§ General Gascoyne,disapproved of the principle of the bill altogether, and asked whether counsel might not be heard against it at a future stage; and was informed by the speaker that they might.
§ Sir W. Youngapproved of the principle of the bill, which he considered as a boon to the West-India merchants, and stated that he had been at a numerous meeting of London merchants, where; a majority had agreed with him.
§ General Gascoyneagain rose, and was called to order by Mr. Wilberforce; but being informed by the speaker that he was in order, he proceeded to state that, in his opinion, this bill was a scheme indirectly to abolish the slave trade, which could not be done in an open and direct manner.
§ Sir W. Curtisthought the slave trade an evil that could not be remedied, but he never purchased a slave himself. He heard nothing of the meeting of merchants adverted to by the hon. baronet.
§ Mr. Brookeapproved the principle of the bill, which he considered as beneficial to the West-India merchants.—The bill was then read a 2d time.