“I mentioned a _nominal_ differential duty. What I mean by that is, that the slave sugars are all so much better manufactured, which the great command of labour enables them to do, that, to the refiner, they are intrinsically worth more than ours. In short, they prepare their sugars, whereas we cannot do so, and we pay duty at the same rate on an article which contains a quantity of molasses. _So that, if the duties were equalised, there would virtually be a bonus on the importation of foreign sugar._ I have a letter before me in which is written,—‘Whilst at Jamaica, offers came from the Havannah to supply sugar all the year round at 12s. per cwt.,’ as I said before, in no Jamaica estate can it be grown much under 20s., and assuredly by none at 12s. The refiners estimate the value of Havannah, in comparison with West India free sugar, as from three to five shillings per cwt. better in point of colour and strength. The reason is, that these sugars are partially refined or _clayed_.” If these are correct data, and we do not anticipate that they will be impugned, the result will be this;— Cost of production in slave £12 0 0 countries per ton, Add duty £1 per cwt. 20 0 0 Cost, irrespective of freight, £32 0 0 Cost of production in free £20 0 0 labour colonies, Add duty 14s. per cwt., 14 0 0 Difference of value between 3 0 0 slave and free sugar, at the lowest estimate, or 3s. per cwt., Cost, irrespective of freight, £37 0 0 Such is the amount of _protection_ at present enjoyed by our colonists—a protection which, be it remarked, is every year to decrease! In the present, or second year after the passing of Lord John Russell’s bill, we find that slave-grown sugar can be brought into the market at a cost of production less at least by _five pounds per ton_ than that of our own colonies! We can now easily understand how it is that, within a very short period, Cuba has increased her exports of sugar from 50,000 to more than 200,000 tons; and we can readily believe that, with such a stimulus as has been given, she may, in as short a period, succeed in doubling the latter quantity. No doubt, in order to effect this, the importation of slaves from Africa must go on with corresponding celerity; but that is a matter which we need not regard, as our present rulers are actually giving an enormous impulse to the trade.