196 JAMAICA. 



We are then to confidcr, that the North- Americans are carriers 

 every year of a certaui proportion of their produce ; and in all like- 

 lihood will fo continue. The queflion therefore is, whether it 

 would not be more advantageous for Great-Britain, that this pro- 

 duce fliould be firfl brought into our own iflands, to be afterwards 

 taken from thence to Europe by Britifh carriers ? And it clearly 

 appears to be fo, becaufe this double voyage tends to the employ- 

 ment of more Britifh (hipping. This fhipping would receive all, 

 or the greateft ihare of, the freight, which is now paid to fo- 

 reigners, or to North-Americans; befides the further benefit of 

 fupplying fugars to thofe European markets which the French and 

 Dutch at prefent monopolize. In refped to our iflands, they would 

 be more plentifully furnilhed with provifions, and be able to keep 

 lip their flock of filver fuflficient for circulation, or to remit the 

 fuperfluity to Britain, inflead of feeing it drained away to the 

 French iflands. Nor need the planters apprehend the lowering the 

 value of their own produce. There may be, it is true, a greater 

 quantity and aflbrtment of fugars at their markets ; but the increafe 

 of demand, and of (hipping, to take it off their hands, muft ne- 

 cefifarily be in proportion ; fo that the augmentation of one will 

 keep pace with, and prevent any mifchief from, the increafe of 

 the other. This point is regulated by the European markets, 

 which will (till require to be fupplied as heretofore ; and the an- 

 nual quantity fupplied for their confumption cannot be at all af- 

 feded, whether it is brought to them from Hifpaniola, or from 

 Jamaica. As this confumption is permanent, fo muft be the de- 

 mand; both will co-operate to relieve the ifland-markets, whilft 

 they have (hipping enough to facilitate the carriage to Europe ; and 

 (hipping is naturally attraded by well-ftocked markets, and a cer- 

 tain and profitable freight. 



Thefe motives, for permitting our own (hips to carry French 

 produce, with a view to improve our commercial dealings with 

 the North- Americans, and re-eflabli(h an export of fugars to the 

 foreign markets in Europe, appear, I think, of fome weight, and 

 merit ierious confideration ; in order that the feverat free ports,, 

 opened in this Ifland, may become of more extenfive utility to the 

 trade of the mother-country, than in their prefent (late they (eem 



^capable 



