101 



THE following calculation shews the increased consumption of sugar in 

 {lie British empire within the last 22 years ; also, a comparative statement 

 of the actual production of the British colonies with British^onsu'mption, 

 and of the surplus production of the British colonies ; with the demand for 

 sugar at the British market for the use of the continent, during the short 

 interval of peace : 



Annual consumption of sugar in Great Britain and Ireland, upon an 

 average of 5 years, ending with 1785 .... 1,422,024 



Do - upon an average of 4 years, ending with 1807 - 2,636,658 



Increased consumption 1,214,634 



Average annual Import of 1804, 1805, 1806, & 1807, in- 

 to the United Empire, was 3,608,878 



Deduct, import from conquered colonies (supposing 1807 to 



be an average) - - - - 581,881 



Average annual import from old British colonies 3,026,997 



Average annual consumption in Great Britain and Ireland, 



for the above period .... 2,636,658 



Annual surplus above consumption, from our own colonies 390,339 



Average annual export during peace, 1802 & 1803 - 1,702,75S 

 Average annual superfluity of old British colonies, as above 390,^39 



Shewing the insufficiency of the present surplus produce of 

 the old British colonies to meet a continental demand, 

 ?qual to that of the last peace, to be - 1,312,419 



With a view to apply a$ speedy a relief as possible to the case thus 

 made out, your Committee proceeded to consider of the expediency of pro- 

 hibiting the distilleries of the united kingdom, or any part thereof, from 

 the use of grain, and confining them to that of sugar and molasses. This 

 inquiry, involving in it the interests of the revenue, the distillers, and the 

 .landholders of the country, your Committee have gone through a long and 

 minute investigation, with a view to ascertain how far these interests might 

 severally be affected by the proposed restriction. 



It appears from the evidence ot Mr Jackson, that the revenue received 

 from the English distilleries amount to near L. 2,000,000 ; and is collected 

 at the expence of one halfpenny in the pound. This revenue arises from 

 a duty of Is. 4^d. per gallon of wash ; 100 gallons of wash are produced 

 from about one quarter of corn ; and the allowed produce of spirit from 

 that quantity of wash is 19 gallons, at one to 10 over hydrometer proof. 

 The customs duty on the cwt. of sugar is 27s. ; two cwt. of sugar will pro- 

 duce ICO gallons of wash, which will produce 22 gallons of spirit at 1 to 

 1O over hydrometer proof. 



The present duty on sugar wash is 2s. O^d. per gallon. If sugar were 

 to be used without any alteration of the rate of duty, the Revenue would 

 gain ; but the cost of the raw material would be greatly increased, and a 



