To what other fources of information do you refer for a general Mr. account of the trade from the enemy's colonies to Europe, by the Marryat way of America?-Some eftimate may be formed of the extent to which this commerce is carried on by the fummary of the exports of the United States, from September 30th 1805, to October 30th 1806, published in the New York Gazette of the 13th of March 1806. The foreign exports are there ftated at 60,828,236 dollars, from which must be deducted the amount of European and Eaft India goods re-exported, and which are not separately distinguished.

You have stated that you had no authentic document from which to judge of the extent of imports from America into other ports of Europe; can you fay, with any degree of certainty, what proportion the imports of Amfterdam bear to thofe of Rotterdam?-It would be in a great degree matter of conjecture; but I have been informed that the joint imports of Rotterdam and Antwerp are confidered as nearly equal to that of Amsterdam.

Martis, 14° die Julii, 1807.

Withdrew.

ANDREW WEDDERBURN, Efquire, called in, and examined.

Mr.

Wedder

IN what fituation are you?-A West India merchant, principally connected with the island of Jamaica. Have you had, either as proprietor, trustee, executor, or factor, burn. the accounts of various fugar plantations annually paffed through your hands, fo as accurately to judge of the whole of the expences and returns of those plantations?—I have had the accounts of feveral eftates annually paffed through my hands as a factor, so as accurately to judge of all the expences incurred in the conducting of a fugar plantation.

How many eftates do you mean to comprize-Eight estates.

Are thofe eftates very extenfive?-Some are large, making from 4 to 5 hundred hogfheads, and others of a moderate fize, making from 100 to 150; and others of them from 200 to 300 hogsheads of fugar.

Does your intercourfe relate only to Jamaica ?—The estates I refer to are in Jamaica.

Are thefe the whole of which you thoroughly know the concerns? -Yes.

Have you obferved that of late years the average returns of fugar plantations to the proprietors have been inadequate to the capital embarked thereon, and to the neceffary expences of cultivation, and management I have; I do not think the average returns, fince the year 1799, have yielded any thing like an adequate intereft on the capitals invefted, after paying the neceffary expences of cultivation and management..

What do you confider to be an adequate intereft or return for a capital so employed?-Ten pounds per cent. per annum at least, after paying all charges.

Has the average return in the interval you have spoken of, as far as you can compute it, approached to 10l. per cent -No, it has not.

Mr.

Have you ever made any exact calculation?—I have not made any Wedder- accurate calculation of the nett returns from the whole of those burn.

eftates, during the period above mentioned; but, from the produce of the eftates paffing through the house, in which I am a partner, I can fay generally that the nett returns has not approached to 10%. per cent. upon the capital.

Have you made any computation of the return made for the fame eftates 7 years previous to 1799?—No, I have not.

Are you not generally convinced that the returns in that period were more favourable?-Certainly, much more favourable.

What, according to the beft average computation you can make, may be the expence attaching in the Weft Indies to the production of i cwt. of Mufcovado or raw fugar over and above the produce of rum, including every contingent expence on the plantation up to the time of fhipment, and all imported supplies, but exclufive of any allowance of return on capital?-The average charge on the 8 eftates I have mentioned is 20s. 10d. per cwt.

What is the amount of expences attaching on the fame cwt. of fugar, at the prefent time, fubfequent to the fhipment, and to the time when it is fold, delivered, and paid for?-The charge, exclufive of duty, is about 16s. of which ios. is freight; about 35. infurance, and the other 3s. is composed of commiffion, brokerage, and port charges.

How much of this latter charge of 16s. per cwt. might be fubtracted in time of peace?-From 4s. to 4s. 6d. per cwt.

On what data is that calculation founded?-There would be a reduction of about 35. on freight, and Is. or 15. 6d. on insurance.

What are the principal items that conftitute the island charge of 20s. 1od. per cwt.?-White people's falaries, and commiffions; taxes paid in the island; lumber and staves from America for the erection and repair of buildings, and for making cafks to bring home the produce; flour and other provifions from America; purchase of cattle and mules; medical attendance on negroes, hired labour, ftores from Great Britain and Ireland.

What are the principal articles of fupply from Great Britain and Ireland, which are furnished to the fugar plantations?-The principal articles are woollen and linen clothing, and hats, for the negroes; ironmongery and mill work, wood, hoops, and cafks. Copper for ftills and boilers, lead, herrings, falt beef and pork, and a Imall proportion of grain.

During the late distress of the trade, have not the articles for the ufe and comfort of the negroes been fent out as ufual, without any diminution-They have been fent to all the eftates I have any connection with in the fame proportion as usual.

During your experience, has not the cost of all the above articles, fent from Great Britain and Ireland, greatly increased?—It has.

What are the principal articles which the colonies import from the American States, and is it neceffary that they should import them from thofe States ?-The principal articles are ftaves for cafks, for the purpose of fending home the produce confifting of rum, fugar and coffee, boards for the heading of sugar hogfheads, and boards and shingles, with timbers of various description for the repair and erection of the buildings neceffary to carry on the manufacture of fugar and rum; and for drying of coffee, flour, corn and