274 
HISTORY OF THE [bookvi, 
and their consequences to every part of the empire, 
so inconsiderable, so truly contemptible was the 
trilling interference of American shallops, carrying 
food to invigorate the hungry labourer, and tim¬ 
bers to repair mills and houses, that it seemed not 
to be an object deserving a moment’s solicitude in 
the breast of a great nation. 
Such were, in part, the evidence and arguments 
offered on behalf of the West Indies; and if the 
question had met with unprejudiced and temperate 
discussion, I am inclined to think, notwithstanding 
the jealous and monopolizing spirit of traffic, that 
regulations widely different from the present sys¬ 
tem of restriction and exclusion towards America, 
would have been established; but, unfortunately, 
the private interests of some, and the prejudices 
and passions of others, were allowed to mingle in 
the investigation. I am aware that, in common, 
cases, it ill becomes an undistinguished individual 
to arraign the wisdom and propriety of the national 
councils; but although there is a degree of respect 
due to men in authority, which I would willingly 
preserve, yet I dare not maintain it either by the 
violation or the suppression of truth. The conse¬ 
quences which flowed from the proceedings recom¬ 
mended and adopted on this occasion, will present¬ 
ly be seen; and they cannot be remembered with 
indifference. To suppress facts, therefore, in 
which the interests of humanity are so deeply con¬ 
cerned, is to sacrifice both the dignity and utility of 
history; the great end of which is to make the 
