272 Great Expence and a Lofs in Trade equally deJlruSlive . 
LETTER XV. 
To the fame . 
Madam, 
S INCE tea has prevailed To univerfally, which is now 
about twenty years, it is computed there has been an in- 
creafe of the confumption of fugar near one fourth part : in the 
calculation mentioned in my laft letter, I make about a third 
part of the whole importation, as it now hands, confumed on 
the account of tea. Now fuppoling the fame induftry had pre- 
vailed abroad in our fugar colonies, without this confumption 
of fugar at home, what riches might have been accumulated 
by this article alone ! Our induftry now anfwers only one good 
purpofe, which is to increafe our number of feamen to bring 
home the fugar, to be confumed by an extravagant ufe of it ; 
and tho’ it is productive of this good to the nation, it is more 
than counter-ballanced by evil. Of this we ihall form a clear 
idea, if we compare our conduct with the frugality of our com- 
petitors the french. The cafe of nations compared with na- 
tions, is fomewhat fimilar with that of the lives and fortunes of 
private men : how does one, who is moderate in expence, 
outftrip another who is extravagant ! And in this inftance 
the french are frugal. 
The increafe of the price of fugar with us has rendered it an 
objeCt of parliamentary enquiry, and methods have been propofed 
for remedying the evil. But what remedy can be difcovered for 
extravagance but parsimony ? How fhall we be able to cope 
with France if they convert their fugar, which is fo great an 
5 objeCt, 
