CHAP. IV.] WEST INDIES. 269 
the most scrupulous on that head; inasmuch as 
such vessels could never be employed in transport¬ 
ing sugar across the Atlantic, nor could they be 
got insured if such attempts should be made. But 
although this answer must have satisfied every well 
informed and considerate person, it was found in¬ 
sufficient to silence the clamour which at that time 
was industriously propagated on the subject of the 
carrying trade, as if the future existence of the 
commercial navigation of Great Britain had been 
involved in the discussion. 
So vehement was the uproar, that the minister 
himself was compelled to give way to the torrent. 
Although Mr. Pitt was now placed at the head of 
the British administration, he found himself unable, 
on his return to power, to inforce his first inten¬ 
tions on this subject. Instead of reviving the pro- 
* visional bill which, a few months before he had 
presented to parliament, he thought it advisable to 
refer the consideration of the whole matter to the 
lords of the committee of privy council for the af¬ 
fairs of trade, by whom many of the West Indian 
merchants and planters, resident in Great Britain, 
were interrogated on the subject; and the writer 
of this had the honour to be of the number. It 
was readily admitted by the sugar planters, that, 
on every principle of honour, humanity, and jus¬ 
tice, the unfortunate loyalists of Canada and Nova 
Scotia were entitled to a preference of their custom, 
provided those provinces possessed, in any degree 
the means of supplying their wants; but this, they 
