The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

The question, therefore, is, whether such an addition to the
stock already. in the market is a thing to be wished, or depre-
cated. In the last Session of Parliament, the time of the House
was taken up frota day to day with the complaints of the West
Indian Merchants, and it was at length deemed necessary to faci-
litate the consumption of sngar by allowing it in the Distilleries.
The glut in the market was so great that sugar was become per-
fectly unsaleable. The poorer Piaaters were rained, and the
richer were only enabled to continue their culture upon their
former savings.
Under such a state of circumstances, the Parliament deemed
itself called upon to interpose, and as we have before sail, open-
ed the Distilleries to the Sugar-growers. This was a serious
departure from principles hitherto deemed fundamental. It has
always hitherto been azmaxim to favour the English Corp-grow-
ers in preference to the Foreign Planters—This system was now
done away, and the Farmer and Planter put on a level. The
quantity of colonial produce in the market so far exceeded the
demand as not only to justify but to require this new system.
In such a state of things, is it necessary to say pitch as to the
necessary consequences of new colonial conquests. If the market
be already glutted, what will he its state when so much addi-
tional produce is thrown into it,— when the competition of the
sellers is augmented by an additional island, and one-fourth, per-
haps one half, is added to our already bursting warehouses.

There is another consideration of some importance. The an-
nual produce of Martinique is, as we have said, very great;
but its actual stock on hand is much greater. From the efficacy
of the general bkckade of the French Islands, by the English
cruisers, the Planters of Martinique have been unable to send
their stock to market--they have been compelled to store it, and
it is not, perhaps, too much to say, that the warehouses in
Martinique must probably contain the produce of four, five, or
six years. All this quantity will now be released, and poured
into the English market.—What must be the inevitable conse-
quence?—lf there was before a glut, will not such a produce
become now little better than a weed ?—The Dutch, it is said,
annually burn their spices, to prevent an over-abundance in the
market. Something of the same kind will now he necessary
with respect to the English Colonial produce. What, in fact,
is to become Of the surplus ? Every one in his eagerness to sell
will necessarily under-sell another, the necessary consequence
must be, that the greater part of them will he ruined.
Under certain circumstances plenty is lobe wished, but under
others, it is equally ruinous both to the Planter and to the Pub-
lic. It is ruinous to the Planter, because the price of the
whole is jured by too great a surplus. Every one will buy
at his own price where there are more who want to sell than he
wants to buy—and this excessive abundance is ultimately
equally injurious to the Public, because the abundance of one
season will he invariably followed by the scarcity of others—
many will abandon a cultivation which they cannot continue
ithout the prospect of ruin.
Upon these considerations, we must panne before we consider
the conquest of Martinique as a thing of any public value, or
political importance. To us, indeed, upon the first appearance
of things, it seems rather a conquest than an acquisition. We
are open, however, to conviction, and if the \Vest India Planters
are satisfied, we shall have nothing farther to say.

1 N DICUS.

IMPERIAL.• PARLIAMENT.

HOLE OF LORDS.

Frideg, april 14.

Lord Arca LA Nt) wished to make some observations, which
would tend to elucidate the subject of the motion postponed by
his Noble Friend, Lord Grey, to Friday next. He would not
on; occupy the attention of the Howe, and as his observations
were unexpected, he would not require either an immediate, or

a full ansiyer to any of them-from-the Noble Secretary of State,
unless his Lordship found himself perfectly conyeleut to the
task on so short a notice as the present, The first related to an
article contained in the treaty of alliaoce concluded with, he
could scarcely say whom ; for at the o.nent %% it had beet'
signed, our army was on the point of evacuating Spain, the
Supreme Junta were dispersed, and Ferdinand VII. in whose
name it was concluded, remained a prisoner in ihr 'hands of the
Frerch, uncrowned and hopeless, The article of which he
complained hound this nation to acknoo ledge Ferdinand VII.
his heirs, or lawful successors (ascending the throne with the
consent of the Spanish nation) as the wily Sovereigns of Spain.
Ile objected to the former part, adikely to involve the British
Government again in all the intricacies of Bourbon policy ; and
to the latter, as ultimately tending to acknowledge Joseph Bona-
parte the lawful King of Spain, in case he should at last
.meet
with the approbation of his n-w subjects. The next observation
related to a promise made by the Noble Secretary of State, that
the fullest information should he laid before the House, on every
point of the late eampaigat: Yet one of its most oaportant and
unfortunate events, the surrender of the squadron at Ferrol, was
illustrated only by two letters from Admiral Dc Courcy : the
one advising Sir David Baird to protect those shit s, and the
other stating their loss and their number, His Lordship also
wished that a more detailed :recount of the lesser sustained by
our army in Spain should he prodored. as that which had beets
given was evidently evronenus or insufficient. Upwards of -top
own were acknowledged to have perished, or been taken by the
enemy ; but a strict examination of the subject would prove,
that at least 10,000 British warriors had been snatched away
from their country. The last remarks he woald make were on
Mr. Frere's two letters to Sir John Moore, and the 'mysterious
and offensive message to which they alluded, and the nature of
o Welt his Majesty's Ministers had not yet unfidded to Podia-
melit. lie did not press the Noble Secretary for an answer, if
he were not prepared ; hut yet he thought the subject important
enough to deserve his attention.
The Earl of Lis- en Poo it. would not, at the present moment,
give any answer to the observations made by the Noble Lord
They were mere matter of argument, and would probably find
a place in the discussion relative to theeampaign in Spain, whit it
would take place on Friday next.
Lord Gar. y did not look on the observations o hielt had heeo
made as mere matter of argument. and regretted that 'ley a:ei
not been answered. Objecting, as he did, to the h. 31• tags
treaty of alliance concluded with :be shadows, not too teresea-
Wives of power ; still he thought the article poiated out by
his Noble Friend entitled to an increased polio') hhele.
Ferdinand VII. was acknowledged in it the only Sovereign of
Spain. Had dual his Majesty's Ministers admitted the justice
of Bonaparte's roeeedivg-s: had they sanctiored the forced rer
signation of the aged and unfortunate Charles I V.: As to the
losses sustained by oar army, he certainly thought they greatly
exceeded the amount given in the returns on the table. Be
wished to have an account of those sustained by our troops since
they had reached our own shores. Exhausted with fatigue,
and wasted by disease, every day since their retort) the funeral
hell hail tolled over their corpses. These were the consequences
of the late imprudent and ill-directed campaien ; these were
losses of which no computation was given in the papers now be-
fore the House. _ _ _

Lord BUCK INGII Mill Inc called upon the Noble Secretary
to declare whether there fisted any ground of objection to Sir
John Craddock, which appeared to be implied hy the appoint-
ment of Sir A. Wellesley to the chief command in hortugol.
The Earl of Li v citron t. admitted the courage and ability of
Sir John Craddock, and vindicated the appointment, on the
ground of his Alaje..it)'s prerogative.

fIOCSF. OF COMMONS.

Tue.7ilay, April 11.

Nu business of intportance.

IVednesday, April 12.

Mr. Alderman Co NI nr: presented a Petition from the Worship,
ful the Company of Butchers of the Ca:, cif London, praying
against the removal of Sinith6eld Market.--Read, and ordered
to lie um the table.
Cant pbell's Divorce yr ag read a third time and passed.

petters is augmeinea uy an Haw i tonal isiann, arm nue-iourtn, per- enemy ; but a strict examinatian of the subject would prove, t.,
haps one half, is added to our already bursting warehouses. that at least 10,000 British warriors had been snatched away
There is another consideration of some importance. The an- from their country. The last remarks he woald make were on tl.
i,
nual produce of Martinique is, as we have said, very great; Mr. Frere's two letters to Sir John Moore, and the 'mysterious 1
but its actual stock on hand is much greater. From the efficacy and offensive message to tchich they alluded, and the nature of , •
\lajecty's Ministers had nni yet unfelded to Parini- ii;
of the general blnekade of the French Islands, by the English " hid) hiii ' did ' Secretary for an answer, if i
cruisers, the Planters of Martinique have been unable to send Illite• tilvt .e
re neat ire lillotrel:lir‘hs but vet ihtletho. thought the. subject importaut
their stock to market--they have been compelled to store it, and enough to deservei his attention.
it is not, perhaps, too much to say, that the warehouses in The Earl of !AY en POOL Would not, at the present moment,
Martinique must probably contain the produce of four, five, or give any answer to the observations made by the Noble Lord
six years. All this quantity will now be released, and poured They were mere matter of argument, and would probably find
into the English market.—What must be the inevitable conse- a place in the discussion relative to thecampaigo in Spain, whit it
(pence I—lf there was before a glut, will nut such a produce wolild take place on Friday next.
now little better than a weed ?—The Dutch, it is said, Lord Gar, y did not look on the observations w Welt hid h•am
become
,Trade as mere matter of argument. and regretted that tiwy hl,l
annually burn their spices, to prevent an over-abundance in the not been answered. Objecting, as he did, to the ..kit-It• ..r ttve,
market. Something of the same kind will now he necessary treaty of alliance concluded with she shadows, not tn.. I ere-i.e.
, s
with respect to the English Colonial produce. What, in fact, wives of power; still he thought the article poiinea alit by
ii to become of the surplus? Every tune in his eagerness to sell his Noble Friend entitled to an increasea portion or lihtne.
Ferdinand VII. was acknowledged in it the only Sovereign of
will necessarily under-sell another, the necessary consequence
• nin Si i* . Had then his .Majesty's Ministers admitted the justice
must be, that the greater part of them will he mined. of Bonaparte's rrneeetlivg: had they sane:int-ea the forced rer
Under certain circumstances plenty is to be wished, hut under signatinn of the aged and unfortunate Charles I V.: /V- to the
others, it is equally ruinous both to the Planter end to the Pub- I losses sustained by oar army, he certainly thought they greatly
lic. It is ruinous to the Planter, because the price of the exceeded the amoant given in the returns on the table. 11e ,
wished to have an account a those sustained by our troops since
whole is jured by too great a surplus. Every one will buy they had reached our own shores. Exhausted with fatigue,
at his own price where there are more who want to sell than he and wasted by disease, every day since their return the funeral
wants to buy—and this excessive abundance is ultimately bell had tolled over their corpses. These were the consequences
equally injurious to the Public, because the abundance of one
of the late imprudent and ill-directed camintien ; these were
season will he invariably followed by the scarcity of others— • losses of which no computation was given in the papers nos be-
-1
fore the House. .
• many will abandon a cultivation which they cannot continue
Lord BucKINGII A Still Inc called upon the Noble Secretary i
w ithout the prospect of ruin. to declare whether there e::isted any around of objection to ale
Upon these considerations, we must palm* before we consider John Craddock, which appeared to be implied by the appoint-
4
the conquest of Martinique as a thing of any public value, or meat of Sir A. Wellesley to the chief command in Portugal.
The. Earl of [AYE:krone admitted the courage and ability of
political importance. To us, indeed, upon the first appearance
of things, it seems rather a conquest than an acquisition. We Sir John Craddock, ant 1
I vindicated the rii»uintment, on the
are open, however, to conviction, and if the \Vest India Planters ground of his Majestv s prerogative.
are satisfied, we shall have nothing farther to say.
r , I
I N D ICT S. fIOUSF. OF COM MONS. ,_
• 1
..... • . . .
5 i(' !, IMPERIAL PARLIAM ENT. .........m....—. . .
i Tuesday, April 11. • ,
, —....m.--
t HOUSE OF LORDS. . Nu business of importance. .
li ---- --asio.--•
k ..
Y Fridey, april 14, Wednesday, April 12.
ti
d Lord Avrtr..A. we ND wished to make some observations,which
Mr. Alderman Co m n
-would tend to elucidate the ful the Company of Butchers of the City of London, genet 1
subject of the motion postponed by e: presented a Petition from the Worship,
11 his Noble Friend, Lord Grey, to Friday next. He would not .4
against the removal of Smith6eld Market.—Read, and orderen 0
on; occupy the attention of the Howe, and as his observations to lie on the table.
were unexpected,he would not requite either animmediate, or T.
. ld
was read a third time and passed.
..._
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