lisation, disinterestedness too frequently deelines; and in the advocacy of commercial views by interested parties, it is to be feared that we must sometimes expect to see betrayed a spirit of avarice and venality, in place of a dispassionate search after truth.

In times of peace, this stain upon our national character becomes more evident and striking; public attention being then chiefly occupied with domestic concerns, every inter est engaged in production is anxious to have either grievances redressed or privileges conferred, without a very scrupulous regard for the national benefit. This feeling generally displays itself in an application to the Legislature, to place the business in which parties are concerned upon a more favourable footing than others supposed to be opposed to them. A mandate of the Legislature suffices to accomplish, at once and effectually, this object. Taxation is so heavy in this country, and so pervades every branch of industry, that it places a description of power in the hands of the British Government, which is not pos sessed by the most absolute potentate. Individuals ever pursue that branch of business in which there is prospect of emolument, and

it is completely in the power of taxation to dictate that direction. Hence, the reiterated appeals of particular parties to remit some particular tax ;-to increase another, according as their own interest is conceived to be concerned in the resulted frotten

In the discussion of the Colonial question, this disposition has been strongly manifested; and there are grounds to believe, that much of the violent hostility which has been directed against the Colonial system is attributable to commercial rivalry. The existence of the Colonies depends upon the scale of duties which is levied upon their produce. More intense anxiety prevails on this subject in those possessions, than in any part of the British Empire. Capitalists situated elsewhere, if driven from production which they cannot conduct profitably, I still their funds which can be directed to other pursuits; but colonial proprietors have no such resource. Their property is untransferable and incapable of redemption, and it must fall with the system which supported them. It is apparent, therefore, that to fix a proper scale of duties upon colonial produce, is an undertaking of great importance and re

have

i

sponsibility; and requires an enlarged acquaintance with the principles of national policy. The statesman, it is true, cannot permit himself to be incumbered with detached or particular views; at all times, he must look to the col, lective national benefit. But many circumstances conspire, in the colonial question, to make this matter of peculiar delicacy. In our ultra-marine dominion, we number possessions of a very diversified character; some consider themselves entitled to superior pri vileges to others, though there is identity in their productions. Here originate rivalry and contention as virulent as might be expected were it a question between foreigners and British subjects. Maqe

But this is not all. Branches of business which political economists have classed under the head of Carrying Trade, are involved in the question. These are supposed to be at issue with both the East and West India interests, and are fully as clamorous as either of them to be favoured by the Legislature. It is easy to perceive how arduous a task the government has to perform, and what an extended range of information is requisite to perform that task with security, with wisdom, and with justice.

The Political Economists who are most in vogue would pronounce the matter easy, and would dictate a comprehensive rule for removing every restriction by opening our ports freely to foreigners, and allowing industry to find its level in every branch of employment. If, by a comprehensive measure, we mean that which produces general and extended results, the term may b

be

new

applicable to the reasoning of the Political Economists; but if, by it, w it, we mean an enlarged examination of the various circumstances and considerations that may be combined and involved in the question, together with an analysis of the relations that will spring up, tracing their influence upon the actual practice of society, it may be pronounced to be quite inapplicable to the views of those writers. But all these complicated inquiries it is the imperative duty of the Legislator to consider before he can venture to propose a new law. If he proceed unacquainted with their bearings, he will be fated to find that repeated alterations will be called for in his measures the enactment of next year will repeal the law of the present and, through this

1

In the following sheets, the attempt is made to supply this deficiency: at the same time that the elementary principles of Colonial Policy are elucidated, accidental relations are described; and the endeavour is made to point out those regulations under which our Colonial Commerce should be generally and permanently guided. This extended inquiry, it is conceived, to to be clearly understood bemen could pronounce on what

is necessary fore' statesmen

exact and relative footing the tropical produce of Indies, of the East the Wa Indies, and of Foreign Countries, should be placed. In every discussion on this subject, it must have struck the enlightened observer, that statements of facts adduced by the practical merchant, were met by abstract reasoning on the p part of the Political Economists; and, on the other hand, that the views of the latter were rarely answered on elementary principles, but were derided as speculative and inapplicable to the existing occasion. These parties, the theorist and the man of practice, have generally a mutual