interest with the parent state, that, if properly governed, they must always participate with her in political feeling. If broils arise within them, or if separation take place, it must result from bad government, not from any inherent effect in their creation or establishment. The easy communication, the great amount of capital invested, the division of mercantile houses, some of the partners residing at home, some in the colony, the constant influx and efflux of inhabitants to and from the colony, establish an identity of interest and a community of feeling, which virtually guarantee the allegiance and safety of the colony, unless gross error or infatuation sway the public counsels.

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But dominion seized by force over a conquered people must always be precarious. Fear prompts to obedience; but a stifled sense of injury still burns within the breasts of the inhabitants, ready to burst forth when opportunity should offer. Though equitable laws and judicious administration may mollify asperities amongst the conquered, still there cannot be full, unlimited security; and it behoves the British statesman to keep constantly in view these considerations, in order that the people of the parent country, over whom he more immediately presides, should not suffer violent convulsion by the loss of their foreign territories.oquinolon dk/ow sZA

These grounds appear conclusive for giving preference to particular branches of cultivation in the different possessions.

It is undoubtedly the policy of Great Britain to adapt to the local circumstances of each its peculiar cultivation; but where mutual advantages exist for the production of leading articles in commerce, and where they clash with each other, the grounds of preference ought to be determined according to the principles here stated.

It is now proper to point out the peculiar features of the numerous possessions of Great Britain, with a few suggestions as to the best mode of promoting and extending their trade.

SECTION I.

West Indies.

SUGAR is the chief article produced by the West India planter; and many circumstances conspire to render it the permanent staple of those countries in commercial legislation,

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The local situation of the West Indies, consisting of a number of islands, or of settlements on the coast of America, abounding with excellent harbours, and affording every facility for navigation, secures its easy and regular transport to the mother country. In an article of large comparative bulk this is an object of some importance. So long as we command the seas, we are at all times, in peace or war, not only sure of obtaining our full

quantity of sugar, but of having our supplies at stated and regular periods. During the war, we looked to arrivals of our fleets in the Autumn, with just as much certainty as we reaped our harvests of grain.

The next reason for making sugar the staple of the West Indies, arises from the encouragement it affords to other possessions of Great Britain, the beneficial effects of which revert to her, and which would not be obtained without the West Indies, This encouragement refers to the fisheries, to Canada, and our other North American Colonies. It is quite evident, that a principal portion of the timber trade of those provinces supplying staves and boards, is dependent upon the cultivation of sugar. This trade, which is truly important in itself, is conducted either in British or in colonial shipping, which invigorate and extend our naval resources in that quarter where hereafter they are most likely to be required.

These arguments, in considering sugar as the chief article to be encouraged in the West Indies, not only suffice to guide us for the future, but they seem to have dictated the policy of the past; a policy clearly set forth in the preambles of many acts of parliament, and confirmed by specific enact ments. In consequence, extensive works have been erected to facilitate the cultivation and manufacture of sugar; appropriate buildings and accommodations have been erected in the parent state, and

investments of every kind made under the faith that both policy and law guaranteed the continuance of the same system, deqrad 1 sibuk des The propriety of generally encouraging the West Indies must, in the existing aspect of political affairs, be more apparent than ever. The rise of many independent South American states has given our possessions a consequence in the balance of power in that quarter which they did not previously possess. From the conveniency of their situation, as regards both North and South, they seem formed by nature to be the medium of commercial inter course, and the depositories of goods on transit passing from Europe to Americas fedt, bolja od of

Independently, thus, of direct trade, Great Bri tain, under judicious regulation, should anticipate a growing carrying trade in making her West India colonies the entrepôt for goods supplying the South American market. The great extent of our do mestic commerce with our colonies, occasions as+ sorted cargoes to be almost daily shipped to them; and this frequency of communication must naturally be an inducement to sellers of every description to ship from England, and thus give us a preference in the carrying trade. At the same time, those who wish to buy frequent that port where there is the greatest facility of procuring any article required. South America is as yet thinly peopled. The towns are far separated from each other, and scattered over a great extent of country. Entire

cargoes shipped to one port would cause a glut, and be attended with loss. Hence the inconvenience, and indeed impossibility, of purchasers procuring what they require at any place in their immediate neighbourhood. The expense of two freights becomes a trifling consideration compared to the certainty of having every variety of new and fresh goods at the precise time they are required. The distance of these depôts from the South American provinces admits of a personal intercourse for purposes of traffic, and it is well known that the Spanish settlers prefer that mode of traffic to one by epistolary correspondence. In addition, it ought to be stated, that mercantile houses in the colonies must be better qualified, from their local situation, to conduct this trade than parties in Europe. They know better to whom to sell on credit, and to adjust their orders to the wants of their customers. Now, it is all important to reflect, that, if this trade be worthy of the encomiums bestowed upon it, it derives its invigorating influence from the direct and proper trade to the West Indies, thriven to its present extent by the long cultivation of sugar.