768 



COLONY. 



the West Incut-i, his Riven the public tablet of the mor- 

 tality among the British troops in the Weit Indict. He 

 dniaM the year, <nrj properly, mlo two parts ; the dry 

 and healthy period from December to June, and the 

 rainy season from July to November. In the Utter in- 

 terval, the mortality (act his />'../ IniUii Common I'lme 

 Boot, p. 220.) it mure thin double the former ; and, 

 putting the whole year together, the proportion of deaths 

 among our troop*, even without taking the field, or un- 

 dergoing particular fatigue, is eleven in the hundred. 

 This computation proceeds on the supposition of new- 

 comers arriving out at the most favourable time, vi/. 

 the beginning of the dry season. It is greatly below 

 the average loss of the British troops in these colonies, 

 on a computation of seven years, of which Sir William 

 presents the following melancholy picture. 



Tahle then-ing the mortality of BrilM Iroopt in the 

 H'etl Indict (eiclutitie of those who Jell in ucli'tii) during 

 levtit yean, j'rom l~>)t> In 1802 inclu ive. compiled fnun 

 regimental returns by John Suyer, Lttf army cainmisiary. 



On considering the inexperience of young emigrants 

 to the West Indies, we apprehend, that the proportion 

 of casualties among them does not fall greatly short of 

 the conclusion suggested by this distressing catalogue ; 

 and that, on a comprehensive calculation, the average 

 chance of life among these imprudent adventurers does 

 not exceed tit or seven yean. 



In comparing the East and West Indies on the score 

 of health, we find a considerable difference in the fate of 

 Europeans in these respective quarters. Though the 

 degree of heat is, generally speaking, greater, and of 

 course more unfavourable to a northern constitution in 

 India, the cases of mortality are of less frequent occur- 

 rence. The explanation of this difference, is to be sought 

 in the superior accommodation, and means of prolong- 

 ing life in a cultivated and well inhabited country. Ac- 

 cordingly, while in the West Indies, the lot of our 

 countrymen is either a sudden decease, or the preserva- 

 tion of considerable vigour, the European residents in 

 India exhibit many examples of life protracted in spite 

 of an enfeebled constitution. The habit of exaggera- 

 ting the amount of property acquired at a distance, pre- 

 vails, above all countries, in regard to India. A French 

 writer, M. dc Montgaillard, has lately gone the length 

 f declaring, that " Bengal, and not England, is the main 

 spring of British wealth ; Calcutta, not London, the 

 emporium of our commerce." Those among our coun- 

 trymen who have tried India, and have had practical ex- 

 perience of the absurdity of these exaggerations, are ac- 

 customed to consider the last age as muck more favour- 

 able to fortune making in India than the present one. 

 We, on the other baud, are inclined to suspect that there 



has been all along a general misapprehension in regard fuloi.t. 

 to the magnitude of India fortunes ; but, without dwcl- ^^V"' 

 ling on this matter, we shall briefly advert to two points, 

 both of a nature to modify considerably the magnificent 

 conceptions of the treasures of the East. These arc, 

 the long period almost uniformly required by our coun- 

 trymen in that quarter to realize a competency ; and tin- 

 necessity apparently incumbent on the majority of them 

 to remain unmarried until they are past middle age a 

 time when they must forego the hope of living to sec 

 their posterity settled in the world. The truth is, that 

 in nine cases out of ten, the money made in India is 

 made by saving ; it is the result of the combined opera- 

 tion of time, and of a calculating economy. Of late 

 years, however, it has experienced a considerable check, 

 its main source, the high interest of money, having un- 

 dergone a material reduction. 



We have dwelt the longer on the mistaken ideas en- 

 tertained in regard to our East and West India settle- 

 ments, because an accurate knowledge of these vaunted 

 regions would tend greatly to reconcile our countrymen 

 to habits of steady industry at home. Those, however, 

 who arc bent, at ail hazards, on trying their fortune 

 abroad, would do well to bear in mind the difference be- 

 tween a southern climate and that of Canada, Nova Sco- 

 tia, or the not them part of the United States, where, 

 in favourable situations, and with prudent management, 

 the chance of health is nearly as good as at home. 



Nature of Colonial Trade. The colonial policy of Nalur* of 

 England, and of other countries, has proceeded on the colonial 

 assumption that the trade with our foreign settlement* tr *" r ' 

 was essentially different from the home trade. Our le- 

 gislature has cared very little whether the colonists had 

 a profit *r not, provided we obtained a profit ourselves ; 

 and wherever the respective intercuts appeared to clash, 

 there was very little discussion about which should give 

 way. Now the fact is, that the colonial trade ism prin- 

 ciple the same as a branch of home trade, with the single 

 exception of distance of situation. In dealing with tlie 

 continent of Europe, one capital is British, the other 

 foreign ; the profit is divided between us and the sub- 

 jects of another government. But in the case of our 

 colonies, both ends are British, and the total profit cen- 

 ters among ourselves. The difference between the home 

 and colonial trade consists not, as many imagine, in a 

 distinction of interests, but in a comparative slowness of 

 returns. This is a matter of great consequence, both in 

 a general and individual light, and as it is very little un- 

 derstood by persons out of trade, it may be useful to ex- 

 plain it at some length. In newly settled countries thin- 

 is an extent of employment, almost indefinite, for capital 

 and the rate of interest is consequently high. The in- 

 habitants, having very few funds of their own, carry on 

 their concerns in a great measure on a capital borrowed 

 from their connections in Europe. They arc prover- 

 bially slow in their repayments ; and it has likewise been 

 the policy of most colonial legislatures, with a view to 

 forward improvement, to throw impediments in the way 

 of the i (-c-.il of money advanced on loan to settlers. The 

 law is favourable to the creditor, as far as regards the 

 provision of security, and the payment of the full rate of 

 interest, but it gives him little aid in regard to the re- 

 sumption of the principal. The consideration for all 

 this delay and uncertainty in colonial business, consists 

 in allowing a higher rate of mercantile commission than 

 in the home trade. Notwithstanding this counterpoise, 

 the unfortunate course of things, during the last four- 

 teen years, has created a general aversion from colonial 

 business. Instead, however, of pronouncing it a Uae ab- 



