Page images
PDF
EPUB

"I have been a zealous supporter of the cause of trade of China, with England, which amounts to the steam communication with Europe from the strongest value of from £5,000,000 to £6,000,000 by the year, is conviction, confirmed by every day's further reflection dependent on India during six months out of the twelve of its vast importance to innumerable interests both for early communication with Great Britain. national and commercial.

"I 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."

That Your Memorialists deem it proper to bring to the notice of your Right Honourable Board that the average number of letters received from England and despatched thither in India through the Post Office annually may be taken as follows.

[blocks in formation]

Together,......

1,56,495

6,505

1,43,516

3,00,011

That the average annual amounts of mercantile transactions with Europe at the above places were on an average of three years, viz. 1829-30 to 1831-32 as follows:

Calcutta,...
Madras,.

Bombay,
Ceylon,.

Rs. 3,79,49,681

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"

59,10,042 1,63,89,629 18,88,007

That the average number of passengers annually arriv ing at and departing from the undermentioned places may be taken as followsCalcutta.... Arls. Madras,....

[blocks in formation]

....

....

....

767 Dept.
573

665 459

39

....

[blocks in formation]

And your Memorialists respectfully draw the particular attention of your Right Honorable Board to the above statement regarding passengers, because the Committee of Merchants of Calcutta who made a tender to the Government here to establish on certain terms a regular communication by way of the Red Sea with Great Britain by means of steam vessels, gave it as their opinion, after very full and minute investigation, that the communication must depend in a material degree upon the support of passengers for paying its expenses.

That your Right Honorable Board may in some measure judge of the probability of the steamers being constantly filled with passengers when regularly despatched from the fact, that the Hugh Lindsay's accommodations were taken up months before the time at which she was advertised to sail, and that several parties travelled overland, a distance of 1,000 or 1,200 miles, only to be disappointed, though arriving two months prior to the time fixed for her departure.

That in regard to the expense which the establishment of a sufficient number of steam vessels would occasion to the East India Company, your Memorialists respectfully submit that the Resolution of the House of Commons proposing that the net charge of the establishment should be divided equally between His Majesty's Government and the East India Company, appears to have very greatly reduced the force of the only objection raised against immediately putting these resolutions into execu tion, namely, the state of the finances of the Honorable Company; and upon this head of expense, your Memorialists beg leave to observe that prior to the departure of the late Governor-General of India, the Merchants of Calcutta, after the most ample enquiry, offered to His Lordship to establish and maintain by means of vessels of the largest size and power, independent of the Together.... Rs 6,23,37,359 existing communication between Malta and Falmouth, a regular quarterly communication between That the valuable commerce just noticed was the ave- England and the four ports, Bombay, Point de rage of the private transactions of the above places prior Galle, Madras and Calcutta, including the to the abolition of the right to trade on the part of the East sage across the Isthmus of Suez, provided they get India Company, and that the annual average amount of three lacks of rupees by way of bonus and five lacks the trade of the of rupees annually for five years from the Government, Company during the Government retaining the postage; a calculation, the same period which, if at all correct, your Memorialists venture to from Calcutta and affirm would make the annual charge to be equally Madras was Rs. borne by His Majesty's Government and the East India 1,91,77,493 exclu- Company, a sum so small as neither your Right Hon'ble sive of that from Board, nor the East India Company would allow to Bombay, (which outweigh the advantages, direct and indirect, which the is unknown to establishment of such a communication on an extended your memorialists) and liberal scale is calculated to induce. which amount

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

must eventually Upon these advantages your Memorialists abstain be involved in the from enlarging, satisfied that the value of such a comprivate transacmunication must be duly appreciated by your Right tions of the Com- Honourable Board.

That in conclusion your Memorialists respectfully and most earnestly pray that the resolutions of the House of Commons may be forthwith fully acted upon and that steps may be immediately taken by your Right Honourable Board, in conjunction with the East India Company, to establish a regular steam communication between the principal Indian ports and Great Britain by way of the Red Sea.

mercial community of the two Places; making altogether a trade amounting annually to the sum of Rs. 8,15,14,852 exclusive of the late trade of the Honorable Company at Bombay, the amount of which is not known, connected with the commercial correspondence of the above places with Europe; The memorial to the Honourable Court of Directors and in addition thereto, your memorialists beg to draw was, as read mutatis mutandis, the same as the above.— to the attention of His Majesty's Government that the Hurkaru.

Rupees 8,15,14.352

MADRAS STEAM MEETING.

A Meeting of the Inhabitants of Madras took place beyond a doubt that a steamer might, in every month this morning, the 12th March, at the College Hall, for of the year, pass from Point de Gallee to Suez in less the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety than a month." of Petitioning Parliament, and pursuing such other measures as might be thought necessary for the establishment of a Steam Communication between India and Europe.

The Sheriff opened the proceedings by requesting the Meeting to appoint a Chairman; when Mr. A. D. Campbell proposed and Mr. Cator seconded the proposition, that the Hon. Mr. Sullivan should take the Chair.

He confessed he thought it of material consequence that these important facts, which bore so directly upon the difficulties of accomplishing the object which the Meeting had in view, should be considered in the formation of the Resolutions, and he was, therefore, disposed to acquiesce in the suggestion that had been thrown out for the adjournment of the Meeting.

(The Chairman also alluded to the Peninsular Line of Steam Packets, to run weekly from Falmouth to Gibraltar, as a strong inducement for increased exertions on the part of the Indian community in the cause of Steam Communication.)

After a few words from Mr. A. D. Campbell,

The Chairman observed that it appeared to him to be of vital importance to the furtherance of the objects of the Meeting that there should be unanimity in its proceedings, and he was sorry to see from the publication of two separate sets of Resolutions, to be offered to the Meeting, that they were in the high road to collision. Mr. CATOR made some observations on the course To avoid this it had been suggested to propose that the which had been followed in Calcutta, where the ResoMeeting should be adjourned, and that the Requisi-lutions and Petitions were published 15 days before the tionists to the Meeting should be requested to draw up public meeting. a series of Resolutions for the consideration of a Meeting to be assembled on a future day. He confessed that this Mr. NORTON wished to say a few words, in the way suggestion met his approval; for independent of the of business, and suggested that as time was slipping fast necessity of avoiding any thing like an appearance of away, it was very possible that their Petition might not conflict, it appeared to him that both sets of Resolutions arrive in England before the conclusion of the present were defective, inasmuch that they did not go in any Sessions of Parliament; he therefore recommended degree to meet the real difficulties which opposed the promptitude in their proceedings, more particularly as execution of the Resolutions of the Committee of the the Petitions to Parliament must be written on parchHouse of Commons, which declared it to be expedient ment, and signed by every individual petitioning, which that immediate measures should be taken for esta- would necessarily occupy a good deal of time. blishing a STEAM COMMUNICATION between India and England.

Mr. CATOR proposed that the Requisitionists for this Meeting should be requested to draw up a series of ReThe difficulties were of two kinds-financial and phy-solutions and Petitions grounded upon those Resolutions sical; the former of which appeared to him to be of a to both Houses of Parliament, to the Indian Board, and very formidable character, and he did not believe that to the Court of Directors for the purpose of effecting the any thing would be gained unless they could shew plau- establishment of a regular Steam Communication besible grounds, at least, for believing that the estimates tween India and England.

upon which the expense of effecting the undertaking

had been made were exaggerated, and that the profits

Mr. DARE moved as an amendment, that a Com

to be derived from had been underrated. It appeared mittee should be appointed by the Meeting for that purto him that there were not only plausible, but solid pose. grounds for offering both these propositions; and he had

Mr. A. D. CAMPBELL seconded the amendment and

The following Gentlemen were then unanimously appointed.

STEAM COMMITTEE.

Col. Waugh,
Mr. D. Elliot,
Mr. Line,
Major Crisp,
Mr. Ouchterlony, and
Mr. Barrow,

been led to this conclusion, partly from information which it was carried by a very large majority.
had recently been communicated to him that an es-
tablishment had been actually formed for regular Steam
Communication between Marseilles, Genoa, Naples and
Alexandria, and from the positive assertion of Mr.
Waghorn that rails were in actual preparation for a
road to be laid down by the Pasha of Egypt, between
Suez and Cairo. If there was any truth in these reports,
he could not but consider that they would very mate-
rially enhance the importance of the proposed Steam
Communication, and furnish, in a certain degree, the
means of meeting the charges of the establishment, for
it could not be but that an active commercial intercourse
would spring up between continental Europe and India,
and, with such facilities, the route by Suez and the
Red Sea would be much frequented by passengers.
He had also heard, from the best authority, that in the
essential article of fuel there had been a fall of price
which could not fail materially to affect the esti-

mates.

With respect to the physical difficulty of keeping up a communication by the Red Sea, during the whole

Hon. Mr. Sullivan,
Mr. J. Arbuthnot,
Mr. Dare,
Mr. Scott,
Mr. W. Ashton,
Mr. Ackworth,
*Mr. Norton,
Mr.Cator,

Mr.A. D. Campbell,

With power to add to their number.

Thanks were voted to the Chairman and the Meeting

separated.

The Meeting was adjourned until Saturday the 26th instant, unless called sooner together by requisition from the Chairman, through the Sheriff.-Madras Gazette.

year, the had been informed by Captain Dalrymple, | Mr. Norton subsequently requested that his name might be who had thoroughly considered the subject, that it was withdrawn.

R

ADJOURNED MADRAS STEAM MEETING.

The adjourned Meeting of the Inhabitants of Madras, | dia, to improve her people, to advance her general welto take into consideration the propriety of Petitioning fare, (and to maintain the integrity of the Empire,) as Parliament, and pursuing such other measures as might being brought into the closest possible contact with Bribe thought necessary for the attainment of Steam Com-tain. munication with England, via the Red Sea, took place on Saturday, the 26th March, at the College Hall, at 11 o'clock. We were much gratified to observe among the Members the Honorable the Chief Justice, and our Venerable and excellent Diocesan.

Mr. CHAMIFR seconded the Resolution and it was carried unanimously.

It was proposed by Colonel WAUGH, and Seconded by Mr. DARE and carried unanimously.

II. That it appears no effectual measures have yet been taken for the regular establishment of steam communication to and from India by the Red Sea, notwithstanding the Resolution of the Select Committee of the House of Commons of the 14th July, 1834, viz.

"5th-That it is the opinion of this Committee, 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.

whatever line the communication be established, the net "6th-That it is the opinion of this Committee, that by 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 Red Sea on the other, to the Mediterranean.”

The Honorable Mr. SULLIVAN, as Chairman, stated that the Committee had fulfiled the instructions of the former Meeting, by drawing up a series of Resolutions which would be formally submitted to the Meeting. Sir R. COMYN in rising to move the first Resolution, said I beg to take this opportunity of expressing the regret "4th-That it is the opinon of this Commttee, that the I feel, that a notion should have been entertained in any experiments which have been made have been attended quarter, that I was indifferent to the project of a regular with very great expense, but that from the evidence beSteam Communication between India and Great Bri-fore the Committee, it appears that, by propor arrangetain. Now, Sir, though I am not so vain as to suppose, ments the expense may be materially reduced, and that that my individual example could either promote or reunder that impression, it is expedient that measures tard this great and important measure, yet I am, for my should be immediately taken for the regular establishown sake, desirous of removing the impression, (if it ment of Steam Communication from India by the Red have been entertained by any one) that I am at all blind Sea. to the immense advantages which must certainly result from its accomplishment. If I have hitherto appeared backward in taking part in the proposed measures, it is, because those measures did not seem to me, to place this Presidency in the independent position in which she ought to stand. It was in this view that I declined setting my name to the late requisition, because I understood that the proposed object was, to unite our efforts with those of the Inhabitants of Calcutta, and that we were to have a voyage from Calcutta to Great Britain, and from Great Britain direct to Calcutta, the inevitable consequence of which would be carried to the sister Predency, and we should be dependent upon the Post Office there for the transmission of them, long after they had been carried past our own port. Now, I repeat, Mr. W. ASHTON proposed the 3d Resolution, and, that this is a position in which we ought not to place said he held in his hand a statement by which it appearourselves; and it was to this impression alone that my | ed that in 1834, coals had been purchased in Madras for hitherto apparent apathy is to be ascribed. But whether that impression were right or wrong, it is entirely dispelled by one of the Resolutions of this day, (the discussion of which it would be impertinent in me to anticipate because I think nothing can be fairer than the design of a common depôt in India, from which all the Presidencies may receive their packets, without any way interfering or clashing one with another. I have thought it necessary to say thus much, because if it were supposed by any one that I were hostile to the measure in general, I must appear guilty of something worse than inconsistency in coming forward to move a Resolution, which must be considered as the very foundation stone of the fabric about to be constructed. I do most cordially feel, that this measure of effecting a more easy, regular, and rapid communication between India and England, must be productive of the most beneficial results, not only to this, but to the mother country; and so I am convinced it will be felt at home, when our fellow countrymen shall have shaken off the lamentable indifference which seems to prevail in England, as to every thing that belongs to this great empire. I ought, perhaps, Sir, to apologize to this Meeting for thus detaining them with what concerns myself rather than the general question; upon that most important measure I apprehend no difference of opinion can prevail; and therefore without further preface, I beg leave to move the

first Resolution.

I. That it is the opinion of this Meeting that nothing will so materially tend to develope the resources of In

the Forbes at Rupees 7-7-5 per ton-in April the same year 27-6-2-again 27-6-2 Company's Burdwan coal,was which hardly a fair criterion, 46 rupees-and afterwards 48-2-5. Also that English coal had been purchased in large quantities at 15 rupees, and again out of the Enmore for 12 Rs. And he was convinced that if there were a market here ships coming from England would bring coals as ballast.

III. That it is the opinion of this Meeting that the expectation expressed in the IV. Resolution of the Select Committee of the House of Commons has been justified; inasmuch as it is now ascertained that owing to the low price of coals in India, (which is likely to continue) the reduction in the expenditure of fuel, and other advantages resulting from improvements in Steam Machinery; the expenses of Steam Communication between England and India will fall far below the estimates which were framed in 1834.

Mr. BARROW seconded the resolution, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. CATOR after declaring his opinion that the Resolution was just, equitable and beneficial, and that its principle had been approved and acted upon, and was now at this moment in operation in every civilized state, as well in the old Governments in Europe, as in the new Republics of America, not omitting the United Statesproceeded to explain why he thought it expedient that the Meeting should adopt it. He said it was quite clear that the obstacle that had hitherto prevented the

carrying into effeet the Resolutions of the House of advert to his reasons for coming thus prominently forward Commons was the want of a revenue to yield a return, in support of a measure, which had been a good deal not only for the large first outlay, but for the large an- denounced, but which he nevertheless thought to be denual loss, which the Estimates before the House of Com- serving of support on the strongest of all grounds, those mons in 1834 exhibited. It was not enough for this of substantial justice. Meeting or for the whole of India to be satisfied, that the Steam Communication between the two countries would yield a profit, we must adapt our course to the ings, that the sole obstacle to the accomplishment Having adopted as the basis of our present proceedviews, the prejudices, the errors-if you please-of those hitherto of a regular Steam Communication was the of whom we asked the boon, and who had it in expense; and having undertaken to meet that difficulty, their power to grant or to withhold it. The House he thought it was quite incumbent on them, if they of Commons and the East India Company had with wished to render their principle of any practical value, great care, had estimates formed whereon they acted in to suggest a means to the end, and not to rest satisfied 1834, and to those in every subsequent consideration of with merely pointing out possible reductions in the estithe same subject they would appeal. The Committee mates; for however practicable such reductions might appointed the other day had accordingly applied prove, it was quite certain that in the first instance, the themselves to the consideration of the estimates, and outlay would be out of all proportion to the returns ; in one very considerable item, viz. that of coals, the then with regard to those general considerations of adprice of them, had by return from the Merchants of vantage adverted to in the first Resolution, it was equally Madras, shown that it was greatly overrated. Further, clear, that however powerful such arguments might apthere had been in the consumption of fuel, a very great pear to the Meeting, they had not proved so convincing reduction owing to the improvements in machinery to the minds of the East India Directors, and there was since 1834-and by the improvements, which every day no reason to suppose that they would prove more sucpresented to the public, no doubt, still greater reduc- cessful in future; if therefore the community were really tions in the quantity of fuel might be effected; but still in earnest in their present efforts, they must be prepared the most sanguine could not anticipate, that the Esti- to afford proof of that earnestness by consenting to make mates would so far be cut down, as to make the return the proposed sacrifice, little commensurate as it was to the cover the expense. It was therefore necessary to con-advantages they were seeking to attain. sider how the remaining expense could be defrayed. It out recurring to the arguments so ably stated by his Besides withwas proposed by the Committee that it should be met learned friend who moved the Resolution, he would by the two classes of persons to be benefitted by the merely ask whether it was just and reasonable that the Establishment of Steam Communication. These two British community who were to derive a direct and cerclasses were, the people at large, who would be bene-tain advantage from the undertaking, should wish to fitted in the manner pointed out by the 1st Resolution throw the whole expense on the Natives of this country, which this Meeting had adopted-and those persons to whom the benefits, to say the least, must be remote. of the State who engrossed the correspondence. The

people at large would pay their share by having it As regards the measure itself, Mr. A. could not concharged upon the revenues of the State generally.ceive how any valid objection could be raised against it, The correspondents would, the Resolution in question or how it would be possible to devise a fairer or more submitted, have to pay their proportion by a direct charge legitimate mode of imposing a tax for the professed obupon letters, and nothing did seem more equitable or ject, and admitting for the sake of argument that some fair :-much had been said about the price of the letter inconvenience would be experienced from the enactment, postage; but as it was for the purpose of raising a rehe would ask any gentleman present if he would not venue it was quiet clear that in order to be productive willingly submit to the inconvenience, rather than be deit must be at the lowest possible rate. return gives 3 lacs of letters annually at one rupee The Calcutta Prived of the object. He did not however, consider that the enactment would prove an inconvenience, for he felt per letter. Taken indiscriminately at double and single, confident that when a regular monthly communication they would yield 3 lacks of Rupees. But it would not was established by steam, people would as a matter of be an unfair estimate to suppose that if these 3 lacs of course resort to that mode of sending letters, just as letters were classified, the outturn to yield 3 lacs of much as parties, engaged in correspondence with the rupees, would give the small sum of 8 annas for every West Indies, adopted the regular line of monthly packsingle letter, a sum which every Cadet would gladly ets in preference to trading ships, while the effect of the pay; and which was so small, that it was quite clear proposition would be most beneficial, in accomplishing no one would be prejudiced by the result of the Resolution the desired object. if carried into effect; which would not be that the wealthy would be benefitted at the expense of the poor, but that every Correspondent how low soever his means Resolution, was one, which ought to have more weight The last argument he should use in support of the were, would participate in the most rapid conveyance with those gentlemen who were not in the Company's at the least possible expense. To tax the ryuts any Service, than with those who were; for while the intermore was impossible-it would be unjust to the services ests of the latter only would be effected, feelings of anoto impose upon them the risk of further reductions, ther and better kind would be appealed to in the case of and no one would surely wish to hazard the introduc- the former; he alluded to an opinion which had been tion into India of the assessed or any other direct taxes which were felt to be so odious in England, but from which the whole European population of this Empire are happily free.

expressed, and he feared with some probability of truth, that if the parties themselves were not disposed to supply the means of attaining an object they were applying for with so much earnestness, the Court of Directors IV. As resolved by the Committee that for the pur-sures of retrenchment which were always at their comwould find the means by resorting anew to those meapose of covering a portion of the charge of the Steam mand, and he asked his commercial friends around him Establishment between India and England, legislative whether they would consent, by any hesitation in adoptenactments ought to be passed prohibiting, subject to ing the present Resolution, to expose their friends in the certain limitations for the purposes of trade, the service of Government to risk a hazard, and this too in transmission of letters and parcels below a certain return for the assistance which they were affording, as weight, by any sailing vessel, so soon steam packets shall be established. as monthly much by their talents as their influence, in carrying a Mr. ARBUTHNOT in seconding the Resolution said, tile interests than to their own. measure confessedly of more importance to the mercanhe would, with the permission of the Meeting, shortly only say, that he most cordially seconded the Resolution. In conclusion he would

Mr. A. D. CAMPBELL observed, that he very reluc- | India should be allowed to propose their own taxes, the tantly ros to disturb the unanimity which had hitherto Resolution appeared to him, in the present state of our prevailed, by offering any opposition to this, the 4th constitution in this respect, of a novel and questionable Resolution. But his name having appeared in some nature. If the voluntary payment for passages and of the newspapers without his privity along with others, postages should not cover the expense to be incurred; as having dissented from it, in the Committee, he deemed it would be most becoming to leave the best and just himself bound to explain to the Inhabitants of Madras, mode of realizing it to the wisdom of the legislature in who had placed him in the Committee, the grounds upon India and Britain who cannot but be well aware that which he felt himself unable there to join in it; and he the European community have on every occasion been now rose without concert with any one, to lay before most forward in evincing their anxiety to contribute to them his individual opinions on this subject. He would it their full share. be the last man to advocate any transfer of the burden, Mr. NORTON rose to second the amendment, and which the expense of Steam Communication with the stated that he had not communicated his ideas on the mother country would necessarily impose, from our subject of the Meeting to a single individual. He selves and others who more immediately would benefit thought it very desirable that there should, if possible, by it to those whom it affected more remotely, the over-be unanimity in their proceedings-but it was evident taxed ryuts of India. His object invariably had been by the talented observations which they had just heard the reverse. He heartily concurred in all that his that such could not be the case on the present occasion. man, who first addressed them, on that Resolution, he In spite of the powerful arguments of the learned gentlethought it was a violation of all the sound commercial

tionable inconsistent-and unconstitutional.

learned friend who moved this Resolution had said on that head, but he thought that the end in view might be obtained by other means, than was contemplated in this Resolution which appeared to him unnecessary-objec-principles which had been recognized during the last 150 years they were asked to further the interests of Unnessary, because he was strongly impressed with the trade by compulsory enactments on that_trade_itself—if conviction that the desire to promote more frequent com-the Court of Directors are opposed to Steam Communimunication with the mother country, by means of Steam cation, whether on good or bad grounds, they could navigation, was so universal, and its advantages so ob- not have a better argument in their favour than the vious, that the community would voluntarily give it the fact that the community of Madras are so benighted, preference, both as to letters and passengers, over sailing and ignorant of the real principles of trade, that they vessels; the very numerous attendance that day was the will not resort to Steam Communication without combest proof of the great interest taken in this object, and pulsory enactments. The learned Advocate then traced it would be adding to the statute books a most uncalled the rise of free trade, from Sir Josiah Child in 1670 for law to compel, by penalties, that to which self in- to Lord Glenelg-whom they had most unhappily choterest sufficiently prompted. If indeed the sums paid sen to present their petition in the House of Lords, voluntarily, for postage and passengers, did not suffice praying for another Legislative enactment-and illus to meet the expense, it would be time enough to consider trated his remarks by a fable of the old Fox. the expediency of the measure involved in this Resolu[The Advocate-General not having had time to favor tion-which in the contrary event was most unnecessary us with a sketch of his Speech, we are indebted for this and, so far as he was aware, the impression here is universal, that whatever outlay may at first be incurred, the voluntary returns in postage and passage money is likely to render Steam navigation between India and Britain a good and profitable investment of capital instead of hazardous, and still less a loosing speculation.

On the objectionable nature of the Resolution he need hardly dwell, after the eloquent illustration its mover had given of the revolting feelings of mankind against compulsory laws in general when attended by the infraction of liberty. He would on this head merely add, that when the necessity, which alone can justify them, is absent their enactment is without excuse-and the postage established in India is an instance that self-interest alone is sufficient to induce the people voluntarily to remunerate the Government, for extra expense incurred in the improvement of communication, so long as the charge is confined to moderate bounds, and does not drive them into less advantageous channels.

report of it to the Madras Gazette of Saturday.]

Captain DALRYMPLE said he had listened to the speech of the learned Advocate-General with great attention, and with an anxions hope, that his learned friend would propose a substitute for the letter tax, which he condemned; but so far from pointing out any other source of revenue to meet the large outlay, whenever the learned gentleman come to that point, he went off into general declamation upon the principles of political economy and Free Trade. Now it ought to be borne in mind, that as far as the Resolutions of the House of Commons went, the House had done every thing that could be desired, still Steam came not to our shores, and those persons who had applied their minds to a consideration of this subject, were compelled to confess, that the difficulty of carrying into effective operation the Resolutions of the House, was a financial difficulty. In attempting to grapple with this part of the question the framers of the Resolution most carefully But what struck him most forcibly was the inconsis- considered the different sources from which a return tency of the proposed Resolution-what, he would ask, could be expected, and unwilling to go to Parliament or would be thought of the public spirit, and universal inter-the Court, with a string of Resolutions merely expresest which have been evinced in India in favour of Steam sive of disappointment, it became their duty to come navigation with the mother country, if we tell the autho- forward with a distinct and special proposal, for the purrities, to whom we now propose to apply to forward it, pose of endeavouring to meet the only obstacle, which that, except by a compulsory law, even purses shall be appeared to them to delay the establishment of Steam shut against the continuance of its support? If left Communication with England. With this view the 4th perfectly unfettered, Steam navigation by its own ad-Resolution was framed, and the learned gentleman who vantages, will purchase a free and a liberal support from them whom it benefits, and the purse given will be proportioned to the benefits conferred, requiring no embargo against the conveyance of letters by sailing ships; -but rising, as it must do, with the increase of the mutual advantages it will ensure.

Finally, he would observe, that although no one would more gladly hail the day when the people of

moved it, gave substantial reasons for its justice and expediency. Captain D. had not heard one syllable from his Honorable friend Mr. A. D. Campbell or from the learned Advocate-General which either disapproved the arguments of the learned mover, or weakened their force; and he, Capt. D., must say, that considering the talents of his learned friend, and the consideration he had given to this particular subject, he did look for some distinct proposal on his part, which would supply the

« PreviousContinue »