§ Lord Holland wished to know, what was the nature of the orders which had been sent by government to the lieutenant-governor of Jamaica, relative to the trade between that island and the United States; and whether any orders had been sent out since the 21st of May for discontinuing the restriction on the importation of goods in American bottoms?
§ Earl Camden said, that the lieutenant-governor had not received any orders to prevent the suspension of the law, in cases of necessity, against the importation of goods from America.
§ Lord Holland then asked, whether the house was to understand that no orders had been sent to enforce the restrictions on the trade between the United States and the West India islands?
§ The Duke of Montrose observed, that the state of the law on the subject in question was this: According to the navigation act, there could be no communication between the United States and the British West India islands, except in British bottoms. But a power was given to the governor of every island to allow the importation of provisions and other articles in cases of necessity. It having appeared, however, that some irregularities had arisen in the exercise of this power, and that a too general importation had been permitted, directions were sent out to the governors not to make too frequent use of the discretion which they possessed. There was no ground for supposing they were prohibited from suspending the restriction; they were only required not to give way to too great a facility of importation.
§ Lord Holland said, that the noble duke seemed disposed to volunteer a reply, which it belonged to the noble earl (Camden) to give, but which, at the same time, was far from being satisfactory. Indeed all he had heard convinced him that the restriction had been improperly enforced; and he conceived it to be his duty to move for such papers as might tend to elucidate the subject. He therefore gave notice, that he should move for copies of all petitions from the West India islands, and all correspondence between 559 the governors of the islands and his majesty's government, respecting the trade with America, from the commencement of the present war with France to the 21st of May last.
§ The Duke of Montrose observed, that if he had volunteered an answer, it was given on good authority; but he left it to the house to judge whether his interference or that of the noble lord in this business had most the appearance of volunteering.
§ The Marquis of Buckingham said, that the lieutenant-governor of the island of Jamaica had understood his hands to be tied up by the orders transmitted to him from government.
§ Lord Hawkesbury said, he entertained no doubt whatever, but that the governor of Jamaica would appear to have been perfectly justified in every thing which ho had done.