SPICKS. 



23 



out' shilling' per pound imposed on spices from other 

 than British colonies. 



If the Dutch spice-grower never has been known 

 to relax lit^/ayatem of monopoly, but has, whenever 

 lie bad (Jl« power to do it. made Ute JJriti-h consum- 

 er pay bis own prices, fee ought ' not to grumble at 

 an extra duty on his produce which, by iufusing 

 greater life and energy into Penang pointers, the 

 only now (.vixiinrf checks, tmrf/i mvuihuuntj, to a 

 remind o f that monopoly, gives to the ttritish Pub- 

 lic the advantage of cheaper and better spices. 



The question here, in which spice consumers areJn- 

 t crested, is not one of mere >|u < nl.iie e n m'petitioube- 

 tuixt rival colonies, or one which may be gaged h\ the 

 prin» ipjes of the free t rade system. Spices cannot, like 

 augur, coffee, and a few other valuable products, lie 

 cultivated every where wilhin the tropics. Dutch aud 

 British spices now unfortunately, as has been before 

 shewiii enter the English market on equal term* j the 

 competition ifcahn^r wholly confined to the AmJjoynas 

 and Peuaug, as will presently appear, aud may he sup- 

 posed to incline iu favor of the former, since (he culti- 

 vation at the latter island has been barely rescued 

 from the tramunjs of experiment. Will the compa- 

 ratively trifling revenue derived from duties ou Straits 

 spices, the produce of British plantation.^ prove an 

 equivalent for the risk of throwing back ihc monopoly 

 into the hands of the Dutch, either by discouraging iiri- 

 plantcrs, or exposing them to the temptation which 

 theAmboi na planters migh} offer, of prices cot isiderably 

 above the nsnal m.ti kct rates ! for could the latter ob- 

 tain the full command (if these British spices he would 

 doubly repay himself out of the profits of one jear'i 

 monopoly. 



When llenooolen was given up to the Dutch go veru- 

 ment. it was stipulated in the Treaty that the Uri- 



