INTRODUCTION. 



THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WEST INDIA COLONIES, 

 AND THE EVENTS WHICH HAVE LED TO IT. 



The present deplorable condition of the British Colonies 

 in the West Indies, is a subject of much importance to the 

 nation. It is not only the planters, and the persons 

 actually engaged in the West India trade, who will be 

 sufferers by the continuance of this state of things, because, 

 if our Colonies continue to decay, in the same ratio, as they 

 have done for the last three years, till the time arrives for 

 the equalization of duties, there is every prospect of the 

 trade being monopolized by the Slave-holding States, in 

 which case the consumer will be in a worse position than 

 before the change in the sugar duties, unless means be 

 devised to rescue our Colonies from their embarrassed and 

 ruinous position. 



The present abundance of sugar, and its moderate 

 price, appears so satisfactory to those who are not imme- 



B 



