32 S HISTORY OF THE [book vi. 
I am now brought to the third ground of objec¬ 
tion ; comprehending a subject of wider extent and 
more important consideration, than either of those 
which I have discussed in this chapter; and on 
which, prejudice, self-interest, ignorance, and mis¬ 
information, have jointly contributed to throw a veil 
of obscurity; I mean the privilege which is vested 
in the planters of the British West Indies, of supply¬ 
ing the British market with their chief staple com¬ 
modities, in exclusion of foreigners; the high du¬ 
ties on foreign sugars, and some other products of 
the West Indies, operating (as they were meant to 
do) so as to prohibit their importation. 
The leading principle of colonization in all the 
maritime states of Europe, Great Britain among the 
ports and imports which is now exercised with such superior ability 
by Mr. Irving. “ By whatever the returns (meaning the returns 
from our own plantations) are worth (said Doctor Davenant) beyond 
the goods exported thither, the nation is, by so much, a gainer. There 
is a limited stock of our own product to carry out, beyond which 
there is no passing. As for example, there is such a quantity of 
woollen manufacture, lead, tin, &c. which, over and above our own 
consumption, we can export abroad; and there is likewise a limited 
quantity of these goods which foreign consumption will not exceed. 
Now, if our expenditure of foreign materials be above this, and more 
than our own product will fetch, for the overplus we should be forced 
to go to market with money, which would quickly drain us, if we did 
not help ourselves other ways, which are, by exchanging our planta¬ 
tion goods jar their materials ,” &c. In another place, Davenant states 
the imports from all the plantations at the Revolution at £.950,000 
per annum, “ whereof (saith he) £.350,000 being consumed at home, 
is about equal to our exports thither, and the remainder , ‘viz. 
£.600,000 being re-exported, is the national gain by that trade." . 
