Page:The Economist 1843-08- Vol 1 Preliminary Number (IA sim economist 1843-08 1 preliminary-number).pdf/9

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During the first period in the above table, the total consumption remains nearly the same, showing only a very slight increase. With the lowering of the duty, the increase is so rapid, that in the fourth year of the second period it is more than doubled, and more revenue is secured at half the former rates of duty. It will be observed that still the former proportions of differential duties on East India and foreign coffee were retained during this period, and that, in consequence, the consumption of those kinds (especially of foreign, still subject to a very high duty) did not materially increase. From 1830 for several years the consumption remained nearly stationary, until we arrived at the third period when the differential duty was repealed in East India, and practically greatly reduced on foreign growth; and from this period another great and rapid increase of consumption took place. The law by which foreign coffee was admitted at the duty of 9d. if shipped from the Cape, or British possessions eastward thereof, did not operate materially till 1838; and then it will be seen how rapidly the supply of that description and the general consumption increased. Under this change the revenue increased about thirty-five per cent. in two years.

In further illustration of this principle. The duty on coffee was again reduced by the tariff of last year; and the quantity consumed increased on that of the previous year, while the consumption of sugar and all other leading articles was materially reduced. Indeed, the loss of revenue last year was less on coffee, with a reduction of thirty-three per cent. of duty on colonial (from 6d. to 4d.), and practically twenty-five per cent. (from 10d.—including 1d. for extra freight—to 8d.) on that of foreign growth, than occurred on sugar, the duty of which was not reduced at all.

We are not aware of one reason which could induce under the same circumstances in every respect an extended consumption of coffee, that would not in all and every way apply to sugar; but we can enumerate many most important ways in which the consumption of sugar should be increased, not applicable to coffee. It is much used for the food of infants; and if cheap, for this purpose alone medical men consider it would be an incalculable blessing to the poor; it is used largely in cooking, in preserving, in confectionery, &c.; and another reason for a great increase of sugar during the period alluded to, would be, that independent of the enormous increase of the consumption of coffee, the consumption of tea has also increased from 23,784,838 lbs. in 1821, to 32,252,628 lbs. in 1840. For our present purpose of comparison, two lines will dispose of the slavery argument: if it applies at all, it does as much to coffee as sugar; and indeed more, for if our purpose be to coerce the Brazilians into our views, then to them coffee is important article of growth than sugar: and god, silver, and copper apply as much as sugar can to the argument, both in Brazil and Cuba. With all these advantages, let us examine how this has proceeded during this period. In 1821 the duty on sugar was—

In 1824 Huskisson was given to understand that he must not touch sugar; in 1830 the West India duty was reduced to 24s., the East India to 32s.; which was just so much more put into the pockets of the producers as long as the 63s. on foreign sugar was continued. In