THE SUGAR-TRADE AND THE WEST INDIES. - Now that mere

curiosity about the Ministerial _change is sub- siding, and that people begin to forget the turmoil through which the present Corn-law was placed on the statute-book, the Sugar-duties have taken their place as the subject of the next practical measure in the Free-trade series. Already reports pro- fessing to foreshadow the Ministerial plan have been thrown out by some journals, hawked about by Lord George Bentinck, and ardently discussed, both as to the authenticity of the reports and the merits of the supposed plan. The rumours induced us to in- quire, and we find that the tales have only a partial foundation : the Ministerial plan, while we write, is still unsettled, and may be so even beyond the hour at which we go to press. But in the course of our inquiries we have obtained some information which may be useful as elucidating the whole subject : it may be relied on, we believe, as both the most recent and the most authentic.

For the consumption at home, both the supply and the stock on hand are deficient ; but not quite so deficient as many have supposed. This will be shown in the following note.

The imports of West India sugar during the six months of this year appear to be 15,000 tons less than they were during the same period of last year; but only 3,000 tons less than they were in the first six months of 1844: on the other hand, the imports from the British East Indies during this year have been 7,000 tons more than during the fiat six months of last year; and from Mauritius, the excess this year over the same portion of last year is 2,500 tons. The total supply of British Plantation sugar, to the 30th June, is 6,000 tons, or about 54 per cent less than it was to the same period of last year; but 15,000 tons more than it was during the first six months of 1844.

The stock of West India sugar is 11,500 tons less than it was at the 30th June last year; and the deficiency upon the aggregate supply is 11,200 tons. The consumption appears to have increased during the year 1845 about 38,000 tons; and the consumer appears to have obtained nearly the whole reduction of duty: for the average price in bond during 1845 was 32s. 10d., while the average price in 1844 was 34s., and in 1843 it was 34s. 2d. For the first six months of 1846 it has been somewhat higher, 35s. 3d.; yet when compared with 1844, before any effect was produced by the expectation of reduced duty, it is only la. 3d. more. The imports from the British West Indies were last year 142,000 tons. This year they would have been at least 150,000 tons, but for a severe drought which afflicted the Colonies. In spite of the recent favourable wea- ther, the effect of the drought will be felt in some degree even next year; yet, as a considerable additional cultivation was established, it is expected that the supply from the British West Indies, between 5th July 1846 and 5th July 1847, will be 130,000 to 140,000 tons. From India it is esti- mated at 75,000—which is the quantity expected this year; and from Mauritius at 50,000 tons—being 3,000 tons more than the actual quan- tity this year. The aggregate supply of British sugar, therefore, will be—

from the West Indies say, only, 130,000 tons, British India 75,000 Mauritius 50,000

/I

AVERAGE PRICES IN BOND,

Far the year 1843 348. 2d. IP 1844 34s.

1845 32s. 10d.

For the first I 1846 six months oft- 35.s. 3d.

OONSUMPTION OF THE YEAR

1844 206,000 tons.

1845 244,000 „

CONSUMPTION OF THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

Of 1844 (5th January to 5th April) 45,000 tons 1845 49,000 „ 1846 57,000 „ The reduction of the duty did not take effect till the 14th March 1845: the comparative increase of the first three months of 1846 may, of course, be greatly attributed to the reduced duty.

No Government return is out since the 5th Aril; but the duty paid in the four principal ports of England and in the Clyde, in the first six months, is-

1845 109,000 tons.

1846 105,000 „ The consumption, or rather the quantity duty-paid, in 1846, being checked by the uncertainty of the duty.

SLAVE-GROWN SUGAR NOW IN BOND,

14 or 15,000 tons; of which it is computed 8 to 10,000 tons would be admis Bible in accordance with the Navigation-laws.

The reader is now in a condition to perceive, that there is no famine case, like that adduced to hasten the repeal of the Corn- laws—no pressing emergency for the sake of the consumer. We shall have a very fair supply of sugar for the next year. Some persons—not, perhaps, without an eye to the commercial advan- tages for the holders of bringing large cargoes suddenly into the wealthy British market—have pointed to the deficient supply from the West Indies, and have suggested a partial suspension of the Navigation-laws. There is, however, no necessity to raise that difficult and embarrassing question at the present moment : there is no reason why the Sugar question should not be settled at once, on independent grounds. The public expect a prompt settlement : it is the next good thing promised by competing statesmen. The new Ministry cannot afford to do without so important an item in their programme. The current of opinion sets too strongly against differential duties to be stemmed ; and Mr. Gladstone's ultra-refinement, making a fiscal distinction be- tween foreign sugars the produce of slave-labour and those of free-labour, proves quite as impracticable as it was expected to be. For many irresistible reasons, therefore, the question ought to be settled without delay. Rightly considered, it is just as easy to settle now as ever it will be—just as easy in 1846 as in 1847 or

1848 or any subsequent year. Nothing would be gained by post- poning it. On the contrary, while it is not in the nature of present difficulties that they should diminish by time, new obeta-

255,000 Now, as it appears that the consumption was last year 244,000 tons, and it may be expected this year to increase, this supply would be bare enough but for the free-labour sugar; of which there may be probably 20,000 tons, making an aggregate supply of 275,000 Against the consumption of 1845 244,000 Leaving for increased consumption . 31,000

Large quantities of slave-grown sugar are now in bond; but of that stock, whatever the change in the duties, great part would be excluded by the force of the Navigation-laws. According to those laws, foreign produce is not admissible for consumption in this country unless it is imported in vessels belonging to the country in which the article is produced, or in British ves- sels. Much of the slave-grown sugar that reaches our shores does so in vessels that belong neither to Britain nor to the sugar-producing country: those vessels touch at Cowes, the cargo is sold afloat, and it is sent on to other markets according to the advices under which the British merchant acts. Part of the sugar now in bond, however, having been brought in British, Brazilian, or Spanish ships, is admissible under the Navigation- laws; and it is further understood that almost all the sugars now in transitu from Cuba for England will be admissible; the chances of war between the United States and Mexico having induced the exporters to send them in British vessels.

The general state of the supply and demand in the British market may be gathered from the subjoined figures.

STOCK OF BRITISH PLANTATION SUGAR ON HAND,

alit December 1843 40,000 tons.

„ 1844 43,000 „

PI 1845 41,500 „

ZSTIMATED STOCK ON HAND,

alkli law 1844 46.500 tons.

1845 47,700 „ 1846 36,500 „

des might spring up. And the mischief to commerce, of pro- tracted doubts, needs not be dwelt upon. But in order to a satisfactory settlement, some points affecting various interests must be kept in view.

In the first place, our West Indian Colonies, the great pro- ducers of sugar for the British market, are threatened with damage from competition with countries still employing slaves, after we have forbidden the West Indian planters to possess slaves. They have never believed it possible that the English Government could be guilty of that practical inconsistency ; for- getting that the English Government is not immortal—does not last through a generation—has not the average life of a cab-horse : nor have they believed till now, when the event has come. It-is not generous, therefore, but simply just, to give them time to prepare for the unexpected competition. Time is not unneeded. The West Indian planter possessed a certain number of Black labourers, all of whom, under the institution of slavery, he could keep at the appointed work of sugar-making. As soon as slavery was abolished, the Blacks were free to take their choice in a wider range of employments ; many abandoned the sugar-fields, and those who remained have bestowed only a portion of their time. It has become necessary for the planter not only to supply the deficiency of hands, but also as much as possible to diminish his own dependence on mere human labour by im- proved implements and methods of cultivation or manufacture. Both processes take time ; up to this moment, both have been impeded by official obstructions. But the allowance of time would not be inconsistent with the immediate settlement of the question : a bill, passed next week, may provide for the prospec- tive and gradual abandonment of the differential sugar-duties ; just as Sir Robert Peel's Corn Bill provided for the prospective abandonment of corn-duties. With free trade to their detriment, the West Indians justly demand free trade to their advantage,—free admission to this country of their rum at duty equal to that on home spirits ; free admission for their molasses, at an equivalent (say) to our malt-duty, to be used in British manufactures. And above all, they have a right to a free supply of labour, whencesoever they can procure it. Simultaneously with the new Sugar Bill, let them have Lord John Russell's promise that free trade shall ex- tend its benefits also to them. New regulations for the free in- gress of Tropical labour might at once be adopted by the Execu- tive Government without troubling the Parliament. The other great risk involves moral considerations touching slavery and the civilization of the Negro race. When once slave- sugar is admitted to the British markets, its value will rise ; with it will rise the value of slave-labour, the premium on the slave- trade. Yes, unpleasant as it is, that fact must be admitted. The confession, however, is but another term for admitting a truth which has gradually been creeping. on the conviction of all unbiassed observers—that the pertinacious attempt of this country forcibly to suppress the slave-trade carried on by other countries, alien to our laws, is impracticable. Our devices to effect it, our resources to disguise the ruinous cost to ourselves, are exhausted. But we need not abandon our generous aspirations in despair : there is still hope. Those of our readers who are new to the sub- ject will find suggestions for relinquishing the crusade against the slave-trade, without abandoning the emancipation of the Negro race, fully developed in a Supplement which we published on the 15th of April 1843.* Suffice it here to say, that slave- labour must be discouraged by encouraging free-labour ; that the West Indies must be strengthened to complete the experiment which we forced upon them—to show that free trade in sugar is not incompatible with prosperity for the employers of free African labour. The pestilent atmosphere renders Africa inacces- sible to the European ; frustrating every effort that he makes to penetrate that continent as the herald of civilization. In the West Indies the European and African meet on common ground: the African is there free—protected—cherished—admitted to par- ticipate in European arts. A more perfect school could not be provided for him : he finds European styles of agriculture, Eu- ropean commerce, in active operation.; and his lessons in both are practical. He finds European training, intellectual and moral, with access even to the highest and most varied literature of England. He finds the freest political and municipal institutions, inviting him to take an active part in them. The Negro labourer of the West Indies is on an equal footing of freedom with any member of the working classes in England itself. And it is sa- tisfac tory to learn by experience, that the scholar is rapidly trained in that practical school ; insomuch that it would not be difficult, nay, it would be most easy, to rear a whole army of Negroes to carry, by reemigration, the arts and blessings of civilized life back to their native continent. It is in the West Indies that Africa may be civilized. • "Cheap Sugar by Free Labour."