252 HISTORY OF THE [BOOK. n. 



provisions, in other respects, have been very benefi- 

 cial. It has been urged against it, that it gives occa- 

 sion to the introduction of French wines, brandies, 

 soap, cambricks, and other prohibited articles from 

 Hispaniola; and there is no doubt, that small vessels 

 from thence frequently claim the benefit of the free- 

 ports after having smuggled ashore, in the various 

 creeks and harbours of this island where no custom- 

 houses are established, large quantities of brandy (to 

 the great prejudice of the rum-market) and other con- 

 traband goods. It may be urged too, that the per- 

 mission given by the act to the importation of certain 

 of the products of the foreign islands, is hurtful to 

 the growers of the same commodities in Jamaica. All 

 this is admitted j but on the other hand, considering 

 the revenues and commerce of the empire at large 

 as objects of superior concern to local interests,, it 

 cannot be denied, that the woollen and cotton manu- 

 factories of Great Britain are of too great importance 

 not to be supplied with the valuable materials of indi- 

 go and cotton-wool, on the easiest and cheapest terms 

 possible. The quantities of these articles, as well as 

 of w r oods for the dyer, imported in foreign bottoms 

 into the free-ports, are very considerable. This sub- 

 ject was thoroughly investigated by the British House 

 of Commons in 1774 (when the act would have 

 expired) \ and it being given in evidence that thirty 

 thousand people about Manchester were employed in 

 the velvet manufactory, for which the St. Domingo 

 cotton was best adapted; and that both French cotton 

 and indigo had been imported from Jamaica at least 

 thirty per cent, cheaper than the same could have 



