Making the dividends fixed, and independent of loss or gain, is wrong and absurd. No effort can increase the dividend, no extravagance or negligence can lessen it, and it cannot be concealed, that from such a state of things it necessarily arises that patronage is the only bonus on India stock. There is some connection either with ship-builders, sail-makers, or the furnishers of stores, officers, secretaries, clerks, or appointments abroad. It is true the connection is circuitous, and the patronage difficult to trace, but the fact resolves itself to this, that however it may be divided amongst them, the whole of the patronage of places and profits, at home and abroad, civil and military, is vested in the Directors and Proprietors, and that patronage is of an amazing amount and extent. In this enquiry I have endeavoured at impartiality, I write not to serve the East India Company, but the country itself--Ministers want the East India patronage, it was for this, Charles Fox made his celebrated struggle; it is this golden prize that makes the present ministers hazard every thing to obtain; it is not the flimsy net-work mask of freedom of trade, the very worst pretext they could have found, IT IS THE PATRONAGE OF INDIA they fight for, and to obtain which, would break down every barrier, destroy every establishment, and trample on every right.--_Let those then who already think the influence of the Crown too great beware how they throw into the scale_ THE PATRONAGE OF INDIA. Freedom of trade is like the Trojan horse, from it will issue what will destroy the freedom of the country.--There are many other errors in the arrangements of the Company, but they are minor ones and not worth detailing here. The grand question to be decided is, the opening of the trade, which I have already treated. In conclusion then, MONOPOLY IS NOT ALWAYS INJURIOUS.--THE EAST INDIA COMPANY DOES NOT POSSESS A MONOPOLY.--GREAT CHANGES will be ATTENDED WITH GREAT DANGER. _The public has no reason to complain, nor the merchants any right to arrogate to themselves claims which do not exist._ There would be great risk and no advantage in sharing the trade with the out-ports; and lastly, that the faults in the present system are entirely of a different nature, and may be easily and safely amended. FINIS. Glendinning, Printer, Hatton Garden, London. FOOTNOTES: [A] My friend does not seem to be aware that Buonaparte has generalized the principle; nearly all the tradesmen in Paris being compelled to purchase those maitrices. The principle is in some degree known and acted upon in England, as in the case of bankers, wine-merchants, &c. &c. &c. and the _limited_ principle in the case of licences of public houses, &c.