Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-23

)r,asins ii there, without fraction to liqui-
date the interest of his debt, or defray the
expenses of his family. Ii the average price
OF sugar be below 3zs Cd. exclusive of the
duty, rs was the case in 1903, and as has
now become its actual situation again, the
planter does not merely cultivate his estate
fUr the benefit OF the British Government ex-
ciusively, but he also pays for being employ
ed as the bailf OH his own plantation. CON
trlbution Is the extent of whatever sum the
sugar shall sell for under SIS. Cd.
The consequence of this state of affairs is
ailedgcd to be, that estate after estate has
passed into the hands OF mortgages and Gre
,litors absent from the island, until there are
large districts, whole parishes, in which
there is not single proprietor, OF sugar
plantation resident! -
The representation then proceeds to state
That sugar cannotbe brought into the British
market for less than SOS. per cwt. !; and OBJ
serves, that it would not be unreasonable t.
cali for an-assessment of duty, leaving this
equitable return for capital and labor. Ii, il
proceeds to observe, from gross price Of
S0s there be levied duty of SOS. let that du-
~ be reduced, at least, as the gross sales
arc diminished. and the Treasury be con-
tented with 2Cs. when the market price is
Cos At this last rate, and with the mode
rated mpost, only IS Cd. per cwt. would re
main to the planter, whilst he would pay to
the public the whole 20s. which olght to be
raised ON the consumer; deplorabie, indeed,
is the distress which calls for this as an al
deviation We hope. however, from the JUS
tice of your Royal Highness, that the pro-
duce of our fields may be admitted into the
markets of our country on the same footing
with the productions of the home provinces,
and, with perfect confidence, though in ali
humility, we Claim, as OF right, a preference
over the corn of aliens and of enemies.
If it be not thought eXpedient to employ
our staples exclusively in distiliation, we
hope that they will be admitted on terms of
fair equality with grain Of native growth, and
resorted to as a substitute for foreign corn,
whenever they can supply its place, without
evident disadvantage.
1t is then observed that accommodating cos
fee in the warehouses of G.. Britain, can be
beneficial to no one, but by a permission for
u limited time, and under reasonable restric-
tons, to barter for bullion, provisions, lum-
Der, or other commodities, which NAV be
lawfully brought into the colony, and to ex-
port the coffee in the vessels of any friendly
or neutral power, TO all ports of America
and Europe where 1t may be received, some
alienation would be afforded to the miseries
OF the grower. He might at least be able to
procure the fish, salt, and clothing, absolute
ly necessary for his people.
Being permitted TO refine their own SUGAR.
wouidd also, it is stated, afford obvious and
great relief.
IS also suggested, t!.at an adequate sup
ply u red and white oak slaves cannot il
is believed, be obtained from any other
source than the u. States of America, and
tn. -four and dry provisions for the army
and navy, and inhabitants of the towns. are
only to be procured from the same quarter
Formerly, rum was consumed in the United
Safes to the extentof 10000 puncheons an
nualiy but during the last threeyears the
eXporI has been only 5,SS3 puncheons an
nuaily, the Americans preferring thtir own
corn spirit. In payment" is added, "for
necessaries with which we cannot dispense.
we are allowed to offer nothing that will be
but bullion. A constant drain of
our specie is, therefore, kept up, and the
want of a circulating medium considerably
aggravates our difficulties. At the out
ports specie cannot be obtained and, in the
pre>ent ztate OF the currency, the Ameri-
caas will not take bills of exchange on G.
Britain, at discount of 20 per cent, After
disi.esing OF the cargo for money, they pro-
ceeded to the Havannah, and lay it out for
sugar and coffee, which they would have
been glad to obtain here, in the first in
stance"
And is, therefore. urged, that to permit
neutral and friendly vessels to take away
coffee, rum and sugar, to the value of the
cargoes imported, by fair tariff or book of
rates, or under any other reasonable res
trlctions, would be a considerable alleviate
Dn OF the difficulties of the country it would
preserve a circulating medium, and enable
The poorer planters to procure by barter,
those articles of the first necessity, which at
prs sent they cannot raise money to pur-
chase.
The petition concludes with an earnest
prayer to his Royal Highness, to direct his |
Ministers to bring the distresses of the colo |
ny under the review OF Parliament.
Mr.. OldmiXon, son # the lady of that |
lanc, who is now, or was lately, chief vo- |
;al performer on one of the American The |
stres, has been mentioned with much honor |
n the British dispatches relative tothe cap
ure of lava.
Comparative Statement of the population |
" Great Britain in the years sO1 and 1911; |
'rdered by the House of Commons to be |
printed, 18th January. 1912:
POPULATION, 1901.
.iiales. females. Total
England, l3,oS7 ,o35I4. 3i5 4noI ssstSa4 |
Wales, 257.f78 2S4 end S3t'FSE
;cotand, 73i.5s1I sci 4ez soo'Eoo
Srmy, Navy, sc. 47O, 5osI 570' 5SS
i5,45O, 2o2l5 ,492. 35H lo.o42.646
POPULATION, 1871.