1830.] as they rvere, and as they are. 147 



the entire abolition of the slave trade. We would, however, observe, 

 that whenever that measure is carried into full effect, we can then look 

 to a period, when, under just regulations, great facility may be given to 

 the general trade of the world. 



Our attention has lately been directed to an act which was passed in 

 July, 1828, entitled " an act to allow sugar to be delivered out of ware- 

 house to be refined," which carries with it more of an anti-colonial 

 character than we could have wished to see enrolled, without more grave 

 discussion, among the acts of the British legislature. 



It sets out by stating, " that it is expedient to permit for a time to be 

 limited, and in limited quantities, foreign sugar to be used in refineries 

 employed in refining sugar for exportation ;" and it enacts, that on pay- 

 ment of a duty of 2Js. the cwt. (the same duty as on that from our own 

 Colonies), upon foreign sugar, not better than the average quality of 

 British sugar, and 9d the cwt. additional duty in respect of every 1,9. the 

 cwt. that foreign sugar to be refined may exceed in quality that 

 average, that the said foreign sugar may be issued, from the bonded 

 warehouse, to the refiner, upon his giving bond to export an equivalent 

 quantity of refined sugar, treacle, and bastard sugar. And for the pur- 

 pose of ascertaining the actual average price, the act renders necessary a 

 great multiplicity of oaths ; and imposes, under severe penalties, many 

 very troublesome and vexatious offices upon the civic authorities, and 

 upon all the importers of British plantation sugars, the sworn brokers, 

 the West India agents, and, in short, upon every person connected with 

 the West India trade. 



It has been alleged that this act is to afford such facility in the supply 

 of sugar to the sugar refiner, as to enable him to renew the export trade 

 he has lost since the peace. But it is quite unreasonable to suppose that 

 an Act of Parliament so shackled and encumbered with regulations, 

 could be of any material use in extending any branch of manufacture 

 whatsoever. 



We apprehend that the export trade of refined sugar to the continent, 

 since the peace, has diminished in consequence of the large supplies of 

 raw sugar that have been imported there, direct from transatlantic 

 quarters ; and, of the fiscal regulations which most of the continental 

 countries have established since that time for the protection of their own 

 manufactures. No such act as this, therefore, i can, in our judgment, 

 effect the intended object, and its operation has consequently been, to a 

 very great extent, a dead letter. 



We have, however, heard of projects for amending or extending the 

 operation of this act, virtually to enable us to refine the sugar of foreign 

 Colonies for consumption in this country. The anticipation of plans of 

 this kind spreads feelings of uneasiness in the minds of our colonists, 

 leaves no stable resting-place to them, and gives currency to an opinion 

 that the government and the legislature are willing to introduce a wedge, 

 which, although inoperative now, may, by degrees, be made use of to 

 overthrow the preference that is established in favour of the produce of 

 our West India Colonies. These ideas have acquired stronger influence 

 in consequence of the very abundant supplies and low prices of sugar 

 the production of our own Colonies, and which are in such abundance, 

 that neither the refiners, nor any other class of persons in this country, 

 can at present consume them. 



We state this matter plainly, and, we believej fairly ; for it appears t0 



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