The Virginia Gazette

From the London Prints, of May 4.

A Ship lately arriv'd at London, from Barbadoes; brought the following

PROPOSALS for the Relief of the Sugar-Trade.

I. That the Species the Act made in the Session of his present Majesty, for encouraging this Trade, may be made contraband, and not customable; with a Power to Men of War to Seize on the Seas, as well as Custom-house Officers on the Land, all Such Vessels and Goods; the Design of that Law being entirely eluded and defeated.

Reason I. There being no Duties collected by Virtue of that Act; and the Intent of it being intirely defeated, by the Craft of the French and Northern Traders, there is no Method of rendering it useful to Britain, or to her Colonies, but by making those Species contraband, and liable to a Seizure of the Goods and Vessels, by Men of War, on the Seas, as well as Custom-house Officers in Port, or on the Land.

II. The Act pass'd the 9th Session, laying a Duty on the Retailers of Spirituous Liquors, may be Repealed, as to Taverns, Coffee-houses, and Inns; but that part to Spirit-shops, and disorderly Houses, to subsist, in order to prevent those Evils complained of in the Act.

Reason II. As the Consequences of this Act must immediately affect the Sugar-Trade, by depreciating the Value of Sugar and Rum, and the Evils complained of, will be prevented, merely by distressing Gin-shops, and disorderly Houses: the rest of the Act seems most unreasonable, in regard People of Business, Reputation and Fortune, are barr'd from transacting their Affairs in Taverns, Coffee-houses, or Inns, as formerly, without being under Hardships supposed to be much greater than any Part of the Excise Scheme so highly complained of, and inveighed against.

III. That Rum may be imported in Britain, at a Duty or Excise of 18d. or 2s. per Gallon at most, and to lie in the King's Stores until Sold, and the Duty paid to the Crown, which is apprehended will considerably increase the Revenue.

Reason III. The only Objection that has ever been offered to this Relief, is, That it would interfere with the Malt-Spirits; but instead of that Evil, it is affirmed, that it will improve and increase the Use of those Spirits, by a wholesome Mixture, and be of Advantage to the Land-Interest, besides considerably improving the Revenue, which will appear more clearly from the following Example:

Supposing only 10,000 Hogsheads of Rum be imported annually into Britain, which is about 1,000,000 Gallons; this at a Duty of Excise of 18d. per Gallon, would yield annually 75,000 l. if at 2s. it would yield 100,000 l. per Annum.

If double this Quantity be imported, which its imagin'd there would be, then it would yield from 150,000 to 200,000 l. per Annum.

All which British Manufactures purchase, and not Cash, which French Brandies constantly drain the Nation of; but this cannot be done (its confess'd) if French Brandies do not continue under the present high Excise, or else be prohibited in all Shapes.

There is no Reason that Arrack should be under the same Case, as it is neither the Produce of Britain, nor her Plantations; and it's said the Excise of Brandy, Rum and Arrack, do all amount to little more than 100,000 l. per Annum; and Rum alone will far exceed that annual Revenue, if encourag'd.

IV. That the Drawback of Sugar refin'd, may be allowed when exported, there being yet but 6s. per Cent. and it amounts to 7s. 6d. or upwards, and also a Drawback on Molasses exported.

Reason IV. Any Commodity which employs Tradesmen and Hands, and improved in Britain, ought to receive on Exportation, the same Duties which that Commodity paid on Importation. The Factor is encouraged thereby, so is the Sugar-maker. The Hands and Labourers, that are employed by Sugar-makers likewise are, and so is the Navigation. On the other Hand, every one of those mentioned are injured and discouraged, and therefore its a visible Loss or Gain to Britain, as such Commodities are eased, or burthened, on Exportation.

V. That the Four and Half per Cent. and enumerated Duties may be remitted, or 2d. or 3d. per Cent. given as an Equivalent, by Way of new Subsidy in Britain.

The Liberty of a free Exportation, So often applied for, will be made up in some measure, by an additional Bounty on refin'd Sugar exported.

Reason V. Jamaica, nor any of the Virgin Islands, pay the Duty of Four and Half per Cent. and if an Equivalent to what it yields annually into the Exchequer is offered, and that the changing of these inconsiderable Duties will be of great Ease and Relief to several sinking Settlements, the Alteration seems to be attended with great Equity and Justice, especially since the Crown or Revenue cannot suffer thereby.

As the Wisdom of the British Legislature has thought it necessary to give many useful and commendable Aids to the Royal African Company for the Preservation of their Fortifications, and Protection of their Trade to Africa, which is of great Consequence to Britain, and also to the Infant Settlement of Georgia; 'tis hoped the same publick Spirit will be exerted in Behalf of many long settled, and valuable Sugar Settlements, and not suffer them to lie bleeding of their Wounds, when the Remedies are so very cheap and easy to the Government.