a66 
HISTORY OF THE [book vi. 
much inquiry. Although by this proclamation, the 
importation into the British West Indies of every 
species of naval stores, staves and lumber, live 
stock, flour, and grain of all kinds, the growth of 
the American States, was confined to British ships 
legally navigated; and the export to those states of 
West Indian productions was made subject to the 
same restriction; while many necessary articles, (as 
salted beef and pork, fish, and train oil), formerly 
supplied by America, were prohibited altogether, 
it was considered as a measure merely temporary 
and experimental; and until a plan of permanent 
regulation should be agreed to by both countries, it 
was thought neither impolitic nor unjust, that 
Great Britain should reserve in her own hands the 
power of restraining or relaxing her system of com¬ 
mercial arrangements, as circumstances might arise 
to render the exercise of such a power prudent and 
necessary. 
In these reasons the West Indian merchants, 
and such of the planters as were resident in Great 
Britain, acquiesced; but on the first meeting of a 
new parliament, in May 1784, (another change 
having taken place in the mean time in the British 
administration),* the business of a commercial in¬ 
tercourse between the West Indies and the states 
* The right honourable William Pitt who had been chancellor of 
the exchequer from ioth July 1782 to 5th April 1783, was re-ap¬ 
pointed to that office, and also nominated first lord of the treasury on 
the 25th of December 1783, soon after which the parliament was dis¬ 
solved. 
