very often very low, depending upon those circumstances. If, how- Mr. ever, all intercourse either in British or American ships was to be Milligan suddenly prohibited, I think it would for a time produce very great distress in the West India colonies; but if 10 or 12 months previous notice was given of such intention, I think it is probable that the supplies that would be sent from the British American colonies, and through this country, would in a great measure prevent that consequence, although it would certainly occasion very considerable additional expence; and if that system should be persevered in, I have no doubt but that in a little time we should either circuitously, or through neutral shipping, receive considerable supplies even from the American States, in spite of all possible restrictions, as their annual crops and produce, particularly of wheat, flour, corn, rice, and other articles of provision, are of a perishable nature, and for which the West Indies is the principal and beft market, so that in fact, the States of America are nearly as dependant on us for a market, as we are on them for the supplies.

Are you certain, that in the time you mention, no part of the supply received in Jamaica was the produce of the American States, not by capture, but received under neutral flags from the neutral islands, or otherwise?—I do not believe there was any under neutral flags during the American war.

Was any part of that supply derived from those parts of the United States, of which we yet retained the possession in British shipping?-I presume there must be some part, but no great part; we had always a communication with them, but it was of very little importance at that time.

Can you state to the committee (speaking from your own knowledge) the extent of the supply of lumber and provisions which could be obtained from the British North American colonies?-I never had much connection with the colonies of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick; their trade to Jamaica, during the time that I lived there, was not of much importance; but I have always understood and believe, that they are now capable of supplying almost any quantity of common lumber and fish in abundance, and are susceptible, with due encouragement, of great improvement. Canada I know can furnish any quantity of white oak staves of the best quality, and in some years large quantities of wheat and flour are shipped from that province: but I do not think that in the present situation of things, the British American colonies alone are competent to furnish an adequate and seasonable supply of all the articles, particularly flour, rice, at present supplied to the West Indies by the American States.

Is it your opinion, that the intercourse between the West India Islands and America in provisions and lumber, can be carried on as cheaply in British as in American ships?-If regular convoys were allowed to the British ships in that trade, I presume that the freight and insurance on British ships would be very little, if any thing, more than upon American ships.

Have you turned your attention to the possibility of supplying the wants of the British West India Islands from the British fisheries, more exclusively than at present?—I certainly have turned my at

Mr..

tention to the supplying the West India Islands with herrings, which Milligan is the most desirable article of food for negroes in the West Indies,

and in the course of my inquiries, I have found the whole of the British fisheries totally inadequate to the reasonable supply of the West India Inlands with that article, and in consequence have with other West India merchants, made application to parlament for permission to import Swedish herrings into this country, for the supply of the West India Islands, on the same terms that they are allowed to be imported into Ireland.

Are you aware of any other species of fish which might be imported from this country-There is no species of fish which could be carried to the West Indies so desirable for the slaves; there are pilchards, which in some respects might answer the purpose.

What do you conceive to be the causes of the present distressed situation of the West India planters?-The present depressed state of the sugar market; the very heavy duty upon that article, out of all proportion to its present value, and the permission given to neutral ships to bring home the produce of the enemies' colonies.

What measures do you conceive best calculated to afford relief to the West India planters?--I should think the removal of thofe causes which occasion their distress; a reduction of the duty; a blockade of the enemies ports' in the West Indies; any expedient which could be found to increase the home consumption, or the foreign demand; such, in respect to sugar, would be its use in the distilleries, or in respect of rum, its exclusive use in the army and navy. After what I have before said, I am also of opinion, that if regular convoys were to be appointed for the British ships trading to and from the West Indies to America, that the measure would greatly promote the West India interest, as the planters would then have the opportunity of shipping sugar and coffee to that market (which they cannot do in American ships) and at a reasonable rate of freight, and might in return have their provision and lumber shipped at the prime cost, with very little, if any, advance on the freight now paid to Ame. rican ships; indeed I have always been of opinion, that if convoys had been appointed at the commencement of the war in 1793, to have protected the British ships at that time stationed in that very course of trade, and that had exclusively carried it on to the mutual advantage of the planters and ship-owners, for seven years previous thereto, there would not have been occasion for any application to the West India governors to open the ports to American shipping. If the plan of convoys should be adopted, other advantages, would naturally attach to it; as British ships could land their cargoes at any port or place, whether there was a custom-house established or not, which an American ship cannot do; and if the system of blockading the enemies' sugar colonies is put in force (and, in my opinion, nothing short of that will give the West Indians effectual relief) another favourable circumstance will arise to the planters, as the Americans, who are in the habit of receiving about half the amount of their cargoes in specie, being deprived of the opportunity of trading with those colonies, will most probably invest the whole in the produce of our own iflands, a considerable part of which may afterwards find its way to the European markets, but not on terms

or in such quantities as to injure the British exports to those markets. Mr. Another concession, in my humble opinion, is also due to the West Milligan. India planters, and that is, to appoint an annual convoy to such ships as might be employed in the circuitous trade from hence to America and the West Indies, to load with lumber, &c. on account of such planters as should prefer having their supplies shipped in that manner; and I feel warranted in saying, that many British ships are now ready to embark in that trade, on equal terms of freight paid now to American ships.

Do you conceive that any practicable reduction of the duty would afford material relief?-I certainly think that it would, for the same reason that I think any additional duty laid upon the article at the present moment, would be an additional source of distress. According to my judgment, I should recommend that the scale of duty should be established upon something like this principle; supposing, that at the average price of 50s. free of duty, the present duty of 275. should be paid, and that for every shilling advance upon that price, there should be an advance of duty of sixpence; and for every shilling of the average under that price, there should be an abatement from the duty of sixpence.

Would any reasonable increase of bounty enable the British planters to meet the Americans in the foreign market?—I certainly think

not.

Has the reduction of price, which has taken place at the expence of the planters, been equal to any probable reduction of duty, and has that reduction of price been found materially to increase the home consumption?-I believe it has had its effect; it may not be very visible, but it must naturally have had an effect.

If some measures of relief are not speedily adopted, what do you conceive likely to be the consequences?—The probable bankruptcy of both planter and merchant.

Withdrew.

Martis, 21 die Julii, 1807.

EDMUND PUSEY LYON, Esq. called in, and examined.

WHAT is your connection with the West India islands, and what Mr. have been your means of acquiring information ?---I resided in Ja- Lyon. maica from April 1789 to the month of June 1801, and I have been of late years connected with the island of Jamaica as its agent in this country.

Is the present situation of the planters to be in any degree attributed to hurricanes, or any other natural calamities-- No cause of that description has contributed to produce the distress of the planters. No hurricane has taken place in Jamaica to the best of my recollection since the year 1785.

Generally speaking, have the seasons been remarkably favourable or unfavourable?---From my knowledge of Jamaica, from the year 1789 to the present time, there have been only the usual and ordinary vicissitudes of weather in that island.

Withdrew.

Mr.

GIBBES WALKER JORDAN, Esquire, called in, and examined. WHAT is your connection with the West India islands, and what Jordan. have been your means of acquiring information respecting them? -I am agent for Barbadoes, and have resided therein from 1783 to 1798.

Is the present situation of the planters in any degree to be attributed to hurricanes, or any other natural causes?---Certainly not; I know of no hurricane which has produced calamitous consequences to any material extent.

Generally speaking, have the seasons been remarkably favourable or unfavourable.The seasons have been in general tolerably favourable.

Withdrew.

ACCOUNTS.

AN ACCOUNT of the Quantity of SUGAR Imported from all Parts into Great Britain from the Year 1791 to the Year 1806 inclusive; distinguishing each Year:-Also, the Quantity of the same Exported to all Parts in the said Period; distinguishing the Export to Ireland from the Export to other Parts, and expressing the Sugar in Cwts. after reducing the Refined into Raw on the principle of 34 to 20.