The Sun.
London, England, 1812-03-04 00:00:00

Vourable in those two years. He could prove an
increase in our trade across the Atlantic in those two
years, amounting to More than 0,000,0001. It wilts
easy to get rid of these fact a by throwing discredit
on the returns presented by the Inspeaor General;
but he should be glad to know from what better
soured the 'proposed 'Committee could obtain in-
formation on the subjea. With respect to the ap-
parent distress under which the country at present
labours, the Hon. Gentleman seemed to forget that
similar distress pervaded the manufaeluringe districts
previous to 1807, in Manchester and other 'places.
Though the very high tide of prosperity which fol-
lowed in 1810, had materially relieved the pressure, i
the subsequent distresses had arisen from a variety
of causes not to be attributed to any defeat in the
Government, but to adverse winds.and loss of con-
voy. The Hon. Gentleman contended, that the
Continental system had originated all the measures
complained of. The system of licenses, on which
frauds and perjuries were charged, did not contrie
bate to the distress; for if the whole trade were to be
given up to the Continent, the same causes would
arise. The licenses were given to the mer-
chants as a proteetion against that system in our
Prize Courts. If America, he contended, was per-
mitted to-export to France all the produce of her
possessions to the exclusion of ours, and Germany
had also license to introduce her manufactures, this
country-would .stand no chance of competition in
the market. The repeal of the Orders in Council•
would not settle the differences with America, be-
cause she insisted upon the withdrawing of the
blot kading system as much as the repeal.- If then
the dereands in that respect were acceded to, the
whole of our Euro, can trade would be given up.—
He therefore must opt,ose the motion, convinced.
that VLe could not carry on the war against the com-
[eon. enetn) if we consented (as we should do in
case we repe-aled the (eiders in Council ande the
B:ockading System) to give up our maritime lights.
Mr. CANNLNG regretted that he was compelled
to state dry matter of faa, after the speech of the
Honourable and Learned Gentleman, so conversant
with the subject ; but he had expeaecl to hear from
the Hoaourahle and Learned Gentleman, the deve-
looement of ticeie principles on which Government
had proceeded with respe.:l to the Orders in Coen-.
; Lhe more so, as the Right Honourable Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade had misrepresented
th en. If lie (Me. C.) understood the quesiion, he
was convinced, that by referring it to a Commit-
tee, it would be properly. understood, and the
public would see that the Government' were justi-
fied in adopting them, and that they were neces-
sary for-the safety of the country. He most cheer-
;Lilly, therefore, would take his share of responsibi-
lity, for having be eu one of the advisers. The Right
Hon. Gentlemail (Mr. Rose) had said that they were
not measures of retaliation but of defence—Why
wete they so, but because they were retaliatory?
The Right Honourable Gentleman discussed the
propriety of their adoption, in consequence of
the French •Government having declared the
I)ritish Islands in a state of blockade, and the
same principle was expressed in the Orders cif
January, 1807, and the subsequent ones with a
view.. to repress the violence of the enemy, and to
make that violence recoil on himself. It was thought
advisable afterwards to mitigate teat meeanre as
far as it affetted neutrals. It was to be• lamented
that they should sutler wrongs and inconvenience,
but it could not' be avoided from the state of
things. As to what had been stated respe‘ling
the distress of the nianutacturers, that distress,
he was free to confess, was great enough ; but
if they expected to find relief in a repeal of the
Orders, they were mistaken. An idea had gone
ebroae to that effect, and it was necessary a Corn-
tnittee should be appointed to remove the illusion.
It was a failing of humae nature to attribute Oae
misery under which it suffered, whether real or ima-
.
gmary, to tangible causes, rather than believe that it
did not exist. The Hoie Mover hal described the
frauds tied perjuries under the licenses to have ex-
istence and connection with the Orders in Council..
Most certainly he regarded that charge with a jea-
lous eye, and he must deny that there wag any fili-
ation between them. The Honourable and Leaned
Gentleman (Mr. Stephen) had looked at the ap-
pointment of a Committee with alarm. He (Mr.
Canning) confessed he saw nothing alarneng in it.
On the contrary, they would Conte out of the Com-
mittee in a beneficial point of view, and consequently
that,Goventinent was justified in adopting the meae
stn.& had chosen. The licenses were given to
-the :mercantile interests to remove objections and
doubts, and to erect an uniform principle en which
they might safely act. • As to the system of block-
ade, he was convinced that it was highly desirable;
and lie 'regretted that an unmitigated -system of
blockade bad not been enforced against the ports of
Russia. if such a system, had been adoptei, the
politics of that Government would have then taken
a different-- course. The Right Hon. Gentleman
was not disposed to sacrifice the rights of, com-
merce, but if the objea which was fitta'nf'd by the
adoetion of the Orders could be secured by the
.re-
, taxation of them, he had no objection for one, bet
that would be best ascertained in a Committee.

.- --
Mr. Mall it 'it ATT defended theOr-ders in Council,
but WaS of opinion that the Trade Licenses had been
very injurious ; not more in cpunteraaing the,
effea which the Orders were calculated to have on
the enemy, but in -depresjng our colonies to the
advantage of those of our Allies. As an instance of
the last assertion, he mentioned that the Island of
Cuba, which) at the commencement of the War,
exported only 70,000 hogsheads of sugar in the
year, now exported 220,000. He would not vote
for the Committee, because he thought it unneces-
sary ; but he advised a stria. adherence to the Or-
ders in Council without any relaxation whatever.
Mr. G. JoHNsToNit, on the contrary, defended
the licenses as indispensable, but would vote for the

Sir
CHAPLES PRICE opposed the motion.
Mr. WILBERFORCE said, he was one of those
who were of opinion, that the Orders in Council
afforded the only means of restoring our trade, at
the lime it wai totally suspended ; but the differ-
ence of opinion that existed now on the subje& was
in itself a call for investigation.
The CHANCELLOR Of the EXCHEQUER said, that
he did not rise to object to this motion from any
apprehension that he entertained, of inquiry, confi-
dent as he was that the distresses of the mernhArit.