The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-27

Voyes Inc Wc:tsl0di2S mgntS even IN tinSc or
war, be fupp!fsd from this country; but admit
ted that fuppiy 70 tent would be precautions.
In time of peace bwever, the quefion afun,-
ed fair different hape, as he conceived there
was no doubt that our WeR-Inda illands could
then be fupplied regularly from this country.
He objeeted to the trade between America and
the We91adtes on account of its giving rife to
tmugghng 10 great extent, aud of enabling the
Americans To import into our colonies the pro-
ducc of the Eaft-Indes at low rate, thereby
excluding the merchants of this country from a
beneficial fource of trade. When he heard the
noble lord fpeak of the advantages of neutral
bottoms, he hoped his Majefy's miniters had
not formed GmiTar opinion with refpeet to
the trade carriedon by America between the
enemy's colonies and the mother country. The
combining our Weh-India i0ands to procure a
tupply otprovilions by means of Britiih vefIels
IN time OF peace, would be the means of en-
ploying great number of Britifh feamen, Whit
1t would prove beneficial fource of commerce
to this country, the advantages of which ought
not lightly to be givenup.
Lord Sheffield fupported the arguments of
the Duke of Montrole.
Lord Holland deprecated our entering into
any war of regulations with the u. S. of Ameri-
ca, retpeetng an intercourse which tended to
mutual advantage. He could not conceive that
the combining our Weft-India iflands to f,pply
IN Brittle vef1els would be of that advantage to
this country which the noble Duke had ftated;
the teamen employed in fuch a trade were not
OF that deicrption to be ufeful to this country,
neither would building fhps here for the pur-
pole of tending to America to purchafe proviG-
ons to carry to the Weft-Indies, repay the ex-
pence. He trufed that Parliament would never
again try the experiment which was productive
OF 10 much miiery to our Wef-Inda colonies,
IN the period from 1894 to 1886, when their
iupply from America was cut off, and in coufe-
quence of which, in Jamaica alone, / 5000 me-
groes died. from the famine which that regulate
an produced.
The Duke of Montrofe commended that in
time OF peace an executive trade to our Wet In
dla iiiands,in Brtifh veffcls, would be the means
or employing great number of our feamen,
who would otherwife be unemployed.
After tome explanation from Lord Auckland,
Lord Grenville obferved, that the queftion as
TO what might or might no; be polite or expedi-
ent' with refpeet to the trade to our Welt-India
iiiands IN time of peace, was wholly foreign to
the queition now before the houfe. Whatever
OPINION might he entertained on the former
point, 1t was clear that in time of war neceili-
" exilted for allowing the Americans TO fupply
our Weit-India iiiands with proviGops at all
events, he was net difpofed to hazard fpecu-
iation OF combining the fource Of fnpply to Bri-
tim veiiels, when the fubliftence of near mil
non OF Pertons, inhabiting mott important
part OF the Britifh empire, was at flake. He
iuggeited that it would be mott expedent to
adopt Legislative regulation, which might be
done by claufe in the prefent bill, authorizing
ms maIeity in council, 10 direct his majefy's
governors in the Wet-Indes, to if1ne proclama-
tions from time to time, each proclamation to
be IN force for fix months, allowing the impor
tatlon or proviiions aud lumber in American
veiieis. He was decidedly of opinion that fome
legislative regulation ought to be enacted upon
the fubIett, and that the fyftem of continually
violating the law and pafiiug bills of indemnity,
ought not to be continued.
Lord Auckland gave notice, that in the pro-
sreis of the bill, he fhould introduce claufe
founded upon the fuggeftion thrown out by
his noble friend.
The bill was ordered to be printed.