been or shall be granted by parliament for the service of Great Britain for the year 1808.

98. An act for letting to Farm the Duties on
Horses hired by the mile or stage, to be
used in travelling, and on horses hired for a
less period of time than 28 days, for drawing
carriages used in travelling post, or other-
wise, in Great Britain, and for better secur-
ing the said Duties.

99. An act for depositing Prize Goods liable
to duty in warehouses under the care of the
officers of the Customs and Excise, and for
reducing spirits condemned as prize to a
proper strength, for home consumption.
100. An act for extending the provisions of an
act made in the 47th year of his present ma-
jesty, so far as respects the payment of
Prize Money arising from captures made by
Foreign in conjunction with British ships, to
captures made by the land forces of Foreign
States in conjunction with the British.
101. An act for extinguishing the right of way
over a lane or road leading across the exer-
cising ground in front of Chatham lines, and
for vesting the soil thereof in his majesty,
his heirs and successors.

102. An act for appointing Commissioners for
carrying into execution an act of this session
of parliament, for granting to his majesty a
Duty on Pensions and Offices in England;
and an act made in the 38th year of his
present majesty, for granting an aid to his
majesty by a Land-Tax, to be raised in
Great Britain, for the service of the year

1798.

spects the compensation to John and William Foster M'Clintoc tentee Officers of the office of arms of the said Court of Exch 109. An act to regulate the Tr Great Britain and the Portugue on the continent of South Ame 110. An act for the further en and better regulation of the E Herring Fishery, until the 1st o and from thence to the end of session of parliament.

111. An act for enabling his maj lish a permanent Local Militia certain restrictions, for the de realm.

112. An act for raising the sum by Treasury Bills for the servic for the year 1808.

113. An act to empower Grand land (or persons appointed by t or exchange ground that has b by old Court Houses, Gaols, o firmaries, and the materials the 114. An aet for raising the sum of

by Exchequer Bills, for the serv Britain for the year 1808. 115. An act to grant to his maj vailing Duties on Spirits impor land from Scotland; and to allo Drawbacks on Spirits exported to Scotland.

116. An act for granting to his m

of Postage on the conveyance of Packets to and from the island and to and from the Portugues on the continent of South Amer 117. An act for repealing the I Silks painted and stained, and other duties in lieu thereof.

103. An act for further extending the provi-
sions of several acts, for establishing the
Bank of Ireland; and for empowering the
governor and company of the said Bank, to
advance the sum of 1,250,000l. Irish cur-
rency, towards the service of the year 1808,
104. An act for the better regulation of Pi-119.
lots, and of the Pilotage of ships and vessels
navigating the British seas.

105. An act to authorize his majesty until the
25th of March 1809, to make regulations re-
specting the trade and commerce to and
from the Cape of Good Hope.

106. An act to remedy the inconvenience which has arisen, and may arise, from the Expiration of Acts, before the passing of Acts to continue the same.

107. An act to enable the Secretary at War to enforce the making of Returns from clerks of subdivisions, and others, in relation to Fines, Half Bounties, and Residues of sums due under certain acts relating to the Defence of the Realm, for the purpose of directing the distribution thereof to the persons entitled thereto.

108. An act for carrying into complete execution and effect certain provisions contained in an act passed in the 43d year of his present majesty, for making compensation to the Patentee Officers of the Pleas side of the Court of Exchequer in Ireland, as far as re

118 An act to prohibit the Distill rits from Corn or Grain, for a li

An act for regulating the cha duty on Spirits imported into G according to the strength thereo 120. An act for reducing the Excis Coffee imported into Great Brit directing that coffee and cocoa shall be subject to the regulation of the 43d year of his present permitting certain goods import cured in warehouses.

121. An act for reducing the duty on Coffee imported into Great B taken out of warehouse for home tion.

122. An act for vesting all estat
perty occupied for the Barrack Se
Commissioners for the Affairs of
and for granting certain powers
commissioners.

123. An act for the discharge of
execution for Small Debts, from
ment in certain cases.
124. An act for continuing the pr
lowed to ships employed in the
Whale Fishery.

PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS.

FIRST REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON
THE DISTILLATION OF SUGAR AND MO-
LASSES. Ordered to be printed 13th April,

1808.

that the obstacles opposed to the exportation of colonial produce, added to its forced accumulation in the market from the Conquered colonies, have been the principal causes of its depreciation. While the planter has remained subject to a monopoly in favour of British produce and navigation, his exclusive possession of the home market has been interfered with; The Committee appointed to enquire, and, while the British consumption. has and-report, how far, and under been increasing, the efforts he has made to what circumstances, it may be prac-meet it have turned entirely to his own ticable, and expedient to confine disadvantage.-It appears that the planter the DISTILLERIES of the United cannot so withdraw his capital, diminish Kingdom to the use of SUGAR and the extent, or change the object of his, MOLASSES only; and also what cultivation, as to procure for himself any other provision can be made for the adequate relief; and, without legislative Relief of the GROWERS of SUGAR in intervention, there is no prospect of his the BRITISH WEST INDIA COLONIES; being extricated from his distress. Anand to report the same, with their nuitants dependant on West India proObservations and Opinion thereupon, from time to time, to the perty for their provision, have, in many instances, been totally deprived of that House-and who were empowered income. The increased price of all the to report the MINUTES of the Eviusual articles of supply, added to the deDENCE taken before them; preciation of colonial produce, has deprived a great proportion of the owners of

HAVE, pursuant to the orders of the

house, examined the matters to them referred; and have agreed to the following Report:*

the resources wherewith to furnish the accustomed stores of food and cloathing for their negroes, and of duly providing for YOUR Committee felt it their first duty their superintendance: and, if relief be to examine into the continuance of that not speedily applied, these stores must be severe pressure upon the holders of West actually diminished or withheld, whereby India property, and those connected with much painful privation will be suffered by it, which was so clearly proved before the negroes, and discontent, if not comyour committee of the last session of par- motion among them, may be seriously apJiament. For this purpose your commit- prehended. In the Report of the Comtee called before them several gentlemen mittee of the assembly of Jamaica, it is connected with those Islands, and ex- stated, that there are 115 Sugar Estates perienced in the colonial trade; these respecting which suits are depending in gentlemen fully confirmed the evidence the court of chancery; from which and given last year, and proved to the convic- from other evidence, it appears that foretion of your committee, that the continu- closures of securities on property are be ance of the pressure has materially added. come unusually frequent in that Island, to its weight.--It appears from accounts which will deprive many owners of their laid before your committee, that the price estates, for sums quite disproportioned to of Sugar has greatly diminished since the their value. Another effect from this year 1799; the average price of 1800, cause will be, much individual distress to was 65s. per cwt.; the average of 1807, the negroes, who, in consequence of such. was 34s. per cwt. both exclusive of duty.foreclosures, will in many instances be In consequence of that depreciation, and separated from their families. From all of the increased expence attendant on the these considerations, your committee subcultivation of the article, the situation of mit, that the case of distress thus made the Sugar Planter has been rapidly declin-out, is as urgent as it is severe; that thereing, till at length the value of the produce is, on an average, barely equal to the charges of production, leaving no rent for the land, and no interest for the large capital employed upon it.-It appears

* See Appendix to vol. ix. p. lxxx. VOL. XI-Appr.

fore it is not only necessary to adopt measures of permanent relief, but also such as may have an early operation, and apply to the coming crop, in order to prevent the accumulation of distress that will otherwise arise, before any such ulterior regulations can take effect.

From the ACCOUNTS annexed to this Report, it appears,

THAT the average importation of Sugar into G. Britain, for 5 years, ending with 1785, was

Deduct, exported to Ireland

Ditto ditto to other parts Annual average {

Cwts. 157,217 157,513

Cwts

1,579,537

}

314,730

1,264,807

157,217

Average annual balance remaining for the consumption of Britain
Add, quantity exported as above to Ireland
Annual balance remaining for the annual consumption of the empire 1,422,024
The above is exclusive of the small import into Ireland from the West Indies.

THAT the average importation of Sugar into G. Britain, for 1802 and 1803
(being two years of peace) was
Deduct average export to Ireland
Ditto ditto

to other parts

3,741,486

167,267) - 1,870,025

Ann. average {1,702,758

Annual average balance remaining for consumption of Britain

Add, average annual importation into Ireland (direct)} 171,224

for the same period

Deduct, export from Ireland

Add, quantity exported to Ireland, as above

1,666

169,558

167,267

1,871,461

Average annual balance remaining for the consumption of the empire 2,208,286

THAT the average importation of Sugar into G. Britain, for four years, from
1804 to 1807, both inclusive (being four years of war) was
Deduct, average annual export to Ireland

Ditto
Annual average balance remaining for consumption of Britain -
Add, average annual importation into Ireland
direct from the West Indies, for three years,
from 1804 to 1806, both inclusive (the return,
for 1807 not having been yet received) -

Average annual balance remaining for the consumption of the empire 2,636,658

THAT the quantity of Sugar imported into G. Britain, during the year end