and Ireland to trade with Great Britain. By their dependence upon Great Britain for hands to push the cultivation of the Sugar-cane, they uphold the trade of Great Britain to Africa.* A trade which in the pursuit of Negroes, as the principal, if not the sole intention of the adventurer, brings home Ivory and Gold as secondary objects. In proportion as the Sugar Colonies consume, or cause to be consumed amongst their neighbours, Asiatick commodities, they increase the trade of the English East India Company. In this light I see the India Goods which are carried to the Coast of Guinea. In proportion as the West Indies use the Wines of the African Islands, and as they use the products of Europe, so far they add to the trade of Great Britain with the African Islands, and with the rest of Europe. Without taking in any of these circuitous channels, the direct exports to the West Indies will appear, by official accounts, to be of immense value;† will show the wealth gradually earned by the hands of labour and of skill, which the Sugar Colonies are daily adding to the national stock. I hardly dare venture to place in this light the salaries and profits of the Officers appointed by Government for the superintendence of the West Indies. As to revenue, the nett receipt, I understand, to exceed seven hundred thousand Pounds.

Q. In case the usual intercourse between North America and the Sugar Colonies should be interrupted, what would be the prejudice to Great Britain, and to the revenue thereof?

A. The advantages arising from, and dependent upon the usual intercourse, must cease with the interruption. I will not add that the Nation is to pay in money to the foreigners the large sum for West India commodities, for which the British Manufactures, and the profits of a circuitous commerce, are now given in exchange. The observation would be fallacious. The decrease in the consumption of West India commodities will surely keep pace with the decay of the Manufactures and Commerce the West Indies supported. The revenue will lessen in proportion to the diminished consumption, nor will the loss stop at the West India commodities. The revenue from Tea, without the accustomed plenty of Sugar, without the profits of the Sugar trade, and of the commerce created by the Sugar trade, will sink into insignificance; the interruption will be felt severely in every branch of revenue; for it will be felt severely in every branch of trade which contributes, by consumption, to the revenue; and in trade, as in the human body, nothing suffers singly by itself; there is a consent of parts in the system of both, and the partial evil grows into universal mischief. Of all the branches of commerce which will suffer immediately, or indirectly, from the interruption of the usual intercourse, the most important is the navigation. By investigating its value, we estimate the loss. It is equal to the bulky products, and still more bulky supplies of a stock in trade of sixty millions; it is coextensive with the commerce created by that trade, comprehending the navigation to Africa, and making no inconsiderable part of that of England to the East Indies, and to the rest of Europe. It establishes, as is asserted in the Petition, a strength which wealth can neither purchase nor balance. Sir, I will add, it is a strength which is so justly a favourite with the Nation, that nothing but some unhappy mistake can deprive it of the national protection and support.

Mr. Innes asked, how many White People are there in Barbadoes?

Question objected to.

Withdrew.

Called in.

Q. What is the common food of the Negroes in the Leeward Islands?

A. In all the Islands it is salt Fish (as I said before) and Indian Corn. I entered into those points particularly before.

Q. Whether the Islands will not be supplied equally well, notwithstanding the Newfoundland Fishery from New England should be stopped?

A. That is a matter of opinion. I came here as an evidence of facts, which I hope will influence the opinions of the House, but not to obtrude my own. My opinion is, that they will not have the usual supply, because there will not be the usual quantity taken, and fewer people to carry it to them.

Q. What proportion of Land in the Leeward Islands, being applied to the raising Provisions, would supply the Negroes with Provisions, on an estate of two hundred hogsheads, for instance?

A. The native products of the Islands are very uncertain; all so, but Guinea Corn; therefore much more land must be applied to this purpose than would be necessary to raise the supply for the regular constant consumption. They must provide against accidents, such as hurricanes, excess of wet weather, or of dry weather, the climate being very uncertain; it is, therefore, impossible to answer this question precisely; hut this I can say, that if they were obliged to raise their own food, that their food must be then their principal object, and Sugar only a secondary object; it would be but the trifle, which Provisions are now.

Q. If the Planters could not be supplied from North America, would they not have a share of fresh Provisions from Great Britain and Ireland, to answer their wants?

A. They must have more than a share; they must have a full proportion for their whole subsistence, and England cannot afford it; it would occasion a scarcity at home.

Q. Would not the Merchants here send out cargoes of Provisions to the West Indies?

A. I answered that question, and most of the others, before, by obviating them in my evidence. I have said, and repeat, that Great Britain cannot increase her exports of Provisions to the West Indies, without increasing a scarcity already complained of at home.

Q. What quantity of Flour is allowed to the White People, on an estimate of two hundred hogsheads?

A. No regular allowance. They have Rice, Biscuit, as they may want, in proportion as a variety of things which are provided for them by the plantation, falls short, or abounds.

Q. Whether Deal Boards would not do in the room of Staves, for packing Sugar?

A. The Portuguese pack in Chests; but they are not made of Deal Boards, but of strong Plank. We must make a total alteration in our Shipping, our Tradesmen, and many circumstances, if we were to pack our Sugar in Chests.

Q. Whether there are not many packs of Staves shipped to the West Indies from London, both for Rum and Sugar?

A. I have known some for Sugar; but it has been found necessary to mix them with many new Staves from North America. Our Staves, like our Cloths, wear out by use; many of them are broken in the voyage, and the rest are seldom fit for much.

Q. I mean new Staves?

A. I never knew any sent [supposing the words to have been new Casks,] but as packages for Goods exported to the West Indies; this is sometimes done, and the Casks so made as to be used afterwards for Sugar and Rum; but this is done merely to save particular packages for the Goods; nor even in that case is it always thought an advantage.

Q. I mean Staves sent on purpose?

A. I cannot answer that but by saying, I never knew an instance of it. I know Staves are brought from the West Indies to London upon a prospect of advantage; but I never knew them sent from hence to the West Indies.

Q. How are the French Islands supplied with Lumber, Bread, Flour, &c.?

A. I cannot give a precise answer to that question. I have said they receive great supplies from North America, I have mentioned before, that the French, Dutch, and Danes, in their Sugar Colonies, depend in a great measure on North America; but I do not know the particulars precisely.

Q. Whether he does not know that the French carry on ten times the trade with North America that the English do?

A. I do not know the extent of the French trade; I am not well enough acquainted with it, so as at this time to be able to state propositions. I have said there is a certain

* The medium of fourteen years, from 1756 to 1773, is £469,237. Imports from Africa £49,858.

† Medium of exports for fourteen years, from Christmas 1756 to Christmas 1773, is £1,145,735.