A P P E N D I X. 



Report from the Committee on the Distillation of Sugar and Molasses* 

 Ordered to be printed \2th April, 1808. 



DISTILLATION OF SUGAR AND MOLASSES. 



THE Committee appointed to inquire, and report, how far, and under 

 what Circumstances, it may be practicable and expedient to confine 

 the Distilleries of the United Kingdom to the use of Sugar and Mo- 

 lasses only ; and also what other Provision can be made for the Relief 

 of the Growers of Sugar in the British West India Colonies ; and to 

 report the same, with their Observations and Opinion thereupon, 

 from time to time, to the House : and who were empowered to re- 

 port the Minutes of the Evidence taken before them ; 



H 



AVE, pursuant to the orders of the House, examined the matters to 

 them referred ; and have agreed to the following 



REPORT. 



Your Committee felt it their first duty to examine into the continuance 

 of that severe pressure upon the holders of West India property, and those 

 connected with it, which was so clearly proved before your Committee of 

 the last session of Parliament. 



For this purpose your Committee called before them several gentlemen 

 connected with those islands, and experienced in the colonial trade ; these 

 gentlemen fully confirmed the evidence given last year, and proved to the 

 conviction of your Committee, that the continuance of the pressure has 

 materially added to its weight. 



It appears from accounts laid before your Committee, that the price of 

 s-ugar has greatly diminished since the year 1799; the average price of 

 1800, was 65s. per cwt.; the average of 1807, was 34s. per cwt. both ex- 

 clusive of duty. In consequence of that depreciation, and of the increased 

 expence attendant on the cultivation of the article, the situation of the sugar 

 planter has been rapidly declining, till at length the value of the produce is, 

 on an aveYage, barely equal to the charges of production, leaving no rent 

 for the land, and no interest for the large capital employed upon it. 



It appears that the obstacles opposed to the exportation of colonial pro- 

 duce, added to its forced accumulation in the market from the conquered co- 

 lonies, have been the principal causes of its depreciation. While the planter 

 Juis remained subject to a monopoly in favour of British produce and nayi- 



