The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-09-06
MEMOIR OF RHoDE-IsLAND.
Ga.

1t hath been observed before, that OF Ia ),
900 hogsheads of Moasses annually brought
into this Colony, not more than 2, 500 have
been imported from the English Islands
and it may be further added, that all these
Islands together do not make for exporta-
tion more than two-thirds of the quantity
of molasses annually imported in this Col
ony, for many years past; of consequence.
about ii 800 hogsheads must have been
brought from foreign Plantations. The
present price of Molasses is about twelve
pence sterling per gallon, at which rate on
ly 1t can be distilled into Rum for exporta-
tion; wherefore if duty should be laid on
this article, the enhanced price may amount
to a prohibition. And it NAV with truth be
said, that there is not so large sum of sill
yer and gold circulating in the Colony, as
the duty imposed by the aforesaid act upon
foreign Molasses, would amount to in one
year, which makes it absolutely impossible
for the importers to pay it.
the produce of his Majesty's Northern Col
onies, especially those of New-England, is
near alike, and that the British West-India
Islands are not, nor in the nature of things,
ever can be, able to consume the produce of
the said Colonies; and therefore, if they
cannot export it (Which they never can, un-
less they are allowed to bring MoIasses
home) very great part of the produce of
the said Colonies must be entirely lost.
This Colony, by the misfortune it suffer-
ed in trade during the late war, but above
all, by the great expences they were at in
raising, paying, and clothing number of
men, who served against his Majesty's En-
epies lin which they manifested spiri! ard
loyalty far exceeding their ability is greatly
reduced in its circumstances, and now ac-
tualy labors under debt, contra cted sole
ly by carrying on the war, of near seventy
thousand pounds sterling, for which it an
nualy pays large interest; and has the
greatest need of all manner of countenance
and support, to enable it to pay this vast
debt, and to retrieve its circumstances.
But on the contrary, should the aforesaid
act be revived, and carried into execution,
the Colony will be reduced to the most de-
plorable condition.
There nre upwards of thirty Distillery
houses (erected at vast expence, the prin-
cipal materials of which are imported from
Great Brittany constantly employed in max
ing Rum from Molasses: this distilery is
the main hinge upon which the trade of the
colony turns, and many hundreds of per-
sons depend Immediately upon it for sub
sistence These Distill-houses for want of
Molasses, must be shut up, to the ruin of
many families and of our trade in general
particularly of that 10 the coast of Africa,
where the French will supply the natives
with Brandy, as they formerly did; two
thirds of our vessels will become useless and
perish upon our hands; our mechanics, and
those who depend upon the merchant for
employment, must seek for subsistence else
where; aud what must very sensibly affect
the present and future naval power and com.
merce Of Grea, Britain, nursery of sea-
men, at this time, consisting of 1900 in
this Colony only, will be in a manner de-
stroyed aud as an end will be put to our
commerce, the merchants cannot import
any British Manufactures, nor will the peo-
pie be able to pay for those they have al
really received.
1t having been shown that this trade is of
the utmost importance TO this Colony, that
the great consumption of British goods,
which is continually increasing at n great
rate, compels us to prosecute this trade, as
having no other means wherewitl to pay /
for those goods; and the same arguments
holding pretty generally true with respect
to almost all the other British Colonies up 4
on the Continent Of North America, it re-
mains only to show, that this trade is in no
wise disadvsntsgeous, to Great Britain and
that the English Islands are not injured by
IT, and have no reason TO complain Of it.
This intercourse between the Northern
Colonies and the foreign plaH,ations 10 the /
West-Indies. as il is the great cause of the .
consumption Of British manufactures, can
no; be thought to prejudice the in,crcs, Of