: Mr. Burke. industry and care from that most fatal consequence of his late Houfe of Affembly, JOHN GAY ALLEYNE, Speaker.” 08. 31, 1781. Mr. Burke applauded the liberality of the propofed relief, and the judgment with which Lord North had proportioned the diftribution of it. He thought clearly, that Barbadoes fhould have more of the money which Parliament could afford to give, than Jamaica, for the reafons that had been urged by the noble lord, and alfo that because in Jamaica only a part of a community, a rich and generous community, had fuffered; but the whole of the ifland of Barbadoes had been ravaged and almoft wholly defolated. None could help his neighbour. To Barbadoes therefore, we muft yield the melancholy pre-eminence. And when I say this, faid Mr. Burke, I fpeak with impartiality, and more than impartiality, for I have the honour of knowing many of the inhabitants of Jamaica; but with those of Barbadoes 1 am wholly unacquainted. Mr. Burke, in answer to Mr. Pultenay, faid, that it could not be expected that the noble lord could have any data for fixing with precifion, a fum adequate to the neceffity of the cafe in queftion. If the fums propofed exceeded the relief of extreme want, fo much the better. If any alteration were to be made in the fums propofed with fo much liberality and judgment, he would rather be for extending than reducing them. But though he should ever be defirous of ftraining the ability of Parliament to relieve diftrefs, yet he did not think that Parliament were obliged by any law whatever, to make up the loffes that might in the courfe of Providence, fall on our fellow fubjects. As to any diftinction between an indemnification for a lofs, and fuch affiftance as might fupport the fufferers in the mean time, and put them in a way of refuming their habits of industry, he thought the former was in no small degree implied in the latter. A committee fhould be appointed, confifting of the agents for the islands, and the Weft India merchants, who fhould determine, in the face of the world and of one another, the moft proper mode of effecting the humane purposes of the King and Parliament. The judgments of all men were too apt to be warped by pártial motives and views. As a counterbalance to this difpofition, it was that he propofed that the committee fhould be as public as poffible. The committee fhould determine the kinds of relief that fhould be fent to the Weft Indies; and the individual application of the means of relief fhould be committed to the governors or church-wardens, or others who are acquainted with the circumftances of the various fufferers. Parliament fpecifies the fum they can afford to give; the committee determines the quantity of the fpecies of materials to be fent; and the moft refpectable inhabitants on the island, make the application of relief to the exigencies of individuals. Sir W. Guife thought that the fums propofed fhould go to the relief of the iflands without any fees or deduction. Lord North and the whole Houfe agreed to this propofal. Three refolutions were formed in the committee; one, to grant eighty thousand pounds for the relief of Barbadoes; another, to grant forty thousand pounds for the relief of Jamaica; and a third, that these fums be paid for the use of the fufferers without any deduction. This day, Mr. Jenkinson, fecretary at war, prefented to the Houfe, pursuant to their addrefs, the following papers: Sir #. Guife. Stats State of His Majefty's British regular Land-Forcès, Officers included, in North America and the Weft Indies, as they were at the End of the Year 1779, taken from the laft Returns dated within that Year. Officers prefent. Under Sir Henry Clinton, by monthly return of Dec. 1, 1779, Under General Haldimand, by monthly re- Under the convention, by monthly return of War-Office, January 23, 1781. 134 26 258 1228 276 66 1646 2532 712 6076 7130 4238 C. JENKINSON. An Account of the Men loft and difabled in His Majesty's Land-Service, including two Battalions of Marines, Serving on Shore, by Death, Captivity, Defertion, Wounds or Sickness, in North America and the Weft Indies, from November 1, 1774, to the Date of the laft Returns inclufive, diftinguishing each Year's Corps and Service, fo far as the fame can be made up from Papers in the War-Office. Years. Services. Corps. 1774, North America, under Generals Gage and Hal dimand, British Weft Indies Ditto 88 Dead. Total number of prisoners by the laft rcturn of each year. (1) Deferted. Difcharged. (2) 30 47 39 4 20 781 115 West Indies Ditto 249 148 1776, North America, under Sir Guy Carleton, under Sir William Howe, Ditto 869 744 192 619 Ditto 200 48 68 36 490 81 162 20 29 220 (4) 484 487 5 West Indies Ditto |