242 A. D. 1792. 



merchants That it is evident, that monopoly is nof neceflliry to thd 



fuccefsful profecntion of the trade with India, from the example of the 

 Portuguefe, who carried it on without any exclufivec harter above a cent- 

 ury, and ftill more from that of the North- American merchants, who, 

 with comparatively inconfiderable capitals, make fuccefsful voyages in 

 fhips of moderate fize, to every part of the Indian and Pacific oceans, 

 ' from which the Britifli merchants, with prior claims, fuperior fkill, 

 ' and irrefiftible capital, is by a falfe policy excluded.' — That, it being 

 the nature of trade to force channels for itfelf, when obflrucled in its 

 natural courfe, a clandefline trade is carried on between Great Britain 

 and India through America and Oflend, which cannot be checked with- 

 out having recourfe to fuch rigorous meafures as the occafion will not 



juftify That, confidering the difficulties attending the overthrow of a 



fidfe fyftem long eflablifhed, and having a due regard to the interefts of 

 the company, they wifh the public at large to fee the full extent of the 

 evil, and the legiflature to confider deliberately the means of removing 

 it confidently with true policy and juflice, for which purpofe they pro- 



pofe to prefent a petition to parliament That a committee correfpond 



with other towns to defire their co-operation, and that their refolutions 

 be made fufficiently public by means of the newfpapers. 



The committee inclofed a copy of thefe refolutions to every member 

 of the houfe of commons, and entered into correfpondence with com- 

 mittees, or principal perfons, in Manchefter, Birmingham, Exeter, Nor- 

 wich, Glafgow, Pafley, and mofl of the other trading towns in England 

 and Scotland. 



This fcheme, wherein the interefls of Great Britain and India were 

 involved, after attrading confiderable and I'ery general attention, was 

 blown afide by the political contefts which now agitated the country, 

 but more efpecially by the approach of war, and by the mercantile con- 

 vulfions in the enfuing winter and fpring, which gave a fevere fhock to 

 all perfons concerned in commerce, and in which the merchants of 

 Liverpool had their full fhare. 



Some reports drawn up by a feled committee, appointed by the di- 

 xedtors of the Eall-India company, in compliance with feverai requifi- 

 tions of the committee of the privy council for trade, though antecedent 

 in point of time *, might almofl be thought to have been compofed 

 for the purpofe of controverting the arguments, and contradicting the 

 aflertions, of the Liverpool refolutions. And as the commercial fads 

 contained in them are brought down as near as poffible to the time now 



* They were dated 1" and 7"' September I 791, participation of the commerce of India, when the 



29"' December 1791, and 11"" and 1 8"" January company's term /hould expire, which would be in 



1792, and laid before the commitcee of privy the year 1794. I hare endeavoured to comprefs 



council for trade, and before th* houfe of com- into a few pages the great variety of matter con- 



mons. It will appear afterwards, that government taincd in the three reports, which occupy twcnty- 



liad it in contemplation to admit individuals to a fix fheets of paper. 2 



