WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. IV.] 
275 
errors and misconduct of one set of men, a lesson 
and a warning to their successors. 
The case was, to speak plainly and undisguised- 
]y, that the committee of council, to whom the 
consideration of this important business devolved, 
(with the best intentions I believe, for it cannot be 
supposed that they wished to injure the West In¬ 
dian colonies), suffered themselves to be guided in 
their researches by men who had resentments to 
gratify, and secret purposes to promote. Some of 
these were persons whom America had prescribed 
for their loyalty, and unjustly deprived of their pos¬ 
sessions. That they had become, on this account 
objects of compassion, and claimants on the public 
of Great Britain, I have no wish to deny; but, 
without doubt, they were the last men in the 
world whose opinions should have been adopted, 
concerning the establishment of a system of reci¬ 
procity and conveniency between the mother coun¬ 
try and that which they had left. To suppose that 
such men were capable of giving an impartial and 
unbiassed testimony in such a case, is to suppose 
they had divested themselves of the common feel¬ 
ings of mankind. 
The first inquiries of the committee of coun¬ 
cil, (thus influenced), were directed to disprove the 
assertions contained in an address of the assembly 
of Jamaica, concerning the distress in which that 
island was stated to be, at that time, involved, 
from the want of provisions and lumber. Although 
