Star.
London, England, 1806-06-04 00:00:00

AMERICAN INTERCOURSE.

Lord CASTLEREAGH, though the fecond
reading of the American Intereourfe Bill flood for
Thurfday, hoped that it would not come on fo loon,
a► Parliament ought not to be prefied to decide upon
it before it was in polleflion of the requifire informs•
lion. He thought the Hance fhould be in poffeflion
of the inftruaions given to the Governor of the Welt
India Minds, by the late Adminiaration, which he
confidered as confonant with the foundeft principles
of the Navigation Aft. He alfo wifhed to have thole
inftruftions which had been fubfequently fent ; and
concluded by moving, that the ;nitrations fent to the
Governors of the Weft India Hands, relative to the
American Intercourfe, of the sth of September, 1804,
fhould be laid before the Houle ; as alfo copies of
any inftruftions fubfequently fent.
Lord TEMPLE had no objeftion to the papers—
but as to the pollponing of the fecond reading of the
bill, if he did that, it would be on account of the (fate
of the public bufinefs, and not on account of any ar-
gument urged by the Noble Lord. He contended
that the bill ought to pals with all convenient fisted.
Mr. PERCEVAL obferved, that though it did net
pals this (Aims, the Weft India Colonies would only
be in the fame fituation that they had been in for the
lift thirteen years. He did not, therefore, fee any
particular neceffity for prefling the bill forward with
any great We. He did not fee the propriety of the
Noble Lord urging it on by that command which his
fituation gave him over the Houfe, before the pro-
per information was produced.
Mr. PLUMER faid, that it was irregular to fay
that the Noble Lord had a command over the Houfe.

Mr. PERCEVAL, in explanation, laid, that he
did not fee where the irregularity was in Paying, that
the Noble Lord's firuation and elcquence gave him
groat influence in the Houfe.
Mr. PLUMER obferved, that if the Honourable
and Learned Gentleman had not ufed the word com-
mand, he would beg his pardon.
Mr. ROSE withed to know whether it was the in-
tention of the Noble Lord to pnflpnne the fecond
reading of the bill beyond Thutfday ? He advertel
to the petitions that had been prefented, and the great
interells that were concerned in this Wind's. If a
Committee was granted to him, he undertook to
flniflt the evidence up Hairs in three days. He had,
during the 101 l few months, Peen the molt extraordi-
nary meafures that ever he had obferved in Parlia-
ment ; but this was the moll extraordinary of them
all. His Lordthip had expreffed his doubts whether
he would pollone it upon the arguments of the Noble
Lord near him. This was mull extraordinary lan-
guage, and fuch as was feldom heard in that Houfe.
Lord TEMPLE, in explanation, laid, that his
diAibts as to poltponing it arofe from the Bate of
bufinefs before the Houle ; and he had exprefsly laid,
that this was the ground t f his doubt, and not any
argument of the Noble Lord. As to the merits of
the care, the Right Wnourahlc Gentleman's propo-
fiiion for a Committee would hare been perfally
proper had the bill been a mesfure of repeal. lint it
was merely a matter of regulation, enabling the Go.
•ernment to do that by law which Lad been for fe-
veral years pall done without law, or againit it.—
he would poflpone the fecond reading of
the bill till Friday. The papers were then granted.