INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Ixv 



lower potatoes from 10 or 12 shillings a bushel, and rather than 

 feed slaves and servants, and far less live stock, with so valuable 

 a commodity, the crops were actually sufiered to rot at the farms, 

 and many cart loads were thrown into the sea. The price of 

 every other article was in the same proportion. 



In regard to raising the prices of the island produce, no reason- 

 able grounds have ever existed. From taxes the inhabitants are 

 wholly exempted. They are subject neither to poor rates nor 

 tythes ; and they hold their lands at an extremely moderate rent, 

 that is, from \s..Qd. to 5s. or Qs. per acre. The war taxes in 

 England have not extended to this place ; and which can only 

 be felt, and that in a very trifling degree, upon woollen manu- 

 facture, and a few other European articles. The necessaries of 

 life (beef and pork, flour and rice) had remained at the same 

 prices since the year 1772 ! ! From this period to 1808 the beef 

 and pork, supplied from the Company's stores, had invariably 

 been sold to the inhabitants, both white and black, at Ad. per 

 pound ; flour at 2\d. ; rice at a little more than \d., and paddy* 

 at |rf. per pound. Between the years 1800 and 1808, there being 

 no restriction on the issues of those articles from the public stores,t 

 the consequence was, that in this short period, the annual charges 

 of the island had increased from £69,000. in 1800, to 06157,000. 

 in 1808. J But, after having most clearly ascertained, by referring 

 to the Company's orders, that neither the low prices at which 

 provisions were sold, nor the profuse issues from the public stores 



* Paddy is rice ia the husk, with which poultry and horses, &c. are fed. 



t In justice to the late Colonel Brooke I must observe, that during the whole of his 

 meritorious administration, the demands on the public stores for imported provisions were 

 veiy trifling; and the refreshments supplied to the shipping were sold at extremely 

 moderate rates. See Comparative Prices, 1789 and 1810, page Ixiv. 



i See page 208. 



k 



