CONTENTS. CHAP. I. Value of the West Indies to Great Bri- CHAP. II. Distressed condition of the West-India trade. Progressive depreciation of Sugar. Oppressive operation of the duties. Former Indies. Emigration of the planters and ne- CHAP. IV. Means of relieving the West-India colo- nies-1, By the use of sugar in the breweries, and more particularly in the distilleries.-2, By the interruption of the American intercourse with the Enemy's colonies.-3, By an increase of bounty on exportation. Observations on the A state of the West Indies. Their proposed re- duction of duty. A different plan from theirs suggested, and explained at length.-4, Alter- native of throwing open the monopoly. CHAP. V. Advantages of peace to the British West Indies, as well as to our general commerce. N.B. When the price of sugar is mentioned, the market price, or ། 171 INTRODUCTION. ANOTHER Coalition against France has failed; and has served only to consolidate the greatness which it was intended to humble. Britain must now seek, in a judicious direction of her own resources, that success which she has in vain expected from the co-operation of her allies. It is worthy of the spirit which we inherit from our ancestors, to bid defiance to a presumptuous enemy, and to meet, undismayed, the dangers which have overwhelmed our weaker neighbours. The means we possess amply justify our confidence, for they require only a skilful developement to render us invincible. Our numbers, our wealth, and, above all, the free and undaunted character of our people, form a bulwark, against which the efforts of France will be directed in vain. But while the country is animated by a just confidence in regard to the extent of its re sources, a considerable difference of opinion. exists about the efficacy of the various modes in which these resources are called into action.The legislature has been lately told by one of its own members*, that after spending fifteen years in endeavours to improve our military force, it was still at a wide distance from its object. This opinion is mentioned here, not with an intention of commencing a discussion foreign to the purpose of this Work, but to afford an example of the imperfection of several of our public measures. Indeed, the more we investigate the nature of our internal regulations, the more shall we be impressed with their inadequacy, both to the exigency of the times, and to the extent of our resources. The laws of our national economy will be found, in several respects, as objectionable as those of our military establishment. A change of circumstances has rendered many of our early regulations inexpedient and pernicious; but they have, notwithstanding, been allowed to subsist; not that we have wanted statesmen equal to the task of correcting these errors, and of displaying the national resources in all their energy; but because, since the ill-fated revolution of France, * See Mr. Whitbread's speech, on July 31, the attention of these statesmen has been absorbed by the more urgent business of war. A deference to popular prejudices has also contributed to delay the adoption of several important amendments. From both these causes the accumulating evils have either escaped notice, or, if forced upon the attention of government, have been referred for consideration to a future period-a period of greater leisure to ministers, and of greater tranquillity to the nation. A season, however, is now arrived, in which farther delay will be dangerous. We are left to our own unaided efforts; and, whether peace or war await us, it is obviously necessary that we should derive from our resources all the strength which an enlightened policy can afford. If, therefore, it appear that the general good can be promoted by a cession of the interests of a particular branch of the community, the present is, of all others, the tiine at which that cession is most required. And if it farther appear, that, by such a surrender, the conceding party sustains only an imaginary loss, no pains should be spared in the removal of whatever prejudices may be adverse to the national prosperity. |