not been suspected of partiality for the popular branch of the constitution; yet he observes, "If the two houses of parliament, or either of them, had avowedly a right to animadvert on the king, or each other, or the king had a right to animadvert on either of the houses, that branch of the legislature so subject to animadversion would instantly cease to be part of the supreme power, the balance of the constitution would be overturned, and that branch or branches in which this jurisdiction resided would be completely sovereign. The supposition of law therefore is, that neither the king, or either house of parliament collectively taken, is capable of doing any wrong." He adds, that such cases being out of the reach of express legal provision, "if ever they unfortunately happen, the prudence of the times must provide new remedies upon new emergencies." It is the painful duty of the committee, in obedience to the orders of the house, to suggest the proper remedy in the new emergency arising out of this speech following the precedents established by the wisdom of our ancestors, and uniformly acted upon by the house of assembly, the committee recommend to the house to come to the following resolutions: :

Resolved, That the loyalty and patriotism of his majesty's subjects, the inhabitants of this island, have ever been most conspicuous, and that their representatives could at no time be justly charged with refusing the supplies necessary for the support of government and the defence of the country, from motives of disaffection.

Resolved, That, in the session of 1803, this house granted for the

service of the following year 3110401. That a large proportion of the money voted was for the expence of the army and barrack departments, which were fully provided for to the extent for which the faith of this country is pledged.

Resolved, That nothing but an anxious desire to aid and support the government, to the utmost of our ability, could have induced the house to vote so large a supply in the distressed situation to which our constituents were reduced.

Resolved, That the assumption of any branch of the legislature, of a right to animadvert in any manner upon this house, in the exercise of its rightful powers as a component part of the same legislature, and more especially in matters of supply, is unconstitutional, and, if submitted to, would destroy the independence of this house, and the legislative constitution of the island.

ject, which, in compliance with the directions contained in the said order, I am to desire you will take an early oportunity of proposing to the assembly to be passed into a law.

Message relative to Intercourse with America, dated 13th Dec, 1804.

House resolve, that it appearing, by an order of his majesty's council, dated the 21st of November last, and published in the royal gazette, that his honour be advised to signify to the officers of his majesty's customs in the respective ports of entry and clearance of this island, that from and after the expiration of six months, to be computed from the present date, the resolution of council of the 17th July, 1800, is to be no longer considered in force, and it being evident that the interruption of the intercourse between this island and the united states of America cannot fail to be highly detrimental, the following message be sent to his honour the lieutenantgovernor.

Resolutions approving of the m eri torious Conduct of Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth. Dated 17th December, 1804.

Resolution agreed to nem. con. that the thanks of this house be presented to vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, K. B. for the effectual protection afforded to the commerce and coasts of this island, by his able and disinterested dis ribution of his majesty's naval forces under his command; and that he be requested to accept a sword as a testimony of the high sense entertained by this house of the eminent services he has thereby rendered to the country.-Mr. speaker ordered to transmit to vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, K. B. a copy of the above resolution.To direct the receiver-general to remit to Edmund Pusey Lyon, esq. the agent of this island, the sum of 1000 guineas, for the purpose of purchasing a sword, to be presented to vice-admiral sir John Thomas Duckworth, K. B.

Resolution relative to the Interference of the Board of Trade, in the internal Concerns of the Colony. Dated 17th December, 1804.

To send a message to his honour the lieutenant-governor, to acquaint him, that in consequence of his honour's message of the 12th inst. accompanied with a report from the lords of trade and plantations to his majesty, and an order of his majesty in council thereupon, the house have maturely weighed the purport of the proposition recommended to them, to enact into a law the bill framed by that board for the pre

vention

the British colonies in North America, where any such duties are due and payable.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

your most obedient humble servant,

Camden.

Sir,

[Copy.] Downing-street, 5th Sep. 1804.

In consequence of a report of the committee of his majesty's privy council for trade and foreign plantations, I am to instruct you not to open the ports of the island over which you preside, for the admission of articles from the American states, which are not allowed to be imported by law (except in cases of real and very great necessity), and not to fail to apprize me, in every instance wherein you shall so do, and to state at the same time the reason which induced you to adopt the measure, taking care also, in every proclamation which shall be issued for this purpose, to insert conditions which shall prevent importations being made from the states of America on more favourable terms, as to duties on entry, than on similar importations from

Address of the Assembly of Jamaica to his Majesty, upon the Subject of the Prohibition of the Intercourse with America. Dated 18th December, 1804.

To the king's most excellent majesty. The humble address of the assembly of Jamaica.

Most gracious sovereign,

We your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the assembly of Jamaica, most humbly beg leave to submit to your majesty's consider-, ation the very serious and alarming evils which threaten this colony, from a resolution of council, dated 21st November, 1804, announcing a termination after six months from that date, of the intercourse which has been permitted, in times of war, betwixt America and this island.The ruinous and fatal consequence inseparable from such a measure, we have deprecated in an humble address to his honour the lieutenant governor, to which we have been impelled by existing facts and the most urgent and imperious necessity, which a continuance of the reciprocal interest of the parent state and this island, and of the very existence of the latter, could dictate. We have, however, the mortification to state to your majesty, that our application has been refused; and, as his honour's answer to our address informs us, in obedience to the impeZ z 3.

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rative orders transmitted from England by your majesty's ministers. Conscious that the wisdom of your majesty's council never direct and persist in orders inconsistent with both general and individual welfare, suffer us, most gracious and beneficent sire, with the utmost humility, and with hearts replete with gratitude, loyalty, and affection, for the many inestimable blessings we have ever experienced under your majesty's most auspicious reign, to represent to your majesty, that in times of war, we cannot, without a permission of this intercourse with the American states, procure the articles of lumber necessary for carrying on the business of our plantations, and for packages to convey the various produce of the colony to the markets of Great Britain and Ireland, nor the provisions wanted for our own subsistence, but more especially so for that of our negroes, besides the accommodation which your majesty's forces on this station, both by sea and land, derive from thence; that the British North American colonies cannot furnish these supplies; and that in time of war, British vessels and British seamen cannot be procured to carry on this trade. Permit us, august sire, while we presume to lay before you these our most humble and earnest solicitations for the continuance of this intercourse, to express our fullest confidence that it only requires to make known to your majesty the grievances of your faithful and loyal subjects, however distant from the seat of empire, when your royal and paternal regard will direct the proper relief.

Gentlemen of the council, Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the assembly,-Having passed the bills which have been presented to me, I grant you the recess which the season of the year requires. Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the assembly, I return you my thanks for your dispatch in the public business. Gentlemen of the council, Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the assembly,-1 have very great satisfaction in acquainting you that the fortifications of this island are about to be put in the best state of defence, and I have only to recommend to you that vigilance and attention in your respective parishes, both in your military and civil capacities, so requisite at all times for the security and tranquillity of the island, but most particularly so at a period when, in the event of a war with Spain, the situation of this colony may be rendered much more critical than on former occasions. I do now, in his majesty's name, prorogue this general assem◄ bly until Tuesday the 29th January next, and it is hereby prorogued accordingly.

Message delivered by the President of the United States of America to both Houses of Congress.November 8, 1804.

To the Senate and House of Repre

sentatives of the United States. To a people, fellow-citizens, who sincerely desire the happiness and prosperity of other nations, to those who justly calculate that their own well being is advanced by other nations, with which they have intercourse, it will be a satisfaction to ob

December, 1804.

meeting, has not yet extended its flames to other nations, nor been marked by the calamities which sometimes stain the footsteps of war. The irregularities, too, on the ocean, which generally harrass the commerce of neutral nations, have, in distant parts, disturbed ours less than on former occasions. But in the American seas they have been greater, from peculiar causes, and even within our harbours and jurisdiction, infringements upon the authority of the laws have been committed, which have called for serious attention. The friendly conduct of the governments from whose of ficers and subjects these acts have proceeded, in other respects, and in places more under their observation and control, gives us confidence that our representations on this subject will have been properly regarded. While noticing the irregularities committed on the ocean by others, those on our own part should not be omitted, nor left unprovided for. Complaints have been received that persons residing within the united states, have taken upon themselves to arm merchant vessels, and to force a commerce into certain ports and countries, in defiance of the laws of those countries. That individuals should undertake to wage private war, independently of the authority of their country, cannot be permitted in a well ordered society. Its tendency to produce aggression on the laws and rights of other nations, and to endanger the peace of our own, is so obvious, that I doubt not you will adopt measures for restraining it in future. Soon after the passing of the act of last session, authorising the establishment of a district and port of entry on the waters of the Mobile,

we learnt that its object was misunderstood on the part of Spain. Candid explanations were immediately given, and assurances that, rcserving our claims in that quarter as a subject of discussion and arrangement with Spain, no act was meditated in the mean time inconsistent with the peace and friendship existing between the two nations; and that, conformably to those intentions would be the execution of the law. That government had, however, thought proper to suspend the ratification of the convention of 1802; but the explanations which would reach them soon after, and still more the confirmation of them by the tenor of the instrument, establishing the port and district, may reasonably be expected to replace them in the disposition and views of the whole subject which originally dictated the convention. I have the satisfaction to inform you, that the objections which had been urged by that government against the validity of our title to the country of Louisiana, have been withdrawn: its exact limits, however, remaining still to be settled between us. And to this is to be added, that having prepared and delivered the stock created in execution of the convention of Paris of April the 30th, 1803, in consideration of the cession of that country, we have received from the government of France an acknowledgment in due form of the fulfilment of that stipulation. With the nations of Europe in general our friendship and intercourse are undisturbed; and from the governments of the belligerent powers especially, we continue to receive those friendly manifestations which are justly due to an honest neutrality, and to such good Z z 4

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