Bengal, the coast, and Bombay, cotton, opium, iron, and tobacco. Junk Ceylon.---Piece goods, and opium. Iringano, Java, Bornea, Celebes, and Molucces.---Iron, steck, opium, Bengal piece goods, blue cloth, Europe course, red, blue, and green cloths, and coarse cutlery. China.---Opium, cotton, rattans, beetle-nat, pepper, birdsnests, sandal wood, shark fins, Sumatra camphire, tin, beache de mer, cutch and sepuh. Bengal coast.-Pepper, tin, beetle-nut, cut and chickney, rattans, camphire, gold dust, &c. In addition to the quantity of pepper at present annually exported from this port, almost any number of tons could be procured for the London market, should it ever be deemed advisable to send it home on account of the honourable company; and we may safely venture to assert, that the pepper will be of as fine quality as any ever procured; and the pepper produced on the Island is considered cleaner than that of the surrounding countries; and in general, in equal measure, it is heavier. In the year 1802, a thousand tons of 20 cwt. were sent from the island to Europe, without having the slightest effect on the surrounding markets. That, and indeed, a much larger quantity, could easily be procured, without any risk of raising the price, viz. 50l. steri. per ton of 20 cwt. We shall close our extracts, with the manner of cultivating the pepper vine, the result of personal experience of a cultivator, possessed of large plantations. The vines are propagated from either slips or cuttings, and planted in rows, at the distance of six or sight feet, varying in this respect according to the judgment of the cultivator. The supporter of the vine is usually planted at the same time, or very soon after the vine. There are several sorts of supporters, the deedap and moncooda trees, are, however, generally preferred; the former, which is propagated from cuttings, is esteemed the best, its spreading branches and thick foliage affording more shelter to the vine than the latter; but the uncertainty attending the tearing of it in many soils, causes the moncooda, which is raised from the seed without difficulty, to be more commonly used, particularly since the improvement introduced in training it with three or four perpendicular branches, instead of one, which was the usual mode. This is done by cutting off the leader, when the plant is between four and five months old; this causes it to throw out shoots, three or four of which, only, are suffered to remain, and trained in a perpendicular manner. When the vine is first planted, it is covered with a branch of the tree, called peach something like the nepa, to protect it against the effects of the sun, until it has taken root, and is fit to be brought to the stick; this happens usually six weeks after planting; when a stick about three inches circumference, and seven or eight feet long, is planted near it, to which it soon (being at first slightly attached to it by a string) creeps up towards the top. In eleven or twelve months the vine generally begins to shew blossoms, at which period it may have attained the height of six feet; it is then fit for turning down; this is done by loosening the vine from the stick, and removing that entirely; the leaves are slipped off the stem, leaving only a small tuft tuft at the top; a pit is then dug close to the roots, about twenty inches diameter, and nearly the same depth; at the bottom of which the stem of the vine is coiled horizontally, bringing the top or tuft, before mentioned, to the permanent supporter, already planted for that purpose, to which it is fastened by a string; the pit is then filled, covering the stem in that position. can only judge, from information, how long the vine will continue bearing. From intelligent Chinese who have lived at Iringano, and other places on the eastern side of the Malay peninsula, we learn that it continues in full vigour to the age of fifteen years, and then gradually declines, still however, yielding fruit, if properly attended to, to the age of twenty five or thirty years. This opinion differs The increasing size of the vine, very materially from that enterin a short time after the above tained by the original cultivators operation has been performed, on the island, who supposed that shews that roots are springing the vine would cease bearing at abundantly from the stem; the sixteen years; there is, however, whole skill of the cultivator is now every reason to suppose that the shewn by the manner in which he mean of the two opinions will trains the vine; as this naturally prove nearly correct: a garden, takes a perpendicular direction, eleven years old, years old, situated on his care is to prevent it ascending Songhy Cluan, containing 3,000 too rapidly, and which, if not plants only, has lately been let for checked, it certainly will do. This 3 years, for seventy pieuls of pepwas an error the majority of pepper per per. annum, which makes cach planters fell into at the first set- plant average 22 catties; a strong tlement of the island, when the argument of the vine's bearing cultivation of this valuable plant longer than sixteen years; as did was not so well understood as at it then cease giving fruit entirely, present. The top of the vine, the gradual decrease would certherefore, and a length of some tainly have commenced at eleven feet below it, is consequently not years: but it has been before allowed to adhere to the supporter, observed, that the vine in full but being pendent and inclining to vigour will not average more than the ground, throws out side shoots, 2 by which it increases in bulk proportionably to its height. Although the blossoms on the vine, thus turned down, come to maturity, the produce, even of the third year, is trifling; averaging, perhaps, in a large plantation, about one eighth of a catty; from the third to the fourth half a cattay `increasing half a catty a year, until it will average 2 or 2 catties; at which time the vine may be considered to be in full vigour. As there are not many plantations on the island much above ten years old, we catties per plant. The renter of this garden is thought by his countrymen, the Chinese, to have made a very good bargain. There are few soils on this Island unfavourable to the vine: the dark mould, mixed with gravel, is generally preferred, it thrives in high and low situations; best in the latter, if sufficiently raised to prevent the water, in the heavy rains, from setting about the roots; if they were covered with water six or eight days, the vine would infallibly be killed. A plantation, if properly taken care of, should be be kept perfectly free from weeds and grass; and for the first five or six years, the earth should be regularly turned twice a year; after that period once turning will be sufficient. Four Coolies will take care of 10,000 plants, if properly attended to; they must, however, be allowed a cook; but they will require additional hands while the crop is gathering; the number will, of course, depend upon the fertility of the vines. The vine blossoms twice a year, after the commencement of the rains in the setting in of the S. W. Monsoon, in April and May and when they cease in December; the former crop is gathered the latter end of December, January, and February; the latter in May, June, and July. The quality of the pepper depends, in a great measure, upon the care taken in the gathering and drying. The pepper, when plucked before it is completely ripe, diminishes in size and weight, so much as frequently, to occasion a difference of upwards of 30 per cent. between what is gathered in this state, and that which attains its full maturity. A pecul of pepper, if allowed to remain on the vine till perfectly ripe, will yield from 35 to 36 catties, when dry. The vine seldom fails of shewing much blossom in gardens which are properly taken care of; but it is subject to be blighted, even after the fruit has attained some size, when the season proves either unusually hot or dry;-when this happens, considerable quantities of pepper will drop off ;---a few hours rain soon puts a stop to it. The pepper of this island, when gathered in a proper state, and carefully dried, is esteemed equal in taste, weight, and size, to that of any place whatever, and superior to most. European cultivators make their plantations by contract; the usual price is 225 dollars per thousand. (1) This includes every expense of tools, houses, digging wells, and clearing the ground, and every other item, the price of the young plant excepted. The pepper plant was first introduced into the island from Acheen, by the then captain China Che Kay, under the patronage of Mr. Light, who advanced him money for that purpose; this was about the year 1790. (1) Covering about three English acres, at eight square feet to each plant. Considerations Considerations on the Trade with India, and the policy of continuing the Company's monopoly. 4to. pp. 160. London, Cadell and Davies. The love of gain is in an increased ratio to the means of acquisition; and every circumstance that holds out a flattering hope to the gratification of sordid interest, is grasped at with an avidity equal to the stimulus of the first mover: those obstacles which limit its pursuit are treated with intemperance. Fancy paints as disappointment describes, and the production exhibits all the sombre colouring of impassioned discontent. Should an individual be the object of dissatisfaction, no language is withheld, nor artifice left untried, in order to remove the offensive party; but if government, or a public body, counteract a favourite pursuit for the unlimited acquisition of wealth, the cry of public liberty is the weapon used to remove the obnoxious restriction. pen, The work now under consideration is a fierce, intemperate attack on the East India Company; the writer appears to us to have taken up the dissatisfied that the Company should reap, unrivalled, the rich Asiatic harvest; and, no doubt, wishes to share in what he conceives to be "the golden shower." In discussing a question of such importance, and which cannot be treated with too much coolness and precision, the use of opprobrium, and marked irony, should never be indulged. The Company are charged, sans ceremonie, with having done every thing they should not have done, and being every thing they should not be; in short, that they are useless, prodigal, mischievous, malignant, and dictatorial; and that the institution itself is the bane of the country. Much of the work is taken up in observations on the third report of the select committee, on the private trade with India; and the author, though so' prodigal of broad assertion himself, reprobates the report as being dictatorial and improper. That report was made on the principle generally admitted,"The necessity of maintaining, unimpaired, the exclusive commerce of India in the hands of the Company.” If it is dictatorial language to quote the opinions of others in support of their position, to call in the name of suffering humanity to prevent a wanton waste of the lives of the unfortunate Lascars, employed in navigating private shipping in the East to Europe, and giving the most unquestionable proofs of that waste, then is their language dictatorial; but the charge cannot be supported on any other ground. The British East India Company, taken in all its relations, has attained an importance to which no trading company, in any age or country, ever arrived; the merits, therefore, of that institution must be tried, not on the positions of speculative political economists alone, but also on our experience of its consequences on the prosperity and political importance of our country. We have here an uninteresting account of the origin and history of the Company; arguments are deduced from its former venality and corruption, in support of the necessity there is of doing away the Company's charter, and opening the trade to all British British subjects. The different laws passed since the year 1792, for the guidance of the Company, have removed the apprehension that might be entertained of its former corruption; we should, therefor in appreciating the expediency of continuing the Company, take into consideration the effects at present experienced from it, as an engine of corruption in the hands of the Minister, and what it would be in case the trade was open, the Company's restrictions removed, and the whole weight of India influence vested in the executiye for the time being. We have no hesitation in asserting, that if ever we have an executive that will aim at rendering its authority independent of the people, that the modification, perhaps the abolition, of the Company altogether, will be a favourite project with its advisers. There is much general assertion as to the opinions of others on opening the trade with India, some of which we shall contrast with extracts from the work, page 90. "Their application (meaning the private traders) was approved by Mr. Dundas, by Lord Wellesley, nay, by all the governors who have presided over the Company's affairs in India; and Lord Wellesley has been more than once compelled to allow ships to be taken up in India, to answer the pressing exigencies of commerce." If the approval had been to the extent as plain and unreserved as they are stated, the authority would, no doubt, have its due weight; but we shall shew, by extracts from official correspondence, that they are in direct opposition to opening the trade to the East generally, or, indeed, of infringing the just rights of the Company. Mr. Dundas, in a letter to the Chairman of the Court of Directors, 21st March, 1801, (see this work, vol. iii. State Papers, p. 46.) has this remarkable passage: "We are both, strenuously maintaining, that the preservation of the monopoly of the East India Company is essentially requisite for the security of every important interest connected with our Indian empire ; and so deeply am I impressed with the truth of that proposition, I am prepared explicitly to declare, that, although the first formation of our East India company proceeded upon purely commercial considerations, the magnitude and importance to which the East India Company has progressively advanced, is now so interwoven with the political interests of the empire, as to create upon my mind a firm conviction, that the maintenance of the monopoly of the East India Company is even more important to the political interests of the state, than it is to the commercial interests of the Company." Lord Wellesley, in a dispatch to the Court of Directors, (see vol. iii. p. 56 of this work.) "From whatever source the capital of the British trade in India might be derived, the goods would be obtained in Indi under the same wise, humane, and salutary regulations now enforced, with respect to the provision of every article of produce or manufacture in this country, either by the Company, or by private merchants; Great Britain would enjoy all the advantages of that trade which is now a source of increasing wealth and strength to foreign nations, and which tends ultimately to introduce foreign intrigue, to establish foreign influ ence, and to aggrandize foreign power in India. It would be equally |