The Sun.
London, England, 1822-03-25 00:00:00

tion in the supplies to the colonies in the Vest Indies, as I have
as deep an interest there, in proportion to my whole fortune, as
most men in this country; many of my nearest connections
have also considerable property in them : that consideration,
however, cannot turn my attention from other interests both of
a public and private nature; but let me not be understood to
take any great merit to myself in that respect, because I am
acting under a conviction that the islands would be as regularly
and as well `supplied in British ships, as they are now even in
time of war, if convoys can be furnished. In time of peace no-
body can doubt it; experience has put that matter completely
out of doubt ; .1 trust; therefore, the Right Honourable Gentle-
man (Mr. Fox) will reconsider his opinion of the probable ne-
cessity for relaxing our Navigation Laws in peace, as the pro-
mulgation of it may do incalculable mischief, if uncontradicted.
.- If we look to the effect likely to be produced by this measure to
ou. continental colonies, we shall not find the ground of objections
weaker: ,the system which has been pursued since 1784 has
been nearly as mischievous to these as to our navigation; in-
stead of advancing rapidly in cultivation, as they were doing
previously to that time, that has been _ checked, and their trade
with the West Indies has fallen off very considerably, as ap-
pears by the accounts on your table. This evil is the more se-
rious, and should be the more guarded against, as in the event
of a breach with America, it is on our remaining settlements on
the continent that the West Indies must principally rely for their
supplies.—On looking on this bill, apparently so simple in its
provisions, Gentlemen are not aware how many important in-
terests are likely to be. injured by it. The American ships,
which supply our islandi with lumber and provisions, do not
confine themselves to these articles, nor indeed does this bill re-
strain them to such ; they have been in the practice, as we have
learned from the governors and naval commanders, as well as
from seizures made of cargoes to the islands, great quantities of
East India piece-goods, (which from the Superior advantages
they hare in the Indian trade, they can afford much cheaper
than the British merchants), as well as German-linens, not only
for the consumption of the islands, but for the free-port trade_
with the Spaniards.. It has been said that British ships may do
this as well as foreigners, but experience has proved that they
did not do so ; nor is it likely they should : American ves-
sels in that trade are chiefly of small burthen, and can more
easily escape than large ships, and there is a further security
against such practices by British ships, as they may be followed
and seized on subsequent information. The Irish provision
trade is also entirely overlooked by,this measure. The Ame-
ricans, who had in some of the islands been materially checked,
and in others entirely restrained in furnishing supplies of beef
and pork, will by'this bill be set free from all restraint, and
will infallibly undersell the merchants of Ireland. . The Noble
Lord has not yet endeavoured to shew the contrary, but has
dwelt on the necessity of pursuing the system of relaxation as
a necessary one, contenting himself with round assertions that
the West India Colonies cannot exist under any other ; now that
is the whole matter that is at issue between us, and for which
Iso earnestly implore inquiry. Grant us that and we will be
satisfied. It the interest of our navigation must give way to
the preservation of our Colonies, let us at least knovt that the
sacrifice we are about to make is a necessary one. Many other
objections to this measure occur to me, but I fear I have al-
ready tired the Committee with a statement of these important
points. The Noble Lord says it is perfectly'right to shift the
responsibility from the Governors of the Islands to the Privy
Council, but the slightest attention will convince Gentlemen,
that if you release the Governors from responsibility, you leave
none any where ; they are the only persons to whom any either
can or ought to attach, because they alone can have any know--
ledge whatever of the circumstances which should lead to open-
ing the ports to foreigners ; with a severe responsibility upon
them, they will never do so except in cases of real and pressing
necessity, as on that their indemnity must depend. By what
possible means can Ministers in this country have a knowledge
of famine or distress in the West Indies, in time to instruct the
Governors to admit supplies in American ships ? It is an in-
sult to our understanding to talk of it. If this Bill shall rasa_
into a law, there will be neither restraint nor responsibility of
any sort or any where. The Noble Lord has, however, (some-
what unguardedly perhaps), assigned a reason for this-measure
of a very different nature from any I have alluded to : he has
told us that the Governors of the Islands cannot -know all the
political circumstances which should guide our conduct in re-
gulating our trade with America. '' That indeed opens a new
and wide field for discusSion ; it admits of a possibility that it
may be thought right, from considerations of policy; to relax
not only the-laws of this country, hitherto held sacred, but what
the writers of all nations have uniformly decided to be the fun-
damental law of Europe : that the parent state shall enjoy, ex-
clusively, the trade to its own colonies. In American news-
papers, however, loud complaints have been made of our navi-
gation laws having been enforced, as acts-of injustice, and it is
notorious there is an impression of this sort in the United
States ; this is surely not the season therefore for abandoning
the principle of them. lam confident no one can rationally
doubt this who considets' with attention the relative situation
of this country and America,at the present moment. Wee are,
hosiever, about to give Sip gratuitously to America an impor-
tant point, which it seems she has not even asked for, either as
a matter of right or of favour, and which it is more our interest
now than it ever before was to. withhold from her. The Noble
Lord has told us, that although the principle of the navigation
law was a wise one when it was passed, it has ceased to be so ;
and that many instances may occur in which it may be expe-
dient to depart from it. lam inclined to.think, however, that
his Lordship has taken up that opinion from some recent publi-
cations, in which there are confident assertions founded on false
facts.. One. of the authors I allude to has told you, that it
is good to employ foreign ships in war, that we may have
our own seamen for the navy. Can that Gentleman tell
us where, in such case, will be found a nursery for'raising
seamen to man our fleets in future ? The largest proportion
of your seamen certainly come from the merchants' service, and
if you dry up that source you will hereafter find the inconve-
nience of it, and will probably recur to a due observance of
your Navigation Laws, when it will be too late to derive any
advantage from youx doing so. But however important as nur-
series for seamen the shipping of Great Britain and of her Co-
lonies is, it is not exclusively to that we are to look for re-
, sources ; the fisheries both at home and on the coasts of our
continental colonies as well as at Newfoundland arc very ex-
tensive and important sources ; a due encouragement given to
them might be essentially useful, and afford another reason for
' a due observance of the Navigation Laws. After all I have
said, however,. in favour of maintaining those, I do not mean
! to contend 'they ought not in any instance to be deviated from :
I could not indeed consistently do so, because I have acted
I otherwise; in cases that might be beneficial to our commerce
! and manufacture, and could not be injurious to our Naviga-
tion, there is an Act, 43 Geo. 111. c. 153. s. 16. in force, to
penriit'neutral ships to come from enemies' ports, from Whence,
of course, no British ship can come ; and another, 42 Geo. 111.
e. 80. continued by 44 Geo. 111. c. 30. which repealed all the
! suspended acts of the last war, and confining the importation
in neutral ships to the produce of foreign possessions in the
West Indies, the cargoes of which shall be warehoused for ex-
portation ; a third, which admits hides and tallow under parti-
cular circumstances, -is hardly worth alluding to ; some of the
acts in the last war (originating with what was called the Dutch
Property Act) certainly gave advantages to foreign Merchants
as well as to Foreign Ship-owners, because the cargoes imported
under those in neutral ships were warehoused, and the duties
not paid till the goods were taken out, eithera for home con-
sumption or exportation ; the Foreigner saving thereby the
advance of money for the duties, and paying only for the quan-
tities taken out, while the importers in British ahaps paid the
duties on importation, and for the whole quantities imported.
My reason for believing-that British ships can carry all the ar-
ticles which our Colonies may want, arises from very long and !
laborious inquiries which I have made from Ship-owners both
in Great Britain and in the West Indies, and others who are
best qualified to give information. upon the subject; I am pre-
pared even to enter on the detail as to the times when they
should sail from this country, take in their lading in America,
&c. &c., but it is unnecessary to trouble -the House with these
particulars : I will establish the whole clearly before a Com-
mittee, if I am' allowed to go to one. I will undertake to prove
that the planters would be regularly supplied with all they want
as early as shall be necessary, and at an extra expense, not ex-
ceeding 2 per cent. on the freight. I have only to add, that in
the event of hurricanes, or other unforeseen- emergencies, the
Governors must unavoidably have the same discretionary power
to open the ports, that the Government of this Country always
exercises in such cases at home. These are the grounds upon
which I ask the Noble Lord to consent, and wish the House to
agree to go into an inquiry before a Committee ; no possible
delay can be occasioned thereby ; I will pledge myself that it
shall be closed before the papers now copying for our informa-
tion can he on the table ; if it is not, 1 will agree to the Bill
proceeding without waiting for the result of that inquiry ; I will
attend the' Committee myself from day to day for as many
hours as shall be necessary, and I am sure there are other
Gentlemen who will do the same, till the report shall be made.
Is it possible that under these circumstances inquiry can be re-
fused ? You have at your door imploring for it a great number
of men very hlghly respectable in their several situations as
Merchants, Ship-owners, Ship-builders persons in the various
branches of trade dependant on the building and equipping
ships ; you know that not an hour's delay can be occasioned by
your hearing them, and will you, or can you refuse to do so ?
I will not yet believe that you will do so unprecedented a thing,
because I am certain no reason can he assigned in support of it.
In every commercial and political point 'of view the subject is
a most important one, and one respecting which (above all
others) the fullest investigation should take place before a ma-
terial alteration is,made in it; in the present instance there has
been none either before the Council or in this House. Let me
therefore repeat my earnest entreaties, on the part of the public
and of the Petitioners, that this matter may be carefully exa-
mined before a Committee above stairs," .