COFFEE. 



89 



23,295,046 lbs. iu 1835, to 28,723,735 lbs. in 1840 ; and consequent 

 upon a fiirtlisr reduction of duties in 1842, the elasticity of the 

 trade exp(^rienced a still wider development, and an increase of 

 nine million pounds is exhibited in the next five jears. From 

 that period, however, the general use of chicory has not only 

 checked the progressive increase of this healthy demand, but an 

 annual decline is observable to the extent of above six million 

 poimds in 1850, as compared with 1847. 



On the 15th of April, 1851, with the view of partly re- 

 medying the grievance of the colonists on this head, the duties 

 were equalized and reduced to 3d. The results are, however, far 

 from satisfactory, either in a fiscal or commercial point of view. 

 It is true that an increase in consumption, of one-and-a-quarter 

 million pounds has taken place, but at the sacrifice of £121,000 

 of revenue. But this increase, it will be seen, has not exceeded 

 4j per cent., whilst there has been a diminution of 21J per cent, 

 in the revenue receipts. Upon investigation, moreover, it will be 

 found that, not^vithstanding the total increase exhibited, there has 

 been an actual falling olf of 894,778 lbs. of colonial coffee in 

 1851 ; the items for last year are, however, much more favorable 

 and encouraging for the planters. 



jNTo reasonable cause can be assigned for this rapid and serious 

 diminution in the consumption of coffee, except the notorious 

 substitution of chicory and other substances. 



The arguments advanced to account for the falling off in the 

 consumption of coftee, by adducing the increase of tea and cacao 

 for a similar period are fallacious, and contrary to the commercial 

 experience of many years, which convincingly proves these kindred 

 articles to have always simultaneously increased, or diminished, 

 in ratio with the general prosperity of the kingdom, and the 

 prevalence of temperate habits among the community. 



I shall now proceed to trace the fluctuations in the con- 

 sumption of coffee. 



At the close of the last century the consumption of coffee 

 was under one million pounds yearly ; the only descrip- 

 tions then known in the London market were Grenada, 

 Jamaica, and Mocha— -the two former averaging about £5 per 

 cwt., and the latter £20 per cwt. Grenada coffee is now 

 unknown, and Cejdon and Brazil are the largest producers. 

 In 1780, the total quantity of coffee consumed in the United 

 Kingdom was 262,000 lbs., or three quarters of an ounce to each 

 person in the population. In 1833 the quantity was 20,691,000 lbs., 

 or 1\ lb. to each person. When first introduced into England, 

 about the middle of the 17th century, coffee was sold in a liquid 

 state, and paid a duty of 4d. per gallon ; afterwards, until the 

 year 1732, the duty was 23. per lb. ; it was then reduced to Is. 6d., 

 since which it has paid various rates of duty ; in the year 1824 

 it was settled at 6d. per lb. All descriptions of coffee now pay 

 but 3d. per lb. 



The consumption of coffee in the United Kingdom, for several 



