216] 
no other proof of it appeared, than 
the consent of the house to defray 
the expences incurred; but this 
could not stritly be deemed an att 
of choice ; the consciousness of the 
danger that would result from a re- 
fusal, might as probably have made 
it a matter of necessity. The de- 
bate continued some time, with 
equal warmth on the side of ministry 
and opposition, and concluded by sir 
W. Pulteney s moving the previous 
question, which was carricd by six- 
ty-seven against twenty-three. 
Some days after this debate, an 
attempt was made, in the lower 
house, to represent the conduct of 
sir Charles Grey, and sir John Jer- 
vis, in the West Indies, as deserving 
of the highest censure ; but after an 
altercation between their accusers 
and justifiers, which was carried on 
with great acrimony, the result was, 
that they were cleared of the 
charges brought against them, and 
the thanks voted to them, in the 
preceding session, for their services, 
were confirmed. 
This decision was followed, on the 
rth of June, by one very remark- 
able, in favour of the merchants con- 
cerned in the trade to Grenada and 
St. Vincent, A petition presented 
on their behalf, by Jord Sheffield, 
stated, that, in consequence of the 
troubles and devastations in those 
two islands, they were reduced to 
great difficulties and distresses, and 
disabled from maintaining theircom- 
merce and credit, unless they were 
favoured with timely assistance from 
government. He enforced the pro- 
priety of their petition, by the sa- 
lutary effects that had atrended the 
seasonable relief given to a nomber 
of respe¢table merchants in London, 
and in other commercial cities, two 
years before, ; 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
He was zealously seconded by 
Mr. Pitt, who contended with great 
force of argument, for the pro. 
priety of supporting effetually the 
mercantile interest of the kingdom, 
on those emergencies where it was 
visibly conneéted with the prospe. 
rity ofthe state, and their losses were 
occasioned by those public calami- 
ties, which they could neither fore. 
see nor avoid, The connexiong 
between this country and the West 
Indies were of such importance, 
and the returns of -trade often so 
flu€tuating and so tardy, tharit was 
necessary for government to afford 
them relief occasionally. 
_ Mr. Fox disapproved of the pe. 
tition, as involving public and pri. 
vate concerns in too close and dan. 
gerous a manner, and tending to 
create an influence over the great 
commercial body, that would place 
it on the most abjeét dependence on 
ministers. Hence they would be~ 
come the inyariable supportess of 
all governments, good or bad, in 
expectation. of assistance from them 
in all pecuniary difficulties. Of the 
miny innovations lately introduced, 
this was one of the most dangerous, 
and alarming; it woy!d reduce a 
class of people, hitherto remarkable 
for their independent spirit, to a 
situation of subseryiency that would 
necessarily destroy all their former 
importarce, and subjeét them en- 
tirely to the direction and manage. 
ment of al] feture administrations. 
Nor would jt be less pernicious im 
another light, by lessening the ex- 
ertions of individuals in the mercan- 
tile line; they would certainly re- 
mit of theiranxiery and cares, when 
they reflected, that in those perilous 
occurrences to which traders are 
peculiarly liable, they might rely 
upon government for certain relief, 
Mr, 
