7.V2 



COLON Y. 



It appears from the above Table, that the average 

 """Y""* crop of Jamaica coniiderably exceeds that of all our 

 smaller sugar itlindi together. This, however, is to be 

 understood of the British settlements only ; for were the 

 erops of the Dutch and French colonies added to those 

 of our Windward Islands, the annual average would con- 

 siderably exceed that of Jamaica. 



V. num. 



We regret to add, that one of the unfortunate con- 

 ecquences of our Orders in Council, has been the loss of 



the market of the United States for our rum, the Ame- 

 ricans having resorted to the alternative of making use 

 of their own corn spirit. 



VI. Tonnage and size of Ships in Hie ll'cst India 

 'in 18ik 



This statement, short as it is, suffices to shew, that 

 although the ships of the outports make, from their 

 number, an appearance nearly equal to those of the me- 

 tropolis, the larger portion of the trade remains with 

 the latter. The outport ships frequently make more 

 voyages in an equal period ; but, on the other hand, 

 their cargoes are, in a considerable part, consigned to 

 London houses, for whom the outport merchants act as 

 factors. 



Our next table is a comprehensive one, and affords 

 the means of estimating the importance of the West In- 

 dia colonies, in regard both to revenue and to the amount 

 of capital which is annually circulated through means of 

 their produce. 



VII. Value of Imports from the West Indies, and the Revenue of which they iverc productive at 



the Prices of 1804-5. 



VIII. Value of Exports to British Sugar Colonies in 

 1804. 



British produce and manufacture L. 5,124,210 



Irish produce and manufacture 371,560 



Foreign articles 250,583 



Freight on the above computed 1 ,436,588 



Mercantile commission, &c. 2$ per cent, gross 456,180 



Insurance at 4 per cent, in gross 300.000 



Convoy duty at 2 per cent 114,920 



L. 8,054,041 



It must not, however, be concluded, that the surplus 

 f imports over exports, is a clear revenue derived to pro- 

 prietors of West India estates resident in Great Britain. 



Custom-house tables take no account of the very large 

 sums drawn from the mother-country in the shape of bills 

 of exchange, which are paid away by the planters, partly 

 to the Americans for stores, partly to mercantile resi- 

 dents in the colonies, for the various wants of the estates. 

 The fact is, that, so far from affording a clear return, 

 there has been a regular drain of British capital to the 

 West Indies since the year 1799. When the cultiva- 

 tion of a property has once been undertaken, the plant- 

 er has seldom any other alternative than that of carry- 

 ing it on at all hazards. In a country so bare of ca- 

 pital as our sugar colonies, a solvent purchaser is not 

 often to be found ; and the creditor who has made an 

 advance, must either submit to a heavy loss, or consent 

 to an extension of his loans, with a view to render the 

 land ultimately productive and valuable. 



It has been attempted, at different times, to form an 



