Perceval’s first suggestion was far from being so radical as the measure at last adopted. He proposed to cut off France from her colonies and force all trade between those colonies and Europe to pass through British hands; but an American ship laden with American cotton or wheat might still sail from the United States direct to France and return to the United States, or might carry provisions and lumber to Martinique and Cuba, carrying French or Spanish sugar back to New York. This so-called “direct” trade was to be untouched; the “indirect” or carrying trade between the West Indies and the continent of Europe was to be permitted only under special licenses to be issued by British authorities. In this shape Perceval sent his suggestions to the Prime Minister, the Duke of Portland, who gave his entire approval to the principle of retaliation as against France, but wished to retaliate against France alone:[63] “Considering the unpopularity which, it cannot be denied, we are held in throughout the Continent, I very much doubt whether we should limit this intercourse beyond the actual dominions of France. I am well aware that by admitting the intercourse with Holland and Spain, France will obtain circuitously those supplies which she will stand in want of.” This disadvantage, the Duke thought, could be largely compensated by a rigid observance of the navigation laws. The Duke’s opinion was very short, and barely hinted at the American question. John Fane, Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Privy Seal,--_Sot Privé_, or Privy Fool, as Canning afterward nicknamed him by a pun on the French word _sceau_,[64]--gave next his written opinion on the subject.[65] Going beyond either Perceval or Portland, he urged the expediency of stopping all trade with the enemy except through the medium of England,--“the effect of which must be either to distress them to such a degree as to induce a relaxation of their decrees, or to cause a great trade from this country. Its effect in case of an extension of hostility can certainly not be ascertained; but I am disposed to think that we cannot carry on war allowing our enemy advantages of commerce as in peace, and that if we only do what is right we must take our chance for the consequences.” The next opinion was apparently that of Lord Hawkesbury, the Home Secretary, who was also clear that Perceval’s plan wanted energy. While supporting the Duke of Portland in narrowing its scope to France, or at the utmost to Holland, he favored harsher treatment of America:[66]