Island and the Northern Continent. As to Granada and its dependencies, sir, let me only observe, that the manufacture of Sugar and Rum, and the cultivation of Coffee, in those Islands having been prosecuted with unremitting ardour, little of their labour can have, been diverted to the raising of Corn and Provisions. Their dependence upon North America was reasonable; and I may venture to conclude it to be similar to that of their neighbours. I have been the more explicit upon this subject, the dependence of the West Indies upon North America for subsistence, as it is the calamity which presses immediately, affecting life as well as fortune; it is a distress which your humanity will conspire with your interest to prevent; and I trust that the wisdom of Parliament will find the means.

Q. What is the commodity called Lumber? For what purpose used, and whence procured?

A. In the West Indies, they understood, by the term Lumber, every species of North American wood, when prepared for the use of buildings or the cooperage. It includes the Deal, the Pine, the Cypress, the, Cedar, the White Oak, the Red Oak, and others; and comes in the shape of Beams, Joists, Planks, Boards, Shingles, Staves, and in Logs. Buildings where great strength is required, arid which are exposed to wind and weather, demand timber of a texture more solid, and of a quality less subject to decay in those climates; it is distinguished by the name of hard wood; Mahogany is of that tribe. Such, as far as my experience extends, grow only between the Tropicks; the price is high—three and four Shillings sterling the cubicle foot; employed from the call of necessity, the consumption is limited. For every other purpose of the Carpenter and of the Cooper, it is the Lumber of North America that is used. It is a pleasure to me, sir, to spare the patience of the Committee a detail of conjectural calculations. I understand that there is some official paper which will inform you precisely. The part which is furnished by the Middle Colonies of North America is out of all proportion to the others. Without Lumber to repair the buildings they run immediately to decay. And without Lumber for the proper packages for Sugar, and to contain Rum, they cannot be sold at market, they cannot even be kept at home.

Q. Are there not places besides the Middle Colonies of North America, from whence may be drawn a supply of Lumber in some degree proportionate to the wants of the West Indies?

A. I will examine. The first resource may be in the Colony itself; but Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands are altogether destitute of wood. The gentlemen of Jamaica will inform you how unequal their country is to its own demands. Remains the Government of Granada. And here I beg leave to state a fact. Readymade Houses of North American Lumber have been exported from Barbados to the Islands under the Government of Granada. These Islands have plenty of wood; and this wood is of a more durable nature than Lumber; but an anxiety for the staple manufacture superseded this consideration; and the labour of the Slaves, instead of being turned to the providing of materials for the Carpenter, was reserved for the cultivation of the Sugarcane.

Although the Sugar Colonies may find no resources from their soil, they may find it in their market at home. Lumber is a commodity not so perishable as Cora and Provisions. A stock of it might be laid in. This certainly is an expedient. It will be attempted by the provident and the wealthy; the combined description includes not a multitude in any country, and the attempt will greatly enhance the price. But it is practicable only to a certain point. It must be confined to the quantity at market. If an unusual quantity should be imported, as is probable, supposing no sinister events to prohibit, the Planter has no fund to pay for it. I speak of the great body of Planters in general. They are not able to provide for the expenses of two or more crops out of the profits of one crop. It is well if every crop can bear up against its own particular load. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. Before I proceed to external resources, I beg leave, sir, to repeat what I have said before upon the subject of a new channel for the supply of Corn and Provisions. I said it was inconsistent with the nature of commerce to furnish an adequate supply to a vast, an unexpected, an immediate demand; that the demand and the supply must grow up together, mutually supporting and supported by each other. This principle destroys the prospect of a timely and effectual assistance from any quarter whatsoever. Not content with the operation of the general principle, I will examine the particular resources. I will only say of the two Floridas, that the population is feeble in the extreme. Georgia sends some Lumber; but Georgia is said to have acceded to the Congress. What has been said of the Floridas with respect to population, is applicable to St. John's, and in some measure to Nova Scotia. Nor does Nova Scotia export any materials proper for Casks to contain Rum. In Canada the population is not adequate to the new enterprise, without neglecting points of greater importance in their system. I say of greater importance; because the West India market is now open to them; an exchange of West India commodities is desirable; and notwithstanding Canada exports Lumber to the West Indies. In truth, there is a mass of objections which nothing but a length of time can overcome. Supported by large capitals, or long credit, Canada must first combine several commercial objects, so as to furnish an assortment of cargoes. They must have proper Artificers, as well as people. They must provide a navigation equal to the bulky commodity—equal to it under the accumulated difficulties of a great distance, and the dangers and delays of a River covered or choaked with ice for more than half the year. If there is little or no resource to be found in America, let the West Indies, in search of Lumber, turn their eyes to Europe. I pass over Great Britain and Ireland, because they both import vast quantities of Lumber. No inconsiderable part of it is drawn from the Middle Colonies of North America. But it is to be found in Europe, of every sort, and in every shape. The demand of the West Indies has been shown to be vast. It will be immediate. The tenth of September is advancing very fast, and the demand will be unexpected; unexpected, in the opinion of every person who hopes that lenient measures may be adopted; unexpected, in the opinion of every person who, without reasoning farther, depends upon the wisdom of Parliament to extricate the West Indies, and in them the whole Empire, from danger. A domestick event, unexpected in Great Britain, will not be presumed in foreign countries. Nor Germany, nor Norway, nor the Baltick, will risk an extensive operation in commerce upon the speculative idea of a continuance of a most unnatural quarrel. I will, however, suppose for a moment that Germany provides a more plentiful stock of Staves; that Norway and the Baltick pay the like attention to their Deals. I pray it may be understood that the freight of bulky Goods trenches deeply into their value. The freight of Lumber from North America to the West Indies, a short safe passage, is a moiety of the Goods shipped. The double voyage, first to Great Britain, and then to the West Indies, takes away at the same rate for distant and hazardous voyages, an half of that moiety, leaving only a quarter part to the original shipper. At what an enormous price then must this Lumber come to the hands of the consumer? By a suspension of the Acts of Navigation, it may indeed be carried to the West Indies, disencumbered of the intolerable burden of a double voyage; yet add the original price much higher than in America; add the increase in this price from the increase in the demand from Great Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies; the remedy itself is only the lesser evil.

Q. What other species of commodities, from the Middle Colonies, are interchanged with the West Indies?

A. Besides the absolute dependence of the West Indies upon North America for Subsistence and for Lumber, there are supplies less consequential, but very useful, and even necessary, in some respect, to the West Indies; which are all furnished by the confederating Colonies, The articles are, Train Oil, for the many lamps in the Sugar Works, Horses, for the saddle and for draught, Tallow, Leather, Tobacco, Pitch, Tar, Turpentine, Iron, Sloop and Boat Timbers, and some others. As to Ships, I refer them to the head of Navigation, created by the commerce of the West Indies.

Q. What commodities do the Sugar Colonies give in exchange to North America?

A. They did give a part of all their products in exchange: but the Middle Colonies have refused to take