8 SUGAR 



Let us pass to the next centre of the sugar refining 

 industry, Liverpool. Here are to be found, even now, 

 some of the oldest names in the trade. Two were 

 well known in the Clyde in the early" part of last century. 

 In 1860 there were nine refineries on the Mersey and 

 two at Manchester. They were, like their brethren 

 in London, men of considerable substance and position 

 in the city of Liverpool, and took a leading part in 

 public affairs. Their raw material came largely from 

 Brazil, Liverpool being the principal goal for ships 

 from that country. They were, therefore, accustomed 

 to work a rather low class of raw material, and conse- 

 quently turned out a considerable proportion of yellow 

 sugar. There was one exception to this at a later 

 period ; another instance of success in seizing on a 

 new invention rapidly, fearlessly and on a large scale. 

 There again a large fortune was made in a very few 

 years, and was immediately followed by the erection 

 of a monster refinery on the banks of the Thames, 

 which has flourished greatly ever since, a notable 

 instance of the survival of the fittest. But that does 

 not concern us at the moment. Golden syrup was a 

 speciality at Liverpool, but has now been superseded by 

 a superior article ; again, another instance of inventive 

 genius coupled with bold, unhesitating action. 



At present there are only three sugar refineries, 

 properly so called, in Liverpool or its neighbourhood, 

 but there are several refineries of sugar for brewing 

 purposes. 



Bristol is the fourth sugar refining centre, and 

 historically the most interesting. In the eighteenth 

 century, Bristol was largely engaged in trade with 

 the British West Indies. There were nearly a hundred 

 firms in the sugar trade, and about twenty refineries 

 in operation. Many of the inhabitants of the town 



