INTRODUCTION. 21 



their doors, or on stands as apologies for counters, was really 

 ridiculous ; and I have no doubt that, had an inventory of 

 articles been taken, in nine cases out of ten, the value of property 

 thus exhibited could not have amounted to ten shillings. Some 

 fruits, a few pounds of charcoal, peas, and plantains, constituted 

 generally the whole stock, and in a large majority of cases the 

 vendor barely managed to eke out a most precarious livelihood : 

 but he was no more a labourer ; he was a shopkeeper. 



Every individual, I contend, ought to pay for the protection 

 afforded by civil institutions. All pay indirect taxes, thus con- 

 tributing to uphold the protection afforded to the person of the 

 subject. Those who are owners of property are generally made 

 to pay direct taxes for the security extended to property, or for 

 any other advantages they may derive from the public institu- 

 tions of the country. Why not make traders pay a small direct 

 tax for the protection extended to their property ? A licence I 

 regard as just, and the principle here advocated is partially 

 carried into effect by the licensing of hucksters, carters, boatmen, 

 etc. Such a tax, moreover, would be most opportune in the 

 colonies, since it would have for effect to diminish that enormous 

 number of would-be shopkeepers and irregular dealers of all 

 kinds and grades, who frequently wind up after a few months, 

 by being indebted to the merchants who have supplied them, or 

 to the poor cultivator whom they have gulled. The public, 

 evidently, would not suffer from the adoption of such a measure. 

 The competition now existing must be a ruinous one to the bona 

 fide grocer, who otherwise might be better stocked, and could 

 more extensively and cheaply meet the demands of customers, 

 were he protected against the idle and dishonest swarm which 

 generally form the bulk of under-sellers in the country districts. 



I must acknowledge, however, that in this, as in some other 

 important respects, a change has lately taken place, and the 

 disproportion which so largely existed has a tendency to become 

 more normal. It seems that not a few have been taught by 

 observation and experience that there are more guarantees of 

 success in agricultural than in any other pursuits ; and greater 

 security to a steady and industrious family. 



I have now come to a most important, to a vital, question — 

 that of immigration. Every facility should be afforded for the 

 acquisition of agricultural labour, by removing all difficulties in 

 the way of immigration from the East ; in fact, by opening up 

 every channel through which population may flow, in a con- 

 tinuous stream, into these islands. Excepting two or three 

 which have a comparatively large population, and may therefore 

 rely upon a steady supply of labour, the outcry for an increase 

 of hands has been loud and general from the emancipated 



