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 1 
 
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 inriwiwmii rf 
 
vfe 
 
 i 
 
:,,^.:^:^m«!a&K* 
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ^» TUB XATC 
 
 PROCEEDING 
 
 «# 
 
 G O V E R N M E N T, &c* 
 
 f Price Oke SmitjNtf. J 
 
 :* t&. 
 
 
 p 
 
 Sij)i 
 
 

 #^^" 
 
 u i^ 
 
 If 
 
 ^•v 
 
 1 
 
THOUGHTS 
 
 ON TMK lATS 
 
 PRO C E E D I N G S 
 
 O F 
 
 GOVERNMENT, 
 
 RKiriCTtKC THB 
 
 T R A D E 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 WEST INDIA ISLANDS 
 
 WITH THE 
 
 « 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 NORTH AMERICA. 
 
 By BRIAN EDWARDS, Es<^ 
 
 Quis furor iRe novm f qo6 nonc» qu5 tenditw, inqoit, 
 Hcu miferxctTes f non hoftem, inimicaqoe cafira 
 Argivfim ; veftras ^e$ ■ritis. Virc. Lib. 5. 
 
 .:^i| 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR T. CADELI., IN THE STltANB. 
 WMit M. »cc. I ixaiv. 
 
 J 
 
rf' 
 
 t ,. 
 
 
 
 3- 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 C5' 
 
PIT 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 3- 
 
 \ 
 
 c5' 
 
 TH £ mod material of the fa£is ftated 
 in this pamphlet, were collefted 
 by the author during his refidence in the 
 Weft-Indies, previous to the beginning of 
 the late war. His fituation there, afforded 
 him means of information, not always 
 attainable} and he endeavoured to avail 
 himfelf of it, for a purpofe very different 
 from that of a hafty and temporary publi- 
 cation. Some late meafiires of government, 
 particularly the proclamation of the twenty 
 Sixth of December laft, rene> ir;g among 
 other regulations, the reftriftive procla- 
 mation of the fecond of July preceding, in- 
 duced him, in judging of its propriety, to 
 recur to the materials in his pofleiiion ; 
 and conceiving that a clear and accurate 
 knowledge of every part of our antient 
 commercial fyftem with America, is at this 
 
 time 
 
[ vi ] 
 
 time efTentially neceffaiy, he ventures in this 
 manner to fubmit hiii thoughts OQ a very 
 important branch of it, to the wifdom of 
 our miniders, and the judgement of an 
 enlightened publick. UnconnetSted with 
 party, he writes with the frecdcito pf hif- 
 tory : he trufts with impartiality : he 
 hopes without offence. And ahhough he 
 has not the folly to fuppofe that the namf 
 of an undiftinguiOicd individual like him- 
 felf, can add weight to his opinions j yet as 
 he finds it neceflary to animadvert on the 
 writings of others who have avowed (jhetn- 
 felves to the world,, he has thought It His 
 duty, as an honcft man, to give fys name 
 alfo to the publick*,,, „ ^ ... 
 
 H^^X B. E»W ARDfe. 
 
 ^fsffj ,-; 
 
 Weftbtiry Houfc, ^*»^/, 
 iQili Ftlrvarj, 1784. 
 
 ■ ^ 
 
 ' -rif i ri l - - I I Wiiiii ■ I '- 
 
The reader h requefted to cxcufe and correA the foljowing 
 Eirata, occailoned by the Author's reiidiog at a diilance from. 
 the prefs. 
 
 Page 4, line 3, for to tonfoU <witk, read te cvn/ek our/Uva 
 njoith. P. 17, hue 29, dele /;6#. P. 19, line 1 8, for yi//^, 
 ttt.6. fupplies . P. 29, line 8, for manufaiioritt, read manu- 
 faSurtt. P. 3I1 line 18, for of, read oh. P. 37, line la, 
 for intirtji, read interejh. Ibid, line 18, for oar, read 4^. 
 P. 39, line 6. for that, read /A^. 
 
 ■ I vl 1 
 
I* 
 
 » 
 
 } 
 
 ■' 
 
 jr 
 
 
 i i 
 
 i! 
 
 ...Vm-'.t.M.'V-'-'- '**■*' 
 
swg- r ^f; 
 
 TRADE 
 
 BETWEEN 
 
 NORTH AMERICA 
 
 AND THE 
 
 WEST INDIES. 
 
 THERE is this eflcntial difference attend- 
 ing the condudt and determinations of 
 private perfons, and of pcrfons in power : the 
 miftakes of the former, however grofs and dan- 
 gerouSjfcldom fpread their conkquenccs beyond 
 %ht individual himfcif, and the fmall circle to 
 which he belongs j whereas thofc of the latter 
 arc often co-cxtendve with the interefts of a 
 whole people.— -A fingle error in the council* 
 of a publick minifter may involve in it the fate 
 
 of nations, and the welfare of poftcrity. Wc 
 
 have all been melancholy witneffes to the truth 
 of this remark ; and can bear teftimony, from 
 our own remembrance, of the fatal effefts that 
 one eminent miftakc in the condudl of a great 
 and able ftatelman has produced : the revolt of 
 
 ^ three 
 
 I 
 
 N 
 
* 
 
 ■,1< 
 
 
 111;.! 
 
 it: < ! i 
 
 i 
 
 H! 
 
 -rd'- 
 
 t ^ J 
 
 three millions of our fellow fubjeas :— -The 
 difmcmberment of the empire, and a combina- 
 tion of impending dangers, from which death 
 feems our only refuge. 
 It is not wonderful, therefore, that our late admi- 
 nlftration with fuch an example before them, at 
 once a leffon and a terror to the world, fliould, 
 in a cafe fo unprecedented as the fettling a com- 
 mercial intercourfe with our late fellow-fubjefts, 
 now a great and independent nation, have dif- 
 played unufual timidity and caution. That 
 their intentiona were good, ! have; not a doubt ; 
 but I think it may be qucftioned whether the 
 dread of doing too much, has not had too 
 powerful an influence on their councils •, for in 
 defperate cafes temporizing expedients are not 
 always the fafcft line of conduft. To me, in- 
 deed, the governing principle of what ought to 
 It the conduft of Great Britain, on.the prefent 
 occafion, appears fofficicntly obvious. The bafis 
 of every permanent commercial alliance between 
 diftant nations is mutual advantage^ founded in 
 mutual confidence. Surely then it is our intercft 
 and our duty to endeavour, by foftening ani- 
 tnofity, to reftore that confidence which we have 
 unhappily loft. Although we cannot retrieve 
 ALL the great benefits which we have wantonly 
 and foolilbly thrown from u% let us not, in the 
 pceviflinefs of difappointed ambition negleA the 
 recovery of fuch as arc ftill within our reach. 
 ' .By 
 
s :— -The 
 :ombina- 
 ch death 
 
 atcadmi- 
 
 them, at 
 I, Oiould, 
 g a com- 
 -fubjcfts, 
 
 have dif- 
 i. That 
 a doubt } 
 ether the 
 
 had too 
 Isi foria 
 ts are not 
 > me, in* 
 It aught t9 
 le prefent 
 The bafis 
 ;e between 
 founded in 
 ur intereft 
 rning ani- 
 1 we have 
 ►t retrieve 
 
 wantonly 
 lot, in the 
 legled the 
 3ur reach. 
 
 - m 
 
 [ 3 .] 
 
 By an enlarged and liberal policy on our parr, 
 paffion and prejudice will at length happily 
 iubfide, and then, and not till then, wil intercft 
 have its natural bias on the mind of America. 
 Trade will no doubr, in fuch cafe, revert in a 
 great degree to its antient channels ; and that 
 leparation which has rudely torn from the robe 
 of Majcfty one of its brighteft ornaments, may 
 hqt ultimately prove fo effcntially fatal as is now 
 
 apprehended. Thus( allied to us, as they 
 
 ft ill are, by the deareft ties of confanguinity— ) 
 let us hope that the Americans will jwt prove 
 themrelves, as they have hitherto proved, our 
 beft friends and cuftomcrs in peace, and in war 
 our prmeft allies. The propriety of this doc- 
 ."trjnc, I preiumc to think, is not lefs juftificd by 
 :l)ie precepts of chriftianityi than by the maxims 
 <)f found policy and commercial experience. 
 
 l^ut we are now affured by men of high rank 
 and great authority, that fuch generofity is not 
 only unnecelTary but dangprousj for that, ki. 
 fplte of American rcfentment and independency, 
 this kingdom muft neceflarily poflpfs as muCh 
 of their commerce as we wi(h totctain*. If 
 this be in(1eed the cafe, what a dreadful moBU- 
 
 ^'•^ See the debate* in Parliameot, March 7, 1783. $ee 
 «1fo • Obrervationi o» tht Comanerce of the American 
 SMtes' by Lojd Sheffield. The aim of his lordflUp's pam- 
 phlft throughoat i> to (iipjport.this doCtrine. 
 
 ..'» '.- .• '' mcnt 
 
 Uih' 
 
 •"VjJ-MiJ,V, 
 
[41 
 
 mcnt of human infirmity does Great Britain ex- 
 hibit to the world ! And what have; we to con- 
 I'oic with, for the millions we have expended, 
 and the blood we have !pilt ? we have difmem- 
 bcred the nobleft empire in the univerfe j— and 
 for what ? To make ajfurance Jure ! — to poflefs 
 ourfelves of an objcft already our own, and of 
 which nothing it feems could have deprived us I 
 I have indeed ever thought and faid, and ever 
 Ihai) think and lay, that the war with America 
 on the part of Great Britain, was conceived in 
 wickedncl's, and continued thro* infanity ; but I 
 had hopes, after the difcipline we have under- 
 gone, that at length we were nearly cured of 
 our delirium j for we have been bliftered and 
 blooded, pumped, purged, and chained to the 
 earth. Neverthelcfs there are, I am forry to 
 find, a confiderable party in the nation, who 
 appear to me to be ftill labouring under fome 
 unlucky ojcendant •, for they tell us, that the only 
 method which now retnains of improving and 
 eKtending a commercial intercourfe with our late 
 ti brethren, is to treat them in all refpedis as a 
 . i^^eijgn people : to (hut our ports againft them, 
 as aliens and ftrangers : to make them fenfible, 
 5 that having renounced the duties, they have 
 ' renounced alfo the privileges of Britilh fubjeds. 
 The Americans, we are gravely affured, will 
 be far from .taking fuch condudt amifs : nay, 
 they wjll even applaud us for it, and confider 
 ..-■h .' it 
 
1. 
 
 itain ejc- m, 
 
 Mr-'df- 
 
 
 to con- 
 
 
 cpended, 
 
 
 difmem- 
 
 
 e i — and 
 
 
 pbflcfs 
 
 
 and of 
 
 
 vcd us ! 
 
 
 and ever 
 
 
 America 
 
 
 eived i(i 
 
 
 y i but I 
 
 
 e under- 
 
 
 cured of 
 
 1 
 
 ered and 
 
 
 d to the 
 
 
 forry to 
 
 
 on, who 
 
 
 der feme 
 
 
 the only 
 
 
 'ing and 
 
 
 1 our late 
 
 
 }e6bs as a * 
 
 
 nft them. 
 
 
 fenfible. 
 
 _ 
 
 ley have 
 
 
 i'ubjefts. 
 
 '*? 
 
 red, will 
 
 ♦ 
 
 ifs : nay. 
 
 
 1 confider 
 
 " 
 
 it 
 
 
 , ■ -.. ' - 
 
 . 
 
 f 5 ] 
 
 it as a convincing proof of our liberality and 
 friendlhip towards them f. 
 
 Fortunately among each of the great parties 
 that are now contending, feme for the prefer- 
 vation, and others for the attainment of powerj 
 there are a few who argue more confiftently on 
 the fubjcft. Mr. Burke, with his ufual compre- 
 henfive difcernment, has expreffed a generous 
 indignation againft all prohibitory fyftems-, and 
 the accomplifhed minifter J in the diredion of 
 bur finances, brought into parliament || a provi- 
 fional bill for the re-eftablilhment of a commer- 
 cial intercourfe between this kingdom and Ame- 
 rica, founded on very beneficial and enlarged 
 J principles ; and which, had it paffed into a law, 
 would, I am peffuaded, have tended in fts 
 confequcnces, not td the injury of our trade and 
 navigation, as was apprehended, but, in a very 
 eminent degree, to the fupport and encourage- 
 ment of both. 
 
 A change of adminiftration taking place foon 
 afterwards, this bill was rejefted. Neverthelefs, 
 I will not prcfume haftilyto condemn the mea- 
 fure which was adopted in the place of it. £ 
 allude to the ad which empowers his Majcfty 
 in council to regulate the trade with America irt 
 fuch manner as ihall be thought moft expedient 
 
 t Lord Sheffield'* obfcrvations, p. z. 
 
 J Mr. Pitt. 
 
 K Mwch, 1783. 
 
 ind 
 
 11 
 
 pi 
 
{ 6 3 
 
 .and faiutary. It feemed not unreafonable, it muft 
 be owned, that Tome engagement (hould be 
 required on the part of America, in return for 
 tertain indulgencies, which ihe will probably 
 expedt from ^Grt;at Britain-, and I take for 
 granted, that confidcrations of this nature indu- 
 ced parliament to veft a difcretionary authority 
 in ihe privy council j but notwithftanding tliis 
 difpljy of prudence (perhaps of witdom) it does 
 not appear that the authority rhus inirufted to 
 adminillration has been produaive o.f any of 
 thoic beneficial efifeds which were expc(fled from 
 the exercife of it. One of its Eril fruits was 
 the proclamation of the fecond of July j a mea- 
 furc which I venture to pronounce (if it be 
 meant a3 a permanent regulation) was founded 
 on the grofl'eft mifinfomaation, and is fraught 
 with the moft ferious confequences :— of the 
 danger of which, however, I firmly believe its 
 advilers had not, nor yet have an adequate con- 
 ,ceptipn*. ' :!,.itr j^ 
 
 • The proclaiMtion wt» lewwer! «6th of Decemb»r, 
 j-gj ; yet few men are better acquainted with the troe in- 
 tfcrefts of the Weft-India Iflands, the importance of their 
 trade, and their dependaace on external fupport, than the 
 Kipht Honourable Gentleman § (at that time fecretsry of 
 iUu) who fupporieil the aft in the Hoofe of Comroonson 
 «vh;ch this proclamation is founded. I fay this Croro no 
 
 other 
 
 .^ Mr. Fox«. 
 
 i&ioft 
 
le, it mud 
 hould be 
 eturn for 
 probably 
 take for 
 :urc indu- 
 authority 
 iding cTiis 
 [») it does 
 trufted to 
 >f any of 
 ifflcd from 
 fruits was 
 ' } a mea- 
 (if it be 
 IS founded 
 is fraught 
 :— of the 
 believe its 
 i^uate con- 
 
 If 
 
 r Decembvr, 
 1 the true m- 
 mce of their 
 lort, than the 
 : fecrctsry of 
 Commons' on 
 ihis from no 
 other 
 
 C 7 ] 
 
 ' If there evltt was one pcrcicular fyftem of 
 commerce in the world, that called Icfs for 
 reftraint and limitation than any other, it was 
 doubtlefs the intercourfe and reciprocal ex- 
 
 chanse 
 
 other motire than the love of troth ; for t am wholly an> 
 known to the Right Honourable Gentleman ; but I have 
 frequently, from the gullery of chat houfe, heard him dif- 
 play fo rich a fund of corred and mod valuable informatioa 
 on thofe fubjeAs, (as he did particularly on an applies:!: a 
 pf the fngar refiners in February, 1781, for a reduction of 
 the duties on foreign fugar.) as convinces me that on the 
 prefenc occafion (if indeed he advifed the proclamation) be 
 has fnffned his own moil excellent judgement to be biafiei 
 by that of lefs enlighieiied or intcrelled men. As the rea- 
 der may wiflt to refer to the proclamation at large, it i« • 
 bercuato added. 
 
 At the Ctmrt at St. James's, tin zd. ofjufy, 1783, 
 
 PRESENT, 
 
 The KING'S Moft ExceUent Majcfty in Coundt,' 
 
 WHEREAS by an Aa of Parliament palTed tht« 
 feilion, intituled, "An a£l for preventing certain inflru- 
 *' ments from being required from (hips belonging to the 
 *' United States of America, and to give to his M>jel?y, 
 '" for a limited time, certain powers for the better carry- 
 ** ing on trade and commerce between the fubjeAs of his 
 *' Majefty's dominions and the inhabitants of tJw faid 
 " United States," it is amongft other things enafled, that 
 during the continuance of the faid nGt, it (hall and may be 
 lawful for his Majelly in Council, by order or orders to be 
 iflhed and publiihed from time to time, to give fuch direc- 
 - - ' tions 
 
 .• -Mmi^k^ii^gMm^;^ ■in' ■V'r 
 
C « ] 
 
 change of commodities, which fubfifted between 
 our fiibjefts in the Weft-India Iflands, and 
 thofe of the now United States of North Ame- 
 rica. It was not a traffick calculated to iuppl/ 
 
 the 
 
 !. n 
 
 '>% 
 
 tions and to make Cach regulations with refpefl to duties, 
 drawbacks or otherwife, for carrying on the trade and 
 commerce between the people and territories belonging to 
 the Crown of Great Britain, and the people and territories 
 of the faid United States, as to his Majefty in Council 
 fhall appear mod expedient and falutary, any law, ufage» 
 or cuilom to the contrary notwithftanding ; his Majeft/ 
 doth therefore, by and with the advice of his privy coun- 
 cil, hereby order and direfl, that pitch, tar, turpentine* 
 bemp, and flax, mads, yards, and bowfprits. Haves, head- 
 ing, boards, timber, fltingles, and all other fpecies of 
 lumber ; horfes, neat cattle, flieep, hogs, poultry, and all 
 other fpecies of live flock and live provifions ; peas, beans» 
 potatoes, wheat, flour, bread, bifcuit, rice, oats, barley* 
 and all other fpecies of grain, being the growth or produc- 
 tion of any of the United Srates of America, may (until 
 further order) be imported by Briii(h fubje£ts in Britifli- 
 built fliips, owned by his Majefly's fubjeds, aqd navigated 
 according to law, from any port of the United States of 
 America, to any of his Majefly's Weft-India Iflands ; and 
 that rumt.Aigar, molaflfes. coffee, cocoa nuts, ginger, and 
 pimento, may, until further order, be exported by Britilh 
 fubjefts in Britifli-built fl)ips, owned by his Majefly's fub- 
 je£ts, and navigated according to law, from any of his 
 Majefly's Wefl.India Iflands, to any port or place within 
 the faid United States, upon payment of the fame duties 
 on exportation, and fubje£l to the like rules, regulations, 
 fecurities and reflri&icns, as the fame articles by law are 
 or may be fubje^l and liable to, if exported to any Britiih 
 
 colony 
 
1 between 
 nds, and 
 rth Ame- 
 :o iupplyr 
 the 
 
 ^ to duties, 
 : trade and 
 slonging to 
 d territories 
 in Council 
 law, ufage, 
 iiis Majeft/ 
 privy conn- 
 turpentine, 
 aves, head* 
 - fpeciet of 
 try, and all 
 >eas, beans, 
 ats, barley* 
 or produc- 
 may (until 
 i in Briri(h« 
 i navigated 
 d States of 
 lands ; and 
 finger, and 
 i by Britilh 
 ijefty's fub- 
 any of his 
 lace within 
 fame duties 
 egulations, 
 by law are 
 any Britilh 
 colony 
 
 the fantaftick calls of vanity, or to adminifter 
 gratification to luxury or to vice. |t» firft objcdl 
 was to obtain food for the hungry : to purchafe ' 
 cocpmon futtenance for thoufands in thole idands 
 who muft othcrwife have unavoidably fuffcred 
 ' the mifcries of famine. And the fecond great 
 aim of the planters was, to procure materials for 
 • the fupply of two capital objedls ; their build, 
 ingi, and packages for conveying their ftaplcs to ' 
 Great Britain, from whence alone they are fupplied 
 with rafiment and other manufaftures to an im- 
 inenfc amount, far the comfort of life and the 
 
 :fupport and maintenance of their plantations. 
 
 •Of the nccelTity pf obtaining materials for tbe 
 
 piekage of their principal commodities, fugar and 
 
 irum, an idea may be formed from this, — that the 
 
 »ijuantity of thofe articles annually Ihipped lo 
 
 isolcpy or plantation 19 America:— and the Right Ho. 
 nourable the Lords Commfffiqners of his Majefly's Treafury, 
 and the Lords Commiilioners of the Admiralty, are to give 
 thf necerary direaions herein, as to them nay tefpeftively 
 
 f«{»pcr$'a^n. -l i)%/J d\- 
 
 Steph. CoUrtU:* 
 
 The aa on which this proclamation was founded, expiring 
 the aoth of Decembff, ,783. it has been renewed this pre- 
 fent Seffion, and declared to be in force uqtil the 20th of 
 , Aprjl, 1784. The reader will obferve, that thofe important 
 jirtfcjes beef and pork, falted fifl,. laipp oil. &c. are prohi> 
 bited altogether from the United States, even in Britilh fliips, 
 aavigaied according- to law. ... 
 
 ^r"*--^^'-^ • ■ G -rucn,.. jG,eat 
 
 
IS 
 
 [ ,0 ] 
 
 Great Britain, fxceeds in value the fum of three 
 millions of pounds fterling, and without the means 
 of conveying the fame to the Britifh market, the 
 whole of its imrncnfc cultivation muft ftopj— 
 for who will raifc, at a great expence, commodi- 
 ties which he can neither confume himfelf, nor 
 fell to others ? 
 
 . Such being in part the nature, and indeed the 
 abfolute nectffity of the trade in queftion, itfeems 
 beyond the ftretch of human ingenuity todevife a 
 folid reaton why the circumftance of Americgn 
 independency (hould induce Great Britain to ob- 
 je^ (if America docs not) to the continuation of 
 fo beneficial an intercourfe :— beneficial in the 
 hightft degree to Great Britain herfelfj not to her 
 fugar plantations only : — yet the proclamation 
 before mentioned, by interdifting American Ihips 
 from a participation therein, is, according to my 
 conception of it, tantamount to, and in efFe£h an 
 abfolute prohibition of the trade altogether. Nor 
 is this opinion fingle and unfupportcd ; the inha- 
 bitants of all the Britilh Weft Indies confidered 
 the proclamation in the fame light; for it no Iboner 
 reached them, than American liipplies rofe imme- 
 diately, in confequence of it, three hundred per 
 cent, in price. 
 
 ^" It were eafy to demonftrate the impoflibility of 
 Briiilh fhips fupplyingexclufively the fugar iflands 
 with American cargoes, except, on terms abfo- 
 lutcjy ruinous either to the merchant who carries 
 
 on 
 
 , 
 
"»»'■ 
 
 [ 
 
 II 
 
 ] 
 
 m of three 
 the means 
 arket, the 
 ft ftopi— 
 commodi- 
 mfelf, nor 
 
 '.U 
 
 indeed the 
 >n, it feems 
 lodevife a 
 
 Americgn 
 tain to ob- 
 inuation of 
 ial in the 
 
 not to her 
 oclamation 
 :rican fhips 
 ing to my 
 in effeft an 
 ther. Nor 
 ; the inha- 
 confidered 
 t no iboner 
 rofe immc- 
 jndrcd per 
 
 oflibility of 
 )gar i (lands 
 erms abfo- 
 who carries 
 
 Ofl 
 
 on the trade, or to the planter. To thofe who 
 are acquainted with the nature and comparative 
 cheapncfs of American navigation, proof of this 
 is unnecciTary } and it is equally unneccflary to 
 thofe who are not : for in my opinion, the United 
 States will cut the matter (hort by a reciprocal 
 reftrid\ion towards Britilh vcflcls. That they 
 certainly wiii come to this determination, however, 
 I do not affirm j I only fay they may : and I 
 think it more than probable, as foon as their pre- 
 fcnt internal difquieiudcs arc fufficiently allayed 
 to permit them to attend to foreign commerce, 
 that they will; and 1 form my opinion on the fol- 
 lowing circumftances : Firft, becaufc they well 
 know that Great Britain muft in time recede ; for 
 America has this advantage in the conteft, that 
 fugar and rum, and coffee, and molaifcs, though 
 very wholefome things, are not, however, like 
 American provillons, abfolutely neceflary to the 
 prcfervation of life. Secondly, becaufe if they 
 are not permitted to purchafe thofe commodities 
 from us, in their own way, they can get tKem 
 elfewhere. The commerce of America, therefore, 
 is beyond all equivalent more necelfary to the 
 Britifti Weft-India Iflands, than that of the idands 
 to her. For thefc reafons Great Britain, as Ame- 
 rica well knows, muft recede at laft. The mif- 
 fortune is, that our devoted planters may be f«i> 
 milhed before the conteft is fettled. 
 
 thofe 
 
 4^ 
 
 t 
 
 
 i 
 
C 12 ] 
 
 Thofe who contend that the neceffitics of Ame- 
 rica will oblige her to fend her merchandize to 
 the bell market, through any channel, appear to 
 nic to judge lomewhat haftily of human nature. 
 They take for granted that intereft has, in all cafes, 
 an irrefiftable influence on human action. I doubt 
 this is not always a juft concluHon. The bulk 
 of mankind are, I believe, as commonly governed 
 by paffiott. But though on the prefent occafion, 
 the pafTions and prejudices of America concur, 
 according to my idea, with her real inttrcft, to in- 
 duce her to reject the alternative offered by Great 
 Britain, yet it may not be ufclefs to enquire what 
 other nations have done under a fimilarpredicaoienr, 
 and m cafes, too where evidently it was not their 
 ■interefl: to retaliate. An inftance occurs in hiftory 
 too itriking to be overlooked. By a ftatute of 
 Queen Elizabeth, the importation was prohibited 
 of cutlery from the Netherlands. This aft wad 
 no fooner promulgated, than the Princcfs of Parma 
 inftantly prohibited in return the trade for Englifh 
 woollens, amounting to the annual value of one 
 million (lerling. This princefa knew as well as 
 Elizabeth, that by this prohibition (he efientially 
 injured the trade of the people under her govern, 
 ment; but (he gratified her revenge: and in trUth 
 the annals of all ages abundantly prove, that confi- 
 derations of intereft, are frequently overpowered 
 by motives of rcfentment. 
 
 i,'\ '■ V'. 
 
 Surely 
 
 ■f W WlV-V^^! 
 
 ^ "s^^^i^.TT^ji^+jifWJiSB 
 
Surely 
 
 t «^ ] 
 ' Swrtly the preftnt fubjedk is not properly uik 
 dcrftood in this kingdom, or. the profiublc cxift^ 
 cnce of the moft valuable of our remaining pUfi. 
 tationsi— the wrlfire of thou(knds and thoulartds 
 of Valuable fubjoas j— I may add the manufac- 
 tures and induftry, in a great degree, of the na^ 
 tion; would not have been thus put in hazard. 
 That the fubjed is not well undcrftood, is evi-, 
 <l«nt froin the rcafoning of nwny 4iftingui(be4 
 mtn» both in and o\H of. p«rJi«mrnr) who cannot 
 be roppol€d to be aauaccd by inttrtftfd or im- 
 projjer rtT0ttv«9< Yet their argumeiKs prove cheai 
 to bt moft ftpiBgdy milifftfOrnicd ta a matter of 
 the higheft importance. Among other pofliiao«, 
 whfteh h*ve feemibgly had ati ihfltlemrc on Jhc 
 cotindHs of fp>vtntm9m in this bufinefay k.h«i% 
 been vtty toafwtently urgeii , . i 
 
 Fifft* TIrtt if the United Staceb Iball refufc pci%ti 
 mfifllion to RrictAi ihips to carry oo the trade bc||feft « 
 the W€ftIfldi<R!«nd A t)ericaexc!«fivcjy» theplan- 
 t«rt may obtftin fnffieicR fopplJes of ptovifions and 
 lufnber from Canada and Nqva Scotia, at kaO^v 
 with fome afliftance from Great Britain. 
 , -Secondly, Thw Great Britain being entitled! tOj 
 the monoply of the |»«)cjucc of her own Weft lo, 
 dia iflaitd»k k will be injurious uo hef intereft,, to 
 permk k dircd importation into the United 
 States of any part thereof, in American veflels. 
 
 Thirdly,' That if the Americ&fls 4r€ allowed a 
 fr?c cbihfrocKcialimercourfe with this kingdort 
 
 and 
 
 .>:th 
 
 ^- 
 
 rr^^ 
 
[ 14 ] 
 
 tnd it3 dependencies as formerly, they will foon 
 fubftantialiy enjoy ir, to the exclufion of our own 
 fliipping, and the entire lofs of our carrying trade. 
 
 Fourthly, That Ireland will have juft reafon to 
 complain, if America is permitted to purchafe 
 Aigar and rum cheaper than herfelf. 
 
 1 fhall confidcr thefe pofitions feparately : buC' 
 *in this, as in all other commercial difquifitions, 
 it is the firft duty of a writer to a/certain fa£Js» 
 Declamation may mi (lead and fpeculative reafon- 
 ing perplex, but in matters of trade, the moft 
 plaufible theory, unlefs it be raifed on the folid 
 evidence of well authenticated fadts, is built on 
 ftubble. 
 
 Lord Sheffield obferves, and very truly, that 
 the knowledge of the exports and imports of the 
 American trade, will afford us fa£ts and principles 
 to afcertain its value. I (hall apply this obferva- 
 tionib the trade in queilion, as it aflually fubfift^i 
 ed between our iflands in the Weft Indies and the 
 now United States of America previous to the 
 year 1774, in the latter end of which year, the 
 non-importation agreement took place. I omit 
 that year for obvious reafons. If I miftake nor, 
 the fummary which I Ihall prefent 10 my readers 
 will afford a full and fufficicnt anfwer to more 
 than one of the preceding objcdlions. The reft 
 will give me very little trouble. 
 
 I begin with the imports. It is indeed abun-^ 
 dantly ncceffafy that Great Britain (hould be ac- 
 quainted 
 
 i*r:^:t-': '■■\lT.y}.ij -■^V---^'^--''*-^'^-^'^'^=^-***'-" 
 
will foofi 
 f our own 
 ring trade. 
 t reafon to 
 t purchafe- 
 
 itely: but 
 ^quifitions, 
 tain falls* 
 ve reafon- 
 the moft 
 the folid 
 s built on 
 
 ruly, that 
 irts of the 
 principles 
 » obferva- 
 lly fubfift- 
 es and the 
 us to the 
 
 year, 
 
 the 
 
 I omic 
 
 iftake nor, 
 
 ny readers 
 
 r to more 
 
 The reft 
 
 leed abun^ 
 uld be ac- 
 quainted 
 
 ' 
 
 [ '5 ] 
 
 ijuaintcd with their nature and value, for theif 
 importance extends not merely to the prefervation 
 of fortune, but to the maintenance of life.— -It 
 was faid in parliament, that they amounted to 
 about 20o,oool. annually, but that neither the peo- 
 ple nor parliament of England have at prefent any 
 juft conception of their magnitude, may be feen 
 from hence, that on an average of three years, 
 previous to 1774, our fevcral Weft India iflands 
 received from America (I mean from thofe pro- 
 vinces which now conftitute the United States j— 
 the fmall and cafual importations from Canada 
 and Nova Scotia' being unworthy particular difcri- 
 minationf) an annual fiipply of one hundred and 
 twenty-five thouland barrels of flour, five thou- 
 fand tierces of bilcuit, fourteen thoufand tierces of 
 rice, twelve thoufand five hundred barrels of pork 
 and beef i three hundred and fixty thoufand bulhcU 
 of Indian corn ; bcfides beans and peafc, oats, &c. 
 but above all, as being of infinite importance to- 
 wards the maintenance of the Negroes, was the 
 article of falted fifli, amounting to otic hundred 
 and fifty thoufand quintals, and thirty thoufand 
 barrels*. Such were the provifions,— not mat- 
 ters of luxury, but plain and neccflTary food. Of 
 lumber for building, fuch asjoifts, boards, planks, 
 
 • Worth in America about uo.oool. fterling— of th« 
 great imporunce of thii particular fupply I ih^U aeaiii have 
 occafion to fpeak. 
 
 t From 5th July, 178a, to 5th Jo!y, 1783, only mv9 fmall 
 veffeli from HallifaX; and m from Qjjebcck, eauicd atKinr. 
 fton, Jamaica. 
 
 &c. 
 
,*fe 
 
 - [ 1& 3 
 
 &C. (vvprtl^ in thg Weft Indies before the WW 
 about 5I. fttrlin^ per t|iQuf»n^) ■, th<J quantity imr 
 poripti w^s twenty inilwn one hyndred and fifty 
 iHoufrtnd fet!r» l:»truks t\Vpncy.-Qn« miHioA of fhinglos 
 ipr ropfingi and !!)f itav<«a >qr hogflipads 3od punahr 
 ftjnsv^orth (i). ft«rling pcrxhoMJand.or thereabout^, 
 •be.iftands rtrceivcd tw«myipj>emillianone hundred 
 gfld (ij^ty ili<5iiliinti, vxcjuiiy?, of iVvpnteen thou- 
 Iftpd (hgftk ;hpg(beads, and 4l?om; a iDJllion and » 
 halt" of wQod hoo|^8. To aU which are to be a^t 
 4kiJ, fra{n.c5 forj hgufe?, fpernnaccti candles, iron, 
 iw, turpentine and lamp oil 5 horieg, oxen, fhefip 
 and poultry % (he .whole annual' importation, I 
 Ycnture to fct, on the moft moderate eftimatt, ac 
 the fum of 750,000!. fterling money of Gceat 
 
 j&-itain t 
 In payment of this imwitnfe fppply, the Amr 
 
 ricans exported part Qf a^l the ftaples of our idand^i 
 but principally rvm- ^nd it i» a circumft^ncf 
 deferving particular attencion, that the rum of all 
 cur pUnt^tions (Jamaica and Grenada excepted) 
 is fit only for the American market, and would 
 fcldpm prpve a faving remittance if fliipt tp Great 
 Britain. T^e quantity of this article fold annual- 
 ly to America, on an average as above, was three 
 fniUion fix hundred thoufand gallous, amounting, 
 at IS. 6d. ftcrling per gallon, to 270,000!. 
 
 ftt-rling. 
 
 The next article of export, in point of value, 
 
 wa> fv^arf of wliich the . Afl^ericans purphafed 
 
 about ^OOQ hogfl^cads, j^qo tierces, and 4000 
 
 ' bvrela 
 
 irT*?Pl A "- ^' '-''i' 4^-" ^y.-' .-F^-^'-^'.'-- 
 
rf the WW 
 
 uanticy mr 
 d and fifty 
 1 of Jhingles 
 3od punchr 
 hereabtou^, 
 ne hundred 
 Dteen thouc 
 llian 3n$i « 
 ; to be a^r 
 idles, iron, 
 >xen« ifhetip 
 ortation, I 
 ^(timate* at 
 y of Gceat 
 
 the An^T 
 pur m^nc^^i 
 rcumft^ncf 
 rum of alt 
 I e:(cepted) 
 and would 
 pt to Great 
 }id annual- 
 , was three 
 amounting, 
 270,0001. 
 
 t of value, 
 
 purcHafrd 
 
 and 4000 
 
 ■barrels 
 
 -; !. 
 
 [ 17 ] 
 
 barrels yearly, worth on the fpot, about 125,000]. 
 fterlmg. It was chiefly the fineft Mufcavado in- 
 tended for the fcale. 
 
 With mo/afes the Americans were chiefly fup- 
 plied by the French, who being checked in their 
 diflrillcries by the policy of tiieir government, 
 could afford to fell it much cheaper than the Bri- 
 tilh planters, yet in aflbrtmg their homeward car- 
 goes, this commodity was not entirely overlooked. 
 The quantity purchafed by them in our iflands 
 annually, was dated to me at about 150,000 gal- 
 Ions, worth 5000 1. ftcrling, but I fufpeft it is 
 preatly under- rated. , 
 
 Cofeg conftituted a very effential article of 
 American confumption. The demand for it in 
 Jamaica for the American market, was fo great for 
 fome years previous to the commencement of the 
 late war, as to occafion an increafc of cultivation 
 in the mountainous parts of that ifland, (efpeciaU 
 ly m the vicinity of Kingfton) fo rapid as to ex- 
 cite aftonifliment. . ■y■■^*J^• 
 The quantity fhip'ped to North America fo long 
 ago as 1767, (fince which time I have no exadt 
 account) from the port of Kingfton, was 904 
 calks worth, I prcfume, on an average, 20 1. 
 each (currency). I have no doubt that this 
 exportation was doubled, on an average of the 
 fix fucceeding years; and allowing the iflands 
 to the wmdward' (particularly Dominica and 
 Grenada and its dependencies) to have furniflied 
 
 ^^■-.- - i) ., ', 
 
 «*i*>i,«v, - mr _ - an 
 
 SKfeW!* 
 
 "^'"*'*'«fe-aafesfs.sAK^iv-?,ia(i«6*^ , 
 
 r^'r- <4l«(' -" 
 
[ i8 J 
 
 an equal quantity with Jamaica, the whole fupplyr 
 in fterling money would not be (hort of 50,000). 
 This article too would have proved a lofing re- 
 mittance if Ihipped to Great Britain. Our late mi- 
 niftcrs however very wifely and prudently reduced 
 the duties on its importation. 
 
 The Americans purchafed likewife (chiefly in 
 Jamaica) confiderable quantities of cacao or cho- 
 colate, and about 10,000 mahogany planks. Thcfc 
 articles were obtained principally from the Spa- 
 nifli Main ; and the Ifland of Cuba, in exchange 
 for Britilh manufaftures fent from Jamaica. This 
 was a trade formerly of infinite importance to 
 Great Britain, till the Britifh miniftry, in 1763, 
 through a miftaken policy, becoming cuftom-houfe 
 officers for the King of Spain, gave it a wound 
 which it has never thoroughly recovered. They 
 purchafed likewife, but to no great amount, pie- 
 mento, ginger^ cotton-wool^ fujlick^ logwood and 
 lignum vita. For thefe various articles I reckon 
 on a loofe eftimate, 6o,oool. 
 
 From this ftate of their imports and exports, 
 the fum of 240,000 I. fterling appears to have 
 been the balance in favour of America, and it 
 was paid in calh and bills of exchange. Part of 
 which, as it is luppofcd, was afterwards laid out 
 in the French iflands, in the purchafe of molafles 
 and coffee •, but much lefs 1 believe than is com- 
 monly imagined ; for the French planters had as 
 great occafion as our own for American lumber 
 ■•" ^*r' . V - V and 
 
 ,::^--K=... -7-fi^-Udj ■^3!>6Sit^:^i!r-< 
 
 %S3WS '.^;A2S(Sg%ffii0S^S*5?»r^355^£*P*ft«*S«^»*' 
 

 ■ 
 
 lole fuppiy 
 
 
 £50,000). 
 
 
 lofing rc- 
 
 
 ur late mi- 
 
 
 ly reduced 
 
 • 
 
 (chiefly in 
 
 
 ao or cho- 
 
 
 ks. Thcfc 
 
 
 n the Spa- 
 
 
 j exchange 
 
 
 aica. This 
 
 , 
 
 artance to 
 
 
 , in 1763, 
 ftom-houfe 
 : a wound 
 fd. They 
 louiit, f'te- 
 gwQoi and 
 s I reckon 
 
 id exports, 
 rs to have 
 ca, and ic 
 ?. Part of 
 js laid out 
 of molafles 
 m is com- 
 ters had aa 
 an lun^ber 
 
 C '9 1 
 
 and neccflaries : and that thofe articles were freely 
 admitted into ihcir ports, I have been myfclf an 
 eye-witnefs : that they gladly received them too, 
 inftead of money, in payment of fugar and other 
 articles of their produce, which were afterwards 
 conveyed (whether legally or not) into the ports 
 of North America, there is no reafon to doubt. 
 It is therefore more than probable, that the whole, 
 or the.greateft part of the balance due and receiv- 
 ed from the planters in our own iflands, was re- 
 '"'"ed by the Americans to Great Britain, in re- 
 duftion of tlwir debts to the Britifli merchants. 
 Apd fuch were once the happy effefts of colonial 
 navigation and commerce! Though fpreading 
 throug|h a variety of diftant channels, their pro- 
 fits all returned to, and ultimately concentred in. 
 Great Britain, like rivers to the ocean, which, as 
 philofophers tell us, fupply, by unobferved oper- 
 ations, and through a thoufand lecret recefles, 
 thc/prings and fountains of the earth: but thefe,"*' 
 after giving fertility and life to the remoteft cor-*^ 
 ncrs of the globe, return back with coHedive and 
 augmented force, and freighted with golden trea- 
 fures, to the bofom of their general parent. 
 
 In the preceding enumeration of the exports* 
 from the Britifli Weft-Indies to North America, 
 I am not clear that my ftatenaent contorms to " 
 official documents. The Cuftom-Houfe books jn'^ 
 the Wf ft. Indies, out of which thofe documents 
 arc formed, afford no certainty of information ; * 
 
(Bll 
 
 I'.' 
 
 i) 
 
 [ 20 ] 
 
 for many of the bays, creeks, and (hipping places 
 in the iflands (particularly in Jamaica) being re- 
 mote from the ports of entry, it was formerly 
 ufual wiili the matters of American veflels loading 
 at fuch places, in order to prevent delay, to make 
 out their manifefts, and take out their clearances 
 before they were fully laden, receiving afterwards 
 on' board, noiwithftanding the rifques they in- 
 curred by the pradlice, much greater quantities 
 of goods ihun they had reported. Governor Lyt- 
 lelton, in a repreltntaiion to the. Lords of Trade, 
 in 1764, now before me, obferves, that there Was 
 not at that time one half o( the produce entered for 
 exportation in the Cuftom-Houfe books at Jamai-; 
 ca, which was aftually fhipped.-^Perhaps, there- 
 fore I may have over- rated the balance in favour 
 of America. »,, 
 
 1 am the more inclined to fufpeft that govern- 
 ment is not rightly informed in this particular of 
 the exports y becaufc Lord Sheffield, who appears 
 to have been refufed no information that office can 
 give, fpeaks of them in general (the article of rum 
 excepted) as inconfiderable and of little value.— ".;^ 
 With reipcift, however, .to the importSy h is im- 
 poOlble but that the fullell and moft correft in- .^ 
 formation has been obtained ; andamongfl the nu- ' 
 merous accounts coilrfled by his lordfliip, it would 
 have been a pro6f of his candour if he had ftaied 
 alfo an accoun.t of the imports in queftion to the 
 
 ' public,* 
 
 dr-«* 'f^*' 
 
 'iW^ 
 
 ^- *t 
 
 0' 
 
 «»«t*ias,iis*«»i*WsaiKs&««9<r- 
 
T 
 
 ng places 
 being re- 
 formerly 
 Is loading 
 , to make 
 :learances 
 ifterwards 
 tbey in- 
 quantities 
 tnor Lyt- 
 of Trade, 
 there Was 
 ntereii for 
 at Jamai- 
 ps, there- 
 in favour 
 
 „.,.? ..t-■^^A.■, 
 It govern- 
 
 'ticular of 
 
 lio appears ' 
 
 office can 
 
 cle of rum 
 
 e value. — ^ 
 
 , it is im- 
 
 corrcft in- .^ 
 
 g(l the nu- ' 
 
 p, it would 
 
 had ftated ' 
 
 tion to the 
 
 '■"public,* 
 
 [ 21 ] 
 
 piublic, and thereby have rendered this intrufion 
 on their patience unneceflary. 
 
 In truth it is the knowledge of the magnitude 
 of the imports from the United States (— feven 
 hundred and fifty thoufand pounds ftcrling laid 
 out in fuch cheap and bulky commodities as pro- 
 vifions and lumber ! — ) that chiefly demonftrates 
 the mockery of referring the difappointed planter 
 to Canada and Nova Scotia. Even if nature had 
 not, as unfortunately (he has, Ihut up the naviga- 
 tion from the former of thefe provinces fix months 
 in tlic year, and devoted the latter to everlaft- 
 ing ftcriUty •, there is this plain reafon in the na* 
 ture pf things that forbids the planter to look to 
 thofe countries for efFcdual relief. '* It is incon- 
 fiftent with the nature of commerce, to furnifij an 
 adequate fupply to fo vaft and fo various a tJe- 
 mandi coming immediately and uneiscpcdiedly. 
 The xiemand and the fupply muft grow up to- 
 gethcff mutually fupporiing, and fupported by, 
 each o.^er." It will require a long fcries of years 
 to bripg them to a level *. 
 
 This principle applies too in a great degree, as 
 veil to .England, as to our few remaining pro- 
 vinces in North America. I will fuppofe, hovv- 
 evcr» that Great Britain can aftually furnifh ihe 
 chief of thofe articles which the planters for- 
 merly obtained from the United ftates, yet it mufl: 
 
 * See Mr. Walker's evidence before the Houfeof Commofls 
 «h the Planter's petition in 1775, wheitin thisicoDark it ably 
 iHaftratcd. 
 
 be 
 
 
«t 
 
 «t 
 
 [ 22 ] 
 
 he remembered, that the price of them in Europe, 
 from the advance of freight only, will at Icaft be 
 doubled. The freight of lumber, even from 
 North America, a (hort and fafe paflage, is a 
 moiety of the firft coft of the goods. Ncverthc- 
 hfs (as was well obferved by a noble Earl in the 
 Houfe of Lords) " it is the readinefs apd cheap- 
 ** ncfs of the navigation that fupports thennter- 
 ** courfc. From the vicinity of the American 
 *' Continent and the Weft India iflands to each 
 other, the trade is carried on by fmall floops 
 and fchponers •, nay, even by half-decked boats, 
 *' with two and three men, and perhaps a boy on 
 " board of each j the value of one cargo, inton- 
 ♦* fiderable as it is, being more than fufficicnt to 
 "pay the prime coft of the whole veflel J." 
 ''with the advance of freight on goods purchafed 
 In Europe, (to fay nothing of the augnnented coft 
 of the goods themfclvcs) muft be reckoned alfo' 
 the lofs which the planter will fuftain in the falc 
 of his produce.— I mean in the difference he wilV 
 fxperi^nce between the prices he ufuaUy obtained 
 from the American trader (who, dealing on barter 
 and for a homeward freight, could afford to pay li- 
 berally) and thole which he is likrly to obtain at a 
 "kitted market, and fubjeft to enormous duties in 
 Gteat Britain.— Part cif his ftaple commodities' tOO, 
 a.s we have fliewn, if he cannot fell them to Anic- 
 
 j^.' 
 
 t Lo/.U .■\faiil£don's 5pcccb, July 15. 1783. 
 
 
 -.^tji'^'irss^-^-'jt^fyxs-.'S^^rrSKS^Vi^^^^ " 
 
 ii|SiSreMfai?W«.-«?sr" 
 
. 
 
 
 Europe, 
 
 
 t Iciaft be 
 
 
 en from 
 
 
 ge, is a 
 
 
 Jcverthc- 
 
 
 rl in the 
 
 
 d clicap- 
 
 
 thennter- 
 
 
 Vmerican 
 
 
 s to each 
 
 ' 
 
 ill floops 
 
 
 ed boats. 
 
 
 a boy on 
 
 
 >, inton« 
 
 
 Hcienc to 
 
 
 Xr 
 
 
 >urchafed 
 
 
 nted coft 
 
 
 aned alfo 
 I the fale 
 :e he will 
 obtained 
 on barter 
 CO pay li- 
 stain at a 
 duties in 
 ]it}es>tdO, 
 to Anic- 
 
 tlCil, 
 
 .95... 
 
 C 2? ] 
 
 flea, mull remain a dead lofs on his hands.—It is, 
 therefore, cruelty and infult to tell him of fupplics 
 in Great Britain, if he has not wherewithal to pur- 
 chafe them. There may be corn in Egypt, but 
 there is no money in the fack's mouth. 
 
 Under circumllances of fuch accumulated dif- 
 trefs, it is abfolutety impoffible that nineteen out 
 of twenty of the planters can fubfift. If it be aflc- 
 rd. How it came that thty fuhfifted during the war, 
 when all immediate intercoHrfe 'with the ajfociated 
 frovinces was cut o§? The anfwcr is obvious. 
 They obtained American fupplics by means of the 
 prize-veflels which were condemned and fold in 
 their ports; and, if this rcfource proved defi- 
 cient, the advanced price of Weft-India produce 
 at the Britifh market, enabled the planter to pur- 
 chafe fuch articles in Great Britain, as Great Bri- 
 tain could fupply. The rcfource and its alterna- 
 tive no longer exift. And here it may not be im- 
 proper to (hew on what terms the planter was ufu- 
 ally fupplicd at the Britifh market with thofc com- 
 modities which he formerly obtained from North 
 America.— An inftance or two wil! fuffice. Among 
 other neceffaries, flcur, and packages for rum, con- 
 ftituted two important articles. Of the flour, a 
 third, at leaft, perilhcd before it reaehg JhjD lace 
 of dcftination ; and with regard to pun^J|;for .r 
 containing rum, it is to be obferved; that'pipe- 
 ttaves from the Baltick, though affording the ne- 
 celtary material, arc not prepared for the ufeof the 
 ' ■ • Weft 
 
[ 24 ] 
 
 Weft Indies I being too long for a fingle puncheon, 
 and not long enough for two ; neither are they 
 properly manufactured in other refpedbs. The 
 planter was compelled, therefore, to purchafe rea- ' 
 dy made puncheons in Great Britain ; the average 
 price of which, during the war, was about twenty 
 ihillings each *, to which add fix (hillings for 
 freight, infurance, and charges, and the whole ex. 
 pence on delivery in the Weft Indies, exclufive of 
 the iroH'hoops ,was 26 s. fterling.-— Now the whole 
 coft in the Weft Indies of the fame article, pre- 
 pared from American ftaves, was ufually about 
 1 1 s. only. — Some part of this expence, however, ' 
 was repaid ; but it is no exaggeration to aver, thac 
 in this inftance alone, trifling as it may appear, 
 by importing their rum-packages from Great Bri- 
 tain inflead of America, the idands fuftained a lofs 
 of at leaft 50,000 1. (terling, per annurti. From 
 hence fome judgment may be formed what little 
 dependence, even the mod opulent of the Weft 
 India planters, can place on the Mother Country ' 
 for the fupply of necefTaries. The refource itfelf 
 is ruinous in the extreme. 
 
 The preceding obfervations have, I truft, fully 
 obviated the firft objection above dated, and an- ' 
 ticipated in fome meafure an ^fwer to the fecond. 
 I moft readily admit that Great Britain is of right 
 entitled to the monopoly of the produce of her ' 
 
 * The price is now 18 ». 
 
 Weft- 
 
 ■i^ir5*fe^-*;""'v* 
 
 ,^^5i«,SS9«««f«2BBW^' 
 
>uncheon, 
 are they 
 ibs. The 
 chafe rea- 
 e average 
 lit twenty 
 llings for 
 whole ex. 
 clufive of 
 the whole 
 iclc, pre- 
 illy about 
 however, 
 aver, that 
 y appear, 
 jreat Bri- 
 ned a lofs 
 1. From 
 vhat little 
 the Weft 
 ■ Country 
 urce itfelf 
 
 uft, fully 
 , and an- 
 le fecond. 
 is of right 
 :e of her 
 
 "- ''a. 
 Weft- 
 
 ? 
 
 [ 25 ] 
 
 Weft-India pofleflions, as long as (he contiiiurt 
 to them the monopoly of her market. This reci- 
 procal obligation I confidef as founded on an im* 
 plied convention, on the faith of which the fugar 
 iOands were fettled ; but I contend that a vent in 
 America (though no longer a part of the Britilh 
 dominion) of rhofe articles of their produce, for 
 v»»hich the demand in Great Britain fcldom 
 affords a faving price, may very reafonably be 
 requeftcd.— For not tending in the fmallcft degree 
 \o the prejudice of the mother country, it cannot 
 f^rely bt conlldercd as a breach of that conven- 
 tion Which I have fuppofed to fubfift between her 
 and her children. It were indeed ftrange policy 
 in 4 parent ftate to deprive her colonies of any re. 
 fourct, the lofs of which, though an injury to 
 theftij is produftive of no advantage to herfelf, 
 nor can any contraft warrant fo extenfive an in- 
 terpretation. Sugar, indigo, cotton-wool, dyings 
 woods, &c. being raw materials, for which Great 
 Britain affbrds a fufficicnt demand, ftie may per- 
 haps properly enough confine to her own market; 
 bur all or moft of the remaining Weft-India pro- 
 dufts ought to lie under no fuch reftriaion j and 
 I ftiall offer fome reafons to prove, that the prin- 
 cipal ftaple, /tffiir, ought to be allowed a free ex- 
 port to America as heretofore, even in point of 
 true policy on the part of Great Britain. 
 
 It is incontcftibly true, that if the Americans 
 •re not permitted to purchafc this article from our 
 
 E own 
 
 li 
 
 ll- :■■ 
 
K? 
 
 C 26 1 
 
 owa idands, they will obtain it from thofe of 
 France. Wc arc told indeed by Lord Sheffield, 
 that '* neither Holland nor France will fuffcr the 
 American Stau s to carry fugar from their ports in 
 the Weft-Indi.-^ " Init unlcfs his lordfliip alludes 
 to ibme recent regulation of thofe governments of 
 which I have not heard, he will find it difficult to 
 reconcile this aircrtion with that which immediately 
 precedes it, in tl.-. fame page and in the fame pa- 
 ragraph of his book. " I he c'.ifFcrcncc of price, 
 fays his lord(hip, between Frcach, Danilh, and 
 Dutch, and Britifh Wcft-lndia fugar, was fo great, 
 that above two thirds of the fuf^ar imported into 
 America came from the foreign ifland*" This in- 
 deed I believe, and whether fuch fugar was im- 
 ported clandeftinely from the foreign iflands, or 
 oiherwife, it is a circumftance of which Great Bri- 
 tain ought certainly to avail herfelf, by encouraging 
 as much as poffiblc the Americans to deal with her 
 own fugar iflands for this article among others, 
 inftead of laying out their money with the French, 
 the Danes and the Dutch. It fcrms not to be 
 fufficitntly underftood, that every addition to the 
 profperity of our fugar iflands is abfolutely and 
 entirely an augmentation of the national wealth. 
 Envy perhaps may not be willing to allow this, 
 and ignorance may not comprehend it ; but fuch 
 is the fad. It is to Great Britain, and to Great 
 Britain alone, that our Weft-India planters gonfi- 
 der themfclvesf as belonging. It is l>eret\\it their 
 
 chil- 
 
 I 
 
T 
 
 n thofe of 
 I Sheffield, 
 1 fufTcr the 
 eir ports in 
 liip alludes 
 rnments of 
 difficult to 
 ^mediately 
 le fame pa- 
 :c of price, 
 'anilh, and 
 as fo great, 
 ported into 
 " This in- 
 ir was im- 
 
 iflands, or 
 
 Great Bri- 
 ncouraging 
 :al with her 
 }ng others, 
 the French, 
 
 not to be 
 ition to the 
 ilutely and 
 inal wealth, 
 allow this, 
 
 ; but luch 
 id to Great 
 nters confi- 
 rm tl^at their 
 chil- 
 
 , 
 
 [ «7 ] 
 
 children are ctlucatcd j their wealth centers hre^ 
 and it is ben that their affcdbions are fixed. Even 
 fuch of them as have rtfided in the Wtft-Indies 
 from their birth, look on the iflands as a tem- 
 porary abode only, and the fond notion of being 
 foon able to go home (as they emphatically term a 
 vifit to England) year after year animates their in- 
 duftry and alleviates their misfortunes ; of which 
 by the bye, no people on earth have received 
 a greater (bare from the hand of omnipotence than 
 themfelves. On what principle then of rcafon or 
 juflicc, arc we called upon to deprive thefe colo- 
 nics, thus attached to us by every tie of intereft 
 and afi^dtion, of any one advantage in the difpofal 
 of their produce, which is not immcdi&tery preju- 
 dicial to ourfelves ? Arc we by miftakcii prohibi- 
 tions to compel their old cuftomers the AmeridariS; 
 to deal with foreigners* whether they incline fo to 
 do or not ? Very different was the policy of our 
 former lyftcm» for why was a duty of fivefhiHings 
 per cent, levied on fugars of foreign grbWtti, im- 
 ported into North America, while that of our 
 own iflands was admitted duty free? cvidintly thac 
 the tax on foreign fugars might opei-ite as a 
 bounty on our own. This fyftem it is true has 
 ceafed with the allegiance of America VneVerthclefsi, 
 if the veflcls of the United States are freely admit- 
 cd into our Weft- India ports, it is probable, in the 
 affbrtment of their homeward freight, that fugtr 
 will ftin conlVnme /ome fart of their cargoes. I 
 
 believe 
 

 ^r 
 
 w 
 
 lip' 
 
 a I. "I *' !• 
 
 rs. 
 
 [ 28 ] 
 
 believe in truth a fmallpart. But whatever miy 
 be its amount, the value of it, if fugar itfclf is 
 prohibited, mult be paid in ready money, which 
 will afterwards probably find its way to thofe 
 plantations where a wifcr policy prevails*. It 
 fuiiows, therefore, and the fadl undoubtedly is, 
 that as we reftrain our own fugar iflands, we fup- 
 port and encourage, in the lame degree, thofe of 
 our rivals and enemies, the French. 
 
 I am not unappriled of that narrow felBlh argu- 
 ment, that the firitifh revenue will be injured by 
 the export of our fugar to North America:-*- but 
 judging of the future by the pad, I maintain, thai 
 the plenty of fugar at the Englifh market, as it has 
 always kept, fo it always will keep pace with the 
 reduced price of neceflfaries in our fugar planta- 
 tions, and the eafe with which labour therCk i9 up- 
 held and prommec;!. It i« not the fale of an iaeoa- 
 jQderable portion of their great (^aple iq the North 
 An)«ricans, that ultimately loflcns its general exr 
 port to Gre/tt Britain. On the contrary, by a 
 redudiop ir^ the planters annual expence>-ran ad- 
 vantage which he owes to an immediate, apd there- 
 fore bejaeficial exchange of comnKi^ities (fugar 
 among the reft) with America, a defirc of improv- 
 ing and extending his poffefTions, urges him to 
 new . undertakings }i — his ambition is awakened; 
 >— hi$ f'^culties expand, and cultivation increafes 
 
 • Seethe Second Address in the Appendix, from the inha- 
 bitants of Jamaica to Governor Campbell. 
 
 • -•• with 
 
 I 
 
 -SBvr:. 
 
itever may 
 ar itfclf is 
 ney, which 
 y to thole 
 vails*. It 
 jbtedly is. 
 Is, wc fup- 
 e, thofe of 
 
 ielBfti argu- 
 injured by 
 rica:— but 
 ntain, thai 
 :t, as it has 
 ce with the 
 ^r planta- 
 lerek >9 up^ 
 if an iacoa- 
 I th« North 
 jenerai exr- 
 rary, by a- 
 e,-ran ad- 
 apd iher«- 
 ties (fugar 
 of itnprov- 
 ;es him to 
 
 awakened} 
 n increafes 
 
 6m the inha- 
 with 
 
 
 [ 29 ] 
 
 with a rapidity unknowrj to the csutious inhabi- 
 tant of the colder clime, and Icfs vigorous foil ol 
 Furo;)t. Thus it ii, that the iflands will grate- 
 fully /fpjy the generous indulgence of their pa- 
 rent. Hy permitting a dirc<fl exportation of fugar 
 to America, (he will loon find a proportionate 
 encreafc of the fan^ llapic, at her o^n emporium i 
 while the confumption of her manufaftories uilf 
 .enlarge with the aui^^mcntation of her navigation 
 and revenues. The improvements that were vifi. 
 ble in the Idand of Jtmaica widiin the fhon fpacc 
 of fifteen years, previous to t!ie late unfortunate 
 war, eftablilh the truth of ihis realomog beyornl 
 all contradiaion. They may be juciged°o^ from 
 this, that in 1737 the import of fugar into the 
 port of London, from that ifland, w^s 24,49^ 
 hogfheads; in 177?, it had rifcn to 45,889 hogf- 
 heads I Let us now no longer hi told, that an 
 exportation of that commodity to North America 
 is prejudicial to the revenues of Great Britain f 
 
 1 come now to the loudeft of all the objcaiions 
 that have yet been urged againft the eftablilhment 
 of a liberal intercourfc with the Americans; name- 
 ly, the fuppofed danger of their engroffing the na- 
 vigation and carrying-trade of this kingdom ; on 
 which, however, it is fufficient to oblcrve, with 
 refpeft to our fugar colonies, that the argument 
 whereon this objeaion is founded, (if I rightly 
 comprehend its meaning,) takes for granted what 
 yet remains to be proved i fincc it implies, that the 
 * admifli n 
 
<^ 
 
 i i 
 
 [ 30 ] 
 
 admifllon of American vcflels into our Weft Indii 
 ports allows them alio a free trade from thunce t» 
 Great Britain. But afluredly this does noj nccef- 
 farily follow. Whether it may be prudent in 
 Great Britain to confcnt to fo liberal an extenfion of 
 her navigation laws, is a queftion of general poli* 
 cy, whereon it would be prefumptious in the Weft 
 India planters to offer their opinion. Imprefled 
 with the dread of impending evils, they confine 
 themfelves to their own particular fituation, re- 
 qucftingonly, that America m^y be permitted, aa 
 formerly, to bring them food, and fuch other ne- 
 ceflaries as Great Britain herfelf cannot furnifh» 
 and to receive in payment fuch of their ftaples as 
 Great Britain cannot confumc. They are told that 
 " Canada and Nova Scotia fhall fatisfy their 
 wants.'* Wc have demonftratcd the folly of this 
 expectation. ** But Great Britain claims the mo- 
 nopoly of their produce." It has been (hewn that 
 Ac will ftill poflcfs it to every beneficial purpofe. 
 Obftacles, however, multiply. "The Annericans 
 will cngrofs the carrying-trade, to the exclufion of 
 our own (hipping." — This objedion, in truth, is 
 expreiTed in fuch general terms, that I wittf be- 
 lieve, many well meaning men, who have grown 
 hoarfe in repeating it, have no precife idea of its 
 meaning to this hour. If the fenfe of it be this, 
 that American fliipi •will fupp'y foreign markets with 
 Britifh plantation J i lar^ to the prejudice of the Bri- 
 tifHi refinery -, the noble author of whom I have 
 
 made 
 
 'm^mf^W 
 
VtA Indi4 
 I thunce t» 
 noj ncccf- 
 rudenc in 
 itenfion of 
 leral poli- 
 
 the Weft 
 Imprefled 
 ey confine 
 ation, re- 
 nicted, aa 
 
 other ne- 
 )C furnifhv 
 
 ilaples as 
 e told that 
 isfy their 
 )lly of this 
 IS the mo- 
 (hewn that 
 1 purpofe. 
 \niericans 
 
 Kclufion of 
 
 • 
 
 1 truth, is 
 ««tty" be- 
 ave grown 
 dea of its 
 it be this, 
 trkets with 
 oftht Bri- 
 )ni I have 
 made 
 
 ► 
 
 [ 3' ] 
 
 made frequent mention, aod who has clearly given 
 it this interpretation, has himfclf furnifhed an an- 
 fwer ; for he repeatedly affirms, that the French 
 iflands can fupply, not only the American con> 
 fumption, but that of all Europe befides, on far 
 cheaper terms than our own. Does the noble 
 Lord fuppofe, that America will buy dearer^ with 
 a view to fell cheaper^ than the French ? ' Their 
 paft conduct has afforded no proofs of fuch egre- 
 gious folly. I mud obferve too, that our iflands 
 have already permifllon (by 12 Geo. II.) to fend 
 fugars to the fouthward of Cape Finiftere ; yet, 
 during a rcGdcncc of 15 years in the Weft Indies, 
 I never heard but of two veffels that tried the ex- 
 periment, and the owners had no encouragemenc 
 to repeat it. If the objeftion fignifies, what I be- 
 lieve it was meant to fignify by fome who urged it 
 in the Houfe of Commons in the debate of Mr. 
 Pitt's provifional bill-, namely. That Amtrican 
 fliipSy having difcbarged their cargoes in our Weft 
 India iflands, will enter into a Competition with Bri- 
 ' ti/h vejfels ioading there, for freights to Great Bri- 
 tain ; it is, 1 confefs, 9 matter deCerving confis. 
 deration \ but Great Britain furely may adminifter 
 a preventive lefs dangerous in its effcAs than the 
 projeft of ftarving her fugar colonies, by interdic- 
 ting all intercourfe whatever between them and tht 
 United States. The difeafe, in this cafe,, is, in- 
 deed, by far the lefler evil. 
 
 -I hope 
 
 m 
 
 li' 
 
tWMil 
 
 i- 
 
 rw^l 
 
 I-"* ! 
 
 im 
 
 I 32 1 
 
 ' I hop6 th« no apology to Lord Sheffield will be 
 thought nectfTary for the freedom I have taken 
 with his opinions. I mean no perfonal offence 1 
 lor ! ha^e heard, and believe^ that he is a man of 
 great liberality and hiitninity ; but, drawing hii 
 tonckifioifis, a$ he confcfles to hAve done, chiefly 
 from oral testimony, I am inclined to think, thai 
 ^ttat p.irc of the information given to his lord(hip» 
 was not given in the fpint of truth i bur, in thai 
 of felfjlhnefs and malignity. His lord(hip, having 
 fubmittcd his opinions to the public, avowedly fot 
 the purpofe of influencing public meafures» they 
 are fairly an obj.-d of public inveftigation* 
 
 One objeflion (till remains to be conPidercd. U 
 i» that which rrfpeds Ireland. It (hall quickly b« 
 dif\)arched ', for it is without evei(i a fhadow of 
 •foundation. Ireland has already received, as mat- 
 ter of right, ail the freedom of trade which (he 
 claimed. Or can rcafonably defire, and (he n6bly 
 earned it. -^Happy, if fl^c knows her own happi- 
 itcfs! Among other privileges, (he poflcffes that of 
 a direfl intercourie wirhoor Weft India i(Unds. It 
 is true, (he has charged the confumption of Wc(t'* 
 India produce with duties proportionate to thofe 
 which are laid by Great- Britain j and (he has adopt* 
 edour navigation sdb, in prohibiting the introduc-; 
 tion thereof from foreign plantations in foreign \aot-i 
 foms. T^is (he did at the rcafooable rcqueft of thit 
 kingdom-, for it was obvious, that a fyftcra of fq^ug* 
 gling tugar and rum from thence hither, would 
 
 othcr- 
 
 'm 
 
 jSHSaitf-SSs:. 
 
f7TmT5,^5^y"5lf!p™r75W 
 
 :ki wiU be 
 ave taken 
 I offence i 
 } a man of 
 awing hii 
 ic, chiefly 
 link, thai 
 8 lord(hip» 
 ir» in thai 
 ip, having 
 >wedl]r for 
 ures» they 
 on. 
 
 idercd. U 
 quickly be 
 fltadow of 
 d, as mat<« 
 which (he 
 (he nbbiy 
 wn happi- 
 iea that of 
 (lands. It 
 1 of WcftA 
 e to thofe 
 has adopt* 
 ! introduc-^ 
 jreign bDC>i 
 jeft of this 
 nof fq^ug* 
 ler, would 
 other- 
 
 .1 ^ ^^ 5 
 
 i^hejffwifc httue been introduced rhat mud have prov- 
 ed fat^I to our revrnucs : but the duties which Ire- 
 land has thus efhibUihed, (he retains in her own 
 hawds. Giwdt-Britain receives no parr of theni ; 
 and if by nreansof ibe/e^ the people of Ireland arc 
 relieved a£cf6er taxcs» how are they injured* and 
 what have they to complain of? When therefore 
 they are told* « That they ought to have Weft-India 
 produce on as good terms as the Americans*, now a 
 foreign nation," the fata kk\{ is noc fairly ftatcd» 
 It is ncceffwy to obfcrve too, that England ia no 
 longer at the expencc of maitiiaining a fleet for the 
 proteaion of the commerce of America. DocJ 
 Irclaidexpcft that Great-Britain is to fufport ihe 
 wbok burthen of naval defence for both king- 
 doms, beGda^ tbe bad of debt contraaed for both, 
 and wii) rte people of Ireland eoneribut^ i» bi> r^, 
 fffa to her celitf ? Men who have a^d (b bravely 
 8S.t!iAki(h, ^U not argue fo ungfneroqfly, 
 • Jlwv^ tims briefly, bvH I tfwft fatisfaaorijy, 
 obviated ihf principal objaafon* and argjumeac» 
 ^»at liave be«n idoqucntly urged, both !fl parWa- 
 mcn^aBd fcopv |he pfcfs, againft the icvival of « 
 coronjeiiciai iotereourfc betw«en our W^-Indif 
 i/lanids and the United States of America,, o^ tcrm» 
 of cqyal freedom and advantage. Ifr bap coft me 
 buj little trouble,, for none of them were of deep 
 fod di^cujf confideration, and the fubjed did no; 
 tc^e me to enter more fully and ac Urge iatp tha; 
 great fyftem of general policy, which it will fpeedily 
 " "' >^ demand 
 
 m 
 
 
 """ h' 7 I' I I ii.ii»'iHji,p»iihi 
 
?•*" 
 
 i»r' 
 
 li 
 
 \m^ 
 
 III. I 
 
 [ 34 1 
 
 demand the clofcft invcftigation on the part of ^ 
 Great-Britain (aided by temperate councils, un- 
 contaminated by party, and unbiafled bj refent- 
 ment) to arrange and cftabliih on a folid and prof- 
 perous footing. Of that general fyftem, however,- * 
 the commerce of which I treat, conttitutes a very 
 eflcntial part, and by confidering it feparately and 
 diftin&ly, I flatter myfclf that 1 have enabled the 
 rtader to form a clearer notion of its nature, and 
 a more accurate eftimate of its value, than other- ^ 
 wife he might have done. With a few mifcella-'^ 
 neous obfcrvations, therefore, that occur to me, I» 
 ihall difmifs the fubjeft. '} 
 
 ^ It has been remarked, that the navigation from 
 Canada is obltrucked fix months in the year by the' 
 ice. It Ihould alfo have been obfcrved, that the 
 hurricane months in the Weft-Indies bccupy great 
 part of the time in which the river St. Lawrence 
 is open. How cafual, how uncertain, thcrtfore,- 
 muft be any fupply from thence for the ufe of the 
 planters in the Weft-Indies, even if Canada ihatf 
 people fufficicnt to cut her lumber, and tht meana 
 ot preparing her wheat into flour fit for the Weft- 
 India market, neither of which advantages (he pof- 
 felTes at prcfcnt. 1 doubt alfo, whether Canada 
 (as now bounded) furniftjcs that fpecies of wood 
 called tobite oaki the only material proper for 
 containing rum. It is certain, that Nova-Scotia 
 does not. This is a very ftriking circumftance j 
 for next to the neceflarics of life, wood, of which 
 
 •mtaillt^(tf*f 
 
 rum 
 
 -:iii^j, - ^g ^.^ 
 
 •s^iiise^iS^ 
 
part of 
 cils, un- 
 j refcnt- 
 ind prof- 
 however, 
 ;es a very 
 ately and 
 abled the 
 ture, and 
 an othcr- 
 
 miicella- 
 • to me,' I i 
 
 ition from 
 car by the' 
 I, that the 
 r.upy great- 
 Lawrence 
 thcrtfore,' 
 ufeof the 
 ^nada faad^ 
 , thb meant 
 r the Weft- 
 res (he pof- 
 her Canada' 
 es of wood 
 proper for 
 rova-Scotia 
 cumftance i 
 
 if of which 
 rum 
 
 ) 
 
 i S5 ] 
 
 rum puncheons are madc^ is the mort important of 
 fupplies to the Weft-Indics, as 1 have already dc- 
 monftrated, and the want of it affords an additional 
 reafon for placing very, little dcpendancc on either 
 ■ of thofe illiifated provinces *. 
 
 The papers, which I fhall fubjoin in an Appen- 
 dix, have anticipated in part an obfervation wherein 
 • our humanity, as well as policy, is more interefted 
 than ih any other. It arifes from the dreadful con- 
 rflagration which a few years ago reduced the large 
 :!«Dd ropulent emporium of Jamaica to afhes, and 
 the flkill more dreadful hurricanes, in which the 
 jaugel df defdation vifited in his wrath great part 
 ;pf tbtt extenfive country, and the whole of feme 
 •ef theliHands to windward.-^Ever fince thofe ca- 
 Ilamifies, the fuffering inhabitants have refided in 
 miferablc hovels, by nd means a fufficient defence 
 ^«againft the autumnal feafons, in confident expec- 
 ^tatjon that the rtturn of peace would enable 
 '::them to procure materials for repairing their 
 >;dweHing houfes, and the re-eftabliflimcnt of their 
 ^iHs »)d manufadborics •, and accordingly America, 
 in thevcryfirftmomentof reconciliation, haftened 
 to their relief. How grievous then is their difap. 
 pointment ! yet this is but a very fmall part of 
 theevjl. It has bpcn ihewn in the ftateof the 
 
 -'irr 
 
 
 -^ •Beech from Engfland Hks fehrSd td makl'^gar hogfteadj, 
 but will not anfwer for rum j nof any wood that I am ac^ 
 qqainttd v^itk but ««<(. 
 
 imports 
 
 ^:f: 
 
PI 
 
 C 36 3 
 
 imports from North America, that the article -of 
 faUed BIh (viz. cod, mackr«ll and fhad) to (he 
 incredible amount of 1 50,000 quintsls, and ^/)0O 
 barrels, coni^icuccd part of their annual confump- 
 tion. It grieves me to (ay, that this, and herrings 
 from Ireland, made the only animal food of the 
 poor negroes. By the late proclamatJotn, the fii- 
 ture import of f4Ued filh from the United Statis 
 is ndt permitted fven in Briti/h vsffeh. As it is 
 impoffible that Ireland alone, or conjoiotly with 
 thtt 5ihcnesx>f St. Jjiha's and Nova>SQ(tfia,;in their 
 pnefent ftate, can fupply ithexleficiency, iinfatua- 
 tion muft have crept into our councils. Is if not 
 enough that '/ruin will overtake the mcfi w id w i g 
 planter ;-^mu(V the nK>ft wretched of all iheehiK 
 dren of afiiidion, his. miferablc flavcs, «ifo f(^ 
 vidims to our vengeance ?■ . • jvmi viiiamm^*'. 
 . it was remarked, l>y Mr. I^alker^ ifi itKat ad- 
 mirable chain of evidence delivered by him, in 
 1775, to an unattending and unfeeling Hoafe of 
 Commons, that " it is in trade, as in th? Kwman 
 *' body, nothing fuffcrs fingly by itfelf ^ thet« is 
 ^« a conftnt of parts in the fyftcmof both, and 
 's the partial evil foon grows into univerfal mif- 
 " chief."— At prefent 1 ftiaH confine the appllcafii 
 tion of this remark ro the African irade. ReJ- 
 prived of the means of procuring fuftenance for the 
 Haves they already pQ(r«l«, it can faeardly befup- 
 \)ofed that the-planTers will tJiink of |)urchafing 
 othei«. In lamenting this circumftance,' lYpeak 
 
 ^^Mh>->^ '"'"^ /:■ now, 
 
article -of 
 I) CO (he 
 
 confump- 
 i herrings 
 od of the 
 ^ the fit- 
 ted Statts 
 
 As it is 
 intiy m'xdi 
 a,, in tiieir 
 , itofatua- 
 
 laicnoc 
 soflbodnig 
 1 iheehiK 
 , «lfi> faU 
 
 itKat ad- 
 phim, in 
 
 Hoafe of 
 he Kuman 
 i there tt 
 both, and 
 ireifal mif- 
 le applica- 
 id€. Dei. 
 nee for the 
 ly be fop- 
 jurchafmg 
 e,- rrpeak 
 
 ^m^^~ 
 
 C 37 ] 
 
 nmi, jnercly fls a merchant or ftockholder, me^ 
 
 dttaeing on the prefcnt, and probably fuiiw, ft«« 
 
 biiky 4>£.thc revenues of Great Britain j to which 
 
 ilfae A^M trade is doubtJofs of confidcrable im- 
 
 poitanoe.. As ja man, and a Chriftian, I hope I 
 
 (hall live to lee the day (though a fugar piant«# 
 
 inir&lO ivlien this iibominable traffic will be pro- 
 
 bibtted. ,1 think I can clearly prove, tiiat etw 
 
 the welfare of the planter concurs with the honor 
 
 of goveenonem, and the intercft of humanity, in 
 
 Wiflung its ^o«al^abolitlon. At preftnt, the fyfj 
 
 tern of Great i Britain towards her few rematmng 
 
 oo4»nics, is a fyftom unexampled in the annals o^ 
 
 irtaddnd.H*rIt is war, under the name of f^acev 
 
 agaioft the moft valuable of her plantationt, who? 
 
 have not only given her ao provocation, but whdft^ 
 
 welfane &hc knows and acknowledges to be the ^«>' 
 
 Jiort uf our own empire. WcB, therefore, may 
 
 thr planters complain^ that ♦* they are fuffering 
 
 without blame, Mid incurring aH the efledbs of re- 
 
 fcntment, without the nightelt imputation on cimr 
 
 obodience».v . 
 
 r Whatever may be thought of tl>e pad or pre- 
 fcat condodt uf America towards this country, Ac 
 peweful and loyal inhabitants of the Weft Indiaf 
 idanda are void <tf offence. Is it then confiftent* 
 with ptAky, religion, or humanity, to deftixiy the' 
 l^flocsot* bc«pKfe their deftruftion may operate^ 
 
 f JMliaa Iromkf afljtaUy «r Bathadcm ta tU Kin^ 
 .^ eventually 
 
 ii.Si 
 
 ■"■»Ji"''W^%**at1 
 
 
uju—uvBoann 
 
 eventually as a pjuniniment to the guihy ; and a» 
 5ioi>,c;oo'perfons to b? ftarvpd, and a property of 
 ^irt^HUonto befcndered unprofictDle and preca* 
 iWJlail'tbat America rrtay lole the advantage of 
 ftljipg them food aod neceflarits ? Polky, religion, 
 %li{}>luiinanit)^, reprobate the idea ! 
 .mXo conclude: In private life, it is notthe mair 
 nhoisi induced j but hethat gives, thdiiijury* that- 
 feidort) fbrgives. This, however,: iis the peculiar 
 «hata£^eriftic of bafc and ignoble minds ^ for fuch) 
 only ale guilty of unprovoked and premeditated 
 ^ikhxcf. Miftake, indeed, ia the lot of our na^ 
 tore, and the wifeft and greateft oF men. are not' 
 cpicmpted from it i but convjdlion on AKh mindv 
 produces, not malignity ot revenge, but acknow-. 
 kdghneni and reparation* When unretradked er-. 
 rorltardensintoobftinacy, and' drfappointed am-^' 
 ^iton> degraded into malice*^drefe are figns of 
 a fata) degeneracy' t of a conduft not merely er. 
 roncous, but prooceding from principles depraved 
 and corrupt, .It..is.^.ith comrtwnitiea «,wiih in- 
 dividuals. We were once a people renbwned £c(ti 
 generofity and ni#gnanimity--^To the prefcrvation 
 of that cliara£l;c«:, exeovption from' etror.never wail 
 f^ppof«|d irommah^y fveceffary, Our public coi»i 
 dufb has indeed been dreadfully. faUible, and we 
 V^e much to apfwer.for, and mwcb to repair t-i-' 
 but* if fubUp vii!tuq:be not wholly gone from ua^i 
 if we ftill wifli.to be venerable among the nations 
 ^f vUqi.^artha !ec us, above all things* difcard, m 
 
 the 
 
; andam 
 roperty of 
 ndpreca* 
 anciige of 
 ,itligioiv 
 
 >t the man: 
 jury* that ' 
 le peculiar 
 ; for fucb ^ 
 iireditated 
 >f our naj 
 en are not> 
 uch mindy 
 itacknow^' 
 iradked er-. , 
 lirtted am-^ ' 
 re figns of: 
 merely cf." 
 }' depraved 
 ss.wtth in-' 
 fbwned £cit> 
 refervation 
 .never wail 
 ubiic coa*i 
 te, and wei 
 I repair t-i-' 
 te fromus^i 
 he nations 
 dtfcard, m 
 the 
 
 
 C 39 1 
 
 thefulnefs of difdain, that low vindiflive principle 
 of womanly refentment, which incites to fecret 
 malignity and revenge, when open and avowed 
 floftility has failed of its purpofe. Surely we ar« 
 at this time fufficiently humbled, both in our own 
 eyes and that of the world, to learn a Icflbn from 
 the fchool of afllidion. If misfortunes like ours* 
 will not teach us wifdom, we are indeed a devoted 
 people, and fate has fixed her feal iipoo our 
 ruin I 
 
 '^:7. JSi:^ fist ||8fe». 
 
 X; ; 
 
 '-Hifti 
 
 t^^k:: 
 
 
 A P P E N- 
 
 i'M 
 
 •m 
 
 t ; 
 
I e* 
 
 a'tjbahf* - ' 
 
 ' ';■■•■ ■: ,-.' ^, .*. 
 
 
 •;:^-fj 
 
 VnuSi c. 
 
 ' ( 
 
 - .'..'.• 
 
 # 
 
 I«w/t.,. .. 
 
 1 
 
 • ■ 
 
 J 
 
 mi HM 'v>M 
 
 .lli'4f!t'*< *?J 
 
 • * 
 
 * 
 
 iiv/o lop ni 
 
 .:^rf,L-.: 
 
 
 . '4 
 
 ■ • ' .f 
 
 s »r£t!! t3t'»;a- 
 
 , - - 
 
 ■» 
 
 «'U.-i *,-.••-. 
 
 „:; J aiiini'M" 
 
 *? «" |» 
 
 / 
 
 j. 'K. tV *'j ii »( 
 
 i 
 
 r^-nji^; ■ 
 
 
 i^a f.:j«*. i 
 
 » ^ 
 
 ■.i f „,: 
 
 
 T 
 
 ^ ■•. 
 
 1/ ' 
 
 $ 
 
 m 
 
 ^ «- * 
 
flan: .':YU 
 
 nfrS^imiiv 
 
 . i» 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 j4t a Committee of the Wejl- India Planter^ 
 and Merchants^ held the nth of ApriU 
 1783, in purfuance of the unanimous refo^ 
 lution and appointment of a general meeting, 
 exprefsly called for that purpofe: 
 
 RESOLVED unanimoufly, that the following 
 REPRESENTATION be made to his Ma- 
 jesty** Miniders, viz. 
 
 ♦"pHAT the proprietor! of Eftatcs in the 
 '*' fugar colonies have been put to fuch enor-» . 
 mous expences for their defence during the late 
 war, and for procuring even the infufficient fup- 
 plies they have been able to obtain of lumber and 
 other American produce, and have been during 
 the fame period vifued with fo many natural cala* 
 mities, that their Htuation is become truly diftrefs- 
 ful, and loudly calls for attention to evety pofllble 
 means of fupporting them, and, with, them the 
 
 G manu- 
 
 >-^f«,!^~ 
 
■ ■ Wt!. i W"^ ' .^M 
 
 Tf^ ' 
 
 [ 4^ 1 
 
 manufafturcs, commerce, navigation, and reve- 
 nue of the mother country, under burthens which 
 endanger their utter ruin. 
 
 It is with the greateft reluAance they maice 
 any reprcfentation concerning the very heavy and 
 opprcflivc duties impofcd on the ttapk articles 
 of their produce by Parliament, being truly fcn- 
 fible of the urgency of the public neceflities, and 
 finccrcly ready to make every exertion for fup- 
 porting their (hare of them -, but if fuch duties are 
 impofed as muft greally leflen, the confumption, 
 whilft they proportionably increafc the temptation 
 to fmuggling, the profpcft of revenue will be de- 
 feated, and the fugar colonies ruined in vain. 
 Such it is greatly feared will be the operation of 
 the increafed duties upon fugar and rum. Thofe 
 on rum have operated in a great meafure as a 
 prohibition to the imporution from the Lerward 
 Iflands. Thofe on fugar have been nearly doubled 
 in the courfe of the laft war; and, confidering 
 that the greateft part of the fugar is refined be- 
 fore confumption, the duties thereon are duties 
 tipon a raw material of inanufadure, falling vaftly 
 heavier upon the fubftance con fumed, becaufe of 
 thie great waile in reBning. The advance of mo-^ 
 ney required for payment of the.dut/ inftant^y on 
 landing aggravates its weight upon the planter } 
 and upon the whole, it is apppehended that no 
 fimilar objeft of taxation has, under the prefTure 
 of the fantie public neceflities, been dealt with fo 
 
 V hardly ; 
 
 .'m^i.(^mmmx:eM-' 
 
and reve- 
 hens which 
 
 they make 
 heavy and 
 }k articles 
 ; truly fcn- 
 ;fllcies, and 
 in for fup* 
 1 duties are 
 nfumption, 
 temptation 
 will be de- 
 d in vain, 
 ipcration of 
 m. Thofe 
 :afure as a 
 lie Leni^ard 
 rly doubled 
 confidering 
 refined be- 
 are duties 
 iUing vaftjy 
 becaufe of 
 nee of mo* 
 nftantly on 
 lie planter } 
 ed chat no 
 ;he prefTure 
 Uc with fo 
 hardly j 
 
 ' 
 
 t 43 ] 
 hardly -, whilft few, if any of them from their 
 conneiftipn with the mofteftcntial interefts of this 
 commercial country, ftand fo well entitled to a 
 favourable attention. A relief from thcfe duties 
 may thcrefpre become indifpenfably neteflaryi and 
 fuch ncceffity cap in the opinion of the committee 
 be ip no way prevented, but by the utmoft af- 
 fjftapce being given, to the fupply of the fugar 
 colonics with tHc articles they ftand in need ef ; 
 and to the encouragementi of the cultivation of 
 othei- articles of their growth ; together mih the 
 mo(l vigorpus exertion of every means wheixiby 
 foiuggling rti'ay be prevented, and foreign pt-ptJucc 
 lc?pt from beiftg introduced to confumriiloh in 
 thefe kingdoms inftead of bur own. 
 "The dominions of the United States, of A tnerica, 
 ;ihd his Majefly's fugar coloniei. having been 
 fe^tIcd in theexprefs view of fupply ing each others 
 wants, it cannot be expe^ed that the fugar cold- 
 ijics can fubfift, in any degree of profperity, withw 
 out thofe fupplies of lumber and provifions from 
 America at the cheapeft rate, in contemplation of 
 which they were fo fettled, or without the con- 
 flimption in North America of their produce in 
 return ; and, although the cxclufive right to that 
 confumptibn Is no more, yet, under a juft and 
 reafonable attention to mutual interefts, the com- ' 
 mittee (^tertain no doubt but fuch a fliare of the 
 American tradernftay be prcierrcd to the fugar co- 
 lonies as will greatly tend to their fupporr. and. 
 
 ' upon 
 
 «i» 
 
 nst 
 
 -mfX^M 
 
. . LJI.IP,"! t — 
 
 'Si. 
 
 m 
 
 
 [ 44 ] 
 
 upon every principle of true policy, and proper 
 regard to the views and purpofes of rival nations, 
 be highly dcfervmg of the utmoft countenance 
 and afljftancc from the mother country. To this 
 intercourie, the committee apprehend, the per- 
 miffion of American fhips, as heretofore, freely 
 to bring the produce of the dominions of the Uni- 
 ted States to the fugar colonies, and take back 
 cur produce in return, is fo obviouQy cffential, 
 that they need not adduce any farther arguments 
 in fupport of that propofition. 
 
 Ip fevcral of his Majefty's fugar colonics thr^n 
 9re i^ill great trafts of uncultivated land, of whicU 
 although a confiderable part, would undoubtedly, 
 under adequate encouragement, be fettled with 
 ifug&r works, yet there will remain confiderable 
 quantities which, from foil or fituation, arc unfit 
 for the culture of fugar, though very fit for that 
 of indigo, coffee, cocoa, and tobacco, if proper 
 . encouragement were given thereto •, and foch cul- 
 tivation would at the fame time afford the means 
 of fubfiftence to great numbers of loyal Americans 
 and others, whofe property is not lufficient for 
 the fettkment of a fugar plantation, and would 
 greatly increafe the internal ftr<ngth of the fugar 
 colonics. For thefe falutary purpofes, it is fub- 
 milted whether, the bounty of 4^. P." pound, 
 which only expirc4 laft year, fhould not be revi- 
 .ved, upon the imj^ortation of indigo of the growth 
 of his Majefty's fugar Colonics, and the duties on 
 
 coffee 
 
and proper 
 r&\ nations* 
 ountenance 
 . To this 
 1, the pcr- 
 fore, freely 
 jf the Unt- 
 
 take back 
 ly efTential, 
 
 arguments 
 
 lonies thr:n 
 J, of whicU 
 ndoubtedly, 
 fettled with 
 confiderable 
 n, are unfit 
 fit for that 
 >, if proper 
 id fuch cul- 
 1 the means 
 1 Afnericans 
 ufiicient for 
 and would 
 of the fugar 
 s, it is fub- 
 per pound, 
 lot be revi- 
 f the growth 
 ;hc duties on 
 coffee 
 
 I 
 
 t 45 ] 
 
 coffee and Jddcoa be in a great meafur^ taken off. 
 Thofe on coffee, in particular, operate almofl as a 
 prohibition on the legal confumption, fceiitg that, 
 notwithflanding their enormous rate, they only pro- 
 <luce about 7 or 8000!. per annum to the revenue, 
 whiltt it is evident that very great quantities of 
 coffee arc confumed in thefe kingdoms, to the en- 
 couragement of the general praftice of fmoggling, 
 and the fupport of tije French Weft-lndia Iflands 
 by the confumption of their produce. By an ex- 
 periment upon this article, therefore, the revenue 
 can hazard little, and the committee moft earneftly 
 recommend it, in the firm perfuafion that if the 
 wife were wholly taken off, and that, upon pay. 
 incnt of « moderate duty of cufloms upon land- 
 ing, to be drawn back on exportation, coffee were 
 permitted to be confumed free from all farther 
 rcflraint, a very fmall duty thereon would not 
 only produce n-ore revenue than is produced at 
 prefent from the commodity itfclf, but, would 
 materially aid the confumption of fugar, and the 
 revenue arifing therefrom. A fimilar regulation 
 of the duty on cocoa would, it is hoped, produce 
 the like effefts. 
 
 Among the defers of the prefent fyftem of 
 laws againft fmuggling, it is fubmitted whether 
 fome of the moft ftriking and confiderable arc nor, 
 the permitting vefleU feized to return to their for- 
 mer «mpl6yment} the want of punifhments fuired 
 CO the enormity of the crime, 10 be inflifted on 
 
 fuch 
 

 u <' 
 
 [46] 
 
 fuch revenue officers as are either corrup«;ly c«a- 
 cernerf in fmuggling pr in coUufive fcizures. Of 
 wilt\illy and knowingly copnive atthefti j and th^ 
 pcrrpit.tirvgcpmmodii^iB^ feizc^ to be fold far hotnp 
 \:onlumpti90 free of dmjf. Ui^ci: lh\s ptad^i,ce, 
 every attempt made |9 (mugglc, m\jl^ of neceffity 
 pfQ^jice aU Khc evil to the ftate, whifih il& fupcef^ 
 cov>ld pro^u^e i and ^ije only qucflion is, whether 
 ihe fpiiiggltr or thp cuftam houfe ofiiccr flialj 
 reap the benefit j for by ^he one or ?|lf?jptb?r oi 
 thern the commodity is with cfrt^^pty )?rW^^^ 
 into confjjinvption, f(«« pf^diuy^ ^inhilftlbp falie 
 thereof i^poR the (e^ po^(^ at the fame ijjr^f^qtor^i 
 the means of cqve<[if/g».,by pcrnfiiisi, t|}e .i^c^^(iulcq| 
 conveyance of vaftly gf^^ci" qwaniitieftof fip,ugglc4 
 goods than could be fo covered if thftf? fsjlfs 4i4 
 not aflFord the pretence, , It h therefo^ft qppctfivcd, 
 that the abolition of this, praftice., and thf f^le of 
 akll fcizurcs fwr exportation only, under the M^^l 
 fccuriti^s, is become efiTeniiial tp the fi^ppprt pfouf 
 own colonies^ under the load of duties with wlyc^ 
 the conCumption of thcjr produce it\ ihefe kingr 
 doms is burthened. . « 
 
 Every delay, arifing from the forms of th? cufi- 
 tonvhoufe, and the iinijtations of the fp^ce in 
 which bufinefs is requircsil to be don?, incre^s 
 the opportunities, npt pi\ly of (AcftAviiOjg S^c xc- 
 venue by fmuggling ,^v?t rp|jbiog the impprtcr 
 by pilfering the comni^Uy q? V^h'ch t\\c <;lpiy is 
 payable. In thi» vipWi «s Wt^l W in ni?ny o^hcrs^- 
 
 it 
 
 -T^BiK^, 
 
 .*:.,fca^i^iitafcK^^ i'ljS, ■ii.#.«g*L- 
 
«;ly cw- 
 ;urcs. Of 
 9nd the 
 lor hotn^ 
 practice, 
 neceffity 
 
 , whether 
 ccr Ihali 
 
 ptjj^r pif 
 . ihf! fai^ 
 
 ayKiulcp^ 
 
 ?p<:t;ivcd, 
 W fs^le of 
 
 irc of ouf 
 th wt^c^ 
 ?fe klngt 
 
 ', the cufi- 
 fp^ce in 
 incre^s 
 igthcre- 
 tmpprter 
 
 le 4mf ^ 
 
 y o^hcr^- 
 
 it 
 
 C 47 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 i .' ■ 
 
 it^ would be highly falutrfry, to abolifh holidays at 
 the cuftom-houfc to the degree that they ftand 
 abohfhed at the trcafury. admiralty. navyioeiiX, 
 and other great efficient boards of bufinefs j to 
 confohdate the feveral perplexed and intricate 
 branches of dut:«» and drawbacks into one duty 
 and one drawback on each commodity ; and to 
 extend the pwWic quays QflKwdon. and no Joh^ 
 require the cOmincrce of the wtropolf, tp be car- 
 rt<^ on in lifs'^aire fhan-isfclJowed at the princi- 
 pal oirt-port., and m fo ctowded a;way, as whollyr 
 piieclades ^ effeaual care^ the commodities im- 
 ported, and encourages villany of. all dcnomina. 
 
 Tl 'T5 '^' \'.^°""'"e people employed about 
 th^m. Afldoi,a«th(?fetopiistheC6mml,tebcfe 
 
 and of the planter and fairtrader, fully Sincide 
 Jind lio rdgttlatton can ferve thfe one wichpjif *«- 
 tcdlrng the other. _ ft 
 
 ^ The Commiuee farther beg leave tV^prefenf 
 that the cares, allowed at the cuftom-houfc o« 
 fugars imported, require revifion. being leJi tJian 
 the real weight of the packages. , 
 
 Under all the circumaances herein before fee 
 
 dceni .t their md.ipenfabie duty to make this «. 
 prefentation to his Majefty's minifters, and m the 
 moft earned manner to emre.t. that their true 
 *tuation may be fubmitted to his Maiefty Ij 
 ^h,t, on due conOdcration thereof, fuch meift::' 
 
 may 
 
 t 
 

 
 C 48 3 
 
 may be fuggeaed, and pwfucd, as Ihajl appear 
 bea calculated to promote purpofcs fo eflential to 
 the general welfare. 
 
 JAMAICA, ff 1 May.3o,.785. 
 
 Saint Jago Di fcAVBOA. J '' 
 
 to his Excellenty Archibald Campbell, Efquire, 
 Captain-GeniraK Governor and Commander in 
 Chief, in and oittr this his Majeftfs Ifiandofja- 
 
 ' tttMca, and other the "territories thereon depending 
 
 ■ in America^ Chancellor and yiee- Admiral of the 
 
 • fame^ » 
 
 The Humble Addrefs of the Grand Inqueft 
 of the County of Middlesex. 
 
 WE his Majefty's dutiful and loyal fobjeas, 
 the Grand Inquea of the County of Mid- 
 dlefex, beg leave to addrefs your excellency, with 
 fentiments expreffive of the fincerea fatisfaaion, 
 on the profpeft of fecurity and extenfive commerce, 
 thofe natural confequences of the ineaimable blef. 
 
 fmg of peace. 
 
 We have every well-grounded hope, that a 
 peace, which is profeffed to be eaabliOied upon 
 the liberal principles of equity and reciprocity, 
 will be permanent, and univcfally beneficial. 
 
 We arc induced, from the highca authority, to 
 
 expca that a mutual and fatisfaftory iniercourfe, 
 *^ between 
 
 4 
 ] 
 1 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 u 
 
 tl 
 e 
 t< 
 
 q 
 
 n 
 
 Ci 
 
 al 
 bi 
 ol 
 ar 
 
■^ ■ • -" 
 
 1 appear 
 (cncial to 
 
 o, 178J. 
 
 , Efquire, 
 \ander in 
 nd»fja- 
 depending 
 al of the 
 
 Inqueft 
 :x. 
 
 I fotgcas, 
 f of Mid- 
 :ncy, with 
 itisfa£tion, 
 :oinmerce, 
 lable blef- 
 
 >e» that a 
 (hed upon 
 eciprocity, 
 cBcial. 
 thority, to 
 intercourfe, 
 between 
 
 C 49 3 
 
 between the empire of Great Britain and the United 
 States of America, will be cftablifhed on the broad- 
 eft bafis } and we cannot but flatter ourfelves that 
 we (hall be fpecdily relieved from thofe diftrcfles, 
 to which our local fituation has more peculiarly 
 expofed us, in addition to the burthen and ex- 
 pences of repeated martial laws, and encrcafing 
 taxej, during the courfe of the late war. It is 
 ^ within your Excellency's recolledion that the town 
 
 of Kingfton has been in a great meafure deftroyed 
 by a tremendous conflagration ; that the whole 
 colony was injured, and the Leeward pariflicj 
 nearly defolatcd, Dy two moft fatal hurri^nes— 
 From the fcarcity of lumber, and other ncceflTarics, 
 many valuable warehoufes and ftores of the moft 
 refpeftable merchants j the works and other build- 
 ings of the ufcful and induftrious f^gj^^ planters, 
 have remained to this hour in a ftate of ruin,, or 
 (for the mere purpofe of prefcnt exigency). have 
 undergone a partial and temporary repair. With 
 the moft heartfelt fatisfadion, we have fecn th« 
 earlieft difpofition, on the pa'ts of the Amcricansi 
 to fupply us with thofe articles wh:ch we moft re^ 
 quired, on which the exifteocc of our fugae,work« 
 much depend, and which no quarter of the glob^ 
 can afford with equal difpatch, certainty, and 
 abundance. We cannot but hope, fir, tli^t a* 
 branch of commerce, fo beneficial to the fubje^i 
 of the Britifli empire, will not be impeded, or in 
 any refpea obftruded, in its commtaicereent in 
 
 H this 
 
 
 
 
C '50 ] '.^ 
 
 this country, where it ought to be more efpic'faUjr 
 encouraged. We cannot, fir, reprefs our uneaH- 
 ncfs, at being informed that this intercourfc is 
 threatened with a check, in its very infancy, from 
 difficulties arifmg in clearing out American velTels. 
 Wc implore your Excellency's interference to re- 
 move any delays or impediment that may have 
 arifen ; and that you will be pleafed to direfb, that 
 every encouragement and difpatch may be afford- 
 ed to the citizens and vcffcls of the United States 
 of America : we fhall otherwifc fee, with a rtgret 
 bordering upon defpair, the trade of that conti- 
 nent cfirefted into the channel of our natural ene- 
 mies, and the enlivening gleam of returning con- 
 ciliation and foederal union obfcured perhaps for 
 ever ! Thus, fir, we fubmit to you, that every 
 principle of policy and humanity operate in fup- 
 port of this application; and we entertain 'biit lit- 
 tle doubt that the intercourle bill, now depending 
 in tht Brittfh -parliament, will warrant your Excel- 
 lency in granting our petition in its utmofl extent. 
 We cannot conclude without afiuring your Excel- 
 lency, that we apply with the more confidence 
 upon this occafion, to la governor, who, (icisbut 
 juftice to acknowledge) has ever, in the courfe of 
 his adminiftracion, through a long period of accu- 
 mulated difficulties and diihelies, created a gene- 
 ral refpeft frort) a generous, <difinterefted line of 
 condud; arid imprefibd'an uiiiverfal cctnfcioufntrs 
 of a pcrfed difpofition to promote every meafu;e 
 
 .; that 
 
urning con- 
 perhaps for 
 that every 
 rratc in fup- 
 cain 'but lit- 
 V depending 
 your Exccl- 
 moft extent, 
 your Excel- 
 ; c(l;i6dence 
 10, (icis but 
 he courfe of 
 iod of accu- 
 atcd a gcne- 
 ;(led line of 
 onfcioufntfs 
 cry meafo/e 
 that 
 
 y' 
 
 
 
 *■ 
 
 
 - 
 
 i 
 
 
 rc'efpecfaUy 
 J our uneafi- 
 
 
 tcrcourfc is 
 
 
 fancy, from 
 ican vefTcls. 
 
 
 rencc to re- 
 
 
 t may have 
 1 dircQsy that 
 
 
 ly be afFord- 
 
 1 
 
 fnited States 
 
 rith a regret 
 ■ that conti- 
 
 
 natural ene- 
 
 
 that might moft effeftually cnftjre the welfare and 
 ihtereft of the ^colony he prefidcs over. 
 
 I, ; . • 
 
 Hii EXCELLENCY'S ANSWER. 
 
 • : ■'■■ .. <...! ./. .,■,.! . 
 
 Gentlemetiy 
 • I RECEIVE your addrcfs with much fatisfac- 
 •tion, and fincerelyi congratulate you on the peace j 
 an event intereftirig to humanity, and from which 
 I hope this ifland will reap the moft falutary ad- 
 vantages. 
 
 Convinced that a mutual and happy intercourfe 
 between the Britifh empire and the United States 
 of America, would foon be eftablifhed on the moft 
 liberal principles and be productive of beneficial 
 confequences to the merchants and planters of Ja- 
 maica, I had anticipated your wifhes as early as 
 the loth of April, by dircfling the officers of 
 his Majefty's cuftoms at Kingfton, to give every 
 encouragement to American veffels entering the 
 ports of this ifland; and for the more effedual 
 fupport of thcfe inftruAions, I fummoned the 
 Council to meet on the jd of this month, pcr- 
 fuadcd that they will unite with me, in adopting 
 fome temporary expedient to remove the obftruc- 
 tions that are in the way of our trade with the 
 United States of America, until full auihority it 
 
 received from England. 
 
 H2 
 
 My 
 
 
I 5« 1 
 
 'My warmeft acknowledgments ure due to you 
 for the very.faYOurable opinion you are |tleafed to 
 exprefs of my condufk in this government, at a 
 very inttrrefting period of the war*, the difficulties 
 of which were^ however, greatly lellened by the 
 liberal fupport I experienced from the gentlemen 
 of the ifland. " 
 
 Having no wKhfeparate firom the welfaitof this 
 communis/, I (hall fincerely rejoice in every op- 
 pbrtunity of promoting the profperity of tt to the 
 utmoft of cry power. 
 
 -.-'J 
 
 
 - "jtcm tjfl? it'- 
 
 Taitij.'j 
 
 ^■■^f. 
 
 To 
 
 r •■■' 
 
 ^X : 
 
 4i\ 
 
 . s 
 
due to you 
 jtleafed to 
 nent, at « 
 difficulties 
 ined by the 
 gentlemen 
 
 Ifaitofthis 
 D erery op- 
 )f tt to the 
 
 Tcr 
 
 To 
 
 £ 53 I 
 
 .To his ExciUtney Archibald Campbell, Efquiru 
 Captain General and Governor of this his Majejiys 
 IJland, Chancellor and f^ice Admiral of the fornix 
 
 Tite Memorial of the Cuftos, Magiftrates, and In- 
 habHants of the Town of Kingfton. 
 
 Jiumhly fltewetbt 
 
 'JPHAT fince the conclufion of Peace, fcveral 
 •■• vcflcls from the Independent States of Ame- 
 rica have entered this port, with cargoes peculiarly 
 •dapted to give relief againft the accumulated dif- 
 rrefs and inconveniencies, in which war, ftormsj 
 floods, fire, and other public calamities, have in^ 
 volvcd not only the inhabitants of this town, 
 but the Iflaud at large. 
 
 That notwithftanding thefe veffels have been 
 fuflfered by the officers of the cuftoms to enter and 
 difchargc their cargoes, yet their not having re- 
 ceived from his Majcfty's minifters inttruAions on 
 the bufinefs of clearing them out with fuch pro- 
 duce as they wifli to take in return, they are de- 
 tained. 
 
 That 
 
[ 54 ^ ' ' 
 
 Thai one veflTcl is now aftually loaded with the 
 protiuce of this inand, which, if not permitted to 
 clear out, muft be rclmdcd, and money given in 
 its place. Your Mcmorialifti aver, that a longer 
 delay will operate unfavourably in the re-eft ablifti- 
 ing an intercourfe between this iQand and Aittc- 
 sicai and your Memorial ifts are firmly of opinion, 
 that the profperity of this iOand much depend*, on 
 ji free and open trade with that country. 
 
 Your Memorialifts therefore bumWy pray your 
 Excellency to give fuch relief in the premifes as 
 the cafe requires. 
 
 _lli» FXCELLENCY's ANSWER..^ 
 
 Centlemtn, . 
 
 ! H A V E great pleafure in receiving your 
 
 addrefs. ' 
 
 • fuThe happy conllquences ihat muft refult tp 
 *he Britifti Empire at large, and to this ifland in 
 particular, from the encouragement of trade with 
 the United States of North America, upon the 
 moft liberal and extcnGve footing, were fo evident, 
 that 1 had, as early as the loth of April, direfted 
 the officers of his Majefty's Cuftom* in Kingfton, 
 not to throw any unneceffairy pbftruftion in the 
 way of fuch commerce, but on the cpntrary, to 
 afford it every poffiblc encourageme.nt. . , 
 
* 
 
 
 ' # 
 
 
 I r ■ _'' 
 
 
 with the 
 
 
 lilted to 
 
 
 jiven in 
 
 
 a longer 
 ftabiifit- 
 
 
 d Artie- 
 
 
 opinion, 
 ends, on 
 
 
 ay your 
 nifes as 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 i 55 }. 
 
 To give more cfFcd to thofe inftrudlions. and 
 that our .nitrcourfc with the American Stat<^ 
 IhoiUd not meet wiih any unneceflary check in its 
 antancy, I fummoned his Majclly's Councii to 
 meet th,s day, in full perfuafion that thofc gen- 
 tlcmen wiH chearfuHy co-operate with me in adopc- 
 «ng proper meafures to remove, as far as may be, 
 the difficulties which may occur in the way of this 
 trade, until we receive from England fuch regin- 
 lat.ons as may be ettabliJhed by the Britiih PaxL 
 oienc. ' 
 
 ^ER. 
 
 ng your 
 
 THE END. 
 
 refult tp 
 ifland in 
 ade with 
 jpon the 
 I evidenf, 
 directed 
 iCingftoi^ 
 on in the 
 itrary, to 
 
 To 
 
 » „ t 
 
'M 
 
f 
 
 y 
 
 "-^1