Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-06-06

be placed on more certain footing !: this
might be effected BY !authprisihg the Go.
vefnorsto Misrepresentation Il ON time
to time, allowing the Importation from
America, sah proclamation to be in
force six nenths, which would insure a
certainty that no interruption would take
place during aat period. His Maies.
v's late ministers, to whom, in this in.
stance be did ,ot mean to impute the
least blame, had sent out Circular Lett
ter to the Govfno of the West In.
dies, requirinsahem not to grant a per-
mission for. Importation from America,
On Ign and p,vial grounA Some Of
them took an alarm, and put Stop totle
importation altogether, which had the
effect Of enormously raising the price Of
provisions. 1t was, howeveSs 1T that
the intercourse, whichwas necessary at
least in time OF war, tothe comfort and
well being Of our West India colonies
should be regulated by al act oFthe lie.
gislature, and that the Governors of our
islands should hot be reduced to the me-
cessi.y Of continually acting in violation
Of the law, or Ministers al home conti-
uuaIly advising su,h violations. He coma
Guided b, presenting bill ID indemnify
all persons concerned in advising or ORE
dering measures for importing certain
articles into the West India Islands trom
America, in American vessels, which
was read FIRST time. -
The Duke Of Montrose coneufred
with much Of what had been said by the
noble Lord. He thought, however, that
with the aid ofconvoys, the West Indies
might, even in time of war, be supplied
from this country but admitted that a
supply, so sent would be precarious. In
time Of peace, however, the questionas~
sumed far different shape, a. he con.
ceived there was no doubt that our West
India islands could then be supplied re-
gularly from this country. He objected
to the trade between Ametiea and the
West Indies on account gifts giving rise
to smuggling to great extent, aud OF
enabling The Americans to import into
our coionies the produce 81 the East In.
dies at low Rate; thereby excluding the
merchants olthis' co,,n,r, from a LENT e.
ciai source otrade. Whcnh. heard the
noble lord speak Of the advantages Of nett.
tral bottoms he hoped his AlsjestS's
ministers hat not formed similar opin-
ion with respect to the trade carried on
by America sstween'' the tnem>'s colo
MES ana the mother country. he con-
6ning our Wst india islands to procure
a supply OF provisions by means Of Bril-
tish vessels in time Of peace, would be
the means Of employing a great isuHabsr
OF. British seanen, whilst it would prove
bene 6cial source of commerce 10 this
country, the advantages Of whichzought
not lightly to BIZ given up.
Lord Sheffield supported the argu-
ments Of the Duke OF Montrose.
Lord Holland deprecated our entering
into any war Of reg ulations with the u
nited States Of America, respecting an
intercourse which tended to mutual ad.
vantage. He could not conceive that the
combining our West India islands 70 .
supply in British vessels which the noble
DOkc Hau SLdtCo ) NtG SoNu SASt'S9~~
in such trade were not OF that dsseriP-
ton to be useful to this country, neither
would building ships here for the purpose
OF sending to America to purchase pro-
visions to carry to the West lndies,.
pay the expense. He trusted tina. Par
lament would never agaiatty the exPeri-
meut which was productive of SO much
misery to our West India colonies, in
the period from 1854 to 1886. when their
supply from America was cut of, and
in conse quence Of which, in Jamaica a.
lone, IS ,ooeaesress died, from the Ia
mine which that regulation produced.
The Duke Of Montrose contended that
in time OF peace an extensive trade to our
West India islands. in British vessels
would be the. means Of employing great
number Of our seamsn, who would other
wise be unemployed. =.
II