814 
source of revenue. The merchant can 
generally command the supply. 
It seems also to be a political axiom, 
that the consumer should in all cases pay 
the duty that may be imposed. 
The most characteristic distinction be- 
tween trade and commerce, as defined 
by Mr. Bosanquet, is the command 
which is to be maintained in the latter 
by the merchant; and the total inability 
of the agriculturist, or trader, to keep the 
market at his own command. Reim- 
bursement and profit are necessary, 
whence the consistency in general of the 
laws with the principles. ‘ 
Supposing the general doctrine laid 
down in these observations, of the relation 
borne by the colonies to the mother 
country, to be founded in truth, the 
whole produce of the West India colo- 
nies should be exempted from all duties ; 
for although the speculations in that part 
of the world, resemble, in some points, 
commercial matters, yet in the main 
they are strictly agricultural, and meet 
very fairly Mr. Bosanquet’s ideas on the 
subject of trade. But, were this per- 
fectly erroneous, it 1s not difficult to shew 
that the present practice is inconsistent 
with the principle. It has never been 
denied, that in this, as in all commercial 
cases, the tax was to be paid by the con-~ 
sumer; but certain conditions, (some of 
which have been already pointed out) 
are essential to realizing this principle. 
These are all wanting in the cotton trade. 
The British planter having no means of ~ 
regulating the supply, is under the dire 
necessity of bearing the whole burthen 
of the tax himself; and then, as if his 
slender profit were too great, his income 
is liable to every tax of the country. 
Surely this is a singular deviation from 
principle, which, if adopted, ought cer- 
tainly to be respected. Upon the whole, 
it will be safe to conclude, that the pre- 
sent taxation of West Indian produce is 
founded on error of the most serious 
kind. It may be again repeated, that 
the West Indian proprietors would not 
examine into these circumstances too 
minutely, if they could only obtain jus- 
tice. be: 
If however this system is to be per- 
sisted in, some efforts should be made 
for extending our foreign relations. Those 
in Europe are unluckily beyond our 
grasp; but the western hemisphere pre- 
sents a field for speculation, which must 
ladden the heart of every zealous and * 
enterprising politician. South America 
is in the condition most fitted for re- 
Further Information on the Fiorin Grass. 
[Nov. } ry 
ceiving and conferring commercial ad- 
vantages. Nor is there any reason 
against Great Britain’s securing to her- 
self those advantages, which would flow 
into other channels, if neglected by her. 
The local situation, the peculiar struc- 
ture of the coasts, fit that country in an 
eminent degree for commerce, of. which 
the government of this country must be 
fully aware. The recent discoveries of 
Humboldt on that continent, present 
facilities hitherto unknown; and it is 
most earnestly to be wished, that no nar- 
row schemes of policy will put those 
means beyond our grasp, which are now 
so completely within it. 
The recent events in Venezuela and 
Buenos Ayres are the most favourable 
for proper enterprise; and there appears 
to be every reason for expecting similar 
conduct in every part of that vast cons 
tinent. A population of nearly sixteen 
millions of people, without the means of 
internal supply of many of the necessaries 
of life, whose habits of refinement are 
rapidly becoming confirmed, would furs 
nish an enormous demand not only for 
cotton manufactures, but for every ar- 
ticle of British commerce; and would 
give an impulse to the decaying spirit of 
commerce in this country, 
The great question of peace or war, 
necessarily affects the colonists in a pre- 
eminent degree. There can be no doubt 
of the advantages which would resuit 
from the former; but there can be also. 
‘Tittle doubt, that at present it would be 
perfectly impracticable on solid and sub- 
stantial grounds; and the colonists ap- 
712 “Ts 
preciate too fully the honour, the inde- 
pendence, and the security of the parent 
state, to cherish for one moment an 
idea so directly subversive of them all. 
Substantial justice may be rendered with- 
out such a dire resource ; and as it is im- 
periously called for by the necessities of 
the colonists, it behoves those who can 
grant it, to act advisedly; and to relieve 
a numerous class of meritorious, though 
oppressed, individuals. . 
Lo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIRy . 
N your Magazine for April, (No. 197, 
page 235), I hazarded ‘a few lines on 
_the subject of the agrostis stolonifera, or 
Irish fiorin-grass, and my presentiment 
that I might be in an error thereon, is, 
I think, probable to be verified, on which 
account I really do ‘ feel happy.’ I have 
since seen a number of varieties of this 
grass collected, of different degrees of 
hs ier Merits 
