RUIN. 83 
post would be so small as to be hardly felt by the con- 
sumer, yet it might be sufficient to give our planters a 
bounty of two shillings per cwt., or even 2s. 8d., z.¢., a 
return of the duty paid as well, In warfare it is some- 
times necessary to fight the enemy with his own weapons ; 
the fiscal arrangements of most countries take this into 
account. The above would certainly be quite a fair 
arrangement, and we cannot see how any of the con- 
tinental nations could objeét to it, although they cer- 
tainly would oppose anything like a countervailing duty. 
Unless something is done British Guiana will probably 
pass through a similar crisis to that experienced. in the 
decade between 1840 and 1850. The ultimate results may 
not be altogether evil, yet the pain, trouble and misery 
of such a downfall will be most distressing. When we 
remember that after the emancipation some of the roads 
became so impassable that the mails were often stopped, 
and see what a drawback the want of regular communi- 
cation throughout the colony would be now, it almost 
makes us despair. From the rise of sugar we can date 
all progress, and, although some are inclined to expeét 
great things from gold, it is doubtful whether any- 
thing like permanent benefit can be derived from it. 
The industry may perhaps assist the colony for some 
time to come, but, without some agricultural produét, 
there can be nothing like prosperity. Is it not a faét 
that most of the capital used in that industry was ob- 
tained through sugar? And, is it not also a faét that 
_ the late depression in our staple is being felt in the 
diggings and is largely responsible for their stagnant 
condition ? 
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