Horse Raising in Colonial New ICngland 909 



place in the sugar industry, and horses continued to be an important 

 item in the exchanges. In the various ups and downs of the sugar 

 trade, therefore, is to be found the explanation for corresponding 

 changes in the raising of horses which took place in New England dur- 

 ing the first half of the eighteenth century. 



GROWTH OF THE SUGAR TRADE AND EXPANSION OF THE MARKET FOR HORSES 



In 1698 a decree of the Roj^al Council of France allowed sugar from 

 the French islands, which were at that time producing only small 

 quantities, to be sent directly to any port in Europe. This proved a 

 great stimulus to the development of the French colonies, and after 

 the Peace of Utrecht the growth of these was rapid (103). Martinique, 

 Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Santo Domingo — the French colony on 

 the island of Hispaniola, or Haiti — all came into the market with 

 sugars. Prices fell off sharply as a result of the increased production 

 (104), and the British islands — partly, at least, because of the law 

 compelling them to send their sugar first to England, from whence it 

 was re-exported^ — found it difficult to compete with the French, who 

 were soon in a fair way to oust the British from their leadership in the 

 trade (105). 



The continental British colonies were not slow in taking advantage 

 of the new outlet for their products which was thus opened up, especially 

 as the trade with the French proved to be very profitable. The French 

 home market was closed to the importation of rum — which, distilled 

 from molasses, was an important by-product of the manufacture of 

 sugar — and as a result the French planters were willing to sell their 

 molasses much more cheaply than were the British. This molasses was 

 eagerly taken by the New England traders in exchange for the usual 

 plantation supplies, and was brought back to New England, distilled 

 into rum, and used to advantage in exchanging for furs and in the 

 African slave trade. 



Most of the trade with the French islands was carried on by direct 

 voyages to their ports, and some supplies were furnished in this way 



■* According to Ashley (The British Colonies in America, vol. 1, app. 1. p. 75) the 

 rp-pxports from Englnnd during thp period tinder discussion were as follows : 1713— 

 1715. 18.000 hogsheads a year ; 1715-1719. 17.000 hogsheads a year; 1733-1736, 2300 

 hogsheads a year ; 1737-1739, not more than 450 hogsheads a jear. 



