HC Deb 09 August 1832 vol 14 cc1295-6

On the motion of Lord Althorp, the House resolved itself into a Committee on the West-India Islands' Relief Bill.

Various clauses agreed to, with verbal amendments.

Mr. Hume

then urged upon the noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the necessity of taking some security for the repayment of any portion of the public money which might be advanced to the colonies. If security were not given, the advance would be a total loss to the public, who would, by and by, be under the necessity of looking to the Government for relief.

Mr. Wilks

said, it would be in the power of the Commissioners not to make advances without sufficient securities.

Lord Althorp

was understood to concur in the opinion of the last speaker.

Mr. Hume

complained, that our policy was not consistent towards the colonies. He did not think that security upon property in the West-Indies would be sufficient for the proposed advances.

Mr. Spring Rice

observed, that the real point which had been suggested by the hon. member for Middlesex was this—whether or not the security upon the colonies themselves was sufficient for the amount of the money lent. He could only say, that the Commissioners who had been appointed were of the most highly respectable character, and that their services would be gratuitous, and he was satisfied that if the security which might be offered to them was not good, the money would not be advanced.

Mr. Fowell Buxton

inquired of his Majesty's Government whether, if the mortgagees, in the case of the proposed loan to the colonies, did not redeem the slave population on the estate mortgaged to the Crown, it would become the property of the Crown?

Lord Althorp

answered in the affirmative.

Mr. Fowell Buxton

then begged to inquire, whether the Government, in such a case, would pursue the same course which had been formerly adopted and followed, and would, on such an event, liberate the slave population.

Lord Althorp

said, he was not at present prepared to answer that question.

Remainder of the clauses read, and agreed to.

Mr. Hume

objected to the preamble of the Bill as unintelligible, and wished to have the object specified for which the grant was made to the Crown colonies.

The preamble agreed to.

The House resumed.