The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-04-01 00:00:00

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Islands were incapable of producing a raflicieney of
provisions for themselves. -fly the distrrnsations of
Proridenen, in those respeets, it ofted occurred.
that countries depend-noon etch other. The °lie&
nes, as far as prisAicable, to confine the supply to
4lritish ships ; but the immense distance of the \Vest
Indies frnm Great Britain was to he censidered ;
besides., it would be harsh, entirely to exclude corn-
petition in the supply. 'lle Noble Lord entered
irito a variety of calculations, to evince the magni-
tude and importance of the West India commerce
to thiscountry, and the gret. t increase of it, within
a given number of years. He considered the com-
mercial interests of North America as closely con-
flated with those of Great Britain, they should be
reciprocally glad of each other's prosperity ; he.de-
precated all undue jealou_•ies in these points. His
Lordship concluded a luminous and atgumentative
speech, by presenting a hill to indemnify all per-
sons permitting the importation or exportation of
foreign goods into, or from the British West India
Islands, or Islands conquered by His Majesty's
arms, &c. in foreign bottom,.
The Duke of MONTROSE recapitulated many
of the arguments he had used nn the topic last Ses-
sion. He thought the same ohjeainns against
the simply of the Islands in British bottoms. in pe-
riods of war, did not novr apply, in consequence of
the great superiority of our naval strength. He
contended, that every fair preference should Ise
given to the shipping interest of Great Britain; and
the House should consider the very serious evil,
which obtained to an alarming degree, of the prac-
tice of smuggling, which operateJ very injutinusly
to the British trade in those seas, partierdatly with
reap-er to East India commodities ; and 11r adverted
to tie great advantage which a strict and vigilant
line of conduct would give us in these respects, by
desti'uting the French and Spanish Islands of their
supply of Negroes; and hr honed it was meant to
uphold the belligerent rights of this coutstry in these
respeets.
Lord SHEFFIELD observed, he was not pre-
pared, at present, not being exaftly aware of the
line of argument, and cakulation, which the Noble
Lord intended to go into ; otherwke, he thought he
coulti controvert a great deal of what the Noble
Lrrd had advanced..

Lord HOLLAND argued at some length in sop-
port of the propositions laid down by his No
Friend (Lord Auckland.) He contended that the
Navigation Aft was founded more with a view to
the politica! security. than the commercial aggran-
disement of Great Britain. The admitted i ecestity,
which often existed. of having re: ourse to America
for articles of the first necessity, should moderate the
high language held by the Noble Doke, and some
of those who thought with him. Tie attempt at
exclusive supply on the, part of this ccnntry had
been productive of the most shocking effefts : in tine
year alone, Elute than 16,000 Negroes had perished
in the British %Vest India Islathis.

The Duke of MON I'IIOSE spoke in explanation,
as did Lord AUCKLAND.

Lord HOLLAND shortly explained.
Lord C:REN VILLE observed, that the present
was not the time to form an opinion AS what the
country could do in the respels alluded to, in
time of peace; and he seemed to think a gram
deal of what had been advanced, entirely irrelevant
to thx topic re,vilar!y under discussion. The cows-
t
y wis auJct an ~hlig 'Lion to the Noble Loi,l who
had come forward on the present occasion; bat he
thought the 1 ll should go farther, •sPith respect o
the ;possess to be vested in the Governors ; and, ,•,-
stead of going on indcmnifying. from Ite.ir
year, it would be more :Advisable to inn, ,
provision, to enable the Kin: in Council
such discretionary power' to the Governors, fro!!s
time to time, as occasion sway require.
Lord AUCKLAND, Mfarthee cis-
served, a clause may easily be intrci.'t:,zcd c the
Committee, to the eff,Et intimated I,y his Noble
Friend ; and in consequence of an observation of
the Duke of Montrose, said it yeas his intention to
propose to have the Bill printed.
The Bill toss then reed a first time, and ordered
us be printed. After which the House adjourned
till to-morrow.