your Right Honorable Board is your Hon'ble House for establishing a regular, expedi-reported to have expressed himself in somewhat doubtful tious, and frequent communication between the princi-established, which he admitted it was the duty of the terms as to the certainty of that communication being pal Indian ports and Great Britain by means of steam East India Company with the aid of His Majesty's Govessels by way of the Red Sea. And your petitioners will ever pray, TO THE RIGHT HON'BLE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, &c. &c. &c. vernment to take steps for effecting. That Your Memorialists have received this intimation with a degree of pain proportionate to the pleasure with which they received what they looked on as an assurance entertained wish would be immediately realized. of the House of Commons that their ardent and long That Your Memorialists beg respectfully to press The Respectful Memorial of the upon the consideration of His Majesty's Government, Inhabitants of Calcutta and through your Right Honorable Board, the vast impor its neighbourhood, duly con-tance of speedily following up the recommendation of the vened in the Town Hall, on House of Commons; by establishing a regular and Saturday, March 5th, 1836. expeditious communication between this country and Sheweth,-That Your Memorialists having the grea- Red Sea; and on this point, your Memorialists beg Great Britain by means of steam vessels by way of the ter part of them for many years, and all latterly, felt the to be permitted to lay before your Right Honorable vast importance as well to Great Britain as to India of Board the following expression of the testimony of the establishing a regular and expeditious communication Right Honourable Lord William Cavendish Bentinck, with England by way of the Red Sea by means of steam the late Governor-General of India, made on the eve of vessels, received with the utmost satisfaction the an- This departure for England. |