that corn is in general preferred for distillation; 

 and, on the other, that the suspension might 

 profit individuals who have speculated in the 

 view of its taking place ; it would seem, that an 

 arrangement of duties may make the matter 

 pretty nearly indifferent to them as a body *. 



A new and important interest, however, has 

 made its appearance on the present occasion, 

 which was scarcely thought of formerly, that 

 of our Colonial Proprietors. They have, some 

 time ago, applied to Parliament for assistance 

 in their present distresses ; have suggested the 

 suspension of the corn distillery as one mode 

 of relief; and have had sufficient influence 

 with the Committee of the House of Commons, 

 appointed to inquire into their case, to in- 

 duce them to recommend it ; after having fail- 

 ed in a like suggestion to a former Committee-^. 



* Sec the evidence of Mr T. Smith (of Brentford), and Mr T. 

 Smith (of the house of Stein, Smith, & Co.), in the Appendix to 

 the Report, particularly p. 34-81. Mr D. Montgomerie, p. 

 126-8. 



f " The result, therefore, of the inquiry of the Committee is, 

 " that however strongly they may feel the distresses and the diffi- 

 te culties under which the West Indian trade at present labours ; 

 (f however anxious they may be to recommend the adoption of 

 " any measure which may tend to aft'ord, even a temporary relief, 

 " from a pressure so heavy and alarming, they do not think the 

 " measure of permitting the use of sugar and molasses, for a time 



