In his speech on the State of the Nation, Sir
Charles Wood vaunted the increase of the Sugar-duties in 1847: a fallacious reference, very clearly explained in the following note, which we have just received.
The influence of the Sugar Duties Act of 1846 could not possibly be exhibited in our import-tables before 1848, because the sugar which was shipped and re- ceived here in 1847 must have been planted before the passing of that act. The increased importation from the British Possessions in 1847 was the result of the encouragement held out by Parliament in 1844, and confirmed iu 1845, when it was most solemnly declared that these Possessions would be assured of a differen- tial duty in their favour of 10s. as against all foreign free-labour sugar, and that slave-labour sugar would continue to be excluded. The import-table to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer refers gives the imports for 1848; and these ex- hibit the first proofs of the policy adopted in 1846. The imports from the British Possessions in the years 1847 and 1848, respectively, were as follows—
Tons.
West India Colonies in 1847 1848 Mauritius 1847 M
1, 1848
East Indies 1847 1848
111
Ceylon 1847 1848 Singapore 1847
Pt 1848
Showing a decline in 1848 of 70,000 159,000 139,000 20,000 15,000 3,500 1,700 115 60,000 45,000 66,500 3,800 2,100 130 15
40,315
Previous page
