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obtained permission to remove their principal factory to the CHAP. V. Havanna, and to purchase slaves in any of the neighbouring islands, transporting them to their own settlements in Spanish vessels. It was easily foreseen, that Jamaica, from its vicinity to the chief colonies of Spain, in which negroes were mod in demand, would engage a preference from the purchasers; wherefore, that encouragement might not be wanting, the British parliament not only renewed the free-port law, but alfo took off the duty of thirty shillings Sterling a head, which, in the former act, was exacted on the exportation of negroes, and laid only a duty of two shillings and six-pence, in lieu of it. The result was—that the import for the next ten years, exceeded that of the ten years preceding, by no less than 22,213 negroes: and the export surpassed that of the former period, to the number of 5,952. Such part, therefore, of this encreased export, as went to the supply of the Spanish colonies, we may attribute to the free-port law ; for it is probable, from the circumstances dated, that the ancient contraband system is nearly at an end. In like manner it may be Said of the importation of foreign indigo and cotton, that if it be not made in foreign vessels, it will cease altogether; and thus, indead of infringing the navigation-aft, as some persons contend, the measure of opening the ports is srictly confonant to the spirit of that celebrated law ; for, by furnishing an augmentation of freights to Great Britain, it tends ultimately to the encrease of our Shipping. now, to the bed of my judgment and knowledge, furnished my readers with such particulars as may enable them HAVING
to