were not effected without violent contest and
altercation. At length, however, it was floated through both houses on
the tide of a great majority, and steered into the safe harbour of royal
approbation. Certain it is, the abuse of clandestine marriage might have
been removed upon much easier terms than those imposed upon the subject
by this bill; which, after all, hath been found ineffectual, as it
may be easily eluded by a short voyage to the continent, or a moderate
journey to North Britain, where the indissoluble knot may be tied
without scruple or interruption.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

DELIBERATIONS CONCERNING THE SUGAR COLONIES.

Over and above these new statutes, there were some other subjects which
occasionally employed the attention of the commons; such as the state
of the British sugar colonies, which was considered, in consequence
of petitions presented by the sugar refiners and grocers of London,
Westminster, and Bristol, complaining of the exorbitant price
demanded and given for sugars imported from Jamaica; desiring that the
proprietors of lands in Jamaica might be obliged to cultivate greater
quantities of ground for raising sugar-canes, or that they (the
petitioners) might have leave to import muscovado sugars from other
countries, when the price of those imported from Jamaica should exceed
a certain rate. This remonstrance was taken into consideration by a
committee of the whole house; and a great number of evidences and papers
being examined, they resolved, that the peopling of Jamaica with white
inhabitants, and cultivating the lands thereof, would be the most
proper measure for securing that island, and increasing the trade
and navigation between it and Great Britain, and other parts of
his majesty's dominions; that the endeavours hitherto used by the
legislature of Jamaica to increase the number of white inhabitants, and
enforce the cultivation of lands, in the manner that might best conduce
to the security and defence of that island, had not been effectual
for these purposes. The house ordered a bill to be founded on these
resolutions; but this was postponed until the ministry should receive
more full information touching the true state of that island. The
planters of Jamaica laboured under many grievances and hardships, from
divers heavy impositions and restrictions; and a detail of these was
transmitted in a representation to his majesty, which was referred to
the consideration of the co