1830.] * they were, and as they are. 141 



" From 1797 to 1798, the average price was 67*. 3d. the cwt., and the 

 duty 17*. 6rf v being in the proportion of 26 per cent. 



" In 1799 and 1800, the average price was 64*. 2%d. per cwt., and the 

 duty 18*. 2e?. per cwt., being in the proportion of 28 per cent. 



" In 1801 and 1802, the average price was 52*. *]d. per cwt., and the 

 duty was 20*. per cwt., being in the proportion of 38 per cent. 



" From 1803 (when the war duty of 1*. the cwt. was imposed) to 

 1823 inclusive, the average price was 46*. 4d. per cwt., and the duty 

 (after deducting a provisional allowance of 3*.) was 27*-, being in the 

 proportion of 58^ per cent. 



" In 1824, 1825, and 1826, the average price was 33*. 5d. the cwt., 

 and the duty 27* v being in the proportion of 80| per cent. 



" The average prices were not again published until the latter part of 

 the year 1828. 



" During the present year (1829) the price of sugar has been gradu- 

 ally falling. By the returns in June, the average price was only 29*. 6d., 

 while the duty, remaining at 27*., bore the greatly- increased propor- 

 tion to the price of 91^ per cent. 



" By the last returns, the price was 25*. Id. the cwt., the duty 27*., 

 being in the proportion of 107 per cent. 



" Thus the duty on sugar, at the present moment, is infinitely larger 

 in proportion to the price than at any former period. 



" Upon all middling and inferior kinds of sugar (which form about 

 three-fourths of the supply), there is a very serious loss. On a con- 

 siderable portion of the latter, which do not now sell for more than 17*. 

 or 19*. per cwt., the duty amounts to from 142 to 159 per cent. ; and, 

 on those lower qualities of sugar, the planter, after paying the freight, 

 insurance, landing, and sale charges, (at least 8*. the cwt.,) has only from 

 9*. to 11*. the cwt. for the expense of production, which, with reference 

 to the present low price of rum, and to the current expences of carrying 

 on the cultivation of the estates, cannot be estimated at less than 18*., 

 without making any allowance for the interest on the capital embarked. 



" He is thus receiving 7*. to 9*. per cwt. less than the cost of produc- 

 tion j and it is evident that neither production nor taxation can continue 

 on such a basis. 



" The West India body, under existing circumstances, seek in vain for 

 any reasons to justify the continuance of a duty so greatly disproportioned 

 to the price : and they submit that it is contrary to every principle of 

 legitimate taxation to keep the rate of duty so high, that its continuance 

 must evidently ruin the producer." , 



Agreeably to this statement, the planter has to divide every hundred 

 pounds received for inferior sugars (taking the price at 45*., including 

 the duty) in the following manner :- 



The government receives for duty 60 



The planter must pay freight home, dock rates, labourage, 

 and other charges 22 4 6 



82 4 6 



so that to maintain the labourers and their families on his 

 estates, support himself, family, and assistants, pay his share 

 of Colonial burdens, &c., he has little more than a sixth part, 

 or 17 15 6 



100 



