81 
However the productions of the Island 
may increase in various articles, the prin¬ 
cipal source of wealth must arise from its 
being considered as the best and greatest 
Port of Exchange in India. Ships and 
" only a Secondary Consideration , ” is to suppose him 
devoid of the principles of honor and honesty: to 
which in the present instance must be added the most 
egregious folly, as no one possible advantage could be 
derived, from the total failure of the Company's Plan- 
tattoos to any Individual concerned in their Manage¬ 
ment: or indeed to any person; as the Profit, which 
may be expected to arise from the Sale of the spices 
when prepared for use, would be entirely absorbed, if 
every Individual should be reduced to the necessity of 
Erecting the Buildings required for the purpose: 
whereas on the other hand, if the Company’s Planta¬ 
tions thrive. Such arrangements may be made, for the 
drying &c. of the Spices, with the Government, as to 
prove a mutual advantage to the Individual and the 
Company. But the strongest argument which can be 
adduced to prove that every care and attention was 
bestowed on the Spice Plantations (which could be re¬ 
quired till the period arrived of their producing Fruit) 
must be derived from the testimony which the writer 
of the Reflection himself bears to the "Luxuriant ap¬ 
pearance of the Nutmeg and Clove Trees . n 
F 
Vk\ 
