ed, terms the narrow, weak, and ill-founded policy which had directed the English Councils in respect to Ireland, ever since that country had become a part of the British Dominions; and recommended, very warmly, an inquiry into the state of the Irish Commerce and Manufactures, in order that such of them as did not immediately interfere with those of Great Britain, might receive every possible encouragement consistent with the general interests of the whole Empire.

Mr. Conolly drew a very melancholy picture of the present stale of Ireland, and recapitulated many instances of the eminent loyalty of that country, and of the repeated proofs she had given, for a series of years back, of her readiness to contribute, much beyond her ability, to the common support. Besides the merits she had to plead on these grounds, he pointed out the absurdity of several of the restraints laid upon the Irish Commerce; and endeavoured to show that some of those were as unkind as impolitick; and that there were some branches of trade, particular that to the Levant, which might be laid open, much to the advantage of both countries, and to the complete rivalship of the French.

Mr. Burke rose a second time, and predicted the most happy conclusion from the dawning favourable disposition of the Minister. He therefore, offered an amendment, by proposing to insert the words, "Trade and Commerce."

Lord North observed, that the amendment suggested by the honourable gentleman would introduce a mass of mater, much too weighty and extensive for present consideration; that nothing of the kind was intended by the present motion; and that it arose purely from matter which came out the course of a discussion on the Massachusetts Bay Fishery Bill, though he could assure the House that it was by no means dictated by a spirit of resentment, but was simply taken up on the mere independent idea which the motion expressed, that of encouraging the Fisheries of Great Britain and Ireland, as an independent proposition.

The question was then put, and it was carried in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday fortnight, the 27th day of this instant, April, resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider of what Encouragements It may be proper to give to the Fisheries carried on from Great Britain and Ireland.

THURSDAY, April 27, 1775.

Ordered, That the Order of the Day for the House to resolve itself into Committee of the Whole House, to consider of what Encouragements it may be proper to give to the Fisheries carried on from Great Britain and Ireland, be now read.

And the said Order being read accordingly—

Lord North observed, that when the present proposition was first moved, he wished it to be understood, and explained himself so at the time, that the only object meant to be considered was the Fishery alone; but since that time application had been made, and it had been thought reasonable, that as several Regiments serving in the West Majesty's Governments of Gibraltor and Minoica were paid by that Kingdom, and by the law, as it now stood, no Clothing, Accoutrements, &c., could be sent from thence, to allow, such Clothing, &c., to be sent, under certain restrictions, directly from Ireland. His Lordship next proceeded to observe, that the Linen being the staple manufacture of Ireland, and it being dreaded that the American Non-Importation Agreement might cut that country off from the annual supplies of Flax-seed from North America, though, for his own part, he had no reason to think so, as the imagined such an un-natural combination, from the very nature of it, must shortly be dissolved: he begged leave to submit to the consideration of the House, considering the immediate urgent circumstance which now presented themselves, if it would to grant a small bounty on the importation of Flax-seed into Ireland, for a limited time. He said he was fully aware of the seeming oddity of such proposal, and of the jealousies and alarm: such a measure might probably occasion; but when the motives which induced him were properly considered, and that no fraud could be carried into execution; doubted not but the House would immediately subscribe to their propriety. He assured the House, before he sat down, that the indulgence given to export the Clothing for the Troops should be carefully guarded; and that as to the bounties paid on the importation of Flax-seed into Ireland, there could be no fraud, because the Parliament of that Kingdom had already granted a similar bounty, which usually amounted, on an average, to seven thousand five hundred Pounds per annum; therefore the certificates, in one instance, would be vouchers to the British Parliament, to prevent even the suspicion, of fraud, or imposition of any kind whatever. His Lordship then moved the two following instructions:—

"Ordered, That it be an instruction to the said Committee, that they do consider of allowing the Clothing and Accoutrements necessary for his Majesty's Forces, which are to be paid out of any of his Majesty's Revenues arising in the Kingdom of Ireland, and are sent from thence, upon his Majesty's service, to be exported from Ireland to the places where such Forces shall be so ordered to serve."

"Ordered, That it be an instruction to the said Committee, that they do consider of what Encouragement it maybe proper to give to promote the importation of Flax-seed into Ireland, for a limited time."

Ordered, That the Minutes of the examination of witnesses, taken before the Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Bill to restrain the Trade and Commerce; of the Provinces; of Massachusetts Bay and New-Hampshire, and Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantation, in North America; to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Islands in the West Indies; arid to prohibit such Provinces and Colonies from carrying on any Fishery on the banks of Newfoundland, or other places therein to be mentioned, under certain conditions, and for a time to be limited, was committed, and also on the report of the said Bill, be referred to the said Committee.

Then the House resolved itself into the said Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cooper took the Chair of the Committee.

Lord North moved the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the following Bounties should be paid; that is to say, Forty Pounds for twenty-five Vessels, of the burthen of fifty tons and upwards, that shall first arrive from Newfoundland with a cargo of bank Fish, and not less than ten thousand in tale; and, disposing of the same, shall catch a second cargo of the same.

Resolved, That Twenty Pounds per Vessel, for one hundred Vessels that shall next arrive, as before mentioned, be paid.

Resolved, that Ten Pounds a Vessel, for the next one hundred Vessels that arrive, as above mentioned, shall be paid.

Upon this he remarked, that the design of it was to encourage the going out early enough to make two voyages a year, which was very practicable. He observed, that there could not be a doubt but it would be infinitely for the advantage of this country to make Newfoundland, as much as possible, an English Island, rather than an American Colony; that sedentary Fisheries ought to be discouraged, and the bank Ship Fishery encouraged, which was tile great nursery of Seamen; that the experiment was not an expensive one, as the whole demand could not exceed four thousand Pounds, a sum not great enough to alarm anyone.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the following Bounties shall be paid: Five Hundred Pounds to the Ship that shall bring home the greatest quantity of Oil, being the Oil of not less than one Whale, caught in Seas to the South of the Greenland and Davis's Straits' Fisheries; Four Hundred Pounds to the first that shall bring home the next greatest quantity; Three Hundred Pounds to the next greatest quantity; and Two Hundred Pounds to the next greatest quantity.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Duties on the import of Oil, Blubber, Bone, &c, from Newfoundland, &c., shall cease and determine.

He explained this point, by observing, that while these Imports from Greenland were allowed Duty-free, the same