WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. IV.] 
279 
of the United States would, in that case, they said, 
suffer much more than any of his Majesty’s sub¬ 
jects ; a conclusion not very decisive ; the expe¬ 
rience of all ages abundantly proving, that conside¬ 
rations of interest are frequently overpowered by 
motives of resentment. 
These doctrines and opinions of the lords of the 
committee of council were unfortunately approved 
and adopted in their fullest extent by the British 
government; and the only solitary hope which now 
remained to the inhabitants of the West Indies 
was, that the apprehension of their lordships, con¬ 
cerning American retaliation, was ill-founded; and 
that the United States, notwithstanding the prohi¬ 
bitory system of Great Britain, would still open 
their ports to British shipping; and freely indulge 
them with the liberty of importing the products of 
the British sugar islands; carrying away American 
produce in return. The planters could not indeed 
but foresee a very great expense, delay, and un¬ 
certainty attending such circuitous navigation 5 but 
to this they were prepared to submit, as the only 
alternative of escaping inevitable and impending 
destruction. 
But there was this misfortune attending the su¬ 
gar planters, that their wants were immediate ; and 
of a complexion affecting not only property, but 
life. Whatever resources might ultimately be 
found in the opulence and faculties of the mother- 
country, it was impossible, in the nature of things. 
