n my constituents and the traders of this great metropolis.

I am unwilling to imagine that there can be any evil for which the
wisdom of this assembly cannot discover a remedy, and am, therefore, of
opinion, that if the grievance is real, some expedient may be discovered
for removing it; and that it is real, I cannot but be convinced by the
declarations of so many men, who can have no interest in complaining
when they suffer nothing, and whose known abilities exempt them from the
suspicion of imputing any part of their uneasiness to a cause which
cannot produce it.

The bill before us, sir, requires, in my opinion, some amendments, and
in its present state might, perhaps, produce more detriment than
advantage; but since it is necessary at least to attempt something for
the relief of men so useful to this nation, it appears to me necessary
to form a committee, and to deliberate on this subject with more
attention.

Mr. LOCKWOOD spoke next, to the following effect:--Sir, though I am not
of opinion that the bill in its present state ought to be passed into a
law, yet I am far from thinking it so imperfect as not easily to be
amended, and, therefore, am desirous that it should be considered in a
committee.

I have not, indeed, sir, often observed, that bills injudiciously drawn
up at first have received great improvements from a second
consideration, and have found it more easy to form a new bill, than to
make alterations in one that is laid before us; for some original errour
will commonly remain, and the sentiments of different men, pursuing
different views, can seldom be modelled into one consistent scheme. But
I am far from considering this bill as one of those that cannot be
amended, for I can discover but few objections to the regulations
proposed in it, and those not relating to any of the essential parts,
but slight and circumstantial, such as will easily be removed, or,
perhaps, answered.

The grievance, sir, for which this bill proposes a remedy, is so
generally known, and so universally lamented, that, I believe, there is
not any thing more worthy of the attention of the legislature than an
inquiry into the cause of it, and the proper method of redressing it.

In our inquiry into the causes of this obstruction of trade, I am of
opinion, sir, that the practice of insuring, _interest or no interest_,
will appear to be the foundation of this general uneasiness; it will be
found a practice of so natural a ten