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The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

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352 ANCIENT HISTORY OF<br />

" That the fabrics <strong>of</strong> Bengal are charged with the following<br />

duties when they are used in Great Britain<br />

—<br />

" On manufactured <strong>cotton</strong>s, 10 per cent.<br />

" On manufactured <strong>silk</strong>s, 24 per cent.<br />

" Your Petitioners most humbly implore your Lordships' con-<br />

sideration <strong>of</strong> these circumstances, <strong>and</strong> they feel confident that<br />

no disposition exists in Engl<strong>and</strong> to shut the door against the<br />

industry <strong>of</strong> any part <strong>of</strong> the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> this great empire.<br />

" <strong>The</strong>y therefore pray to be admitted to the privilege <strong>of</strong> Brit-<br />

ish subjects, <strong>and</strong> humbly entreat your Lordships to allow the<br />

<strong>cotton</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>silk</strong> fabrics <strong>of</strong> Bengal to be used in Great Britain<br />

free <strong>of</strong> duty, or at the same rate which may be charged on<br />

British fabrics consumed in Bengal*.<br />

" Your Lordships must be aw^are <strong>of</strong> the immense advantages<br />

the British manufacturers derive from their skill in constiiicting<br />

<strong>and</strong> usmg machinery, which enables them to undersell the<br />

unscientific manufacturers <strong>of</strong> Bengal in their own country :<br />

<strong>and</strong>,<br />

although your Petitioners are not sanguine in expecting to<br />

derive any great advantage from having their prayer granted,<br />

their minds would feel gratified by such a manifestation <strong>of</strong> your<br />

Lordsliips' good will towards them ; <strong>and</strong> such an instance <strong>of</strong><br />

justice to the natives <strong>of</strong> India would not fail to endear the<br />

British government to them.<br />

" <strong>The</strong>y therefore confidently trust, that your Lordships'<br />

righteous consideration will be extended to them as British<br />

subjects, without exception <strong>of</strong> sect, country, or color.<br />

" And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."<br />

[Signed by 117 natives <strong>of</strong> high respectabihty.]<br />

Dacca, notwdthst<strong>and</strong>ing its present insignificance as <strong>com</strong>-<br />

pared wuth its former gr<strong>and</strong>eur, may nevertheless still be classed<br />

among second rate cities. It has a population <strong>of</strong> 150,000 in-<br />

habitants, which is nearly a third more than the city <strong>of</strong> Balti-<br />

* This reasonable request was not <strong>com</strong>plied with, the duty on India <strong>cotton</strong> be-<br />

ing still 10 per cent. <strong>The</strong> extra duty <strong>of</strong> 3i(/. per yard on printed <strong>cotton</strong>s was<br />

taken <strong>of</strong>f when the excise duty on English prints was repealed, in 1831. Eng-<br />

lish <strong>cotton</strong>s imported into India only pay a duty <strong>of</strong> 2J per cent.

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