A. D. 1731. 173 



ference for the vent of their own produce, in any part of his majefly's 

 dominions. 



The French having power (by the above treaty) to feize on our fhips 

 trading to their colonies, it is manifeft that it muft either be for their 

 advantage, or elfe from neceflity, that they fuffer it. 



For the encouragement of our northern colonies to perfift in that 

 trade, they have the rum and melafTes from thofe foreign colonies, with- 

 out the high duties paid for them when imported into Britain. Melafles 

 was formerly of little or no value to the French planter, (becaufe lum 

 was detrimental to France as interfering with the confumption of their 

 brandy) until the French found they could fell it to our colonifts, in re- 

 turn for timber, horfes, oxen, and provifions, fo needful for them ; 

 whereby alfo they faved fo much money in fpecie ; and even the money, 

 which our northern colonics receive at our own fugar iflands in pay- 

 ment for their lumber, provifions, horfes, &c. is now carried to the 

 French fugar iflands for the purchafe of their melafles and rum, near 

 one half of the goods carried from North-America to our own fugar 

 iflands, being now paid for in money, and not by barter, as formerly ; 

 whereby the French are enabled to increafe their fettlements, and alfo 

 their negro trade. 



This intercourfe, moreover, enhances the price of negroes to our own 

 lugar colonies, as well as of provifions, lumber, &c. being a great dil- 

 couragement to them, and more efpecially to Jamaica and St. Chrillo- 

 phers, where there are large quantities of land for new fettlements. 



There are ptrfons fl:ill living, who very well remember, that there 

 were great quantities of provifions and other requifites for planting, fent 

 trom England to our fugar colonies, becaufe at that time our northern 

 colonies were not able fully to fupply them: whereas now the chief be- 

 nefit, which tlu; northern colonies yield to their mother country, is 

 their being able to fupply our fugarcolonies with thofe neceflaries much 

 cheaper ihan they could have them ellewhere : and our northern colo- 

 nies fliould be reftrided to that way of trading to our Wefl:-India ifles, 

 together with their fifheries, and raifing naval fiores, flax, hemp, indigo, 

 &.C. allowing them, however, any other commerce to foreign countries, 

 not detrimental to their mother country. 



Whereas it is alleged by the northern colonifls, that, if they were re- 

 fl:rained trotn fupplying the French fugar ifles, they might be fupplicd 

 wit!i lumber, from their own continental fettlements at Mobile, Fenla- 

 cola, md Fort Louis, in the bay of Apalachy, whereby they would be 

 cncoi'iugcd to improve and peoj^lc thofe colonies, and that of Miflifippi, 

 whence fome fliips have already begun to carry lumber to the French fu- 

 gar iflands ; and with lumber, provifions, &c. from Canada. This the 

 lugar-ifland advocates abfolutely denied, faying, moreover, that thofe 

 J'rench continental colonies could not take off their rum and mclalTcs 



