SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY kc. 14-1 



compete with the brewers for malt and barley ; they thus 

 cause a higher price of the materials of beer and porter, and 

 consequently of the wholesomest and most usual drink of the 

 people, than would otherwise be occasioned. Gin-distilleries 

 destroy human food ; they not only endear spirits by the mo- 

 nopoly they have obtained of the home-market; but endear 

 beer by distilling the useful grains of which it is made ; 

 whereas rum is manufactured from a refuse produce. The 

 peculiar and somewhat disagreeable taste of rum, may be 

 remedied by attentions to the process ; exquisite liqueurs, of 

 which it is the basis, are prepared in the French West India 

 islands. It would be equitable to make the duty on the im- 

 portation of rum, and its compounds exactly equal to the ex- 

 cise-duty on the distillation of gin; this would suffice gra- 

 dually to open an European market, for a most important ar- 

 ticle of our produce. The English have use enough for their 

 land without growing their own gin; but to us an additional 

 demand for prodnre must be perpetually opening, if we are 

 to extend our agriculture in the practicable degree. 



On the sea coast, the British settlers also commenced the 

 culture of cotton, and found that land to answer much better 

 than the soil up the river. The cotton is a trefoil shrub, 

 about five feet high, which bears yellow flowers ; these are 

 succeeded by an oval bean-pod, containing seeds and cotton. 

 To grow it, holes are made seven or eight feet asunder, in 



