PROCEEDINGS in the SESSION of PARLIAMENT I 760-61, continued. [xxiii. 632.] I Came now to thofe bills which in the must increase our navigation, and out at fellion were paffed into laws.number of feamen. Therefore, if we The first in order of time, was that for are refolved to increase our manufactures continuing the permiflion to import Irish and navigation, or rather to preferve beef, &c. which would have expired on them in the state they are in at prefent, the 24th of December 1761 [xxii. 674.]. we must always admit of a free importa Amotion for bringing in this bill was made tion of all the neceffaries of life from Ireon the 25th of November: and though, land. I fay, preferve our manufactures from accounts referred to the committee, and navigation; for as to fuch neceffait had been made evident, that the im- ries, we do not furely think of prohibitportation of beef, pork, and butter, from ing the exportation of them from Ireland, Leland, would render thofe neceffaries of either to England, or to any foreign marHe cheaper in England, which of course ket. This would be treating our fellowwould be an encouragement to our navi- fubjects in Ireland, worse than we have gation, as well as our manufactures; yet treated them with regard to their woollen a party appeared against it, and upon the manufactures. And if we allow them to report, moved for the bill's being recom- export fuch neceffaries to a foreign mar▾ mitted; but upon the queftion's being ket, they will, they must export them to put, it pafled in the negative; after which France and Holland, who are our chief the bill pafled both houfes, and received rivals, both as to manufactures and navithe royal aflent on the 23d of December. gation. [xxii.667.] This is another of our temporary laws [xz. 17.] which ought to be made perpetual. In a country whofe riches depend upon the fale of its manufactures at foreign markets, is it poffible to render the neceffaries of life too cheap? In a cuntry whole fafety depends upon its navigation, and number of native failors, is it pollible to render the victualling of their Lips too cheap? I know it is commonly faid, that the neceffaries of life may be too cheap; because, when a man can, by three days labour, fupport himself and family for feven, he will fit idle the other four. And, with regard to an accidental, and fhort-continued cheapnels of fuch neceffaries, I fhall grant that it may have this effect with thofe that incline to be lazy and idle: as wages, or what we call the price of labour, is not capable of ma king fuch a quick and fudden alteration, as the price of provifions often does; there. fore the rife or fall of wages is never the attendant of the rife or fall of provifions: but it is, in time, the certain confequence; and low wages will always make cheap manufactures, which of course increases their fale at every foreign market, as well as the populoufnefs of the country from whence they are exported. To this I uft add, that when the common price of labour is at a low rate, the wages of feamen will always be lefs than when it is dear; confequently a cheapness of provifions will lefen the expence of failing, well as victualling our hips; which VOL, XXIV. This highly deferves our confideration; and the more, as we are now thinking of clapping up a peace with France *, perhaps upon terms not fo good as every B-itifh fubject ought to with: for, with refpect to the Weft Indies, we are like to leave them upon a better footing than they were before the war; and it is well known, that Irish provifions have always been the chief fupport of their colonies in that part of the world. So far, therefore, from prohibiting the importation of provifions from Ireland, we ought to encourage it as much as we can; and a perpetual law for this purpofe, would cer tainly be a greater encouragement than an annual bill; as it would encourage the raifing, as well as importing, of fuch provifions; and would certainly make them go dearer from Ireland to every foreign market, than they can do whilst the importation of them to this kingdom continues to be upon a precarious footing. Such a perpetual law might perhaps leffen the rent of fome of our pasture-grounds in England, that are now let at as high a rack-rent as they can poffibly bear; but as an increase of our manufactures and navigation would produce an increase in all our cities, boroughs, and markettowns, the rent of all our meadows, and arable grounds, would probably increafe; whereas the whole land-rent in England would fall, fhould our foreign trade be ruined, or very much diminished. * [This was written before it was known that the negotiation for a peace was broken off.] L On On the 28th of November, the ufual committee was appointed, to inquire what laws were expired, or near expiring, and to report their opinion which of them were fit to be revived, or continued. In purfuance of their report, which was made Dec. 19. a bill was brought in for continuing the act 6 Geo. II for the better feturing and encouraging the trade of his Majefty's fugar-colonies in America; which pafled both houses in course, and received the royal affent on the 3d of March. But why the act, after fuch a long trial, fhould not have been made perpetual, I confefs I cannot fuggeft to myself any one reafon: for I cannot think that it will ever be defignedly left to expire; and the best way to prevent its being, by any overfight, left to expire, would be to make it perpetual. The act chiefly confifts of the following claufes. Claufe 1. Imposes a duty of 9 d. per gallon, on all rum or fpirits; 6d. per galion, on all molaffes, or fyrups; and 3s. per hundred weight, on all fugars or paneles, of foreign produce, imported in to any of our plantations in America.2. Prohibits the importation of them into Ireland, unless from G. Britain.-3. Enacts, That in cafe any fugar or paneles, of the produce of his Majefty's colonies, fhall be again exported, within one year after their importation into G. Britain; upon due proof of the payment of the duties, the refidue of the duty fhall be repaid within one month.-4. Gives a drawback, or bounty, of 6s. per hundred weight, upon the exportation of fugar refined in G. Britain, from fugars imported from our plantations, that had paid the duties. These are the chief claufes of the act; and the first two were enacted for putting fome ftop at least to a grievance then loudly, and most justly, complained of by our fugar colonies. The grievance arofe from the trade carried on between the French fugar-colonies and Ireland, and between them and our plantations upon the continent of America: for though, by a general law, no foreign veffel can carry on trade at any of the French ports in America; yet the French governors have orders, not only to connive at, but even to encourage, every fort of foreign trade, that may be beneficial to the inhabitants, without being detrimental to the mothercountry. In confequence of these orders, floops were every day arriving at the French fugar-colonies, from our plantations, and several fhips were every year arriving from Ireland. The former brought them lumber of all forts, for building or repairing their houses and fugarworks, and alfo feveral forts of provifions; and the latter brought them falted beef, pork, butter, and cheese. Both took their rum and molaffes in exchange; and as the French planters had no other market to go to, they fold their rum and molaffes fo cheap, and in fuch quantities, to thefe interlopers, that no rum or molaffes of our own fugar-colonies could find a vent in Ireland, or in our plantations: on the contrary, it was become ufual for the floops of our plantations, employed to carry a cargo of provifions and lumber to our own fugar-iflands, to difpofe of their cargo there for ready money, and to fail from thence to the French fugar-iflands, where they employed that money in the purchase of rum and molaffes, with which they returned to their own plantation. Nor could we blame the people of our plantations for fo doing; for it is fuch an eftablished maxim in trade, to buy where cheapest and fell where dearest, that we can no more expect that a merchant will voluntarily purchase the produce or manu facture of his own country, if he can purchafe the fame fort of produce or manufacture, and equally good, at a much cheaper rate, in a foreign country, than we can expect that a landholder would voluntarily pay four fhillings in the pound landtax, when the rest of his countrymen paid but two. But the loss our fugar iflands fuffered by thus having a ftop put to the fale of their rum and molaffes, in two fuch confiderable parts of the British dominions, was not the only one they and the nation in general were expofed to by this practice. Every one who knows any thing of the fugar-trade, must know, that when a fugar-planter can fell his rum and molaffes at any price, he may fell his fugars at a lower price than it would be poffible for him to do, could he find no market for his rum and molaffes; and that the more he can make of the latter, the less price he may require for the former. Now, the French fugar-planters can find no market for their rum or molaffes but in the Britifh dominions; because in all other parts of the world brandies are fold fo cheap, that little if any ufe is ever made of rum; confequently, were they excluded from that market, they could not fell their fu gars fo cheap as they do: but by the ready fale they found in the British dominions for their rum and molaffes, and by the fuperior Feb. 1762. Proceedings in the feffion of parliament 1760-61. fuperior fertility of their grounds, most of cannot fell their produce, at what is called a living price, any where but in Britain and Ireland. This third clause must therefore be always continued in force. It would even be proper, by an amendment, to render it more convenient and beneficial for the merchant. A year is certainly too fhort a time to be allowed for exportation. Our merchants ought to be allowed fufficient time to wait for a turn in the foreign markets; and it is certain that a lucky turn may happen in two or three years, that may not happen in one; and when it does happen, they may not have any fufficient quantity of fugars on hand, but what has been imported a bove a year. For the fame reafon I with it could be established as a general rule, That no duties fhould be paid upon fugars, or indeed upon any imported goods that have a chance for being afterwards exported, until delivered by the merchant to the retailer for home confumption. Such a regulation could hardly fail of giving us foon a fhare in the carrying-trade of Europe; for our fituation is fo convenient between the north and the fouth, as well as between the east and the west parts of Europe, and we have fuch a number of fafe ports and harbours, that nothing but our high duties payable upon importation, could have prevented our acquiring a confiderable share in that trade, as foon as we began to turn our minds to the arts of peace, and to form right notions about the bufinefs of commerce; and the carrying-trade is of all others one of the most fruitful in producing and maintaining a numerous race of hardy and expert failors, accustomed to all climates, and acquainted with all parts of the ocean. If then it be our interest to encourage the exportation of our fugars, furely it is still more our intereft to encourage that exportation, when our fugars are brought to their utmost perfection by refining. For this purpofe the 4th claufe of this act was defigned; and I hope the bounty thereby given is iufficient for answering the purpofe: but this I am in fome doubt of, as it depends upon the quantity of brown or mufcovado fugars necellarily confumed in baking any quantity of our double-refined, and this I must suppose to be at least double; which fuppofition I make upon the authority of the poundage-act, of the 21st of the late reign [x. 94.]. By that act a new duty of 5 1. per cent. according to the value in the L2 book book of rates, was impofed upon all goods imported, to be drawn back upon exportation, which duty confequently amounted to 1 s. 6 d. per hundred weight upon brown or mufcovado fugars of the British plantations; and in the act there is a claufe for allowing a bounty of 3 s. per hundred weight, upon all fuch fugars imported after the act took place, and after. wards refined in G. Britain and exported, to be paid to the exporter over and above the then present bounties; from whence it appears, that two hundred weight of brown or muscovado fugars was by parliament reckoned to be confumed, upon an average, in producing one hundred weight refined; and if this be fo, we must conclude, that the bounty of 6 s. per hundred weight before allowed by the claufe now under confideration, was not fufficient; as it appears by Crouch's view of the British customs, that the duties then payable upon British brown or muscovado fugars amounted to very near 3 s. 4 d. halfpenny per hundred weight. This may be a good reafon for amending this clause, by adding at least 9 d. per hundred weight to the bounties now payable upon British refined fugars exported; but it can never be a reafon for allowing this claufe to expire. And thus, from every one of the chief claufes of the act, we must con clude, that whilft our circumftances continue to be the fame, we can never defignedly allow it to expire; and that an accidental expiration, but for fix months, would be attended with great confufion in our fugar-trade. Why then fhould it continue to be made temporary? meffage, which was read by Mr Speaker, viz. "GEORGE R. The South fea company having addreffed his Majefty, in a duti ful manner, that he would be graciously pleased to condefcend to be governor of the faid company, and his Majefty having been graciously pleased to accept the fame [xxii. 603.], his Majefty recommends it to this houfe to confider proper methods to render the fame effectual. G. R."Upon this it was ordered, that leave fhould be given to bring in a bill, to enable his Majefty to be governor of the South-fea company; and that Mr ViceChamberlain, Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr Carlton, fhould prepare and bring it in. The bill was prefented on the 5th; and as fuch a bill has been paffed at the beginning of every reign, ever fince the establishment of that com pany [xiv. 575.], it paffed in course, and received the royal aflènt Dec. 23. The mutiny and marine bills fall next to be mentioned. The former was moved for Nov. 29. was prefented by Mr Thomas Gore, Dec. 1. and received the royal affent Dec. 23. The latter was moved for Dec. 4 was prefented by Mr Clevland Dec. 9. and received the royal affent Jan. 20 Thefe two bills pafs annually in common form, and without oppofition, when nothing new or extraordinary is attempted to be brought into either of them, which was the cafe upon this occafion. They probably will continue to be pafted annually, as we can never now be without a standing army; and I hope we hall never hereafter allow curfelves, even in time of peace, to be without a body of marines duly exercifed at fea as well as land. Mr Vice-Chamberlain prefented to the Commons, Dec. 3. the following royal [To be continued.] From the MONITOR, Feb. 6. THE change in the political system of the house of Austria; whofe very ex istence almost had heretofore been al lowed to depend upon her engagement: with England, and on their confederate oppofition to the perfidious meafures of the house of Bourbon, gives us a ftriking inftance of the implacable temper of a female fovereign, actuated with a fpirit of hatred and revenge; whereby the deferts her friends, facrifi ceth her real interest, and, with all her power, contributes towards raifing her natural and most powerful enemy to fuch a pitch of power, as would enable him to turn his arms against herself, and to eztirpate her family. Thofe countries which coft Britain fo much blood and treasure, to fecure them for a barrier to her dominions, and to Germany, again the incroachments of France, have been inconfiderately left to the mercy of the Gallic monarch; and his armies invite into the bowels of Germany, to crush th allies of her best and most powerful an faithful friend. The bringing of the Ruffians by th fame confederacy, to make an establith ment in Germany, at the expence of th houfe of Brandenburg, is a change n lefs unaccountable; as it must be grant ed, that every power that establishet itfelf in Germany, with a force capab to difpute the fuperiority with the hou of Auftria, has always and very wik Feb. 1762. Revolutions in the political fyftem of Europe. been oppofed by that house and her alHes, becaufe fuch an establishment will naturally increafe the danger of the house of Auftria: for it is more than probable, that fuch an empire as Ruffia could find more resources in itself to maintain a war for conquefts, than Auftria; and would scarce reft contented with less than the fupreme power in Germany. This the houfe of Auftria once faw, in the measures taken by a King of Sweden, in the last century: and therefore it is a matter of great fur• prife, to find the very contrary politics adopted by the fame houfe at this time. The Empire, which was ever tenacious of its rights, and abhorrent of the intrigues and incroachments of France upon her borders; and ought never to forget the perfidious behaviour of Lewis XIV. to gain an eafy entrance into her heart, by feizing Strasburg in the time of a pretended peace; makes the German eagle ftoop to the Gallic cock; and, in defiance of right, juftice, and the conftitutions of the Germanic body, authorifes a French army to enter, plunder, and lay wafte principalities and electo rates under its fovereignty; and proceeds against them as enemies and rebels, for no other reason than standing upon their own defence, against the invaders of their liberty and property. Certainly this was not the policy of that fupreme dominion, when lately the house of Auftria was again exalted to the Imperial dignity, by the special friendship and affittance of G. Britain, and of thofe her allies, who are now thus ungratefully treated. Did the Imperial dignity take umbrage at the increafing power of Pruffia or Hanover? How fhall these fears be abated by admitting, and inviting one, already more powerful than the Roman Emperor, to eat up thofe objects of his jealoufy, when their destruction must increase his danger. Thus, in a fhort hiftory, we have the moft unforeseen incidents and ftrangeft revolutions in politics: France and G. Britain in league to pull down Spain, by Oliver Cromwell: Spain and G. Britain, Holland and the house of Auftria, &c. confederate to pull down France; and now most of these nations and people, with their allies, contriving every means, and ftretching every finew of their frength, to pull down G. Britain, and to #ggrandize the house of Bourbon! However, it is well for the world that 73 thofe changes in the political state of the univerfe are the effect of perishable, inconftant, and corrupt man. For, how near foever these measures, concerted between the enemies of G. Britain, and between the allies of France, feem to threaten G. Britain, and, in her fate, the liberties of Europe, and the Protestant interest, with ruin; a death, or a premature or unguarded act of fome one ally in the confederacy against us, or fome view of private advantage to certain of the contracting parties, may divert the ftorm, prevent the intended mifchief, and perhaps bring the politics of Austria, the Empire, and Rulia, into their former and most natural channel. Death hath already prepared the way for this conjecture, on the part of Ruffia. The Czarina is dead: her paflions no longer prefide in the councils of Petersburg.-A Czar is placed on the throne of Ruflia, whofe temper is pacific, and content with the dominion of his own inheritance; in which, he has often declared, a prince may find sufficient employment for his men and treasure, to cultivate the land, to erect manufactures, to preferve internal tranquillity, and to make himself refpectable abroad. - A prince, thus formed for rule, can scarce be thought fo imprudent, as to deprive his fubjects and himself of constitutional advantages, by purfuing the precarious politics of feeking new acquifitions, that must rather serve to exhauft, than to enrich his country; must create him enemies, and require more to garrison and to preferve his conqueft from surprise, than it is worth.-Should this be the cafe, we have great reafon to expect the recall of the Rulian armies from Germany. An event that would be attended with many furprising incidents. Sweden would no longer dare to appear in the field against Prullia. Pomerania would return to its sovereign. The King of Pruflia would be at liberty to turn his whole force against the Auftrians. And, if this would not be fufficient to incline. the Emprefs-Queen to compromise matters with that King, the difcovery made by the British minister during the negotiations of peace, concerning the fecret treaty between France and Spain, may be found decifive, in her councils, for a determination to return to the friendship and aid of G. Britain. Time bringeth forth many furprising events. When Auftria fhall be made fenfible, |