solutely
necessary to the successful production of our great staples,
sugar, coffee and tobacco. I beg you, therefore, to consider
whether there exist any restrictions, the removal of which
would give new life to this important source of national
prosperity, and tend to create a juster balance between our
imports and exports. I need hardly mention the obligation that
weighs upon you, to open wide our ports to commerce. Without
commerce our agricultural produce might moulder in our
warehouses; roads, and interisland communication almost cease
to exist; the making of wharves become a work of
supererogation, and the opening and closing of stores an idle
ceremony. As the legislators of a young commercial nation, we
should be liberal in our measures, and far-sighted in our
views.

A subject of deeper importance, in my opinion, than any I have
hitherto mentioned, is that of the decrease of our population.
It is a subject, in comparison with which all others sink into
insignificance; for, our first and great duty is that of
self-preservation. Our acts are in vain unless we can stay the
wasting hand that is destroying our people. I feel a heavy,
and special responsibility resting upon me in this matter; but
it is one in which you all must share; nor shall we be
acquitted by man, or our Maker, of a neglect of duty, if we
fail to act speedily and effectually in the cause of those who
are every day dying before our eyes.

I think this decrease in our numbers may be stayed; and happy
should I be if, during the first year of my reign, such laws
should be passed as to effect this result. I would commend to
your special consideration the subject of establishing public
Hospitals; and it might, at first, perhaps, be wise to confine
these hospitals to diseases of one class; and that the most
fatal with which our population is afflicted.

Intimately connected with this subject is that of preventing
the introduction of fatal diseases and epidemics from abroad.
Visited as we are by vessels from all parts of the world, this
is no easy matter; but I trust your wisdom will devise some
simple and practical remedy.

It affords me unfeigned pleasure to be able to state that,
according to the returns from most of the districts, the
births durin