The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-02-25 00:00:00

what can be the ultimate erect of their execution.
We have:Alone of us 11.1I0denotoo0with accuracy
,what
*Le itut *kiwi-1)0A law:-
ica sure In ray,.
in shit, j sped' tai taneav of natty &Nitta ate.:
Wf tnav adaiit OA:the King has the ;,pottrer of
issuing melt orders, that the ,etiesny'i.condect
merits retaliation, arol that they are culisistent with
what may be deeined the tonna practice of nations.
Be it so ; but what l'irairt itcj know ,what may
be the effect likely to be prodneed upon the trade
and commerce of this conatry (the %tidy Bray upon
which we have to rely) if these 113 ICriun council
are permitted to be eit,e.hited India tiory.puritsecl ?
This, I smut:tat, Sir, iiiindt+dthe greateNt qura-
tira that ever eas agitated in a British theta of
Parliament., Lem not pressing tor a Committee of
Trade upon any Particular branch of manufacture ;
nor ens I calling for a Committee to consider the
propriety of. trading with any particular colony;
but I sin ceiling far
.a Committee upon a question
that involves the trade; I may sax, of the whole
world, and with that trade, perhaps, the very exist-
ence of England. Then, Sir, is it too much to
ask that we should puritue the course that has been
geueralSy pulsated, sod discus's those measures with
prudence and discretion ? We have advantages in
questions relating to trade, which no other nation
has. We have a body of literal:lots, engaged in
the most extensive commercial concerns, men of
probity, judgment, mid experience, and more nu-
merous thau in any other nation noon the face of
the earth. on whom we may call for information.—
le it not ant rev, then, that upon a question so im-
portant, we have, in the teeth of all precedent and
former practice;, shut ourselves out limp that only
mode of obtaining accurate information as to the
real tendency of these Orden'. One of tity great
Objects for going itdo a Committee of Trade upon
them, is, to obtain the opiniou of merchants upon
their real object and tendency. Many of them, it
may be said, are members of this Rouse ; but it
must be . allowed that they. not 'being in the
habit of stating their sentiments in public, may
feel a timidity in doing so. We intuit therefore not
only look to them, bat to the eminnercial body at
large, for the info:mutest) I want, and which I nip
I tun entitled to. tVlimi she situation of the West
India settlemetits becomes perilous, why does the
Right lion. Gentlenirm more in refer the intiojeet
to a select Committee? Is it not for the purpsete of
procuring that infortaution which can be derivcal
from venous sources ? Undoubtedly it ie : And are
say questions such cta these to lie comp:radial
the question of trade upon which we are now
going to decide ? I wish to know ton, upon what
information tliuisters have already acted iu regard
to it ? I wish to know whether the Right Him.
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) has •
' already considered the policy of the measures he
has adopted ? With all his abilities, I qui-ratio°
very much if it would be safe to trust to hie *lie-
, cattalos* in regard to trade. It is suck a question
es our ancestors thought iacititibent moon thent to
submit to a Committee. We are now called upon
.40 «sorest to a Bill, of which we ha *e- as .Yet re-
ceived no information, nor do we know the grounds
open which we are to pass it. Sewer, that the
other House finding themselves equally ignorant
upon the sabjest, should call for a conference with
this House, what can we say to their tratelehips ?
We can Ray nothiag further, than that to His Ma-
jesty is Council these orders appeared to ht right,
mid therefere we adopted them, without knowing
any thing of the source of inforsaatinu upon which
sbey hold originally been adopted. Perhaps the
Right Honourable Gentleman may say, that by
SO emission tie was nut aware of the neces,ity
of going into another Ceininittee, in order to
procure that information which, in. past time*,
the House deemed so necessary. If so, I
may mention to him, that it is not yet too late
to procure that information, as there Is another
Bill, for a similar purpose, to trafend to Ireland,
which is about to be brciiight in. Let we suspend
the one till the other bits belen so discussed. .If he
will not consent to do this, all I can sky is. that I
do adoalre the boldness of the Right Hintortrable
Gentleman. A more bold wilidtal attempt never
yet was made, than that, the' piinent .Adininistra-
ties should take it apart &eulogies to call upon
the Hone to effett a uskarlisiof ate' extreme and
vital importdrice, Withobt'producini any evidence
whatever. 'Are we thus to givema votes upon a
blind confidence in their commercial ? If
they tiiris oat to lie in the wrong, it will lie but
little satisfaction to its to call upon them for their
responsibility, when the last hope of the emitury
may he stopped mid ruined for ever. flare Minis-
ters looked to circumstances, should their mea-
sure fail ? Dore the Itight Honourable Gentleman
opposite know of aay resource by which, upon a
total failure, he can restore matters to their
former state ? The effects of the measure must be
great and important, either in one point of view or
of another. He thinks they will be such as to com-
pel the enemy to make peace, and to preserve
-that pmce.. .Suppose that to be really the rase,
where then would be the harm of spewing upon
what grounds he formed hie information and judg-
meot of its effects? But suppose that lie should
find himself ultimately its the wrong, I ask him
what he will hire to say the himself, not for having
proposed such a measure, but for having withheld
from the Hens, an opportunity of thoroughly sift-
ing the grounds upon which it onght to hare been
entertaiued ? r appriliencl.tliat he has had 'many
coratounieatinns with. commeteial men upon the
subject of this Bill before lie brought it into the
Muse ; and if so, why does he favour ers with
that information lie was of opittion, that the
measure waled for execution, and.,,that no delay
should occur ; tont he was mot aware, that by
his mode adprossedons difficulties woodsl preao
upon hies at wary Rapp. Would it he de-
' grading Ministers tea mach, for theta to admit
that they were wrong, anti :Alma they wished
to retrieve, by doing that which is light ?
I do ri all sincerity et inuPurge this motion, as I
believe-it to lie ono! siteolutely. necessary for the
inters .and safety of the Fouotry„. la a crisis tike
the present, it is not Wilt:tent for us that His Ma-
jesty's blinkers have advised the Kintoexereive
his prerogative; for however well meant that advice
May Wave bt4ts'io..the outset, we rnn,:t look to the
eonsegoencesolribleilme. We. should mak,. the
people firattbat ste ari olive to dmir intereats.—
We have had Petitions lately prevailed. $s -'the
Hoare, twaYint fbi 'Vence,- else of"Whicitios been'