272 HISTORY OF THE [book vi. 
Lastly, as to the island of St. John, it was proved 
that, like Nova Scotia, it had never yet furnished 
food enough to keep its few inhabitants alive, nor 
exported any one article the produce of the island. 
Its situation, within the gulph of St. Lawrence, 
shut it up from all intercourse during five months 
of the year; and its fogs, more prevalent and du¬ 
rable than even those of Nova Scotia, rendered the 
country too uncomfortable for population, while 
land remained unoccupied in happier climates. 
The advocates for the prohibitory system, howe¬ 
ver, were not easily silence. They declared it 
would be more for the interest of Great Britain, 
that the West Indians should be deprived of Ame¬ 
rican supplies altogether, rather than, by receiving 
them from the United States in American vessels, 
contribute to aggrandize the naval power of the 
new republic. They maintained that the sugar 
islands had resources within themselves, which, 
with occasional aid from Great Britain, might ena¬ 
ble them to exist very comfortably, even though 
the accustomed intercourse with all parts of the 
American continent was entirely cut off. If not, 
it was triumphantly asked, in what manner were 
they supported during the war, when all regular 
communication with the United States was sup¬ 
pressed? 
In reply to this objection, it was proved that the 
British sugar islands, during the war, had been ve¬ 
ry badly supplied, both with lumber and provisi- 
