142 A, D. 1728. 



and liberties of our country, and notwithftanding the embroiled condi- 

 tion of the affairs of Europe, we have been able to diminifh the national 

 debt fo much already, what may we not hope for in regard to a fpeedy 

 and fenfible difcharge of it for the future ? Upon this reprefentation 

 we fhall only in brief remark, as many have before done, that, notwith- 

 ftanding all fuch difficulties, as are above enumerated, much more might 

 furely have been done for increaling the finking fund, by abfolutely 

 preferving it inviolable ; though it be allowed, that it would have been 

 attended witli many and great difficulties, confidering that a fecond re- 

 bellion, and tvvo very expenfive wars, have happened fince that repre- 

 fentation was made. What is pafl; needs not to be enlarged on : but 

 furely hereafter, efpecially in times of peace, a determined national fru- 

 gality ought zealoufly to be cultivated *; and it is earnelUy to be hoped 

 and wiflied, that, in order to increafe the finking fund, the public miglit 

 be relieved by a rational redudion of the falaries of many ufelefs offices 

 and employments in the revenue, &c. the fee-fimple whereof would 

 amount to a greater fum than perhaps many may apprehend, were a 

 iiridi inquiry made thereinto. 



In a vindication of the ifland of Jamaica at this time, from certain 

 afperfions on the condu6l of the planters and of their affembly, and 

 pleading for fome favours from the legiflature of Great Britain, it was 

 computed, that the trade of that ifland employs 300 fail of fhips, and about 

 6000 feamen ; and that the very duties on the imports from thence 

 amount to near Li 00,000 per annum. That there are eight fine har- 

 bours in it, befide many coves and bays where fliips may fafely ride : 

 there are alfo 84 rivers v/hich difcharge into the fea, and feven times 

 as many lefl^er rivers and fprings which run into them. That its prin- 

 cipal produdlions, befides fugars, are, cotton, ginger, pimento, maho- 

 gany, logwood, and indigo. That very little of the four lafi: commodi- 

 ties are imported from the refl: of the Britifh plantations : fo that, but 

 for Jamaica, we fliould be obliged to purchafe them of the French, 

 Dutch, and other nations. That cotton is neceflliry to work up with 

 wool in many of our manufadures, &c. Ginger is chiefly exported,, 

 though great quantities are likewife ufed at home. Their pimento 

 leflens the confumption of fpices, which are only to be had of the Dutch 

 at their ov/n rates. That indigo, logwood, fuftic, &c. are ufed by 

 dyers, and are abfolutely neceflliry in many of our manufaiflures ; and 

 thai, before we had thofe commodities of our own, we paid five times the 

 prices for them we now do, and for fome of them more. That, before 

 our "Weft-India plantations were fettled, we paid the Portuguefe from 

 L4 to L5 per cwt for mufcovado fugars, now fold from 32/ to ^f;/, and 



* Non intclligunt homines quantum veftigal fit parfimonia 1 Ckeronis Paradcxa 6. 



People do not confider how great a revenue economy is ! 



