EFFECTS OF DUTY ON SUGAR. 
425 
400.000. 000 lbs. ; so that sugar forms not ou'y 
one of the principal articles of importation 
and sources of revenue, but an important 
necessary of life. 
Great, however, as the increase in the use 
of sugar has certainly been, it may, we thinlr, 
be easily shown that the demand tor it is stil I 
very far below its natural limit ; and that were 
the existing duties on this article reduced, and 
the tiade placed on a proper footing, its con- 
sumption, and the revenue derived from ii> 
would be greatly increased. 
During the first half of last century, the 
consumption of sugar increased five-fold. It 
amounted, as already stated — 
In I700, to lP,000 tons or 22 OOO.OOO lbs. 
1710, 14,000 — 31,860,000 — 
1734. 42,000 - 94,080,000 — 
1754, 63,270 — 119,320,000 - 
1770— 1776 72,500 (average) 162,600,000 — 
1786—1790 8|,00o — 181,500,000 — 
In the reign of Queen Anne, the duty on 
sugar amounted to 3s. 5d, per cwt. Small 
additions were made to it in the reign of 
George II.; but in 1780 it was only 6s 8d. 
In 1781, a considerable addition was made to 
the previous duty ; and in 1787 it was as high 
as 12s. 4d. In 1791 it was raised to 15s. ; and 
while its extensive and increasing consump- 
tion pointed it out as an article well fitted to 
augment the public revenue, the pressure on 
the public finances, caused by the French 
war, occasioned its being loaded with duties, 
which, though they yielded a large return, 
would, there is good reason to think, have 
been more productive had they been lower. 
In 1797, the duty was raised to l7s. 6d . ; 2 
years after, it was raised to 20s. ; and, by suc- 
cessive augmentations in 1803, 1804, and 
1806, it was raised to 30s ; but in the last- 
mentioned year it was enacted, that, in the 
event of the market price of sugar in bond, or 
exclusive of the duty, being, for the 4 months 
previous to the 5th of January, the 5th of May, 
or the 5th of September, below 49s. a cwt., 
the Lords of the Treasury might remit Is. a 
cwl. of the duty ; that if the prices were below 
485., they might remit 2s. ; and if below 47s., 
they might remit 3s., which was the greatest re- 
duction that could be made. In 1826, the duty 
was declared to be constant at 27s., without 
regard to price ;but it was reduced, in 1830, 
to 24s. on West India sugar, and to 32s. on 
East India sugar. 
The duty on foreign sugars is a prohibitory 
one of 63s. a cwt. Sugar from the Mauritius 
is however, by a special provision, allowed 
to be imported at the same duty as West In- 
dia sugar. 
Art. IL— Notes on Persia, Tartary, and 
Afghanistan. By Lieut. Col. Mon- 
TEiTH, K. L. S. of the Madras 
Engineers. — Madras Journal of Lu 
terature and Science. 
Defence of British India from Russian 
Invasion. By Captain C. F, Head, 
Queen’s Royal Regiment. 
(Continued from page 374.J 
The author of this paper is well known for 
having drawn attention to steam navigation 
as being of public advantage and private 
accommodation in facilitating communication 
between India and Europe; but, above all, as 
an auxiliary either in maritime or territo- 
rial defence, should any European enemy at- 
tempt to approach the borders of Hindustan, 
Capt. Head thought, with many others who 
were capable of judging, that a political 
crisis may arise sooner than is expected, 
when the strength of western nations will 
be put forth, and a struggle take place, in 
which each vulnerable portion of the British 
empire will become appoint of assault. Our 
author does not hesitate to avow that 
Russia will endeavour to close with England 
in this country, and that success will de- 
pend on the development of her great mili- 
tary prowess, and where the co-operation of 
a maritime force is least required. The 
war between Russia and Persia demon- 
strated the strength and resources of the 
northern autocrat, but its result exposed the 
weak and compromising character of Asia- 
tics ; while it proved the alacrity with which 
the inhabitants of provinces contiguous to 
Russia will join in any expedition that 
promises a fair reward. In considering the 
question, says Capt. Head, 
“ It will be necessary to bear in mind, 
throughout the enquiry, that an invading 
army, of however crude and opposite materi- 
als it may be composed, will take the field 
with great odds in its favour, from the cir- 
cumstance of its object being defined, and the 
duty of every man being made apparent. 
Whereas, an army acting on the defensive 
can hope for no reward even after a hard- 
earned victory ; at the same time that they are 
liable to the harassing duty of continually 
watching the movements of their enemy. If 
the patriotic feeling which causes men to 
defend their soil, and feel a hatred towards 
the invaders, could be imparted to the natives 
of India, then would the territory of Hin- 
doostan be comparatively safe. But how 
little is this to be expected in the case we are 
contemplating, where the people of the coun- 
try have at the best of times so little perse- 
verance and energy, and where an army that 
