pitch pay eleven pence
sterling the barrel. From other alien countries they pay about a penny
and a third more.

Our tobacco, for their own consumption, pays one shilling three pence
sterling the pound, custom and excise, besides heavy expenses of
collection: and rice, in the same case, pays seven shillings four pence
sterling the hundred weight, which rendering it too dear as an article
of common food, it is consequently used in very small quantity.

Our salted fish, and other salted provisions, except bacon, are
prohibited. Bacon and whale-oils are under prohibitory duties: so are
our grains, meals, and bread, as to internal consumption, unless
in times of such scarcity as may raise the price of wheat to fifty
shillings sterling the quarter, and other grains and meals in
proportion.

Our ships, though purchased and navigated by their own subjects, are not
permitted to be used, even in their trade with us.

While the vessels of other nations are secured by standing laws, which
cannot be altered but by the concurrent will of the three branches of
the British legislature, in carrying thither any produce or manufacture
of the country to which they belong, which may be lawfully carried in
any vessels, ours, with the same prohibition of what is foreign, are
further prohibited by a standing law (12 Car. 2, c. 18, s. 3.)
from carrying thither all and any of our domestic productions and
manufactures. A subsequent act, indeed, has authorized their executive
to permit the carriage of our own productions in our own bottoms, at its
sole discretion: and the permission has been given from year to year,
by proclamation; but subject every moment to be withdrawn on that single
will, in which event, our vessels having any thing on board, stand
interdicted from the entry of all British ports. The disadvantage of
a tenure which may be so suddenly discontinued, was experienced by our
merchants on a late occasion, when an official notification that this
law would be strictly enforced, gave them just apprehensions for the
fate of their vessels and cargoes despatched or destined to the ports of
Great Britain. It was privately believed, indeed, that the order of that
court went further than their intention, and so we were, afterwards,
officially informed: but the embarrassments of the moment were real and
great, and the possibility of their renewal lays our commerce to that
country under the same species of discouragement, as to other cou