"That the fabrics of Bengal are charged with the following
duties when they are used in Great Britain—
"On manufactured cottons, 10 per cent.
"On manufactured silks, 24 per cent.
"Your Petitioners most humbly implore your Lordships' consideration
of these circumstances, and they feel confident that
no disposition exists in England to shut the door against the
industry of any part of the inhabitants of this great empire.
"They therefore pray to be admitted to the privilege of British subjects, and humbly entreat your Lordships to allow the cotton and silk fabrics of Bengal to be used in Great Britain free of duty, or at the same rate which may be charged on British fabrics consumed in Bengal[1].
"Your Lordships must be aware of the immense advantages the British manufacturers derive from their skill in constructing and using machinery, which enables them to undersell the unscientific manufacturers of Bengal in their own country: and, although your Petitioners are not sanguine in expecting to derive any great advantage from having their prayer granted, their minds would feel gratified by such a manifestation of your Lordships' good will towards them; and such an instance of justice to the natives of India would not fail to endear the British government to them.
"They therefore confidently trust, that your Lordships' righteous consideration will be extended to them as British subjects, without exception of sect, country, or color.
"And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray."
[Signed by 117 natives of high respectability.]
Dacca, notwithstanding its present insignificance as compared
with its former grandeur, may nevertheless still be classed
among second rate cities. It has a population of 150,000 inhabitants,
which is nearly a third more than the city of Balti-*
- ↑ This reasonable request was not complied with, the duty on India cotton being still 10 per cent. The extra duty of 3-1/2d. per yard on printed cottons was taken off when the excise duty on English prints was repealed, in 1831. English cottons imported into India only pay a duty of 2-1/2 per cent.
