Petition of the Merchants and Traders

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A Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the City of Glasgow, was presented to the House, and read, setting forth —

That the Petitioners are deeply interested in the trade to North America, by exporting annually great quantities of British Manufactures and other Goods, and receiving in return the produce of the Colonies; and have at this time, in effects belonging to them in America, and in debts due to them by the Colonies, to the amount of one million and upwards; and that the trade between Great Britain and the Colonies, has for a long time been carried on to the great advantage of every part of the British Empire; and that it has been a great nursery for Seamen; has given employment to many thousand Manufacturers in Britain, and greatly increased his Majesty' s Revenue; and that the Petitioners have observed, with much concern, that certain late Acts of Parliament have created fears and jealousies, and raised much dissatisfaction in the minds of his Majesty' s American subjects, who have been induced to enter into resolves to interrupt the commerce between Great Britain and the Colonies; and that the Petitioners apprehend, if this interruption to trade is long continued, many thousands of British Manufacturers will be reduced to poverty and distress by want of employment; the Petitioners will suffer great loss, and his Majesty' s Revenue be diminished; but they trust, with full confidence, in the wisdom and justice of the House, to bring about a happy reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies; and, therefore, praying the House to take into their serious consideration this great commercial business, and to give such relief as shall seem best.

A motion was made, and the question being proposed, that the said Petition be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Petition of the Merchants, Traders, and others, of the City of London, concerned in the commerce of North America, is referred;

An amendment was proposed to be made to the question, by leaving out from the word "whom" to the end of the question, and inserting, "it is referred to consider of the several Papers which were presented to the House by the Lord North, upon Thursday last, by his Majesty' s command," instead thereof,

And the question being put, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question;

The House divided — Yeas 68, Noes 26.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main question being put,

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the consideration of the Committee of the Whole House, to whom the Petition of the Merchants, Traders, and others, of the City of London, concerned in the commerce of North America, is referred.