every one to blame but themselves. They 

 have accounted for the present stagnation of 

 their commodity in their hands by every cause 

 but the true one, their own imprudent specu- 

 lation. 



That the present glut of sugar has arisen from 

 an over cultivation of that produce, so as to 

 overstock the market of the world ; and that 

 our planters must sooner or later diminish their 

 cultivation, now that more fertile soils are re- 

 viving, and entering the competition ; seem to 

 me truths, which can hardly be doubted by 

 any whose opinion is not in some degree bias- 

 sed by their interest. The thing is probable in 

 theory ; and, were any confirmation of it want- 

 ed, it would be derived from the inadequate 

 causes assigned for their present difficulties by 

 the colonists themselves. It may perhaps be 

 doubted, whether persons so suffering, are en- 

 titled to any relief from the public ; or, whether 

 they ought not to be left to that correction 

 which the immutable laws of nature have pro- 

 vided for rash speculation. This is a question, 

 however, on which I at present forbear to enter. 

 My chief purpose is, to inquire how far, if any 

 relief is to be granted, that which has been pro- 

 posed, of confining the home distillation to 

 sugar, be a proper one. I shall endeavour to 



