of manufactures and manufacturers, the climate and seasons of Mysore; and lastly, the general condition of the inhabitants with respect to food, clothing and habitations, as well as the subdivision of castes and tribes prevalent among them. It was stated by his Lordship that the information expected to result from this investigation, might not only prove advantageous to Mysore itself, but that a comparison with the situation of other parts of the Company's territories in those particulars might eventually lead to improvements in agriculture there also, and open channels of commerce hitherto unexplored.

The result of the Rev. Dr. Buchanan's researches were published in 1807, in a work of which the following is the title, which indicates the whole scope of the publication:-"A journey from Madras, through the countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar, performed under the orders of the Most Noble the Marquess of Wellesley, Governor-General of India, for the express purpose of investigating the state of agriculture, arts, and commerce; the religion, manners and customs; the history, natural and civil; and the antiquities in the dominions of the Rajah of Mysore, and the countries acquired by the Honourable East India Company in the late and former wars from Tippoo Sultaun.”

The importance to Great Britain of promoting the growth of cotton in British India had not escaped the sagacious mind of the Marquess Wellesley. He was anxious to obtain the fullest information respecting the capabilities of the soil, the extent to which the cultivation of the cotton plant was carried in Mysore and other parts of the Indian peninsula, the mode

of culture, preparation, &c. ; in the hope that England would ultimately derive a large supply of cotton from her Asiatic dominions. Nearly half a century has elapsed since the Marquess Wellesley directed Dr. Francis Buchanan's attention to this subject, and still little has been done to extend the growth of cotton in British India. England, it has been stated, pays to the United States of America, for cotton, the enormous sum of fifteen millions sterling every year. Every man who wishes well to his country and to the human kind, must desire to see friendly and fraternal intercourse

"Free as the winds and chainless as the sea'

maintained between Great Britain and the Anglo-Saxon Republic in the New World; but it cannot be sound policy to allow ourselves to be utterly dependant upon a foreign state for an essential article, which our own territories are unquestionably capable of producing. Beside, the neglect of the cotton plant in India indirectly compels the English nation to prop up the institution of slavery in America," the vilest that ever saw the sun."*

* Rev. John Wesley's words on his death-bed."

CHAPTER XXI.

Free Trade. Observations on the General Question.-Lord Wellesley's Measures respecting the Trade of India. — Hostility excited against him.-Soundness of his View.-Adam Smith's Theories.-The Controversies ended in 1832.-Statement of the Question of the Private Trade of India, by Mr. Udny, in a Minute to Marquess Wellesley.— His Lordship's Anxiety on the Subject.-Letter to Lord Castlereagh respecting Mr. Udny and the Question of Private Trade.

FREEDOM is the life of trade; monopoly its bane. These propositions, if viewed as abstract questions by men unswayed by party prepossessions, or the bias of self-interest, guided solely by the light of reason and the principles of justice, would be regarded as economical axioms, the truth of which was self-evident. It was intended by the Great Author of our being, that nations should freely exchange their commodities with each other; the liberty of commerce is based upon the law of nature. England does not produce cotton, sugar, tea, oranges, &c.; but it is peculiarly adapted by its geographical position, its mineral wealth, its geological formation, and the habits of its population, to produce manufactured articles better and cheaper than the countries where those commodities grow; we supply our wants by means of exchange, traffic, commerce; nature itself suggests intercourse between kingdoms; it has prepared the great deep as a highway for

trade; for though the sea* seems to keep different countries separate, it in reality facilitates the intercourse of man and man, and enables us to transfer the most bulky articles from one hemisphere to another! Any interference with the liberty of trading either by restrictions in peace or blockades in time of hostilities, are abnegations of the common rights of mankind, and the onus probandi must always rest on those who place fetters upon the freedom of action to justify such an infraction of inherent rights, and such restraints on natural liberty. However prepossessed a man may be in favour of existing systems, it is probable that he would not withhold his assent from a broad proposition for the establishment of one uniform, comprehensive, and general system of unfettered trade among all the nations of the earth. He sees a restrictive system in the adjoining kingdom; he does not think it fair to give that country an advantage it will not reciprocate; he therefore retaliates by a restrictive tariff. But if it were possible to begin de novo, and arrange in a convention of all the maritime and commercial nations under heaven one grand system of trade, which should be constructed on the most rational principles,-if he had no fears for existing interests, that grew up under a gigantic blockade that encircled the globe, would he ask for prohibitions, monopolies, or protections?—

"If there were only land between this and America, we should have no cotton; for the carriage of it by land would cost more than it is worth. Think how many horses would be wanted to draw such a load as comes in one ship; and they must eat and rest on their journey. But the winds are the horses which carry the ship along; and they cost us nothing but to spread a sail."-Archbishop Whately.

"No! let all lands exchange with all
The good which freights this foodful ball!
Then will the strife of millions cease;

For Free Exchange is Peace! is Peace!"

The controversies in which the Marquess Wellesley found himself involved by his measures respecting the trade of India, have lost much of their interest since the abolition of the East India Company's monopolies, and the general recognition, in our own day, of the principles of commercial liberty; but it cannot be uninstructive to mark the career of the cause of free trade which then commenced a struggle with monopoly, which issued in the victory of 1832, and prepared the public mind for subsequent economical changes of the same liberal character. The great work of Adam Smith* was attracting attention about the time when Lord Wellesley entered upon public life; and there can be no doubt that his Lordship's views were influenced by the lucid reasonings and demonstrations of that admirable writer. Lord Wellesley proposed a very moderate reform of the restrictive system of the East India Company; but he was at once assailed with every species of obloquy, and accused of designs against the very existence of the Company;-designs which it may here be stated, once for all, his Lordship never had harboured. The nature of the Governor-General's plans will be understood by the following minute drawn up by the Honourable G. Udny, a member of the council, at the request of his Excellency, on the 15th of September, 1800:

"Wealth of Nations;" 1784.