COMMERCE. 



The white sugar of Martinique, which is reckoned the best 

 produced by the foreign colonies, bearing in France a price 

 of forty-two livres per quintal, that is, of ninety-four reals, 

 affords, after all the expences have been dedu6ted, a profit of 

 five reals in that quantity. In this instance, therefore, as 

 well as in the preceding one, a profitable branch of commerce 

 is established. 



But, in Peru, the quintal of sugar is of the value of a hun- 

 dred reals. If we add a freightage of thirty-two reals, the 

 lowest estimate that can be made, in consequence of the more 

 remote distance respe6tively to the Havannah, which pays 

 twenty-three reals, the cost will become such as to necessitate 

 a loss of forty per cent. 



. In the article of cotton, a similar loss would be sustained. 

 The common price of the arroba, of twenty-five pounds 

 weight, of Surinam cotton, is, in Holland,, forty-nine reals. 

 The prime cost, in the viceroyalty of Lima, is five piastres ; 

 and if to this sum a freightage of three piastres be added, its 

 value will be found to be augmented so considerably, as to- 

 tally to prevent a competition with the foreign markets. 



It appears, therefore, to be demonstrable, that Peru, for 

 want either of an internal or extraneous consumption, as well 

 as on account of its local position, and of the different invin- 

 cible obstacles which have been deduced, cannot aspire to an 

 extensive commerce of produ6lions. It ought consequently to 

 confine itself to a greater extra6tion of gold and silver ; and 

 should so proportion the importations from the mother country, 

 as that the introdu6lion of merchandizes should not exceed the 

 annual produce of these metals, that being the sole rule of a 

 just and salutary equipoise. The Peruvian mines are well 



s known 



