chap, iv.] WEST INDIES. z 6 5 
sures resorted to by the British government, I shall 
now proceed to point out. 
The preliminary articles of peace were signed at 
Versailles on the 27th of January 1783; soon af¬ 
ter which, the house of commons having passed a 
vote of censure on the treaty, (with what regard to 
justice or consistency, it is not my business at pre¬ 
sent to inquire), this event was followed by the re¬ 
signation of the ministry by whom the treaty was 
adjusted. The new administration, it maybe pre¬ 
sumed, had too many objects to attend to, on their 
first elevation to power, to find leisure for consider¬ 
ing the business of a commercial treaty with Ame¬ 
rica. As, however, it was indispensably necessa¬ 
ry to repeal the prohibitory laws which had existed 
during the war, this was done by an act passed for 
that purpose; but as to the rest, parliament took 
the shortest course possible to save themselves 
trouble, by vesting in the crown for a limited time, 
authority to regulate the commerce with America in 
such manner as his majesty in council should deem 
expedient.* 
New and extraordinary as it certainly was, that 
such extensive authority should be delegated by 
parliament to the executive power, neither this 
circumstance, nor the proclamation, or order of 
council that issued in consequence of it on the 2d 
July 1783, (afterwards renewed annually), excited 
* Vide $tat. 23 Geo. III. c, 39. 
Vol. III. L 1 
