Trade Relations with the United States. 311 
owning interest in England, but the result so far shews 
that the colony has not suffered thereby, inasmuch as 
sugar freights from the colony to England and the 
United States have rather declined than advanced since 
these additional dues came into force. The Stamp and 
Death Duties have not been popular, but the inhabitants 
of the colony are gradually getting accustomed to them, 
and they are a recognised source of revenue in other 
countries. 
It is quite possible that experience will in time shew 
us whether the incidence of Taxation necessary to make 
up the Concessions in our Tariff have been placed on 
the right shoulders. I am sure our Representatives, 
combined with the Government, will endeavour to 
modify any burthen that may be found to have been in- 
judiciously imposed. But on the whole I do think there 
is not much cause for complaint, and frequent changes 
greatly disturb trade and are therefore not advisable. 
Looking at the entire question therefore as far as this 
colony is concerned, I would respedtfully submit that we 
are greatly benefited by the Treaty of Reciprocity. 
We still look upon the sugar industry as our mainstay. 
Its welfare means the prosperity of the entire community, 
and a great step has been made in securing to our 
staple free admission in the United States. It is quite 
possible that even without any Concessions on our part 
they would not have been proclaimed against, just as at 
present Java sugars are freely admitted without any 
treaty obligations. This colony could not afford to run 
the risk of having the United States markets closed to 
it, inasmuch as even one year's exclusion under the 
present condition of the industry, would have been a 
QQ2 
