14S 



old friend Sir Joshua Ghee, a great friend to America, thou||ti n6 

 patriot; a man who had written better on trade than any other man 

 living, and who knew more ot America ; and Sir Joshua Ghee says, if 

 ever the people of New England should aim to set up for themselves, 

 We must do the very things we are now doing — restrain their trade 

 and prohibit them from the fishery, and we shall soon bring them to 

 their senses. 



Mr. Fox renewed his opposition in terms of lofty indignation. - 



He was followed by Governor Pownall, who declal-ed that hc con- 

 sidered the measure as simply one of commercial regulation, and thgfl: 

 it should have his support. 



Mr. Dundas, as on a former occasion, closed the debate. Mr. Hart- 

 ley's amendment was rejected by a very large majority; whereupon 

 the House " resolved that the bill do pass;" and that "Mr. Cooper 

 xiarry the bill to the Lords and desire their concurrence." 



The subject was immediately considered in the House of Lords, and 

 an early day was assigned for final action upon it. Witnesses were 

 examined on the 15th of March. Lord Townsend asked Mr. Jenkins 

 "whether the Nantucket fishermen, after their business was interrupted 

 by the operation- of the bill, would not emigrate to Nova Scotia?" The 

 Quaker, in his plain way, answered "No," as he had done when ques- 

 lidhed in the Commons. "Why not?" inquired his lordship. " Be- 

 -cause," said Jenkins, "it is a barren country, and the government,, 

 they think, is military." From these and similar inquiries made of 

 •other witnesses, it seems quite evident that the lords who supported; 

 the ministry hoped, with their pohtical friends in the lower house, thftt 

 the fishermen of New Englatid would abandon their homes rather thali 

 suffer and remain idle. While they elicited nothing to encourage the 

 design of thus increasing the fisheries of the loyal colony to wMeh 

 their thoughts were directed, they were told by Mr. Lyster and Mf. 

 Davis, who were engaged in the Newfoundland fishery, that the fisb 

 hitherto sent to foreign markets from New England could be supplied 

 by themselves and others. Among the other persons examimed were 

 two former governors of Newfoundland, Admital ' Shiildham and Sir 

 Hugh Palliser. The former spoke: in terms of contempt and disparage^ 

 ment of Massachusetts and the other northern colonies; and the latter, 

 •besides indulging in similar remarks, expressed the opinion-, that whether 

 the restraints proposed by the bill were temporary or perpetual, they 

 would prove advantageous to Great Britain. 



On the 16th of March the bill was taken up as the order of the day 

 •The debate upon its merits and consequences was Ipng and animated. 

 The Marquis of Rockingham opposed it as oppressive and tyrannical 

 throughout, and said that he dissented from every syllable of its con- 

 tents. The Earl of Carlisle expressed himself surprised at the senti-. 

 ments of the noble marquis, and averred that the object of the ministry 

 was merely to draw America to her duty by the most lenient measures.. 

 The Duke of Manchester spoke of the bill as indiscriminately cruel, aB 

 presaging nothing but evil, and as bearing the marks of des;gotisra.. 

 The Earl of Denbigh defended the administration from the charges 

 preferred against it, and called upon his Grace of Manchester to ex- 

 plain, which he did. Viscount Dudley observed < that wbe» Hie inter*' 

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