INTRODUCTION. 45 



tradesmen, and vendors, may be said to have absconded from the 

 agricultural occupations, and, as a consequence, are, in general, 

 wanting in those qualifications which are necessary to success in 

 their new avocations. As to the fruiterers and other petty dealers 

 of the like genus, the stock-in-trade (!) displayed in their trays, 

 before their doors, or on stands as apologies for counters, is really 

 ridiculous, for I have no doubt, were an inventory of articles taken, 

 in nine cases out of ten the value of property would not amount 

 to ten shillings. Some fruit, a few pounds of charcoal, peas, 

 plantains, &c., constitute, generally, the whole stock ; and, in a 

 large majority of cases, the vendor barely manages to eke out a 

 most precarious livelihood. I really think that any measure which 

 would tend to diminish the number of shopkeepers, hucksters, 

 and these peddling vendors, would be to the advantage of all ; 

 and, with this view, I suggest the adoption of the following : A 

 law of apprenticeship for tradesmen, and a licence-tax for all 

 traders and traffickers. The law of apprenticeship I regard as ab- 

 solutely necessary, and it ought, therefore, to be stringent. Such 

 law, as far as I know, exists in all, or nearly all, the countries of 

 Europe. I am aware that a license-tax is quite at variance with 

 British notions of trade and individual freedom, but I reiterate my 

 former assertion those laws which are best adapted to a country 

 like Britain may not be applicable to our communities, and such a 

 law is, in principle, just and equitable. Every individual ought 

 to pay for the protection afforded by civil institutions : all contri- 

 bute to the indirect taxes, thus contributing to uphold the pro- 

 tection afforded to the person of the subject ; those who are owners 

 of property are, generally, made to pay direct taxes for the security 

 extended to property, or for any other advantage they may derive 

 from the public institutions of the country. Why not make traders 

 pay a direct tax for the protection granted to their property ? A 

 license-tax, therefore, is just, and the principle is partially carried 

 into effect by the licensing of hucksters, carters, boatmen, &c. 

 Such a tax, moreover, in our colonies, would be most opportune, 

 for it would have the effect of diminishing that enormous 

 number of would-be shopkeepers and irregular dealers of all kinds 

 and grades, who frequently wind up after a few months by being 

 indebted to the merchants who have supplied them, or to the poor 

 cultivator whom they have gulled. The public would not suffer 

 from the adoption of such a measure ; on the contrary, the compe- 

 tition now existing must be a ruinous one to the bond fide grocer 

 and provision retailer, who otherwise might be better stocked, and 

 could more extensively and cheaply meet the demands of cus- 

 tomers, were he protected against the idle and dishonest swarm 

 which generally form the bulk of under-sellers in these colonies. 

 The tax might be a per centage on the rent paid for the shop, or, 

 what would be preferable, a scale of proportionate rates might be 



