riod from thence, and from China
to England, (including the car-
goes which may have been lost on
the way home,) and with the In-
dian charges merchandize, not
inserted in the invoices, which the
Honourable Gentleman supposes
to be left out of view; and on the
other side, India is debited for the
proceeds of all the exports, stores,
and bullion received in India and
China, (not for any that
have been lost on the way out,)
and for the amount of bills drawn
from both countries on England,
within the same period, the result
of which account is this:

Total amount of cargoes
from India and China,
including Indian charges
and merchandize
Total amount of goods,
stores, and bullion sent

out, 25,279,808

Bills drawn from India

and China 18,074,029

Balance

Deduct further balance of political receipts and disbursements in England on account of the territory in India Remaining balance against "England or the commerce in 15 years only

may

46,973,820

43,353,837

£3,619,983

3,231,899

388,084

These statements, Sir, entirely "overturn the assertions of the Hothat the nourable Gentleman commerce has been carried on by a revenue capital, that it has occasioned loans to the extent of sixteen millions, and is therefore chargeable with the interest of those loans. But it may be said, that as the revenue accounts laid from time to time before parliament, shew on the whole a surplus in the last ten years, after defraying civil aud military charges and interest, where then could be the occasion for borrowing, unless to carry on the commerce? In answer to this, it is to be observed that there are a variety of disbursements not included under the head of charges on the reve nues. To enumerate all these exactly, would require an analysis of all the payments made in India for the period mentioned, which would be a work of labour and research, but from an ac count recently made up with care, though for want of time not carried into every minute particular, we are able to account withi two millions and a half, for an the receipts on whatever accou it in India, for the last ten years. nt

The amount of the receipts,

including surplus of reve-
nue, after defraying char-
ges, goods, stores, and
bullion imported from
England to India, bills
drawufiom India on Eng
land, and increase of debt
since 1793,(£11,500,000)

is

The disbursements are all advances for investiments and commercial charges

30,577,491

(including

With regard to the account of Stock by Computation, it does contain the result of the general receipts and issues of the company's affairs, and comprehends all their receipts from loans and profits, though they are not, and cannot be exhibited in detail, (it will be found agreeably to what has been above stated,) as the honour able gentleman requires, from the nature of that account, which is an abstract account. Passing over other things mentioned by the hon. gentleman I shall only say a few words on what he has advanced respecting the carrying trade of India. He complains, that the Parsees, Arabs,and Americans, are engrossing that trade. Should we, Sir, desire to exclude the Parsees and Arabs from the trade of their own shores? They possessed that trade for centuries before us; and now they prosecute it to the benefit of our settlements, where only they can find protection, and where they and their riches must at length settle. With respect to the Americans, certainly the manner in which they conduct their Indian trade, deserves at a proper time serious consideration. The commercial treaty with them, gave them the privilege of a direct trade between America and our Indian possessions; not contented with that, they carry on a circuitous trade between India and Europe; this is an abuse which ought to be corrected.

Dr. LAURENCE felt it his duty to approve of every attempt to investigate the affairs of that country, as there must, sooner or later, be a period when those affairs would press themselves on the house

in a manner that could not be resisted. He thought it ominous, however, that no two persons in the house could be found to agree in their calculations on the esti mates laid before the house, or even in the figures that were sub, mitted to them. The revenue and commerce, he thought, were so nearly connected, that no infe rences could be drawn from them separately. One point in particular he thought pressed strongly on the house, and that was, whether they should rather leave the trade to others, than borrow to support it. A noble lord had mentioned 14 millions of debt as a very high sum, but even that they might be able to support, provided they had any security that it should not be much more. It was rather extraordinary, the learned member thought, that every thing should be represented in a very flourishing state, and yet that the debt at the same time should be so rapidly accumulating. He regretted the impossibility of moving for accounts to be made out in a certain way, which might render them more precise and intelligi ble.

Lord DUNLO supported the statement, and could have wished that the honourable gentleman who undertook to arraign it, had paid a little more deference to candour and to accuracy.

Lord CASTLEREAGH stated, that the commerce of India had sustained itself without any aid from the revenue, and that the commerce had derived no advantage from the wars in that country. The question was then carried, with an amendment by Sir W. Pulteney, that the accounts relating to China should be also distinguished from those of India.

Lord

Lord CASTLEREAGH also moved, "that there be laid before the house an account of the whole amount of the Company's debts and assets at home and abroad, including China, for the last 10 years, from April 1793, to 1803 and 1804, distinguishing such as have been from 1803 to 1804."

After several observations from members who had engaged in the previous part of the debate, the motion the production of all the papers which the Noble Lord who opened the business had explained, was carried without a division.-Adjourned.

APPENDIX, No. I.-An Account, shewing the Estimated and Actual Revenues and Charges in India, with the Results, for Ten Years, from 1793-4 to 1802-3 distinguishing each Year. after deducting Payments on Account of Interest on Debts, and Supply to Bencoolen, &c.; exhibiting likewise, the Decrease or the Increase of the Debts,

1793-4

1791-5