The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-01 00:00:00

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LONDON:
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1840.

The interest we have for a long period taken in
the supply of sugar for the market, and the infor-
mation which our Journal has continually supplied
the public on this subject, has drawn to our columns
a valuable communication from a Liverpool Mer-
chant. His observations confirm many of those
which our valued Contributor of articles on the
Sugar Market has already from time to time laid
before the public.
We must first state that we have examined the
specimens of sugar sent by our Correspondent, and
can confirm his statement, that the sugar from
Cayenne, which costs 225. per cwt. is superior to
that which costs 465. 3d., showing that we pay
more than 100 per cent. for the benefit of obtain-
ing the supply of a worse article from our own
colonists. The writer's deduction from this diffe-
•ence, that the Cayenne sugar, when refined and
exported, can be sold to the emancipated slaves in
our otsn colonies for less than half the price which
we compel our hard-working population to pay, is a
very striking illustration of the present system.
The letter contains some valuable state-
ments as to treacle, which might form a large and
a nutritious portion of the diet of our own people,
were it not for the unwise and unjust tax levied
on them for the benefit of our rich West India
planters.
Up•to a recent period, this system has not ope-
rated so onerously as at present, because our own
colonies supplied more sugar than our people con-
sumed. The surplus was then exported, and the
price which could be obtained for that abroad de-
termined the price at home. Now the supply falls
short of the demand, and the restrictive system
tells, in conjunction with the Corn-laws, on the
people with tremendous force.
Our Correspondent estimates the consumption
of sugar this year at 36,500 tons above the quan-
tity which our own colonies can supply. The pre-
sent difference in price between foreign and colo-
nial sugar, under those circumstances, will be in-
creased, and such a temptation to fraud will arise
in many quarters that we may be sure it will be
practised in spite of all the Custom•house
regulations which can be devised. We are
continually told by our Clergy that man
is by nature weak and wicked; we are
taught to pray that temptation may be removed
from us ; but the Government, forgetful itself of
the doctrines it cherishes an Established Church to
preach, continually tries the weakness of man, and
continually leads him into temptation. We cannot
admit that the Government has any right so to
act, and Christianity, as well as sound economical
science, require it to revise its fiscal regulations
as to sugar.
We remarked on Saturday, in relation to another
subject, that the reform of all human institutions
must come primarily from those who suffer from
their abuses. We must press this maxim on those
who consume sugar, now certainly a necessary of
life, and call on them to exert themselves to pro-
cure an equalization of the duties. Unless they
move, how should the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER, the House of Commons, or the Planters,
learn that they suffer from the present duties, or
wish them modified ? We are quite aware that
an immense number of calls are made on the
people to interfere with the Government, and
lay aside for a time their own pursuits, to re-
form the State ; we are equally aware that
they may with propriety expect that the Go-
vernment should perform to their satisfaction the
functions confided to it, and for which they pay a
great price ; but we are also aware, and must make
them sensible, that no Government has ever yet
existed which did honestly perform its duty to the
people without frequent admonitions from them. In
spite, therefor', of paying a large price to public
functionaries, if they seek to be well and righteously
govethed they must in a manner govern themselves,
and contimially remind their paid servants of their
wants and their wishes. The grocers and sugar
dealers of various places, as London, Leeds, Bristol,
&C., who sufftr very much from the diiWnished
consumption of sugar, owing to the exorbitant price,
have petitioned the Legis!aturd, and their petitions
()tight to Le backed by the consumers who have a