nor appears to be immediately interested in, and in which the only competition to be encountered by the British merchant would be that of the foreign

trader.

Of this description may be considered the trade in tea and other articles between Canton and foreign Europe; the tea trade within the limits of the Company's charter, exclusive of the ports of the Chinese empire; and the trade between Canton and the western shores of North and South America.

The hopes entertained by merchants and others, who have the best means of information, of benefit to commerce from such an extension of its freedom, as well as the apprehensions, felt by persons of great experience in the direction of the affairs, and in the service of the East India Company, of the risk with which such an extension may be attended to their political and commercial interests, will be found fully stated in the evidence and documents contained in the Appendix to the Report.

On the one hand it is confidently stated, that the low rate of British freight, and other advantages possessed by the British merchantmen, would enable the British free trader to enter into an immediate and successful competition with those of other countries, and more particularly of the United States, by whom these branches of commerce have been carried on for some years past with every appearance of progressive increase and prosperity; that thus a portion of Europe might be supplied with tea by the British trader; that

which now takes place even from the British territories in American vessels, would be carried on by British shipping; and that at all events, that portion of the Eastern trade, which is carried on by the export of British manufactures in American vessels, would fall into the hands of the British merchant, with greater opportunities of extending it, afforded by a more direct intercourse; and on the other hand, it is stated to afford reasonable ground for alarm, that the seamen, who would be admitted under such circumstances to the port of Canton, might probably be of a character so different from that of the seamen employed on board the vessels of the United States, and be subject to a discipline so inferior to that which prevails on board of the larger description of vessels employed in the service of the East India Company, that disputes might take place and excesses be occasioned which might produce fatal consequences, by awaking the jealousy, or exciting the anger of the Chinese government.

It is also apprehended that the admission of new competitors into the market might lead to some deterioration in quality, or enhancement in the prices of teas, which are now regulated by arrangements made previously to their coming into the market between the servants of the Company and the Hong merchants, who enjoy a monopoly of the sale of that article.

To what extent such hopes or such apprehensions might be realized in the progress of a trade which has never yet been permitted to exist, it is difficult, per

haps, to form an accurate judgment. The most natural, and indeed the only means of forming one, must be derived from the circumstances and progress of the foreign independent trade, and more especially that of the vessels of the United States with the Port of Canton. That trade, although carried on in vessels of nearly the same description that would probably be employed by the British merchants, has continued to flourish without being productive of injurious consequences, either to trade in general, or that of the East India Company in particular. It is stated, that it would not have done so, had it not been for the protection and other advantages derived from the establishment of the Company's factory at Canton; but no satisfactory reason has been assigned, why the British free trader should not derive the same benefit from its countenance and protection, to which he certainly would not be less entitled. It must also be observed, that the circumstance which has principally been relied upon as constituting the difference between the character of the American and British seaman, namely, the former having a share in the profits of the voyage, applies only to that portion (not a large one) of their trade with Canton, which is employed in the export of furs from North America, and might be expected to apply in the same degree, as far as respects that portion of trade, to British vessels, if permitted to engage in it. It is admitted also, that all danger arising from disputes is greatly diminished, if not entirely removed, by the abolition of the custom which

permitted seamen to go, at particular periods, in large bodies, and under no control, to enjoy liberty days on shore at Canton.

In the course of the last few years, the imports of the United States into China (comparing an average of the years 1804-5, 1805-6, 1806-7, with an average of 1816-17, 1817-18, 1818-19, being the last years of which the Committee have received an account) appear nearly to have doubled. It is alleged, that the principal part of these imports consists of metals and other articles which the merchants in the United States have a greater facility in procuring than those of other countries; there can be no doubt, however, that articles of British manufacture are directly exported to China from this country by Americans; and it appears from an account procured at the Custom-house, that the declared value of those articles exported to countries within the limits of the East India Company's charter, in foreign vessels, and presumed to be chiefly to Canton, was in the last year to the amount of 178,358.; and it affords some indication of an increasing taste for British manufactures in China, that an opinion prevails that they are now introduced into the Northern parts of that empire, subject to all the delay and inconvenience of transport by land through Russia and the caravan trade, of which Kaiacta and its immediate neighbourhood is the great dépôt, and which appears recently to have experienced a considerable in

crease.

What portion of the teas and other articles exported from China in vessels of the United

States is destined for America, and what for European consumption, it is difficult precisely to determine. Although doubts have been expressed, whether the demand arising from the latter constitutes a permanent or a considerable portion of their trade, it may fairly be assumed, that a contrary opinion prevails in America, as it is stated in the report upon American currency, laid before the House of Representatives in 1819, "that the annual exports in American vessels from the United States and all other ports, to China and the East Indies, can hardly be estimated at more than 12,000,000 of dollars, and it cannot be doubted that the sales of East India articles in Europe exceed that amount. The value of merchandise from China and India consumed annually in the United States is probably equal to 5,000,000 dollars; and if this be so, the consumption of East India articles by the United States is paid for by the mere profit of the trade."

On the whole, the committee are inclined to the opinion, that regulations might be established at Canton, either by placing the free trade of Canton, under the superintendance of a consul, or investing the principal servants of the Company with some authority over the seamen engaged in the free trade, by which any apprehension or inconvenience might be removed; and without interfering with the monopoly of the British market enjoyed by the East India Company, the British merchant might be safely admitted to a participation in a trade which has proved safe, lucrative, and capable of great im

provement in the hands of the foreign trader.

In the event of these obstacles, however, being considered insurmountable, the maintenance of the establishment at Sincapore, to which vessels frequently come down from China in five days, or of any other free port as advantageously situated, might, considering the readiness of the Chinese to engage actively by every means, direct and indirect, in trade, prove highly advantageous to the interests of British commerce, if permitted to engage in the tea trade within the limits of the East India charter, exclusive of the ports of the Chinese empire.

The Committee cannot conceal from themselves, that in the present state of the law, no material benefit or facility to free trade in this quarter of the globe can be obtained, without infringing in a greater or less degree upon the privileges vested in the East India Company, until the year 1834, when their present charter expires, and that their consent may be required to any measures which may be submitted for that purpose to the consideration of parliament. At the same time, considering that no propositions here suggested are intended directly or indirectly to affect the monopoly enjoyed by the Company of the home market, to which the greatest importance is justly attached, but that their object is confined to procuring for the British free trader an access to markets entirely new, or the means of fair competition with the foreign merchant in those which already exist, the Committee feel themselves justi

fied in relying upon the liberality of the court of directors, upon the concern they have frequently evinced in the national prosperity, and the preference they may be expected to give to British over foreign commerce, for a disposition to meet, as far as may be consistent with their own essential interests, the wishes of their fellow-subjects, if sanctioned by the wisdom and authority of parliament.

At all events, there are some views of this subject to which the attention of parliament may be immediately directed; and the whole cannot fail to deserve its

consideration, previous to the renewal of the East India Company's charter.

The Committee have been informed, by the members of his majesty's government, who are members of the Committee, that a bill was prepared to be submitted to parliament in the course of last session, for extending the private trade between India and foreign Europe, and that the introduction of such a bill has only been postponed in consequence of the inquiries depending in parliament, connected with Asiatic commerce.

The SELECT COMMITTEE to whom the several Petitions which have been presented to the House in this session of Parliament, complaining of the depressed state of the Agriculture of the United Kingdom, were referred, to inquire into the allegations thereof, and to report their observations thereupon;-Have, pursuant to the order of the House, considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the following Report:

Your Committee do not think it necessary to preface the observations, which they have to make upon the important matters referred to them by the House, by a recapitulation of the numerous laws which have

been passed, at different periods, for regulating the trade in corn. The most material of those laws have been brought under the consideration of the House by the reports of former committees on this subject. It is, therefore, sufficient to remark, that by the salutary law of 1806, a free interchange in grain of every description, was established between Great Britain and Ireland; and that the trade in foreign corn is altogether governed by the provisions of the acts of 54 and 55 Geo. 3rd, by which were, for the first time, enacted;-first, a constantly free exportation from the United Kingdom, without reference to price, or without such exportation being either encouraged by any bounty, or restrained by any duty whatsoever;

-secondly, an absolute prohibition against the introduction of every description of foreign grain, meal, or flour, into the consumption of the United Kingdom, when the average prices, ascertained according to the mode established by former acts, are below certain specified rates;— thirdly, an unlimited freedom of importation, from all parts of the world, without any duty whatever, when the prices are above those specified rates.

Such being the state of the law which affects, so far as legislative interference can affect, the important interests brought under the consideration of the House by the numerous petitions presented in this session, your Committee proceeded, in the first instance, to inquire into the allegations of those petitions. It is with deep regret that they have to commence their Report by stating, that, in their judgment, the complaints of the petitioners are founded in fact, in so far as they represent that, at the present price of corn, the returns to the occupier of an arable farm, after allowing for the interest of his investment, are by no means adequate to the charges and outgoings; of which a considerable proportion can be paid only out of the capitals, and not from the profits of the tenantry.

This pressure upon the farmer, is stated by some of the witnesses to have materially affected the retail business of shop-keepers in country towns connected with the agricultural districts. But notwithstanding this diminution of demand in particular parts of the country, it appears, by official returns, that the total consumption of the principal articles sub

ject to duties of excise and customs have increased in the last yes, compared with the average of the three preceding years; and also, that the quantity of cotton wool used for home consumption, and of cloth manufactured in Yorkshire, was greater last year than in the year preceding, although the export of woollens in 1820 appears to have diminished. Your Committee have not the same authentic means of ascertaining the consumption of iron, but there appears every reason to believe that it has also increased.

The opinion of your Committee, in respect to the present pressure upon the tenantry, is formed upon the best documentary evidence which the nature of the case admits of, confirmed by the testimony of many respectable witnesses, as well occupiers of land as surveyors and land-agents; and it is further strengthened by a comparison of the difference between the existing price and the average price of the last ten years, the period within which most of the present engagements, affecting the tenant of the soil, may be supposed to have been contracted. If the present price could, under all the present circumstances, be remunerative, the average price of that period must have afforded an excessive profit; which does not appear probable, nor warranted by any facts. The only fair inference perhaps, to be drawn from such a comparison, and from the state of our agriculture during the last war, is, that for a considerable part of that period, the returns of farming capital somewhat exceeded the ordinary rate of profit, and